Walker Ridge

I was prepared to go on a long hike Saturday, for at least five miles. It didn’t happen. Dieter drove Harrison and I all the way past Lower Lake to Walker Ridge. This place is really out in the Boonies. We parked in an area where dirt bikers and ATV’s were buzzing around kicking up rocks and dirt. Gathered were a group of naturalists who looked somewhat like a chapter of the Sierra Club ( I wouldn’t be surprised if many of them were members ). After “ gearing up” with our backpacks and poles we sauntered across the street to where the meeting was taking place. As it turned out, our little hike was going to be more like a politically motivated nature walk in an area that had been set afire by an arsonist back in 2009. The group leader launched into an explanation of the serpentine soils that were just beginning to support new growth and that the government had slated the area for an expansion of a windmill project that (according to the group leader) was going to be environmentally devastating to the area.This talk went on for a good twenty minutes. Finally we got “ungeared”, hopped back into Dieter’s Toyota Avalon and proceeded to follow a bunch of SUV’s up the mountain road to the summit. After parking, we had decided it was no point in throwing on our backpacks because this walk was only going to be a quarter mile at most. We learned about larkspur flowers and golden fields and a host of other succulents and wildflowers that were just beginning to sprout in an area peppered with shotgun shells, beer cans and broken clay pigeons. The trash left in this area was equally depressing. I found a fairly good sleeping bag mat made out of EVA styrofoam that I took back with me. We stayed until just after lunchtime. Then we hopped back into the car and drove towards Middletown where we stopped for coffee at a place called Mugshots.Eventually we got back to Calistoga around 3PM. We even took in an Estate sale on the way back. I picked up a ball peen-hammer, wire snips and shoe laces all for 3 bucks! Woo hoo !

Meet Mitch

This guy looks like a composite of all the bosses I ever worked for; or more accurately, Mitch looks like the owners of the companies I worked for throughout my career in Hospitality. Perhaps a Union Rep, who later became a slum lord, who later bought a hotel or resort, who later would hire a General manager who would be inept, so then they would eventually try to run the place themselves. This is a classic recipe for dysfunction and unhappiness in a work environment. The owner who wants to manage the boss.Classic. It’s all about control, suspicion and more control. Fuck. Today I got up, took a shower, cooked a nice healthy breakfast and got out the door to go to a job fair today. I went to Solage, which is a nice resort here in Calistoga just on the outskirts of town. It is owned by a French Company called Auberge ( they have a few resorts here in the Napa Valley ). I had applied for a Concierge position when the CIA showed me the door. I didn’t hear back from them, so I saw that their was an opening for a bellman on Craig’s list so I applied for that. I have done most every job their is to do around a Hotel, Spa or Country Club. I have been a Bellman, Concierge,Lounge Host, Server, Cocktail Server, Front Desk Attendant, Reservationist, Tour Guide, Massage Practitioner, Room service waiter and Banquet Captain. These are all fun jobs if you don’t get too involved with management and keep a low profile. The best job of all of these by far, has been the Concierge position. I will be forever grateful for the work I did in this position, the people I met and the good times I had.

A Day at the Beach

When I get cabin fever, I head out to the coast. The Ocean represents freedom from worry. I drive out River Road through Guerneville and then to Jenner. I collect lots of flat, round rocks to bring home to paint, and I also pick up a few interesting pieces of driftwood. Yesterday I found out that my unemployment insurance has run out. Now I have to rely on my savings to stay afloat here. I went to Mass today ( April 1st ) to say a few prayers. I am looking for a a sign. I am looking for guidance and direction from my Higher Power and it hasn’t been forthcoming. I am lost at this point. I suspect something will be revealed to me, so I will wait.

A Season Missed

This winter has been unusual. For the first time in a long time I am a bit anxious to see what the future will bring. The weather has been generous and mostly moderate up until now.The rest of the country has been buried in snow, Napa has experienced what might be considered an El Nina year. Santa Ana winds blew up from the south keeping a wonderful high pressure system in tact up until a few weeks ago. The high pressure system that hung out in February eventually dissipated, and these past few weeks have brought in a steady stream of delayed winter storms. March came in like a lion, and is going out the same way.

I didn't intend for this to turn into a weather report, but I started writing this blog weeks ago and things just flow. I wanted to write about the security I felt when working a full time job last Fall, and now I am concerned if I will ever be working a full-time job again. God is my strength, and I am relying on God to keep me safe and secure as I enter these first few months of my 60th year..Job or no job.

I've stayed busy checking the job posts on Craigs List, and submit resumes and cover letters with a degree of hope.Other than this, I paint and draw to keep from dwelling on the negative.The evenings have been filled with AA meetings and fellowship.My diet has been restricted now that I no longer enjoy the bountiful benefit of eating my lunches at the CIA. Losing that job has hurt more though, because of the friends I no longer get to see every day. Winter has officially ended, and the tourist season gets going again after Mother’s day, and continues right on through till Halloween. I will miss all the action at the Concierge Desk. ( Oh well. )

This past year has been one of disasters, both personally and "naturally". A large quake and Tsunami hit Japan and many other parts of the globe have been affected. Nuclear reactors have been spilling toxic fumes and radiation into the environment.War is continuing to sweep the Middle east, and financial markets have suffered worldwide due to a seemingly endless oil crisis that has caused rampant inflation.Who knew that this is where we were headed? Many fear that the world is on the brink of collapse.

