Blue Moon Friday. July 31

It's Friday! Yes. That means it's the weekend for a number of people including myself, but my weekend starts tomorrow, and it's gonna be a good day nonetheless. This is largely due to the fact that I've been assigned a clinic just down the street from where I live. The picture to the left is the view out my front door yesterday morning-beautiful. You cannot understand how much of my energy and resources have gone into just getting to and from project sites the last number of weeks. It was starting to effect my mental outlook on life until last week when I got two days of dream drive-to-work driving! It's not the only thing on the horizon that will drastically minimize my driving altogether, and I will talk about that development when it comes into fruition. Otherwise I was thinking it was time to do the proverbial MTV spotlight, "..and then he turned to drugs.." to deal with it! J/K. A tune came over the radio that only made the idea more funny.... High & Dry by Radio Head. LOL.

So, now what to do with an extra six hours of my life back! It's gym time. My housemate has been wanting me to hit the gym with him to do some training. I said I would if I didn't have to kick my ass to get back from some long-ass drive. So now, I'm starting up at one of the local gyms to grow...physically. I've been creating the best possible diet one can when on the road and between places; it pretty much consist of fresh fruits, some mixed nut/grains, and protein in either powder form, eggs, or chicken. Along with some select vitamins and other related supplements, I'm thinning and growing with the 1/2-3/4 work-outs I've managed between driving to work in the mornings. I pretty much drive to the gym in the town I'm working at so I can work-out before my scheduled time.


Otherwise, it doesn't happen! Especially when I don't get back home till after 8:00 PM most days I work. So, not much of a life from that standpoint. But, like I mentioned to a few people, it's improving. It's just a matter of time before most things will be closer to a normal life, and with it hopefully new beginnings. I'm optimistic about it cause I feel it in the air even when I have the periodic freak-out that begs to wonder, "What the hell am I doing here?!"

I had it pretty fair in my home town apart from the long-distance relationship I was in the last year. I live here now, and it is exactly where I'm supposed to be-otherwise it wouldn't have happened. All things happen for a reason because they are written by the same hand. When we can come to terms with this, we are able to understand the connectivity in all the things around us and in our own lives. We can see the connection from start to finish and understand, more clearly sometimes, why things are the way they are. There is peace in that, but there also comes with it the responsibility to ones self to improve so we can play our part of the 'puzzle' well. I just went all philosophical on you. I guess that's the mood I'm in this morning. It could very well be that the BLUE MOON is gonna be out tonight! It's a second full moon this month. I guess it might be crazy out tonight!! We'll see. LOL. This is the week review. Let's see what the weekend has to offer. #GetAdjustedToTheGoodLife #Whatsmissinginthispicture #Californiadreaming

Monday July 27..and,.."No And Then!" Updated 10:42 PM

Monday sometimes comes sooner than you want...or at least they feel like they do. I guess I feel like that cause I was working Saturday at yet another clinic in the far off distance that I have never been! LOL. Every day has been a bit of a windy road, with new things and places to see. It's what I do for now. When it was over, I finally figured out what happens behind those overly tall shrubs in Beverly Hill and Santa Monica--Croquet!! I kid you not. People team up and get all competitive, even with a margarita or two, and duke it out on the croquet field.

It just so happen that one of my newer friends in this neck of the woods was invited to one of these events and was thoughtful enough to invite me along. I was a little nervous at first recalling other commentary from my park ranger friend and how she feels I fair in some social environments. "Ah, you'll be fine. I don't know anyone there but the host." She said mildly laughing at me as if I might actually feel shy. Hahaha.

We listened to music and sang random lyrics to songs together that you'd hear on what is now a classic new station, but I know them as 80s music. We talked about the issue of happiness, toxic people, how to or what we were presently doing with people that are family members that fall under the 'toxic' label. I happen to have a whole discussion on the topic the day before with a therapist I was sitting next to at burger shop. The short part of the discussion was there seemingly is no real rhyme or reason for how someone becomes or can be a toxic person to another. What is clear, is that a person, whether consciously or unconsciously, activates some part of another person's mental/animal instinct that most people don't experience as pleasant or have enough experience with (or too many), and the person involved becomes the problem, even if it was not them that created the original negative experience and attached behavior. It gets complex with all of the social, internal, and cognitive conditioning that goes along with it, but it is interesting.

