Good Weather. Bad Weather. Could be MN weather!!? Updated 7/1/15

It's Monday June 29, 2015. The weather has been 'crazy' here if you ask the locals. What they call crazy is really just some good Midwest weather!! LOL. There is cool air at night and in the morning. Clouds have come and gone during the day versus the normal cloudless weather most people experience here daily. There has even be humidity and periods of random rainfall. Yup. Good O'l Minnesota weather is what it is...except there's an ocean in the horizon. It's made the days seem a little more friendly in their quietness before or after I leave the office or the gym. It's true.

Yesterday, Sunday, I almost got to do most of my normal routine of run along the beach way, gym, and make my way up to a familiar burger shop, but I got stuck in traffic for two extra hours. After that, I was just spent from the heat and ended up  at a grill-out in the mountains with the area police and rescue teams. It was cool, but eventually, I made my way down to the PCH to have one drink at the burger shop figuring it was late enough to not intrude on someone else's routine out of courtesy. The bartender as well as most of the staff knew me instantly as I had come there in earlier days a lot on my own but also with short stack. The bartender is also a guy from Mn. We talked about the Vikings, the stadium, and his upcoming vacation with his wife to Lake Tahoe. He was cool and wondered why I had come in so late versus "your guys usual time." I laughed and simply said I had to work that day in Costa Mesa and then had a grill out to make down the way just before I walked into the place. We laughed. He "comped" me my drink, and I left for karaoke.

I thought about her for a bit on my way past my now shared exit with her over the hill to area where we live. I rolled down the windows to let the fresh night air into my ride, and turned up the music. The Police was playing, "Every Breath You Take," and I more closely understood what he meant by "I look around, but it's you I can't replace.." I was emotional for a minute. Then, I hit PCH traffic and instantly was aggravated by it. LOL. I whispered a few things into the air to K.C. as if she could through space, time, and distance hear me. "I know. I know. Everything will work out exactly as its suppose to....," I thought perceiving what her reply would be. The Promise started to kick into the background of my mental music player cooling my head from the traffic jam. :/

It was exactly one month ago, I made it to Zuma Beach after a 2.5 day drive from Minnesota. I was pulling a "Good Will Hunting" move where I was going to California to check up on a gal. We spoke that day some as we had in the days leading up to my departure. I suppose she didn't actually think it was going to happen considering, but she was content that I did even if she was skiddish about it on the whole. It's been good to be here but challenging at times.

Arriving at King's Head,the place where I do karaoke on Sunday's, brought some needed familiarity back into my reality. It's part of my routine that helps keep me sane. We need that...a routine..to help keep us on track. I put in my request to do that exact Police song. As I sang it, a couple of beautiful French girl tourists were sitting by the front of the place. After my initial song, they invited me to yap with them about things to do on their last days here in Los Angeles. My response was simple, "Go to Malibu..Zuma and Ollies or The Sunset."  So went the night with a few more songs and one more drink to help me keep it all in perspective. Hahaha. That's the news from a Midwest guy in the land of Milk and Honey.

Getting Ready For Another Weekend of Adjusting....

License To Adjust.

It's Friday June 26, 2015. The sun it out, and it's early enough that I might actually get some writing in before the local Starbucks gets packed. I laughed as I looked at my phone's screen saver which is the picture to the left. It's one that I had to talk Dr. Burke into seriously consider making an advertising campaign out of when I was regularly providing services for him. It could've been the beginning of something fresh, even in its classic replication of a Bond pose, for what was becoming a difficult market to net patients out of in volume. Bill board the right sides of town with this ad and other key socially recognized pictures (Like the TOP GUN guys playing volleyball), and people will not only take you as a good chiropractic group but also one that is in touch and culturally relevant. People like that kind of stuff, and people seemed to like us as is obvious by our making the Minnesota Monthly Magazine's Top Chiropractors list for this very month of June 2015. LOL. It's true.

