Black Friday: Thanksgiving and Jewish Persecution...!?!

 Friday! Friday! Friday! T.G.I.F.  Hahahaha. It's another Friday  weekly review of Rants from a Midwest Guy In The Land of Milk And Honey and Weekend Wrap Up. It's Black Friday, and some places have been open for hours. Even yesterday, Thanksgiving day, I saw people lined up outside of places getting ready for the Midnight Madness sales commonly affiliated with the biggest shopping day of the year. I participated in it last year with my brother so I could get a cover for my comforter but mostly did it for the family bonding time. Seeing the lines this year more or less made me wonder if people are commercially programmed into thinking they're in need of "STUFF" and go out and spend money they may or may not have, or if people actually plan on the sales in preparation for the gift giving season or things they just need for themselves. I'm inclined to think there are both types of shoppers in a disproportionate percentage. I just wonder, "Why?" Why is it so important to wait till now to go out and stand in line for hours in what can be really frigged weather to get gifts for people or things you might actually need when you likely could've just got it on-line for a deal all along?! 

I totally get it if you actually need something and maybe it just happen to be close enough to the sale season to get it, but otherwise people seem to do just fine without those things. In so far as the 'show your appreciation of someone' side of things, wouldn't it be just as appreciated to get a gift for whatever reason any other time of the year versus wait till Christmas?! I guess the family aspect of it is important, but the need for gift giving as the symbolic reminder from Christianity that God gave His son for what essentially was his own rule enforcement versus actually being flexible or forgiving or even merciful as He is stated to be, but He apparently doesn't, he had to kill his own son to make up for his personality issues sometimes known as sociopathic behavior. People just don't want to believe their main focus of life and afterlife insurance policy is actually not only forgiving but unforgiving. This is a theological discussion my college friends' hair stand up with when I present the other side of an 'almighty, all powerful, and all knowing' God. 

So we're caught in the perpetual social catch 22 in the buying season. We're told that we celebrate the Christian theme by practicing gift giving on that day for that reason or others but essentially that one. The corporations have capitalized on it making our antiquated notion that we need to give in order to receive and our practice of it or non-practice of it has been tied to our personal worth and value. The more we give to someone, the more valuable they perceive themselves to be in turn increasing our value in their perspective and so forth. But is that the real meaning of Christmas or is the Christian theological notion of 'balancing out our sin' the cause of all the warm and fuzzy shopping accidents that happen on black Friday?! Hard to say, but I like the hot chocolate, the excuse to spend money on someone that I care about (even though I do this all the time without a reason), and the holiday music and movies.

Jewish Persecution......
That topic aside, I was fortunate to spend the holiday at one of my Minnesota friend's dinner for other orphans like myself living in California. The dinner was wonderful, and the 'wonderous' slush was likely the cause of me wanting to through the towel in early that night. It was fun until one of the guest pointed out to some of us in one of the rooms that we were all wearing crosses in some piece of jewelry. She later stated it was religious overload because of her "Jewish" background. Somehow, this white woman went on about her Jewish heritage and being oppressed, and all things she never actually had to experience herself but was essentially programmed by her mother that "had to change her name to  a non-Jewish one so she wouldn't be discriminated against," essentially convinced her was happening to her also! Ha. I thought. I white woman having a social reaction in her early 40's in a house full of people that could've cared less must be part of the reason she lives in San Francisco and has been single for one too many years. The me remind you it was the German's that killed the Jews..not the American Christian. It was the Jews that killed Jesus...not the Germans. So, I almost lost it that she felt she was part of a religious minority  that was oppressed but in fact are the wealthiest group of people in the world, are largely white, and generally are exclusive of non-Jewish people. I could only say to her, "You should try being Mexican sometime, and then see if you feel you're still 'persecuted'!" It was then that I thought I should leave so I didn't begin to intellectually persecute her for her mental non-sense. LOL. 

The weekend.....
As has been the case for a couple of months, I work Saturday's. I usually try and have some kind of productive morning involving coffee, emails, and the gym. Last Saturday was no different. I got up at 6:00 AM and went to my local Starbucks, worked on my blog, and when I felt the time was right, I made my way up to the gym to warm up for the day. Doing chiropractic work is a physically demanding job, and if I don't get in a good stretch and mild cardio, I'm hard pressed to be full awake to work on upwards of 40 people average.
Some mornings I'll do a  3/4 work-out of a body region including my abs, and what I work on depends on what office I'm working. It was a shoulder morning. I go between doing stationary machines to cable work to free-weights depending, again, on the muscle group and how much of the workout is gonna get done. I usually rotate which end of it I'm going to start with, but that day, I did stationary work. The photo below was my post-turkey eating check-up at 2:00 AM.....almost there. 