Later, we left after making small talk and not winning the croquet event and just drove home. She had family to attend, and I needed to rest up a bit to make the karaoke scene in Santa Monica and see a few old friends. We took the scenic route back, which I guess was a former biking route for her but in my years of learning the area previously, was my back door escape to the beach. We talked. We laughed. We talked about relationships. I mentioned a new job opportunity that had been presented to me. We talked about intentions people have in friend groups. We discussed how we met, and the people involved and the other people involved and the roles they played in our lives at the present. I mention my email to K.C. and the actual letter to her father that at any point in time made me feel like I did the right thing, but at times made me wonder about the very topic on how people are part of a plan. We don't know what role they play in our lives or even what role we play in theirs. It could be that they are there to help guide you or the opposite-you guiding them by helping the other stay the course or remember why they started the journey in the first place. She disliked this particular worldview that I maintain about people, but maybe now she can appreciate it some.


As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been in the forest of life with periods of blindness due to my own humanity and its needs. Knowing this, I've had my hand on the proverbial hilt of my sword on the ready. You never know when you might have to cut through things, connections, or as necessary cut through the bullshit people give you with samurai precision and ninja stealth. Unfortunately, I'm good at this...wielding the sword. But I also know I have rage and anger that I've inherited; they are the two emotions anyone can have trouble knowing friends from foe when they lose control of them. These are the times that I look for the peace in situations, and there, in the passenger seat of pretty much a stranger, I let the sword go, and I grabbed her hand for just a moment...just long enough to come back into the moment and our conversation from the recesses of my mind. I told her I was just affirming her in her life process by the gesture. LOL. Maybe... We laughed some more and decided we would work on more adventurous things to do.

When I finally made it back to Santa Monica after my mild rest, the karaoke place was virtually empty. This only means one thing: experimental song night! Whenever there's no one in the place, it's the best time to try out new music or work on old music that needs a little more finesse! LOL. So I sang U2's Where The Streets Have No Name at the request of the karaoke host, and then I followed by singing an Eagle's song I hadn't actually sang in public before, The Best Of My Love (click to hear music). The lyrics made sense to me. They explained what had been happening in my former relationship not too many month ago leading up to the marathon experience, and the song came out virtually 40 years ago! WTF. Eventually I ended up talking to a gal that grew up in my step-father's home town in Mexico. She was pretty much floored that I knew most of the landmarks, store-owners or their children now running them, and other random historical information. It was on these streets that I began to become 'street' smart. I learned how to use a sling-shot, and most importantly, it was there that I learned how to sing mariachi music that lead to my being fluent in Spanish. How small the world is. I left early so I could get in some sleep, and so I could getup today to write this weekend wrap-up. There it is.

More Minnesotans Means...July 24, 2015 Updated 8:20 PM.

It's really early today at a few minutes past 6:00 AM. I was exhausted from yesterday's drive and struggled to stay awake after cooking dinner, but eventually I gave into it....sleep. The only trouble is when I pass out anytime before 10:00 PM is that I'm awake at first light or sooner. Yup. I can only stay in bed longer when I have a special someone near me, but even then, I can barely stay put much past 7:00 AM on my days off. So, I'm up.

The week was much different than the last few weeks. I had an actual schedule of places I needed to be at for client services, and I had a few unexpected visitors from the Homeland. Yup. The tall blond drink of water is an associate from Minneapolis that I met one day at "Starbucks" while on my way into the office. We had missed each other at every event the affiliate office we worked at ran in her work place the Bentley Dealership. Wouldn't you figure that she saw I was here on FB and wanted to grab lunch. This is where the new schedule was helpful.

I've been asked to assist at a clinic still in the far off distance three half days starting at 3:00, which could mean like starting around 1:45 might get me there in time depending on traffic. We met on Wednesday, and it just turned out she was visiting other people from the Homeland. Between the three of us, we managed lunch, and eventually the blonde and me ended up on Muscle beach were I left her to get to the airport later while I left for work. It's always good to be around your people.

Later that night on my way from work, I drove up the PCH-Pacific Coast Highway. As I drove, I thought about all the miles I had run along the same beach ways and where the road would eventually lead me if I kept driving past my exit over the hills-Zuma. I was tempted to go and run some, but I thought to stop instead and grab a bit to eat before I went to the grocery story...cause going grocery shopping can become disastrous on an empty stomach! LOL.