As I walked up to the place, I noticed I missed a call . It happens more than not because I usually leave my phone on vibrate at work and forget to switch it back. It's usually AARP or some political group wanting some funding, but today it was a publishing agent from Dorrance Book Publishers. The message was short and to the point. "We read your blog story, The Pursuit Of Happiness, we would like to speak to you about having our team review it with your permission." It's the second group that has contacted me about it--my story. The first reached out to me shortly after I finished the first section of the story, This Unbelievable Life. It was this story and its virtual en vivo style of writing that drew in readers from around the world in just a few short weeks. That story, This Unbelievable Life, lead to post cards, letters (both good and not so happy) from people I didn't know. In fact, I still get post cards now and then. So, I guess.

When I started writing these stories, I had no intention of them actually being read by anyone beyond the few people that read or really just looked at the pictures I used to post of my graduate school experience in Northern California. When I started writing the first story, became obsessed with finishing it. I had no idea of what I was doing or how to blog or any of it. I was writing what I thought made sense and communicated what was happening with me and in me in real time. This is where the Current Life Sound Track series came from. With the links to the actual music videos, it made it easier for people to know what was playing in my head by giving the reading a background sound.

As I moved into the second story, Recovery: Surviving & Reconstructing The Dream, I had developed a style of writing, not so much the editing, that communicates well to people giving them a fuller picture of thoughts, ideas, emotions, logical directions in the story, etc. This lead to my most recent story of things to share, The Pursuit of Happiness.It was not till I met my now former girl KC did I think I was going to get to it again. The story is available to read presently.

So now it's the weekend, and I'll write up a Manic Monday review of it, and anything interesting that happens along the way. There it is.

Firestone...Again! 6/18/2015

It's mid morning on this very clear and sunny Thursday. It's my last day off for a number of days, and fortunately I have it off! Why? After hitting the 3000 mile mark (well a few hundred over), I decided to get the oil changed and the lines checked only to have the oil change tech point out that I was leaking axle fluid all over the place. WTF is what I said because it certainly didn't happen on the way down from the Home Land. It didn't happen the first week that I was here. It happened after I took it to Firestone to repair the U-Joint on that same side of the Jeep. I know this because it was clearly not leaking the day they repaired it or they would've said, "Hey, you have a leak, and it's bad!" What happened was they put it together and broke one of the seals, and it started to leak out after I left the shop.

This is why they didn't see it! It hadn't started to spew out till I left. Had I not gotten my oil changed yesterday, or had agreed to let them, Firestone, change it the day they did the U-Joint fix, I wouldn't have known till I burned out the front end or had the front lock up on me. And considering where I've been living till today, that could've lead to me driving right off the mountain road down into the ravine. I guess when it's your time; it's your time! LOL. What was sad was the Firestone people didn't want to take responsibility for their mess up. "It must've been like that when you brought it in last Sir. You must've hit something that caused it to break." All these things mechanics tell people that don't work on cars. BUT, I'm Mexican!! I work on my car. I have for the last 15 years, and I know all there is to know about leaks, repairs, etc. When I pointed out the flaw in their logic that implied it was that way before I brought it in, I asked why when they did such an intrusive job to fix that U-Joint had there been no signs of a leak, "Cause you would've pointed that out to me, but your paper work doesn't list it at all." When I also pointed out that the side that the leak was from was where they did the repair was the new side of components, as in I had some parts replaced a few years back, that it could've only been a mistake on their part. They finally had to accept responsibility, and got on it.

So today, with lightning speed, or not so lightning, Firestore is repairing and cleaning up that mess they made. My normal schedule of things has been cut down to waiting for my jeep, emailing, and deciding what color curtains I should get in my new place. I know. It's pathetic cause I should be at the gym working on my health, putting my bed together, and cleaning my Jeep up some so it doesn't look like a complete mess this weekend when I driving to work. LOL. I'm an American, and I believe in giving people good service especially when they pay me for it. If I pay you for a service, I expect the same, and when either one of us falls short, I expect everyone to step up to the occasion and perform. That's what doing business is all about. So now I wait!. I write. I drink my cup of 'JOE', and look at my phone to ring so they can tell me it's ready...as in before afternoon traffic.
That's the news from a Midwest guy  in the land of milk and honey.