As I counted and breathed, my concentration was on the pole right in front of me facing the direction of the free weights. Admittedly, the scenery can be very motivating at times, but today it was more or less empty except for a hair dew that looked familiar to me. The more I worked on my shoulders I noticed a pair of eye balls looking my direction from that hair dew in the mirror reflection. "Ahh..KC." I thought and smiled but continued to work out as if I hadn't noticed her. Eventually she ended up right behind me by a few feet. It was actually nice and neutral as our experiences should be. Our shared interest in fitness was one we never really got to do together as one of her past boyfriends made her elect to not share the activity with me, but it's definitely another thing people should have in common. She did her Abs, and I did my shoulders, which made me wonder if she really didn't think it was me cause she set herself up right next to me. I guess it's possible cause I've grown my muscles some....a lot. LOL. Eventually I ended up on my way out the door, and made my to work thankful for the experience...because your interactions with people are like marbles that go into their memory bank..the more positive or neutral ones you have, the more happy you can be seeing someone. More importantly, you can reprogram some of the negative programming they've done on your behalf. So, it was good. That's the story.. Until next time, the the news from a Midwest guy living in the land of milk and honey. Current Life Sound Track..Broken Wings by Mister, Mister

Friday! There & Back Again..A Visit To The Homeland! Updated 12/14/15 08:55 AM

Friday! Friday! Friday! T.G.I.F.  Hahahaha. It's really Sunday, but better late than never. It's another Friday and the first combo writing piece of the weekend review and weekly Rants from a Midwest Guy In The Land of Milk And Honey. That being the case, there are a few things to talk about from my visit home and a few of the people, outside of family, that I had the opportunity to spend some time with. In a nut shell, people cried different tears...tears of joy...tears of sorrow...tears of happiness...and tears of remembrance. I can't remember the last time I had that many people cry with me or near me, but I guess I was the guy they felt they could let a few go with... Yikes!! So let's get into it!

As I mentioned on my last weekly review, I usually fly on Delta's Red-eye flight home because there's usually no traffic getting to the airport', long-term parking area shuttles are waiting to drive anyone to the airport with a high level of frequency, and, more importantly, there is no line at the security check point. Although, there was a noticeable increase in police presence everywhere at the airport because of the attacks in Paris. One of the gate agents recognized me from all of my coming and going in the last year. It's nice to have someone wave you through even though there was no line. I laughed a bit informing him I had finally transitioned over to California and was now visiting Minnesota for a change. LOL. 

The flight was typical. I was given an aisle seat near business class and managed to pass-out before the flight left the gate until I felt it speed up and start to ascend. Then, the person next to me kept me up with 'accidental' warming gasses. I mean..if I could've lit a match, CNN would've  sold it as a domestic terrorist attach with the headline 'Woman's gas brings down an airliner." So it was a "sleep less" than I wanted to kind of flight.

Walking off the plane and getting home was refreshing and welcome. I only had a touch euphoria because it felt exactly as is has every time I this flight was the end of a visit to Cali. For a few moments, I had the sensation that I left my person (significant other) back in Cali, and I needed to get back to her. Strange, but it passed as I made my way through the airport. "Not any more I thought!!" Those days of needing to get back to California ended when I arrived in my Jeep at Zuma beach in Malibu May 31st, and now, I was just visiting. It felt good. I felt free. Since my return to Cali, I've only been home for family related affairs, the MN State Fair, and to grab or move the remaining bits of my books and personals I couldn't fit in my Jeep on the way out. 

All of it a pleasant memory for the most part largely because I focused on remembering those parts of it more than the less happy ones my former seemed to be struggling with not focusing on during the time leading up to our last meet up. She was, as I could barely find the words to tell her of the million things I thought in and after the moment, beautiful. The experience was freeing even if it had its ups and downs. I can do nothing or everything with anyone. And, as good as it felt in the aftermath analysis of the encounter, the sentiment was followed by anxiety and a concern for the vast openness of the future--one that I was only making decisions for myself versus ones that would be shared with someone(s) special, and the loneliness that it presented. I half smiled making my way to the airport rental car area flipping open one of the dating applications I re-opened to get back to it--being single. I had been dating all along, but I hadn't, and at times, still don't feel I was really free to..It's a Taurus thing I'm told. Hahahaha.

