A Long Recap

So much has happened since last we spoke that it seems hard to put it all into words. Really, there should have been two or three updates by now; however, it will simply have to get remembered as it is now remembered. Here are the bullet points that chronicle the events that come to mind, and that confirm the following: This life that I am living is one filled with endless opportunities, and given the talents and gifts I have received as a human being, it is all a question of choice, conviction, and confidence--anything is possible. Traveling to new places and biking through old ones, is a means of understanding myself through the reflections of the faces I meet. Finding a love and letting the love go is a meditation in patience and faith. This journey has evolved many times since June 18th, when I checked out with my final pay check--and so we ramble on.

Events, in a moderate chronological order, as dictated by my current memory (there are pictures to go along with all this, but alast, I am not at my computer):

• Birthday dinner with my father and aunt, lead to a great talking drive north.
• Berkeley, albeit a short trip, as always was a swimmingly exciting experience.
• A look at my Aunt's new art installment, a listen of her quintet's rehearsal, and some fine wine.
• Morning Coffee at Zazou's with Aunt Tee and Uncle Steve.
• Hit the YMCA for a few days of working out.
• Nestled up in the old homestead at 228 Ocean View.
• The new home of the Kline's is nothing short of AWESOME!
• Enjoyed several hearty meals with the Klines, which included home brew and home baked items.
• Maggie gave me a sowing tutorial and helped/did most of the work, of sowing my hammock canopy.
• Kicked old dribble's ass in disc golf, and caught up with the great Austin Johnson.
• Walked Devo's dog B to the park and played catch daily.
• Hung out the Wiles/Rudolph compound.
• Sampled some of the sweet garden crop, watched the mercy slaughter of a chicken, played with the Boston Bitch Boys, Moose and Gus (love em both), and setup my Bunring Man nest in the vacant lot.
• Ran into my ex-girlfriend's mother while getting tacos.
• Called my ex-girlfriend and played phone tag, but attempted to make an amends.
• Hung with Denis and Claire: shot the shit, and got some of his latest releases from Odonata Wines. The grenache and durif were superb!
• Berkeley again: met up with Shae at the Albatross and had some pints while we talked about our dabblings in the wild world of romance and music.
• Spent a whole day packing my truck and getting things in order for Burning Man.
• Met up with Molly Greene, and after several hours of dragging feet in Berkeley, we hit the road en route to Burning Man.
• We made relatively good time, and after hours chatting it up we were nearly there. We stopped for a bathroom break, and I left my wallet on top of my truck while I changed pants in the wee hours of morning. We took back to the two lane highway, and we quickly realized what had occurred. We scoured the highway with headlamps, and collected the scattered holdings of my pavement beaten wallet. I was lucky enough to find: my debit card, my credit card, my COSTCO card, the two halves of my AAA card, several business cards from friends, the tiniest picture of my friend Tess Wheelwright, and about $15 (out of $60). At the time I lost my driver's license, but then--low and behold, a week later, it was mailed to me by a good human being who found it while walking that lonely stretch of road.
• Burning Man: I lived in my hammock! It was an evolution of thoughts. I initially felt apprehensive and out of sorts, and not entirely apart of. As days wore on, and experiences continued to be had, the city took my over. Appearances changed, rhythms were found, and adventures manifested continuously. It was a world of vagabonds and marauders, and endless opportunity. My bike and I saw many stretches of land. Day times were split between lounging in the hammock with my fan blowing moderately cool air from my solar panel setup and insane activity (biking, exploring, ultimate frisbeeing, and wandering). I painted on walls and met new folks: a young chap named Neil (named after Neil Young) and I, painted on a pseudo brick wall out in the playa. I played epic Ultimate with Lilly from Orgeon, Shina from Austin, Yting from who knows where, Seth, and so forth. I met with some friends from Santa Cruz, and the encounters were good, perhaps not what we all expected them to be, but exactly what they should have been. My final day of Burning Man, was complete immersion. I spent the day wandering in the dust. We found refuge