Cafe Havana was the spot. When I got there, the place had a few peculiar people running around it. I took an open spot at the bar counter so as to not suck up a table and look like I was there by myself, which I actually was. It's pretty much the usual. The entire bar staff was blonde with different colored eyes and one guy. After an order of guacamole and chips, a strangely familiar man took the stool next to me. I didn't want to stare, but I thought it was Ethan Hawkins. I made small talk with him like I might normally and laughed about the weather and mentioned I was from Minnesota (Cause I want people to know that for some reason. LOL.) He laughed and eventually introduced himself as Chris. But, the more I looked at him, I'm sure it was Josh Brolin.

He didn't say this to me, but it later came up in conversation after the one of the tall gals from behind the counter said, "Did you say you were from MN? Cause I'm from Minneapolis!" I laughed and felt a mild level of relief that I was there with someone that I didn't even know that was from my home town. For whatever the reason, that made me feel connected. It's dumb. I know. It was then she asked if I was gonna stay for karaoke at which my ears perked up. I told her I might as we talked more about how we, respectively, ended up there..in Malibu. She eventually invited me to come and watch her and her volleyball peeps play ball one of these weekends. I thought, "Yes..and my name is Bodi." As if somehow playing volleyball was the same as surfing, and I was magically becoming Keanu Reeves or Patrick Swayze. Eventually, I heard my name said over the speakers.."Fil Thunder," and I left to grab the MIC. As has been the case lately, I started out with the POLICE's Every Breath You Take song. It's going on my cover album, Over The Edge, along with a few other classics. So why not practice some publicly.

As the music started to play, a mild clap of approval came out of the crowd. I felt a moment of terror, but as my Que came onto the screen, the words just came out...near perfect. The bartender watched closely between giving drinks out I noticed out of the corner of my eye. Other people caught in their conversations paused a bit to turn and listen, and I thought of her..my short blond gal. This was largely due to the fact that one exactly her size, hair color and demeanor  was at a table looking directly at me. "Yikes!" I thought as emotions filled me! I looked back at her for a moment only to gain further relief; I had sent K.C. the email I had agonized for over a week in not sending. LOL. I had sent it, and it was now the Universe that was going to have to do it's thing...or not. I laughed in between parts of the song saying random but very specific things to the crowd as if we knew each other or they had come to see me sing that night.

When it was over, I went back to my seat at the bar counter to be met with a complimentary cocktail by the Minnesota girl. "Nice job," she said. I thanked her for the compliment. The bar started to fill with gals from Pepperdine or somewhere from the area because what followed was more of a drunken rave with body parts showing and hardly enough room to move, but it didn't stop me from taking the MIC one last time to sing a C.C.R. song, "Have you ever seen the rain?' It was then that I said something I'm sure I could blame on the night. Hahaha. "I"m not meteorologist, but I'm sure it's raining bitches!" I said because clothes and tops from most of the gals had come off and were being thrown around but definitely in my general direction. Thank God the song was short because I was seeing way more booty and breasts than I'd seen at a nude beach or in my real life as of late. It was clearly time to leave, but not before one of the gals planted her hand on my left butt cheek and kissed me. "Nice F'n song," she said and walked away. It's true.

The next morning, which was foggy and full of mist it seemed, was refreshing. The air actually smelled fresh and not 'fishy'. I had to drive the PCH to work as my WAZE app instructed to avoid traffic. That's how my week went beyond long drives and wonderment! Let's see how the weekend goes...LOL.

The Home Land, July 17, 2015 : Updated 7/19/15 7:00 PM

It's Friday July 17, 2015 and it's just after 7:00 AM. The sun is out. The streets are still wet from last night's rain, and the clouds are thinning meaning that tonight will be pretty much like my other night out-perfect (almost)! Yup. It's been an interesting visit with family health affairs, and just being back home after six weeks. Yes, it's been six weeks that I got in my jeep and drove across the country to 'follow up' on a girl like Matt Damon did in Good Will Hunting. Since then, the job and my life have been working a little better, but it's not how it started out; I'll write an entry specifically on that topic-by the name "Good Fil Hunting", but not today.

Now that I'm home, as is usually the case, my Mexican talent was requested to help with a few home projects at one of my close friends on her new home purchase. And although I'm good at a lot of stuff, I really shy away from it namely because I have to protect my hands and wrists from injury but also because I'm home for a few days....and I'd rather be out enjoying stuff and socializing as much as one can given the background to the trip. Some people's way of socializing is more of a doing experience, and for my Finnish friend, it means moving stuff around and putting on the work gloves. She's been a good friend to me over the years, and I felt it was the least I could do for her. Apart from the two inch slice into my left thumb that may or may not need stitches, it was an 'O.K.' experience! LOL.