Unlike my experiences with dating in California where I'm apparently the wrong ethnic background (cause everyone is olive and dark haired!) in the Homeland, I'm exotic. And this only meant one thing--the rule of scarcity would apply to me in the very few days that followed. As predicted, my dating app lit up with matches and eventually messages from Minnesota women that were interested in meeting up for a drink and whatever else the night may offer. It was only 6:35 AM in the morning when I started swiping right! By the time I got my rental car, I had over a dozen matches and two messages! I couldn't believe it. I guess the Universe didn't want me to be lonely in my new 'mental' freedom that had just come to me a few days before at the grocery store. LOL 

The car rental place gave me two options, a Fiat or a over-sized SUV. Naturally I took the Fiat and was off to have coffee at my regular Starbucks place on Hennepin. Just before I arrived, I text my one of my close friends that I had arrived and would pick her up for breakfast. I offered mostly cause I wanted to drive the car around but also because her cat, NUPU, was on his death bed. My former's cat, LEO, passed during the aftermath of our very own April Fools Day loss. We shared a few moments of grief as we related about the rest of our losses in our last days together, but I never got to say good-bye to any of them. This time I did, and I didn't want to miss it for lots of reasons if not only to be there for my friend that had him for 15 years.

After I greeted all the regular Starbucks baristas and got my coffee, I left to picked up Ranta. Nupu was still moving around and eating just a little bit more from my arrival as if he had missed my presence over the last few months. He was on pain medication to ease his suffering and his eventual passing in the days that followed. Within a few minutes, we went to one of my favorite breakfast places--Al's Breakfast. After the traditional stand around and wait, we ate and eventually ended up at Midwest Mountaineering as we had in days past and over the years for me personally. It's been a good 20 year tradition of standing in the line, if there is one, getting on one of the 13 stools to order a cup of their expresso blend coffee, and whatever dish smelled the best to me.

If you've ever been there with me, I'm kinda a stickler for what works at a place after a few visits, and the two pouched eggs, covered with cheddar cheese sitting on top of hash browns and salsa is my meal of choice--it's called the JOSE! LOL. The place is located in Dinkytown and is usually packed. Part of the tradition used to being heckled by the line cook or counter guy till you either got your stool or you left because people don't realize it could be a while before you get that far. And that's part of the beauty of it! Hahahaha. After a fe more moments of seeing her home improvement projects, I left.

The only real important thing I needed to accomplish after breakfast was getting my mom to our meeting with her docs and get some things lined up for the after math of the surgery and a few health concerns leading up to it. The rest of my first day's activities involved getting my Airbnb rental keys, and answering a few of the random number of dating App messages I had received earlier in the day, and taking pictures. I find that I forget to take enough of pictures, and when I look back at the trips, I'm disappointed in what I ended with in the final count. That being said, I ended up at one of my other favorite taco places in Uptown, Chino Latino, to meet my friend and business partner Adam and his smoking wife Danni. We're old friends from graduate school, and one day after my arrival to Minnesota he asked if I would consider doing some work for him in his Edina office. We laughed, had a few drinks, and eventually went to our respective homes for an early night in...cause when you start with a red-eye flight, no sleep and end up at an early happy hour at 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM is a late night!

As we talked and I went over my Malibu role, and my last encounter with my former, I thought about the Edina role, and how I had planned on returning, in those days, back to California as soon as I could. As time moved forward faster than I thought, and Winter was upon me, it turned into the worst Winter 2013/14 of Minnesota history in 40 years. The three good things that came from that Winter: I met a gal that would later become a love interest; I fixed the heater on my Jeep, and one day a few months later on one of the heaviest of snow days in January 2014, a short blond gal walked into the Starbucks were I was sitting and asked if she could join me--her name is KC. Hahahaha.

My last encounter, as I recanted with Adam and Danni that had followed our story since its first day, with her was at one of our local grocery stores just few days before my visit to the Homeland. She, as much as I, was caught off-guard by my turning into the aisle that she was standing in. We jumped back just a bit when we realized it was us. Of all the things I wanted to say or ask about flashed through my mind, but I couldn't find the right words in the moment and I just looked at her before I said, "I'm at a loss of words at the moment." Followed by, "You look good. What's it been!? Four or five months since we talked to each other last?" She shrugged her shoulders in uncertainty attempting to get past the unrealness of the moment. But then again, she might've been trying to not participate in the small talk and let all of 'us' come out from within her so as to not be consumed by it. 

A million things seemed to be clicking in her head also evident by her changing demeanor as the minutes moved forward. She mentioned the flowers I sent her were hurtful. I apologized for the gesture hoping it might've had the opposite effect. "It was a good will gesture considering your non-response to anything I've written you." She was calm for a moment and followed with her explanation of her lack of communication with me. "I've haven't responded to you because it was what I felt was most healthy for me to do... so I can try and move forward." She continued with, "But I get reminders from you! I don't need reminders." She said in a normal even tone starting to become a touch more defensive. I thought, "Well, you might've been further along if we had gotten to do some of that talking we should've." But what I said was, "I'm just going to listen to whatever you have to say, but I'm only here because we had a plans that involved a baby we were gonna have (until we didn't) and an agreement that you backed out on in the aftermath. Do you remember that?"