Manic Monday On Melrose 6/15/15

It's a manic Monday just past 7:00 AM, and I kinda wish it was Sunday, but I adjusted so many people yesterday, all I wanted to do was sleep until it was karaoke time! What ended up happening was I drove to the Venice Board walk and went for run. It was a short one...five mile. It was definitely needed after all the physical work I've been up to, and I just need to keep up that part of my health routine with all the driving I've been doing lately. I did manage to get my hair cut, and after some closer examination of it, the gal did a shit job of the back end, cut it too short on the sides, and now I actually have to style it with 'cement' cause my hair doesn't stay still!! It's true! Fortunately my hair grows super fast, so in a week or two, it'll be where it should've been all along.


Last night, on the other hand, was karaoke at King's Head in Santa Monica where one of my friends was hosting. Naturally, I thought I should show up after looking through a few magazines at Barnes and Noble. Yup. I got to do some of the older Sunday routine, which is important when one is starting out again semi-fresh. People who kinda know you and are interested enough in what's happening in your life. So I went. Fortunately this routine hadn't changed much when I was seeing K.C. She would show up with me most of it, and it was enough to get a few questions this time around. We have our own Sunday routines to some degree or another, and it's good for the psyche! LOL.

The sun will be out sooner or later in what can only be mistaken for Fall Minnesota/State Fair weather this moring!! LOL. It's June Gloom, which means the temps are a little cooler in the morning. It's the kinda of cool that makes you want to stay under the covers just a little longer, but then the sun comes out mid to early afternoon. It's pretty nice. Yet!!! It's Monday, and it's the last day of work I have for this last week. So, after today, I can get back to the gym and put in some good effort, get to some Cross-fit, and chill for a couple of days before I have to get to it. I think it's time to change my oil..? Hmmm. Well, that's the short and skinny rant from a Midwest guy in the Land of milk and honey.

Costa Mesa, 6/10/15

It's super early morning this HUMP DAY! I've gotta get to Costa Mesa, and short of driving down to Venice last night, I made the mistake of going to the Cheese Cake Factory for happy hour at the Oaks Mall. Yup. I was only going to order some slider's, but two nurses took seats next to me and wanted to yap. So I  ended up with sliders and a martini. The conversation was good as they were in the process of getting screened for nursing jobs at Los Robles Hospital. We laughed at the way you think you should answer a question when you're on the hot seat versus how you would've answered when you're driving away after the fact! LOL. It was some entertainment for the end of my day off and a mild distraction from other things I was working on earlier. At the end of it, I had to walk around the mall for a bit because I'm becoming a light weight, and I like that.....kinda. By the end of my walk around the mall, I discovered I needed new things that I put on my list of 'work' clothes, apartment fillers, and just plain shopping therapy...much like the pink liquid therapy in the picture...a Cosmo=Therapy. Yup. I didn't even mention it rained all day! It was actually nice. Today, it's back to sunny...again! LOL.

So, it's road time. Hopefully, I won't have to make this journey too often, but it's part of being the 'new kid on the block,' and I don't really want it that way! Hope your day is good cause I'm about to eat two hours of it in my Jeep. Maybe this is why they invented those audio books so one can learn, or get self-help books on Cd. Yes. This is what I need to do. I need to get some audio books (or maybe just some self-help books on investing), and feel "better" about these drives. Cause, I'm gonna be missing the gym today. Poo. Poo.