Since I've been home, I can't help but notice the exponential number of good looking women walking around and how many of them are seemingly 'interested' in wanting to talk. I guess that could just be the MN nice thing! LOL.

"So now what?!" It's a question that I've been asking myself the last few weeks that I've been California Dreaming, because as much as I was convinced over the years leading up to my departure that I wanted to be back to the land of milk and many honies. In the end of it, I only wanted one, and I spent the better part of this year bridging the gaps, over-coming the hurdles till we had a very different reason...I had a different reason to come back. Now, she's not available to me because of us. The "working-out of things" as was the part of the reason for my return has been over-whelming. So back to basics.

I think of these types of life events in terms of a four-legged table that make up the any given person's life: a job, a place to live, your health, and someone to share the experience. You can mange to recreate two of the three as long as you have a job or a place to live. If you lose more than two, you have to consider your options for survival depending on the one you have left. I found myself doing this not just 2.5 years ago, and I ended up moving back to Minnesota where I had family and some friends, and maybe a chance to reconstruct everything that I had lost. Recovery; Surviving & Reconstructing the Dream. 

Once you have two back, which for me was my health and a job, I managed to figure out where to live, and eventually that lead to me being available to actually land a gal that was potentially worth it: The Pursuit of Happiness. I'm not saying that happiness is tied to one or the other of these, but your odds of being happy definitely go up when you have all the basics. These are the key elements to a life worth living: food, shelter, mate, and your health. When I sit and read through my story as I've had to do, I'm not sure anymore that those are the only components that make life worth living or may facilitate happiness. Maybe they don't get one to that state of feeling fulfilled in what one has achieved or shared or managed when it comes to the basics. I'm not settled on this as of late, but I'm optimistic about it.

Then maybe, we have to consider other things beyond our senses or one entity that draws upon them all to guide us when we're lost, and I'll be honest, there have been some days when I don't know what I'm doing anymore or where I'm going because I'm still lost in that forest of life Ive had with K.C. The way out of it, the forest, has been hard to see because I've been blinded by my own humanity and its needs. This is when we need to do one of two things: find the silence ...the peace in the storm and listen for it..the drumming sound that comes from the Universe so it can guide your steps. There's a race for time here because one's circumstances can overwhelm them before the clarity of it can be found; unfortunately, one can make some fatal mistakes in the attempt to just breath.

I thought about an elderly gentleman today because I'm here in the neighborhood where I lived before I left to Cali the first time in 2007. His name was Tom. One day he asked if I knew how he might get a rent reduction to which I said I didn't know. We'd talked a good deal over the year, and he seemed like a down to Earth kind of guy. He mentioned along the way that he had made some gross financial calculations and hence the need for some rent reduction. I didn't think much about at the time. A week later he jumped off of a 6 story parking ramp ending his life. This bring us to the other less attractive options when deal with life or being lost in it...the forest-- checking-out figuratively and in some instances literally. This is the way life is for some people, one option seems just as reasonable as any other in the mist. One loses their will or the strength to go forward, and then nothing.
I've grown tired, and I have a hard time hearing the drum beat so I can find the way out. I thought I found it again recently...enough silence to listen, and I think I've found it...the pathway out. So let's see what the next few weeks will bring. I'm waiting for the signs or that my eyes are opened so I might see them at least. We'll see cause it's great to be back in Minnesota.

Manic Monday July 13, 2015

It's Manic Monday, and I actually have the day off apart from some client development activities earlier in the AM. Yes, the weekend flew by with any number of experiences from dancing (I mean kinda) at one of the local restaurant/bar spots, work, running along the beach, reading, and trying to figure out why I've had so many random periods of that strange feeling that 'something is wrong.'

Yup, I actually took the time to read through a few things I was asked to by my publisher for clarity on different parts of the stories. I'll be honest, it's the first time that I've read through them since I took down The Pursuit of Happiness (Click to go to story) last May. It is presently available to read without the extras going into the actual published edition. Reading through it was only slightly emotional. I actually experienced more laughter out of parts of it than I had thought before the April 1st section. The things you forget about and how random they seem when placed into the story format, but, then again, that's real life...random. I mean we have plans, and do things, but right in the middle of what you think is happening, something unexpected happens, and that's what makes life interesting. It tests your character when randomness happens to you, and hopefully you do well in how you respond.