Her response was typical of her over processing, and although I understood it, it was off base. Our agreement, the one that was part of my reason for moving to California, she called "BLACKMAIL". "Wait a minute. I had a blog I wrote and posted because of how illusive you were while you were pregnant and then how all of the people that should've know didn't know at all evident by their continued distancing from me as we were planning our life together. Don't you think that was a bit off? You wanted me to take it down after not having spoken to me in nearly a month (after April 1st). I only agreed and did take it down under the condition that you and me were going to do some grievance counselling with a professional if and when I moved to California. That's NOT blackmail." I dismissed it because there was no reason to try and reason with her versus just have a neutral experience to give her brain something different to process other than, "a negative one," which is what she seemed to have focused on in our silence. 

I attempted to change the conversation to calm her mind some by asking, "I know you keep things from your previous boyfriends as keep-sakes. Do you still have my things I left?" She wasn't sure what I meant by it, but eventually she got it. Trinkets she left in her living space, her cat, the sofa were all things/remnants from her previous relationships along with mine. It was then that she became paranoid that I was somewhat content to see her followed by her accusation of me stalking her. I asked her why she thought it pointing out that it wasn't true and that not too many months ago she thought I had flown to California for my birthday weekend, after she 'lost' our pregnancy, to wipe her off the face of the planet; and like now, it was her imagination and paranoia gone wild. She calmed again momentarily. 

The lack of actual dialog being between us only made her paranoia and anxiety worse like in the months past and the ones leading up to that moment. She said she had her reasons, but really she had none besides the fact that I was there in town, again, because of us. "I'm here because of you and me and us. And just because you think I'm doing anything other than living my lifed, is not gonna make me leave town or change my routine anymore than I have for you because that's not healthy for me...to run from you." I said it because she said I was not a 'healthy person'! Her response was calm, "I never asked you to leave town." Something she said with a slight tonal change in her voice and demeanor. When we met my birthday weekend, all of her perceived fears of her life being in danger disappeared, and we reconnected and essentially agreed we should talk as time moved forward till it hadn't. "Why are we not talking to help this out?" I asked so that the intensity of any run in was NULL and pleasant versus what she described as a physical reaction to me. The same could have happen a long time ago, but she didn't allow it, and neither of us any better for it.

She panicked and then went back to normal again, but not before she said, "I don't know why I'm discussing any of this with you. Why can't I walk away....? She seemed to ask herself rhetorically finally realizing how much time had passed since the initial moment.  "You really hurt me..... We were over, and then we were really over." I knew why she didn't just walk away from me the second she saw me in the isle, and I'm sure if she were honest with herself about it, she does too--there are things to resolve because behind them and through them healing can be found. That extreme range of emotions happens to you when you fail to have necessary communication with someone you have emotions with in the first place..and a connection. It was as if she were ashamed at what had happened between us. She had said it on more than one occasion that she was embarrassed she had to tell "some people" we were expecting. 

Perhaps she feared that she might actually connect with me again and not know how to feel considering our run into each other at the beginning of May, but it was already happening evident by her inability to walk away from me. She began making demands of me that I listened to her make but ultimately I was not going to honor most of because of her failure to participate and fulfill her part of our deal. As we walked away together for a moment, I mentioned she was gonna be famous. "The book is coming out, and you had every chance to participate and change my 'perspective' as you say it is on what took place and what happened. She was still struggling with all of it, and I felt compassion for her because I do want her to be well, happy, and more complete even in the exclusion of me. She asked that I not write about her or mention her in any of it, but it's too late. Me not doing so would require her to clean up the mess she created, the negative social collateral, to even out the social vibe. This would happen if we reconciled, but like little girls that cry "Wolf" too many times, she likely wasn't going to embarrass or shame herself to do it publicly. 

"The book is a true story and accounts for both our lives together, and it is part of my social defense and the deconstruction of the social collateral you created...we created." I thought as we walked toward the check-out lanes in our own directions. If she had actually read any of it, she would see the writing is my deepest effort to open her mind and change the filters we have for the other so as to see what had happened in a different light and perspective. No one can change even if they have, if you don't let them change in your mental perception of them. Before I left, I softly said to her, "It was good to see you Kelley. Take care of yourself." She turned slightly to acknowledge me and breathed deeply. Before I knew it, I was home to getting ready for my trip not fully processing the event. It was bound to happen sooner or later....our running into each other. It just turned out it was a full moon that night, and an orange fluffy cat that looks exactly like her Leo had been showing up at my front door in the days that preceded it. I guess. 