The Sunset Restaurant & Bar, Malibu 6/9/15

It's a happy Fall like Minnesota day here in the 'Valley' with light rain, mild humidity, and the likely chance of sun in the afternoon. It's early...like 6:45 AM, and I was up at sunrise. Presently, I'm watching the rain in a West Lake Village Starbucks. I couldn't quite get my mind to quiet enough to continue to sleep, so I thought I'd write about my happy hour experience at The Sunset bar and restaurant. This swanky place is located at Zuma beach in Malibu just before you would enter the 'pay lots' to park for a day of fun in the sun. You can park on the street depending on the day, but it's usually pretty full at sunset with people waiting...for the sun to dip. Just before the sun sets on Zuma, the sky lights up in various colors of red on a normal night, but last night, it was thick with fog or cloud cover making it easy to park right out front this place. It was 6:30ish PM when I walked into what could only be described as a scene out of an Polo Ralph Lauren commercial.

Lounging around the area were a bunch of gals. Most of them were dress-casual as in just out of a Polo shoot or something. Others, seemed they had just made it in for the $5 cocktail and appetizers from the beach or the neighborhood. A few men hovered (always hovering) around the seating areas while a couple of other more mature ladies made small talk with people around them. Everyone, at least for  moment, took notice of us as we walked up to the bar counter. Apparently lots of  'famous' people walk into the place. I guess! LOL. After politely wiggling a chair into place, I ordered a clam chowder and a couple of drinks. My drink of choice is usually Jameson & Seven when it's available, but I'm happy with whatever is on happy hour special too! Cause let's face it, that's why you walk into some places...the specials..or their specialties on special for those very few hours. Here, at The Sunset, happy hour started at 3:00 and went till close! WT...! I smiled. There was no need to rush. Somehow that was a relief! I made small talk with my guest and the people that sat immediately our right and left; a younger couple that had clearly started happy hour much sooner than we had and trying to establish who was a local and a few mature folks just enjoying the day out of work. It was a good choice after a draining day in the sun, waiting for the Geek Squad to tell me how much it was gonna cost me to recreate my lost Quickbook files, and planning my upcoming move into what might be a more regular place to live if I don't just leave the country all together.

 As I spoke, my thoughts drifted onto the street as a few runners went by. The days when I had also done the same, run by the restaurant, hadn't passed by too long ago. Their memory still seemingly fresh, and got a bit giddy about it...that I had made it...to California....finally.

"You're from Minnesota?!" I heard on my left, "Yes. I am." Turning slightly to acknowledged the woman talking to my guest. "I drove out here last week to take on a new corporate job...at least for a while to feel them out." We laughed because she was also from the Midwest. It was part of the normal conversation strangers have when chit chatting at happy hour. Like most conversations at happy hour, the themes revolve around basic things like, "How long are you gonna be here? What have you done here for fun? You should check out.....!" And out come the series of recommendations of things you should do or invitations to place you might be interested in, but that wasn't the case because of my guest. I suppose people assumed we were together...But no. So, we just talked..all of us. We talked about music, the Eagles, and Don Henley. We yapped about the best venues to see shows at and which were the upcoming "must see" shows. Yes. A lot of small talk that was fun, interesting, and mildly relieving from thinking about the work day.

Eventually when my clam chowder showed up, which seemed instantly, I started to think. Or, rather, I started to remember things. I thought I might be able to come back with another person and shoot the shit much as I was then. Or, even come back on my own and take my chances at 'fitting in' and becoming a regular, which I've learned is the secret behind the law of familiarity. It's the law that says if you see someone or something regularly you unconsciously drop your defenses to them or it just enough to experience them or it differently. This is when conversations start. This is when phone numbers are exchanged and invitations made. The law of familiarity....I'll write about that sometime because it's key in human relationships. So I thought...until the woman sitting to our left said, "I think you got my soup!" We laughed. "Really?! LOL. Well, I'll tell ya, your soup is very good!" We all laughed and the bartender turned red with mild embarrassment realizing she 'missed' putting in the woman's order.