One thing to note, you actually have to participate in life. You have to get out of your place and let the sun hit your face. Or, a random branch just like the one I found on my jeep this morning. Nothing can happen to you if you don't get outside and live. Remembering this small detail, I went out Friday night. It was different than what I had planned, but I'm flexible when it comes to people cause you never really know what to expect. I was surrounded by people drinking, dancing, and hawking in some instances (guys trying to pick off drunk chic they thought were alone). It was fun, but when I had a moment and was able to look into the sky, I really just felt like I was there on my own. I was there with a few people, but we only really know each other from that place and loosely through mutual friends. This is when I had one of those overwhelming something is wrong moments. I thought, "This can't all just be me." Having had similar experiences of it in the past only to have my former significant experiencing the same thing; we were often both mildly surprised the other knew something was up.

I was gonna text her, and see if she was cool, but I didn't. I went back to the dance floor to shake off the sentiment instead with one of the gals I showed up with that apparently needed to use me as a dance poll or just someone to keep her from falling to the floor. It was in that moment that I realized I should've been having the time of my life, "I've got a hot chic grinding on my leg. The music is good, and I'm in California, and the weather is near perfect. But something feels wrong. Something is off, and I think I know what it is." I thought to myself but kept holding on to the gal dancing with me largely so she didn't bite it from her one too many drinks! LOL.

When the time came, I politely walked the gal and her people over to the valet stand and dismissed myself. It took everything in my being to not grab my phone and call her if only to know she was OK, but I drove home. I somehow didn't want to be wrong and come across to her as annoying. And even though we've spoken about those exact sensations in the past and not just trying to 'be strong' and not call, we agreed that we should...cause you never know. The rest of my weekend was tainted by this. I felt I didn't do my end of the deal even if I was more or less honoring our verbal agreement. My resolve to it was to write her an email stating the above, and all the things that lead up to it-that somethings wrong feeling-hoping it was just me. Hahahah.

I went about my normal work schedule on Saturday and Sunday crafting that email, changing it, putting information in and then taking it out, but eventually I just let it simmer, and I ran the beach run way on Sunday. I made it to my buddy Tim's 2nd Sunday musician gathering to see some interesting music performances. It was a good Sunday fun day. Periodically, I look at my phone wondering. Tim and me made it out to have a drink before I headed over to karaoke, and we talked about the Over The Edge project and the tracks that I want to cover by the end of July, but in the end we decided to get together and go over the calendar dates for things when I returned. We laughed it off, and I left for Santa Monica to meet up with my other buddy Fallon for karaoke.

It was a great night. The weather was perfect, and it has been the last few days on the whole! The place was actually slow for a Sunday. I was surprised, but it just meant I could work on some Eagle's songs that I hope to include on my cover album. Some where along the way a gal walked up to me while I was sitting outside on the bench taking in the night's weather and started yapping at me. She's from NY she informed me but had moved to the area for a production job. When she found out I was from Minneapolis, she laughed informing me that her last boyfriend was from there! Small world it seemed! Later, she approached me again when I slipped out to the bench and gave me her number so I could "call her." I laughed thinking to myself, "It's cause I'm a Midwest guy...isn't it?!" I agreed I'd give her a holler when I got back from my trip up to the Home Land, but in the meantime, I was busy till I left. Then, I just left the karaoke scene all together and drove home as I had in the past.

The drive was as it always is at that time of the night--smooth with virtually no traffic. As I passed various landmarks along the roadway, the sensation came over me again as if to remind me of past moments making the same drive to KC's place for the night. Except I wasn't driving to her place; I was driving to mine if only a few miles away. Maybe the sensation made the landmarks stick out to me versus them bringing out the sensation again. I wasn't sure which was the case, but she was on my mind, and it again took all of my will power to do nothing.

When I made it home, I hit my bed like I had just run a marathon from the exhaustion of adjusting people five straight days in a row and the mental debate I was having with myself on why not to email or send a text to KC. Over 175 people got adjusted in one way or another. I was out instantly. When I woke, most of what I dreamed I remembered some of which was KC and me talking about what was happening with her and how our being stubborn and not wanting the other to know was ridiculous. LOL. I laughed, and then I made my way out to start another Manic Monday.