Monday finally came. It wasn't because I wanted to rush my trip, but rather because I wanted to see a gal I had only gone out on one date with two years ago! At the end of that night, something happened between us that I only got the explanation for during our visit. No! It wasn't sex. LOL. Beth moved to Rochester to complete her Fellowship and medical training. We had met at the LA Fitness in Uptown one day largely due to the 80s style leg warmers she had on that I had to say something to her about. We went to the British Advertisement Awards, and it was a really fun night. When we talked about it, on Monday, it turned out to be one of the funnest dates she'd been on. At the end of it, as I brought it up in our casual talk on the her sofa, I picked her up off of the floor and took in her hair's smell and apparently some of her Ora--we connected instantly ...or as some of my friends would say..realized we were connected and then were not sure what it was or what to do about it. As I continued my recollection of the event, Beth began to cry...almost uncontrollably....for minutes. I sat and listened, hugged her, and kissed her on the forehead and cheek as I had the first time we went out.  


She began to tell me the story of how her life was in turmoil when we went out back then, and that when it was all said and done, her choice to be single again after being married was empty. All of her planning, her hard work, and her achievement had brought her to the dream job, no more financial worry, and plenty to do everywhere, but it was all empty even with the guy she ended up dating the 14 months prior to us meeting. She meant this from the perspective that I mentioned above..now she was only making decisions that would affect her and no one else; it was a lonely experience and had been the entirety of her time in Rochester the last year. She became vulnerable to me in those moments, and remembering KC, I kept my mouth shut, and listened to her talk and share. In the aftermath, we agreed we would be friends for obvious reasons (She lives there, and I live here.), stay more in touch, and perhaps see what comes of our connection in the future if only an annual visit to the BA Awards. Other things, some stated and others unclear, were still in the way of it. I'm not so sure she really knew what those things are. Or, if they mattered, but we'll see. When the time came, I embraced her again and left. The 1.5 hour drive home was easy. The night ended with friends back in Minneapolis and a short talk with one of my former lovers that wanted to see me. We also decided we should be friends, and it turned out she was one of the three gals that didn't cry when seeing me! L.O.L. Then, it was my time to watch the cat overnight. 

I was fortunate to see NUPU before he couldn't move anymore on his own. I stayed with him on the sofa watching him take short breathes as people approaching the end of their life do. I talked to him when I woke periodically to see if he was still alive. He moved his ears to listen and would let out a breath from time to time. In his last hours, he was motionless, and then he passed. I filled with grief and sorrow watching him leave, but eventually I felt more relief because if he was suffering, it was now over. I got to be there for it, and that gave me peace getting to participate in his passing and eventual burial. Although I didn't quite understand my strong reaction to it at first, it gave me some indirect resolve on my losses with KC adding to the strange sensation of freedom I began to experience after our last meet. I politely informed Ranta as she made her way down to start her day that Nupu passed. She pet him and began crying. Another girl crying with me in it somehow! LOL. I guess it was my turn to be that friend. She wrapped him and later found a place to bury him in the yard as I was on my way home to California.


Getting home gave me the same sensation it did in years past when I was away visiting in Minnesota--subtle content that I had made it back. When I got to my jeep in the parking lot waiting for me to start it, I laughed. Relief came over me that I couldn't quite place. As usual, I park in the same letter and number that I do in any parking structure or area: 3C. The drive home was the same. Adel's HELLO began playing over the radio like a James Bond theme song to my real life, which at times feels like a movie. It was the music that played most of my trip especially when I woke or was getting ready to fall asleep, but this time it was my current life sound track for the drive. It's the same drive I've done for the last couple of years except this time I wasn't stressed to get back or excited to see anyone. It was just the drive home to where I live and where I keep my stuff. I thought of all of them...all of the people, especially the girls, that had come into and out of my life in the last three years and smiled. They all had their part in my arrival to that very moment in time, and whatever part I got to play in theirs lives, I can only hope was more good than anything else even in the difficult situations. All things are one and written by the same hand. 

Hello, it's me.

I was wondering if after all these 'months' you'd like to meet

and go over everything

They say that time's supposed to heal ya,

but I haven't done much healing.

Hello, can you hear me?

I'm in California Dreaming about how we used to be

when we were younger and free

I've forgotten how it felt when the world fell apart at our feet

There's such a difference between us and a million miles

Hello from the other side

I must've called a thousand times

To tell you I'm sorry

For everything that I've done

But when I call you never

Seem to be home

Hello from the outside

At least I can say that I've tried

To tell you I'm sorry

For breaking your heart

But it don't matter, it clearly

Doesn't tear you apart anymore

Hello, how are you?

It's so typical of me to talk about myself, I'm sorry

I hope that you're well

Did you ever make it out of that town

Where nothing ever happened?

It's no secret

That the both of us

Are running out of time

by Adele....