in an astroturf bunker, and three strangers joined us. We chatted, and I fought my urge to feel weird or frightened. We road out to the orange fence, which marks the end of that world, came back and began building blocks. At an art installment, I found heavy steel blocks stacked into pillars, on top of slabs of slate. To the left of the pillars was a large basket, and I realized, that the artist, had left the blocks in the basket, and the ebb and flow of people had moved these things into monuments--I took one completely down. I placed the blocks in categories according to size and shape. I left the slab blank, I began to build, but stopped and quickly erased my efforts. A drifter asked me if this was my art installment, and I said no, with a smile. Another dusty traveler and asked the same, and I replied the same, but then I added, "You should take those blocks there, and build a new tower." The man chuckled and then went to work. He worked furiously until all was done, not a block to spare--inception! He stood back from his tower, laughed, I congratulated him on his efforts, and he spun a twist and a giggle and sauntered out into a dust storm. After that, a man by the name of Wizzard appraoched Atom and I for some help. He wanted to stack two large 500lbs wood balls on top of each other. Wizzard was a veteran of the playa, and he was a large dusted man, with a mustache and a mini-skirt. He had built several installments, and in fact the night before, we had stumbled across his latest work. We built a small pedastool, and used 4x4's as ramps. After enlisting the help of some other drifters, and using some shims around the base, the Wizzard and ourselves had accomplished a strange feet--there sat two 500lbs ball on top of another. We shared some ice-water, and we all parted ways--and to me, that was the culmination of Burning Man. That day, and that moment is why I had come there. There was no fear in that moment. All that we worked with, was positive possibilities and imagination--what a lesson for living the everyday. I left before the big burn, and it felt so very good.
• Drove through Nevada on the backside of Yosemite, past Mono Lake--a great time of reflection and appreciation.
• LA got me back into it all, but Burning Man still mingled inside of me.
• Pablo and Ana--WHAT BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE! It was so good to see them. We spoke Spanish, ate cheeseburgers, saw many sites, and explored the greater LA area. We went hiking with Shaggy out in Red Rocks off of Topanga; we drove the 1 and ate at Apple Pan; We meandered through Venture Blvd with a Jamba Juice; We saw Machete at City Walk; We did Runyon Cyn; We had drinks and Sushi in Los Feliz with Marina and Company; We did Melrose and Hollywood Blvd; We rambled the Getty, and just loved life. It was nice to be able to show them around. They are currently heading up the 1 and are doing a great job of visiting California's finer spots.
• My previous post talked about the unexpected eruption of emotion that accompanied a reunion with the infamous bus lady. Upon some time apart, and a bike ride, I realized that the time was not now--to be in a situation where both individuals cannot be present and free, is just not the right situation. And hence, with a metaphor about chocolate chip cookies, we agreed to agree on another time and place--it felt good to be honest, and aware enough to not get so tied up in impossible situations. The parallel to a previous locked heart of love, seemed to serve as a reminder of what needed to be done.
• A chance encounter at a going away party, has lead to a meeting of minds. My old friend Tom, from the prep school circuit, is a digger of life. The other day we took to the hills above Encino and hiked and talked fer several hours. Consequently, this is my new favorite hiking spot, San Vicente Mountain Park, which is a great slice of US History and a little known gem of wilderness. My mom, the dogs, and I hiked it about a week ago, and it is just an absolute treat. As always, the outdoors and my mom serve to be a great freakin time!
• Hung with Gloria, and she made brisket!! OH MAN OH MAN! It was great, as it always is, to hang with a kindred soul.
• Played golf with the folks yesterday--they rode and I walked. It was a nice quick round, and we finished it up with BBQ. It is nice to spend time with these two funny people who have helped me so much on my journey, I love them both.

And now, here I am. About two weeks until I blast off to Austin. I am ready for the adventure of Texas. I have a trip to Spain and Mexico on the horizon...so it all goes.