This is only part of the story. More is being revealed to us on a daily basis.

The Green Thang

Today is St. Patty's day and I have passed out quite a few "Shamrocks" to my friends here. I am wearing a green sweater just in case someone gets the idea of pinching me. Hmmm... maybe that's not such a bad thing depending on who is doing it. But Hey, I ain't no Blarney Stone, so don't get any ideas about slobbering your wet lips all over my face.Nuff said.

The picture above is my interpretation of "Devil's Well Falls" from the Archer Taylor Reserve. Its a pretty muddy watercolor that I tweaked just enough to make presentable here on my blog. Some landscapes just don't have the same "feel" If you know what I mean. Comparing this work to the one I did of "Russian Gulch" is like night and day. I had a lot of interest in doing that one for sure.This one was a chore.

Lately, I have been having trouble staying motivated to do my art projects. I don't know why specifically, but it usually blows over in a day or two.Inspiration moves quickly. Like the saying, " Easy come,easy go" that is how it is for me.

Right now, there are a group of Mexican Stone Masons who are building a fountain area and patio next door at the Golden Haven Spa. I hear the "tink, tink, tink" of chisels and stone cutting equipment all day long. It is making me feel challenged to create something long lasting and relevant. This is what they have been doing...

The Weather Aboveground

Japan has suffered a major earthquake and tsunami. Mother earth is punishing us with what seems like continual catastrophic events.This winter has been unusual. For the first time in a long time I am not anxious to see it go. The weather has been generous and mostly moderate, whereas the rest of the country has been buried in snow or has been flooding after a record number of storms have pounded three quarters of the country.

Napa has enjoyed what might be considered an El Nina year. Santa Ana winds blew up from the south keeping a wonderful high pressure system in tact a few weeks ago. This has prevented storms that usually move down from the Pacific Northwest to continue moving across to Southeast states like Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.

I didn't intend for this to turn into a weather report. but my friend Eric has informed me the the Pacific Northwest with all it’s rain has been getting quite redundant. I’ve been enjoying the rain.I suspect I am in a minority. The picture above is of my friends Dieter and Harrison. This was from the hike we took yesterday from Mt. St. Helena to Calistoga. Innocent enough, but one can see the ominous clouds rolling in from the west.

The New Ipad

Okay, so I took the plunge. I drank the kool aid . Whatever. This thing is really sweet. I am sitting her in St. Helena after a meeting enjoying the ease at which I can do a simple log entry and listen to music, video chat with my brother in Chicago, play a game, check out the web, etc. Etc. ...and it's so much fun!

On a much more serious note, Japan was hit with a major quake today and their are Tsunami warnings for Hawaii and the west coast of the U.S. My prayers go out to the people of Japan.

As I write this, it is Monday and already and SO MUCH has occurred both personally and globally, that it is hard to keep up with it all. Saturday was my grandnephew’s second birthday and it was great being with my relatives and their friends down in Napa. My nephew always does a good job of having a party, and it usually goes off without a hitch.Little Mica has a host of friends and cousins who helped him share this momentous occasion.

Yesterday, I hiked from Robert Louis Stevenson State Park through the Palisades into Calistoga with my friends Harrison and Dieter. The hike took around six hours. We started at 9:45 AM and ended in Calistoga close to 4PM. I am getting in better shape every week I go out. It is already Lent, so I am giving up bread and milk products to augment my diet. I hope to lose around thirty pounds this year. My ideal weight is 155 lbs. and I am currently 185 lbs. Time to get crackin’ !

March comes in ...

It’s Sunday and the weather is wet and rainy.Perfect for a marathoner, because it will keep you nice and cool when you are well into the race.Around five hundred to a thousand people showed up for this race that was scheduled to go off at 7am.

Joan Benoit Samuelson , who won the First women’s Olympic Marathon event in a time of 2:22:19 in 1984 was the spokesperson who was invited to greet the runners at the start. Her hair is greying, but she still has a striking presence and great physique for a woman well into her fifties.She has been and still is an inspiration to many runners… both men and women.

You wouldn’t find me in the lineup with plans to run the race this year. The last time I had participated was in 1995 and I had jumped into it on a lark. Not surprisingly, I covered the distance in 5:21:24 and was just happy to stop.

In my best shape, I had completed the Oakland Marathon in 1984 in 2:50:14 which is one of my major accomplishments in life.I have missed running in the past few years, but have taken to hiking which still gives me somewhat of an aerobic workout depending on the pace I keep. The endorphins are still there to be had.

The video below shows the start of the race. The siren is a little annoying, but you can see the excitement in the faces of the runners. Joan Benoit is the last runner to go by as I pan the camera ( she is the one in purple ).

Angwin to Calistoga

Yesterday was Sunny and cold in the morning. We ( Harrison, Dieter and I ) started out our long hike from Angwin around 9:30 am, somewhere west of College and White Cottage road.