Friday...13th!! In The Homeland: The List...Updated 11/14 7:10 AM

It's Friday! Friday! Friday! T.G.I.F.! LOL. It's another weekly review of a rant from a Midwest guy in the land of milk and honey! This week is a special week because it's been the lead up to Friday the 13th!!! Also, I'm visiting The Homeland!! Yes! I have a list of things to do, places to go to, and people to see. I can't even wait to get on the plane today and grab my regular seat and hopefully drift into my dreams. Before anything else happens, I will be merging the weekend review and the weekly rant into one weekly writing piece to save a little time and have a little more room to write about more important topics of 'health' and social issues. That starts next week after my time home. The edition will either come out on Mondays or Fridays depending on the week and work. So stayed tuned. 

I'm getting excited to go home. I usually don't start feeling anything close to excited until I get to the airport and the plane starts to leave to gate, but today, I'm ready. I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that there will not be any 911 emergencies on the flight home cause it's already happened to me twice! Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to help out when I can, but it takes it out of you when things don't go well. One time someone passed out and stopped breathing. Another one fell down in restroom and knocked themselves unconscious. I think I managed to keep one older lady alive on the one occasion. I was visitng L.A. last January 2015. (The exact reversal in directions of travel this side of the year.) I got her hooked up to the oxygen, made sure she was still pumping and taking air in until we landed and an emergency team opened the door and took over. 

This is why I usually get the same seat cause I've been tagged as doctor on my passenger information bio; that status gets me an isle seat in the middle of the plane (And just in case any other terror related needs arise, I want to be able to respond easily.), which is nice till a flight attendant taps you on the shoulder and asked if you will respond to one of the above emergencies. Hahaha. I'm glad I can at least help. I'm less glad when the person doesn't restart, and I have to try and stay calm in front of that person's loved ones while other EMTs carry them away with a sheet over their face; yeah, that happened on my way to work at the Burke Center just after getting home from another trip to Cali visiting the former munchkin. Fingers are crossed.

The list of things I have to do really are simple things involving food, family, and friends. There are a few business deals to attend, a separate list of people that I'm hoping to find and do a little Q&A with, but ya never know if you're gonna get your guy or gal. So, we'll see what happens. Presently, I foresee karaoke at the VFW, happy hour with a few of the peeps, maybe a run around the lakes or the Stone Arch Bridge. Definitely having breakfast at Al's Breakfast and stock-trading know-how from my buddy Pat at Starbucks--all of this when I'm not taking care of mom health related stuff or seeing my nephews, grandmom,and visiting my friend's dying cat. I just feel I should say good-bye to that guy before it's too late. On one of my days, I'm meeting up with a gal from the not so distant past that I want to see; we started talking, and then we both ended up in relationships. But, now we're both single, and I guess it's time.  

As far as other 'family' members go, if I can find them, I'll share a meal and see how things have been. It's what I enjoy doing with the family..eating..eating and shooting the shit...and then complaining about eating too much! LOL. That's how it goes. That's the end of this weeks Rants From A midwest guy living in the land of milk and honey! See ya next week.
#GetAdjustedToTheGoodLife #Whatismissinginthispicture #Californiadreaming

Manic Monday: The Italian, Malibu, Hand Shakes..Updated 11/10 5:53 PM

It's Manic Monday and another short weekend review is in order!!! I know. I know. It's super late, and the chances are that you'll be reading this on Tuesday cause everybody in the world seems to be ahead of me in time. But, better late than never!

Well, where to start.....The weather continue to be close to a real Fall season. The nights, except for one of them, have been cool and requiring a sweater (like 50 degrees or so), which I know you just rolled your eyes at that thought considering if you live in the Homeland! If you think about it, it gets hot during the day time...like mid 70's 80's and then the temps drop down with DAY LIGHTS SAVING time, makes a quick change in temps. Speaking of which, day lights savings is killing my motivation to do anything after work because I feel I should be home sleeping or something! I mean. I might have to resort to taking sudafed to keep me up and active so I don't hibernate. I'm not kidding!! LOL.

That being said, it is nice that the sun is out at 6:00 AM when I'm getting ready to actually consider getting out of bed, and that has lead to at least one productive thing--early morning gym time!

So, the weekend was full of work for the corporation I provide services to. It's not my normal weekend of work cause I usually have Sunday and Mondays off as of late, but this weekend I had duty on both days. I was happy to leave last night and get in some food, a few songs for karaoke at one of the local hole-in-the-wall pubs, and just sleep. Accept today, I only got to sleep in a little bit (6:45 AM) cause I had an important meeting with the Italian in Malibu! Yes, I've resorted to calling my principle Malibu client 'The Italian'! This is because A. He is Italian. B. He's from Jersey. C. His friends are all 'mobsterish' in the way that they relate with each other. I say this because in one of our preliminary "meetings'' I met with his business partner at a location that kept changing till the very hour of the meeting time. People came up to him and hugged the man like he was one of their lost uncles or fathers, and magically a few of his buddies were in from NYC, and the next thing I know I was at a table of Italians, their wives, and we were talking business. People shook my hand as if to welcome me into the 'group' and pat me on the shoulder saying things like, "You did good. This guy must like you a lot to have you here." It was not at all intimidating more than it seemed the scene out of some movie. Hahahaha.