When the experience was over, we left to get hit by the cold ocean air. It was still fresh smelling and, apart from the actual ocean, the weather was exactly like a Fall or Spring day in Minnesota. Then the drive up the 'hill' to get to my home to pass out only to get up today to enjoy the rain, the cool weather, and some familiar things to do. It's haircut and gym-time day. I'm feeling optimist for dumb reasons, but that's better than feeling other things! That's the news from a Midwest guy in the land of milk and honey....one at least! LOL.

West Lake Villiage, Starbucks 6/8/15

It's later morning just past 9:00 AM. It's 'fix my Jeep' morning x2. Hopefully they get it correct today cause I need my 'boy' in the days upcoming.

So, now that I have worked two official events for the company, I have to admit that on the whole there continues to be a sense that they are still getting somethings straight in so far as streamlining office systems, patient care standards, etc. I guess everyone has their own approach, but typically speaking a BRAND usually has a certain number of things they do or offer everyone. It's like why I go to a Starbucks in a new town or place I've not been in before. I know when I walk in, I'm essentially gonna get exactly the same cup of coffee, WiFi service, and typically a descent seat to work from remotely. That's why I pay a couple of dollars and find a Starbucks; it's the consistency! So, is the case or will be the case for the company I'm actually working for on contract. The company needs docs, workers, to fill in the evolving number of holes being created by either take-back of franchise stores or the creation of new stores. Either way, it sucked up my entire weekend, and it may continue to be the case the next couple of weeks. This is the 'feeling' out the company period. For the few things they offered me, I thought I would give it a shot. If it's not a fit, then I can move into a more 'hands-on' clinic and do some real sports work.But, until then, I'm in a holding pattern....I guess in both work and my 'private' life. LOL.

Yes! If you were wondering, the picture is from last night's karaoke extravaganza. I was going to sing last week when I got into town, but I was mildly emotional from the long drive and other background reasons for my being here in the first place. So, I took the night off after some mild back and forth texting, got my Jeep cleaned up, unpacked my stuff at my temporary place for the month, and I caught up with everything else I hadn't in a week. Last night was fun. Met a few new singers, and I had one drink to toast at the table. It was a good time till I had to drive back up to the 'neighborhood' and into the hills. A day of adjusting 55 people took it out of me, and the road was had to stay focused on. Fortunately, I made it without incident, but it was close a couple of times. I guess. LOL.
So a couple of days to recoup, and then back at it for four days and then a few off. I'm not sure I like the weekend work so much, but it's what I get for this first month of getting to know the company and visa versa. That being said, I'm off to get some Biofreeze cause it looks like I over did it between cross-fit, running, and my new gym leg routine. I want to try and maintain!! There it is.

Malibu, 6/6/15

It' a bright Saturday morning on the PCH. At 6:10 AM, there's a lot of people out working on getting their surf on. I'm gonna do that sooner or later....mostly because there's a new Point Break movie coming out. Needless to say, it's beautiful outside. The air is fresh (and not salty smelling). This is the route the WAZE app put me on to get to work today. I've grown to appreciate it after I figured it out, but I was a bit resistant to it until KC gave me the DL on it. So, now I use it....all the time! LOL. Even when I know how to get to a place, I turn it on just to see if there's a faster route.

                                                                          Last night, Friday night, was a mixed bag of events. My jeep didn't get repaired as I had hoped it would because the guy at Firestone said he had the part! So, when he called me to tell me he had the wrong part and hadn't taken anything apart to confirm it, I was a bit put-off. It happens. Needless to say, I got some help from one of my local friends to get a few things done. But, after I got my boy back, I was gonna get to it. I actually just washed it, check all the fluids, and decided it was Friday night, and I was gonna have a least one drink (usually only two max..lol.). I figured I'd head to the Oaks Mall and hit two birds with one drive: T-Mobie and the Lazy Dog. Yup.

