February Snow

Midnight Ride by rcw

All the news programs are talking about the possibility of snow falling in San Francisco.  At the same time there's denial and rhetoric about global warming.  Hmmmm.
In the Actions Speak Louder Than Words category, I'd say nature is trying to tell us something.

For what it's worth, I'd like to see a little bit of the stuff; been several years since I've made a snow ball in my hometown.  Last time was in Philadelphia, probably shortly before moving out to California about a million light-years ago.

We used to sled down Graveyard hill, up behind the billboards at the bus station.  The slope was fairly steep and got slick quickly under the guidance of our various conveyances.  Mine for a long time was a standard two blade Radio Flyer wood sled...then I got the disk sled one year and set about finding new ways to launch myself. 

Obviously I survived,  although there were a few close calls.

Today I could focus on the world going to hell, but no.
We shall pause and watch for a while to see if a few flurries grace our neighborhood.
So for now Fifty Five is the New February Snow,  a miraculous possibility and a good memory.

Cat-A-Tude

Wylie T. Katz in the studio

We paws here to acknowledge the contributions of one Wylie T. Katz to the everything that is Boo Boo's Bargain Basement Band.

No ordinary mouser this; Wylie has talent, spunk, moxie and lots of cat-a-tude.  To be honest, he's slightly wild and has even bitten a couple of times, but aside from that he's pretty good.

Diane got him for me when Ginger passed. Ginger had been a truly wild cat; a warehouse kitty actually. But for some reason he decided to live with us.  It was like living with a deer.

Wylie's not quite that wild.  We got him when he was still young enough to get used to being with people.  Ginger never quite got to that stage.  When company came, he'd hide.  But when it was just us, he'd come out and sit with us.

Wylie is a social kind of guy....if he gets the vibe that he likes you.  If not, he hides....but keeps an eye on everything from one of his many favorite perches around the house.

He likes being in the studio with us, listening while we do our thing.  Its nice to think he likes our music, but is just as apt to lick his very fluffy tail as anything else when we ask for an outright opinion.
Who says cats don't understand the Mother Tongue?

Anyway, for today Fifty Five Is The New Cat-A-Tude....Wylie T. Katz, our mascot and my friend.

Camping days

Us in the Caddy    2/2011

Jack and I have a lot in common; music, humor, ideas....one of our favorite commonalities is cruising.  We love road trips, camping and especially dirt-road driving.

These days driving around is quite the luxury, with gas prices soaring and shortages threatened all the time.   So we've had to cut back on the number of trips we take.

We are planning to do a camping trip sometime in May or June....we'll head out to Mendocino National Forest, in particular Bear Creek.  There's a great place to camp!

We went there on our first weekend together way back in 1992; that's when I knew this was no ordinary weekend....it was the beginning of something very special.

We still go there periodically and enjoy the beauty and to shake the city out of our bones.

It's not a "regular" campground.  No bathrooms, running water or clubhouse.  That stuff is reserved for folks going to the official camp areas.  Where we go is where hunters usually go; clearings along the side of dirt roads; there's a fire pit and a picnic table and that's it.  Lots of trees and nature.

We bring in everything we need...tent, food, water, guitars....That's real camping!  Jack and I pitch the tent, get the fire started and for a few days that's our world.  No t.v., no distractions.

We want to go there again soon.  Hopefully we can.  But even if we can't, we still have our memories.
For today, Fifty Five Is The New Camping days....Bear Creek....hoping to go back again
 

Next Thing

People in the streets all over the world, calling for freedom, crying for life.  Some are saying it's the coming of the 12th Imam.  Some are saying it's the end of the world coming, and they back their statements with words from books like Revelations and things like the Mayan calendar.

What do I think?  I think we're all mortal beings on this Earth, part of the Universe and that changes happen.  We're going through some massive ones right now; culturally, economically, spiritually....it's as if somebody's found our planet's snow globe and gave it a good shake.  Scattered snow flakes, whirling around inside the glass....billions of people whirling around inside our lifetime.

I don't fear change, I fear change getting into the wrong hands.  I fear loosing what I believe to be certain inalienable rights, civil rights, dynamic rights.  Not the collective bargaining sort of rights the folks in Wisconsin are going on about.  I mean things like the right to have a thought, a creative idea, and to not be afraid to express it, share it.

We're in a precarious situation right now; don't want to go too liberal, don't want to go too conservative..with a dash of courage because sometimes we just need to be strong.  

I pray we withstand the pending storm brewing....and that what comes next is a move in a truly positive direction-steps toward freedom, not fascism.

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Thing because what ever it is, we're heading toward it at break-neck speed....fasten your seat belts, and keep your hands inside the ride at all times!

Flying Solo

Been keeping busy; writing, catching up on things while Jack is feeling under the weather.  Poor guy!
He wants to do things but is too weak, so he rests most of the time.

That Old Black Magic fractal  by rcw

That's okay.  There's lots to do. I've had some blog entries written on scraps of paper that I can at last add to the online folio. So that's my assignment for the day; getting the blog caught up. Maybe do some artwork too.

Some people don't know what to do when they have time on their hands. Some don't like it if they don't have a plan for the day, or God forbid they find an afternoon all to themselves. I know some people who can't stand to be alone.  That's okay for them.

For me, I revel in privacy and long for moments when I'm not on call.  That's when the creative juices get to flow.

So for today, Fifty Five is the New Flying Solo, 'cos sometimes it's good to be out there on your own.

Lessons Learned Bonus entry

Randi

Life is probably the hardest school there is and nobody gets the sheepskin 'til they die. That sounds callous, but it's true. Nobody gets out of here alive and it's what we do here while we're breathing that counts.

Sometimes I wonder if my life would have been better spent elsewhere; doing the old marriage, baby, family routine for example.  Would I have been more successful? Would I have been happy?

Probably not.

I tried that path, but it didn't work.....at the time I thought it was my lack of maturity only.  But no. There was more to it than that.  I had a passion that could only be fulfilled by getting out into life and exploring it.  This wasn't an easy choice, but it was the only choice possible....and every experience, every error and opportunity brought me to where I am today.

And....I am happy.

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Lessons Learned....

Society

Potential  by rcw

Our world is changing so much, so many things going on at once...it's as if a current or tide has come along and swept us all up in it.  I am happy for some of it; people having lived under dictators for 20, 30 and 40 years finally able to overturn their oppressors, people finding that they do have voices.  These are the things that give me hope.

I am concerned for some of it; the possibility that some other evil dictator takes the place of that which was removed.  My prayer is that this does not happen.  I worry because it has happened in the past; Iran, Cuba to name just two.

Will we ever come to a place where we aren't trying to rule over one another?  I wonder.

For now, Fifty Five Is The New Society....with prayers and hopes that it is a step in the right direction!