Today seemed a little similar to that initial meet up. We met at Starbucks where the barista spelled my name wrong! But, as my client arrived he was greeted by pretty much everyone else around me. It's Malibu, and everyone that's 'Malibu' knows everyone one else that is 'Malibu' it seems. But we talked...he said he liked my style, the feedback from the regular patients I had worked on during a shadow day was good, and he felt I had something different than most docs he knew....especially the 30+ applicants that had originally responded to his ad. "You got a name. It has notoriety that comes with it...lol. 'Dr. Fil of Malibu.' You have good hands, and more importantly, you handle people really well, and that you can't learn. You either have it or you don't." We went on talking and made a few decisions on what all that was worth to him in real dollars or percentage of business increase. In the end, we shook hands like old men used to do signifying you just made a deal that you intend to deliver on or die trying!

I don't make many deals. In fact, I've only make a few in my life time. I can actually count on my finger still the number I've made and delivered on of which the last prior to today's was with a short blonde gal. Unfortunately, not everyone keeps their end of the deal, and that's not good for business or your reputation in any industry. So, I don't make many deals unless I know I can deliver, and rest assured I'm gonna deliver if I give you my word and shake on it. I won't shake your hand on the deal if I'm not sure about it or I'm not sure about you because I have expectations of you once a deal is struck or agreed upon, but the rest of that is a completely different blog! What we agreed on was me working into his clinic in the very near future. When I get the timing and details of our deal, I'm gonna fill you in!!!  Hahahaha.

On a completely different note, I'll be home shortly to attend some
family health related stuff. When I'm not busy with that, I do hope to catch up with a few people, and do a few things while I'm in the Home land. I'll keep you up to speed with those details in the Friday week review!

The picture on the left is of a big, fluffy orange and white cat that showed up on the fence outside my door a couple of days ago. The next day he was sitting out back in the middle of my yard waiting. I was a bit taken back because it looks like LEO--KC's cat that passed not so many months ago. I thought it was odd seeing one that looked exactly like him the last few days because I've been closing out that chapter of my life so that the upcoming book run is clean. But know that I've seen him, I've been thinking again about him and her. I guess I'll tuck that strikingly similar looking animal into the recesses of my mind..cause you never know it could be a sign and a reminder to stick with one of the original reasons I came back to Cali.  That's it folks.

Friday... Northlanders, Rain, and 007! Updated 11/7 08:06 AM

 It's another Friday weekly review of Rants from a Midwest guy in the land of milk and honey. Friday! Friday! T.G.I.F. The week was a little different with schedule changes, resurfacing opportunities in business, and the ever closer visit home to take care of family health issues.

The weather is finally starting to look a lot like Fall. So much so that there was a down pour the other day that looked like it was something out of a movie on the Midwest. The streets flooded, people panicked, and the roads came to a complete stop! LOL. These are the moments that I'm so happy to sport that Minnesota plate on my Jeep. Yup.

This is kids play to a native Minnesota person. We don't really flinch when it down pours. We usually spit out a bunch of expletives realizing that we likely left the windows up at home and now the entire place is likely covered with some fresh smelling rain water!! Hahahaha. We live for this kind of weather secretly, and when we get it, we thrive! If you have one of us around, it doesnt' matter what kind of weather we're getting, you chances of survival have gone up 100%! LOL. Snow. Hail. Sleet. Ice rain. Humidity. Extreme hot. Extreme cold. It doesn't matter. We're know how to take it...cause we're Northlanders, and Minnesota is where we play; where we live, and where we will return from wherever we are in the world to take our last rest. Yeah. I'm pretty damn proud of being one of us!

 All that being said, I'll be happy to visit home when it snows and leave after a few days because I've discovered that although I can take it, I'm happy not to and just enjoy a more Fall/Spring like climate for the Winter season. I don't have anxiety that it's gonna get so cold I can't go out. I don't miss the sun when the clouds come because I know, sooner or later the same day, they'll be gone. I don't have to worry about "Winter" clothes even though I have them in my jeep...just in case! But, we miss it! All the people I've met in various places around the world and even here in California miss home. We miss all the change that can happen in any given one day. We don't miss being stuck in our home day after day with no sunlight, freezing temps for seemingly endless days, and the melancholy music that plays on every radio station. We always go back though..just to remember! LOL.