The Lazy Dog was busy. It always seems to be when I've gone there in the past. Now, walking in on my own, I found a seat right next to a couple waiting to see the San Andreas movie and a gal with some party of people hovering the bar. The bartender at the place recognized me instantly. He also recognized that I was short a short person! LOL. We laughed a bit about events and that I was in town for a longer stint this time around. I never let on that things had changed between KC and myself even though he seemed interested in knowing. Unfortunately, the gal next to me wanted to know if I was single or just missing someone. I found myself in a bind ( in my person). So, I said what I thought was more appropriate, "I'm just out doing some alone time. Ya know. You need that now and then." She seemed to get it, and decided she wanted to talk. It was good conversation that eventually involved the couple sitting next to me as it was on a topic that I always find interesting from one town to the next, the 'cultural' composition of a town, area, or city. It turns out that Thousand Oaks really isn't that diverse. It's like Minneapolis-mostly Scandinavians or 'white' people. It just turns out that it, the mono-cultural composition of Thousand Oaks, makes me stick out! "You actually stick out as exotic!" She said. I laughed knowing it gives me a tactical advantage in the 'dating' game, but presently, I'm not playing it...the game. LOL>. But, it's nice to know that in the future, I may actually have some luck. That's the rant of a Midwest guy in the land of mild and honey, but we all know what the story is cause I come from the place where, "All the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and the children are above average." G.K.

Los Angeles, 6/4/15 Melrose & Fairfax Starbucks

It's Thursday early morning just past 7:00 AM. I'm at Starbucks on Melrose and am feeling good. Why? It's another Mn Fall weather day except that it's here in L.A.! It's true. The clouds are out, the air is cool, except there's a distinct difference in most peoples' moods. I think it could be summed up with one at least one word: relief! The heat has been off and 'on' the last week. And, when people here say it's hot, they're not kidding around. So, the Mn Fall like weather is a welcome deal. Here at one of the places I come to the most because of it's location is convenient and very open. You, or at least I, find relief being in here figuring out my schedule, making phone calls, and just plain people watching. There is relief. Relief from the busy streets. Relief from the sun in the usually "about right" temperature and there is relief from life! LOL. All you need to do is sit, enjoy your coffee, the scenery, and relax.

If you get board, you can walk outside and get some therapy!!! With all of the thrift stores around the area, you might find 'gold' in a pair of hardly used Seven jeans or a Channel Bag. You never know till you walk in and see what's available. The store was nice and quiet at 7:10 AM but slowly builds up passing the 7:30 AM mark when all the school kids fill the place. Eventually, I'll get around to a work-out, maybe a run, lunch with a friend. But now, as has been the last few days, I'm hammering out a few remaining administrative things for work this weekend. You got it! I'm on schedule all weekend in the South side of Los Angeles. Hopefully, it'll be as fun as they say it is. That's the news from a Midwest guy in the land of milk and honey.

Thousand Oaks, California 6/1/2015

June 1, 2015

It's just about mid afternoon, and I'm trying to get all of my new job affairs in order. My arrival into the area yesterday was more emotional than anything else. I admit it. I drove to a place where I used to watch the sunset now and then with my gal short-stack. We haven't spoken much on the phone beyond a text response and a need for more time to settle some things in her person. I guess its better than nothing, but it could be better. I suppose that's a part of why I came beyond the original plan to come go back. This, and the new job, and the familiarity of everything around me just seems like a lot. The super hot drive from AZ at end of a two day drive cross-country maybe made me a little less agreeable for more important types of conversation, and it like contributed to me being up in the air.

I suppose I'm content it's sunny out. I start my on-boarding program tomorrow and find out how this company functions, and how I will be working for it, but right now, I've got errands to run in town. Gotta find a mechanic, get some fruit and veggies, decide where I should be working out at, and ultimately, if things go well, where I will live. Speaking of which, I'm living at the very South side of West Lake Village just about 15 minutes into the hills from the 101. It's pretty cheap with only one real drawback, I get no phone reception. I get emails via the WIFI, but that's it, and that somehow makes me just a little uncomfortable. Well, that's the news from a Midwest guy in the land of mild and honey. Feel free to email me, text, or whatever. It's been pretty quiet the last few days. LOL.