The experience on the whole left me edgy until I was sitting in the passenger seat of one of my new local friend's posh SUV. It was only for those few moments that I was actually calm. We hiked, and ended up having a burger at one of the local Malibu spots I hit up now and then. In the end, I had a great time hiking around and getting to know my hiking companion's life story till then. When she dropped me off, I went to the gym wondering if I should've called or sent that email to KC. I'm not sure, so I thought to write about it here and at least let it out into the open. Meh. I'm gonna be home, Minnesota, soon, so maybe things will be just fine.

It's Friday. Friday. Friday...but I'm working tomorrow.

Well it's Friday, just before the wonderful work day starts, and I just drove nearly two hours to get to it...the office that I'm servicing today! LOL. In the background of all the traffic, I kept hearing an old Eagles tune to keep my mind off of it-the drive. "Well I'm running down the road trying to loosen my load. I've got seven women (really just four) on my mind. Four of them want to hold me (just two), two of them want to stone me (likely just one), and one says she's a friend of mine (at least three of them)! Take it easy..Take it easy..Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy!" It's true....kinda.

The gal on the left, Ranger Mel, has become a fairly close friend of mine over the last couple of months even though it feels like I've know her much longer. The gal on the right, is the fourth of July Midwesterner that went to fireworks with me. I'll leave her anonymous presently, but the two of them were out giving the local guys a hard time for any number of reasons while remembering that all of us have some basic needs, and that eventually lead to my being texted to join them for a drink. I figured it was more my friend Mel that was asking and not the two of them wanting to clear the air between the three of us as I started to ask for some of the ER doc's time if she had it. I figure, "What the hell." I'm not always interested in doing things by myself (That's not how it was supposed to happen when I got to Cali), but I do; I just prefer not to be a desperado all of the time. LOL. So the male/female thing that happens between single people that are all essentially "out on the market" happens even when you don't intend it to, and it should mean that people can have a good time until you need to have a talk or do something about it. Just sayin.

The rest of the week was smoother than I thought it was going to be leading up to today...Friday. I'll let ya know how the weekend goes on Monday, and the next day, I'll be coming home!!! Hell yes.

Holiday Weekend, Fireworks, & The Book.....

It's the end of another holiday weekend, and I'm in the land of milk and honey, or as it really is the 'land of milk and many honies. The time is just after 6:00 AM this glorious Monday morning...cloud cover, cool air, and just the right amount of moisture in the air to make breathing easy. It's becoming harder for me to actually know where I am in the mornings except for the palm trees and all the California plates everywhere. Yup. It's great weather just like it is back in the Home Land. I was supposed to be there this weekend, but a schedule conflict and other events pushed out my trip till later this month.

So, by luck of the draw, I was here in the parking lot of my other neighborhood Starbucks store in Thousand Oaks with another Midwesterner that, like me, doesn't have family to go grill out with, had to work most of the day, and is essentially new to town. We thought to share the time and get to know each other more than just passing ships in the night versus the other option--sitting at home doing nothing alone and wondering. The picture is one of many colors that lit the sky, and how the night ended, but certainly not how the day started....

Saturday began by my buddy Fallon's Dog barking. I ended up passed out the night before on the sofa, a more familiar crash spot since the LA Marathon. We stayed up watching a documentary on the Eagles and having some Mexican food as we figured out if we should really consider putting a band together beyond us singing...ya know... like have a guitarist, a drummer, and someone to play bass. We've been talking about it for just over a year now. Well, it's been me talking about it and getting Fallon on the bandwagon. But, after playing him the track that I cut at my other buddy's place, Tim, I think he saw some possibility. It wasn't that he doesn't think I know how to sing. I think it's just getting the horse to the recording studio and making it happen. That's why people need managers!! LOL.

As usually is the case, I woke up with a sense of urgency, but I gradually put it in check and made my way over to grab a coffee before a run down the Venice walk/bike way. By then, the roads were already packed with people trying to get to the beach for a holiday experience an watch the parade. I thought about my very recent beach experiences with other locals and my former only to laugh cause it's what I thought I would be doing this holiday (going to the beach), but I got to run instead. The run was cleansing physically and mentally. It felt good. It was only made better with the number of songs I downloaded from the Eagles to go over before the next day's karaoke session. I got some of that Peaceful, Easy Feeling (Click for the video) back for the first time in a long while, and it let me breathe again.