The new James Bond movie is out today!! Holy Sh#T!! I didn't even know till the breakfast club guys (3-4 old guys that sit at Starbucks and watch the people come and go and make comments like Statler and Waldorf from the Muppet Show) brought it up. So, it's now on my already busy weekend agenda of working both Saturday and Sunday, finishing a few tuning-up things on my jeep, and gym-time. I just heard from one of my patients that all the shows for today are sold-out! WTH!! Saturday might be the night it looks like to see it. I'll let ya know what I think of it come the weekend review on Monday. Yeah. That's me and my buddy posing as Bond's of Chiropractic..."Licensed To Adjust" That's the gist of it folks. Till next week..Stay warm or use sun block!!

Manic Monday: Costumes, Singing, & Friends.

It's Monday, and I have to say the weather outside is something close to wonderful because the sky is cloudy, the air is wet, and I put on my Northface vest! Yes! After a weekend full of work, events, and Halloween, I feel like today is about to get a little manic..another Manic Monday! When I hear that tune play, memories of going to a small town in the middle Wisconsin named Hollendale come to mind, and I have no idea why. LOL. What comes to mind is the care-free slow speed that people lived like compared to the running around one has to do now-a-days only to free up some time to actually do real life stuff like going to the gym, reading a little, and maybe writing a blog! Hahahah. I mean, it's a little therapeutic to sit and recall (or not) what actually happened over the course of a few days and capture the moments to some degree or another.

Unlike most of my weekends, people were having house parties, and one place was hosting a Halloween costume contest. Friday was more or less an easy walk-through a yard party where my buddy knew the host, and we showed up to graze the food table and chit-chat with a bit. I was a cowboy. Not too original cause apparently I dress like that everyday less the cowboy hat! What did come out of it was a bunch of gals line dancing. It looked really fun!! Borderline...one of the local cowboy places does line dancing a number of nights a week, and I think I may need to cowboy up and get to some learning. Keep an eye out. I maybe coming out of my coutry-phobic line-dancing closet soon enough....maybe!

Halloween was on a Saturday this year! In years past, I watched the
parade in West Hollywood where you would see more colors than one might expect and then get to watch them all disappear into the night as you tried to escape the parking lot of cars trying to leave the area. When I lived there, it was cake! All the fun was only 1/2 block away. Now, you have to know someone that knows someone to get even close and maybe have a sofa to crash on if you drank one to many. Just because of all the newness of my life, I felt the need to take advantage of the day and celebrate. When I decided what to be and that it might actually be a pretty good costume, I began looking up places where I could get hair, make-up, and the rest of the costume that I didn't own. Before long, I was learning how to apply the powder at a local beauty salon, rehearsed a few of the movie lines, and out of the bathroom walked a Robert Downey Jr. from Tropic Thunder. I spat out mostly movie lines...for everything the whole night! LOL. I thought I was gonna get pulled over, but in the end, I didn't even drive. The house party we ended up at was full of characters, food, and a few choice drinks. I made a few new acquaintances, and got a bunch of laughs out of the deal. It was a great night that has given me few ideas on other "characters" to dress up like in the future.

Today is the end of my weekend. It's been a good day, and most of it has been pretty low key, but it started early. This cutie texted me about wanting to make the karaoke scene I was creating at one of the local pubs. Not actually expecting her to show up, I was taking in the music until it was my turn to rock it just a little. Before I knew it, she was there, and she can actually put on a pretty good show and held a good tune. You can tell a lot about a person when they karaoke! After a few songs, we went our separate ways only to have the same exact morning problem bring us back together later--she can't sleep past 5:00 AM either. It was then that the weather was at its best. The sky was just starting to light up, the mist was thick, and my Jeep was full of morning dew. Can you believe it!! As most of my morning go, I end up with a cup of Joe. Having company to figure out what the rest of the day and week would look like was a treat especially at a 'Ma & Pop' breakfast diner. It's fun catching up on life and non-work related stuff. It's nice to have someone familiar to share part of your day off.

Eventually, I made my way home to nap. The cloudy weather must've been working a number on me, but I passed out for a short while..not to mention that my gut has been off the last day or so, which the last time that happened was when a short someone was having the same problem. Hmmm. What was odd about my passing out was the sound of the train engine from that Unforgiven Metallica song played. Usually it plays as I'm about to wake up. Before I could even tell, I was in it...dreaming in vivid 3D. I can't remember all of it, but the parts that I do as they were happening left me feeling I was exactly were I'm supposed to be at this moment in time and in life. I suppose we'll see.
Well, that's the basic weekend review of things beyond my continued reading of the Brenne Brown book, Daring Greatly. The more I read it my perspective on how I see some things about myself, my reactions to things relationship wise, and what other people are like is taking on some new color. I'll make mention of it in the near future. There is it folks. Enjoy your week.