Eventually, I made it home to clean out my Jeep in case I actually had a guest in it for the night's activities. LOL. I'll be honest, I didn't know if she was actually gonna show up or not. As men, any good outing is graduated by this small point, the girl showing up!! Anything after that is really just honey to sweeten the pot. Med pros can be delayed in leaving work if something serious comes in, and being it was a holiday weekend, it was busy. Not to mention we had only connected the day before; so, meeting up for a burger and a beer and maybe watch the fireworks seemed fun as neither of us had anything better to do.

After discovering that most places I thought to go to were closed for the holiday, we ended up at BJs Bar & Grill. I walked in and made my way to the bar checking for a short, blonde, and petite gal along the way (cause ya never know...I could happen. Hahaha.). To my relief, the bar counter was largely empty. The bartender, another green eyed gal from Minneapolis, was mildly surprised to see my ID, and like happens every other time I run into a Homelander, we instantly decide we should exchange information to meet up again and tell the other person how we escaped! The lack of genuine people will do that to Midwestern people; we just want to believe people are like us when in fact they probably could care less. It's true. We laughed a bit as I waited for a tall dark haired woman to make the scene, and when she arrived, I strangely felt relieved. I have no idea why. Maybe I was just afraid of being alone considering where I was, and as most of you know, I have no issues being alone. I guess I'll have to think about that a little more.

After some back and forth on how she ended up there from Michigan and me from Minnesota, we laughed, finished our drinks, and made our way out to Starbucks for some coffee and dessert. It turns out that any of those parking lots were where people in the immediate area staged themselves to watch the fireworks. It was cool and became even better when the fireworks finally started. It seemed we had a lot in common and were politely surprised by the others' actual person beyond what we knew of each other. She did ask if we were on a date to which I was quick to call it a social outing! LOL. Calling it a "date" implied there was some intention to go somewhere with it--the outing. If you take that off, the 'dating' title, the pressure is off, and you can just chill. Admittedly, I was much more interested in her after the outing, but we'll see. Dive bars and karaoke is in our near future it seems! LOL.

There is definitely something safe about being from the Midwest and being with someone that's also from there. It's as if you have an understanding of life, its seasons, and an anticipation of new things on the horizon no matter how good or poor the last season was. I guess that's why the bartender was happy to see my ID and thought that maybe we could meet up sometime just to shoot the crap about her experience here thus far. I've said it before to a lots of people and my closer people that California is beautiful and big, but she is also hard, and at times challenging to deal with. Once you can navigate yourself in it, California and it's culture, life gets much easier. Till then, you learn.... a lot! LOL.

On a different but related topic, I've started the process of getting my story to book format by sending it to various publishers. A few of them got back to me, and one, Dorrance Publishing, presented me with the best package deal that will not only make it digitally available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, but also in formats compatible for the Nook, and other digital readers. They will market it on all of the available outlets available. They informed me that the work had been accepted and that they would like to present me with the opportunity to be one of their authors as an autobiographical and inspirational piece. I think I was driving when I got that email (phone call later the same day). I nearly drove off the road from my eyes watering from what seemed to be an all encompassing sensation of relief. It's the best word I can use to describe that sensation. The book will be available this late Fall 2015 as one story in three sections with pictures, commentary, and time-line of events charts. It's true. "And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (The Bible.)." I"ll keep you posted as the process progresses.

"Land of the free. Home of the brave."

It's Friday, and the lead up to a 4th of July weekend! I was gonna be home for it, but it turns out I had to work and a few other things came up. However, today and tomorrow, which never really happens to me as of late, I'm off!! It really just means that I'm going to hit the gym, run, and lay down a cover track the next few days that will hopefully be available on YOUTUBE. It's been a project that I've been working on for a few months, but it got put on the back burn for a while. I wanted to surprise everyone with it, especially my former, but it turns out recording music "en vivo" or in the studio is harder than you think. Either way, with some luck and some harder work today, I'll get another one of the songs done.

The forth of July weekend is the day we as American's remember what makes our nation great and that not so old notion of 'hard work' can and does pay-off. It is the day that we say yes to 'freedom' and 'no' to being told what and how to live our lives by and large. Take a moment and think about all you have. All that you can do, and all that you could do if you wanted.....and listen to our National Anthem somewhere......

"O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

We are those people....the free....and the brave.

Enjoy the days ahead and stay safe if you're in America!

#GetAdjustedToTheGoodLife