Being a novice with all the specialized gear and accouterments, I had over prepared myself. After a mile into the uphill start, I began to get hot and sweaty. I immediately shed my sweater and vest,and naturally the backpack was hella crammed with three water bottles, my lunch and sunglass case. Luckily, I was able to squeeze the extra clothes into the pack and continue along the path.

The next thing to get my attention was my ankle. The bone was rubbing up against the inside of my boots... Dammit! I re-laced the boot and it seemed to work, so long as I was walking straight and not doing any lateral moves. However, every time I stepped on a rock that pushed my foot sideways, it hurt. After awhile, I just ignored it so as not to seem burdensome to my fellow travelers.By the end of the hike it was pretty sore.

For Lunch, we stopped at a cool hideaway off the beaten path that only Harrison knew about. It was a cave that someone had built a wooden platform about ten feet up off the ground. You would not find this special spot if you were just hiking along the traditional path. We climbed a small ladder and sat down on little benches and rails and had our lunch ( see pic above ). We were a little past the half-way point of this 12 mile hike and it was around 1 pm.The lunches everyone brought were great, and we all shared what we had. Not to be outdone,Dieter provided us with extra sandwiches and even Truffles for dessert.

Back on the trail, we took a small jaunt over to the top of the Palisades, we then made our way back down the mountain into the town of Calistoga. We arrived about 3:30 PM , so we were hiking for a total of 6 hours including a half hour for lunch. It was pretty awesome.

To view the photo album, go to:My Mobile Me Gallery

Archer Taylor Reserve

Went for a great hike again at the end of Redwood road in Napa. We got permission to hike around four miles up to some beautiful Falls through snow and many levels of hand-made stairs ( lots of cut logs and pieces of rebar driven into the hillside ) that kept going up and up. We reached “Maggie Peak” just around 10:30 am and continued through some pretty treacherous terrain to this powerful water fall that dropped down from an ascent of about 200 feet.Our group viewed these falls from above and below.This group of radicals could easily swayed to go for a hike... be it on a cold, blustery weekend in February or unseasonably warm one like the previous week.

After meeting at Starbucks in Napa, we checked to see if we had plenty of provisions for the our picnic lunch on the way back. Everyone except me had hiking poles and gloves. Luckily, our group leader Harrison had an extra pair of warm gloves that he lent me. Later people were complaining of frozen hands and fingers.One fellow,Ted didn’t want to use his hiking poles so I found them to be quite useful upon descents on slick rock and crossing streams.

We had initially planned on going on a hike from Calistoga to Anqwin but those plans fell through, so I am grateful that we had this wonderful new area to explore. I had heard about this place when I was living up at Mt. La Salle but never had the opportunity to hike it. A great trek for a great group.

Aetna Springs Hike

Yesterday was another gorgeous day in the valley. After mass, I met some friends for an 8 mile hike from Calistoga to Aetna Springs. It was a rugged hike with lots of rocks on the trail and beautiful vistas. I came prepared with a backpack full of goodies like trail mix, apples, sandwiches, extra water bottles and the like. Initially it was quite cold, but before long we all began shedding our jackets and long shirts. By the time we reached China Camp, the sun was very warm and everyone was hungry. All total, their were about eight people hiking. One group went from Aetna Springs to Calistoga. The group I went with; went in the opposite direction. The hike took a total of four hours. When I arrived home, I took a long hot shower and a nap. What a day !

Ho Hum Day

This was a boring day and I was depressed because I could not get myself motivated to do anything. Besides this, it was great weather outside. I painted a few rocks and started to design a business card . Everything I started went downhill fast. Then I made lunch. I had a rice cake. Now that is pathetic. I should've had a piece of styrofoam and peanut butter, I would have probably been happier.

It is very difficult for me to admit that I am having anything less than a fabulous day. That is why I am telling you, the reader. Whoever you are ( perhaps no one will read this entry , and I can go merrily along in bullshit land ).

It was said by someone important to me that when I am bored, I am getting close to my Higher Power. Can you believe that? Hmmm... If that is true then my Higher Power needs a little action to get going. Some kind of stimulus package perhaps.

Super Sunday

Today was another gorgeous day in Calistoga. The temperature was a curious 80 degrees . This is shocking for February, and people around here are waiting for the other shoe to drop.Yesterday I went on a group hike to a place called "Zim Zim Falls " a natural waterfall one valley over from where I live.

Their were around 16 people who opted to go on this 8 mile hike, and about 8 made it to the Falls and back. Plenty of snacks were brought by those who went along. We shared all our "Super Food" as we compared chocolates, powerbars, pumpkin seeds, blueberries and the like. But as you might gather,"Food alone does not a hiker make fit". You have to do the hiking. Uphill, downhill, panting or not. I have a lot more calories to burn off as I type this blog. Even with all the preparation and specialized gear like new boots, a backpack and windbreaker. You still have to put one foot in front of the other and not lag behind. I made sure that i didn't do that. In fact, I got so far out in front that I was scolded for not waiting for the rest of the group to catch up.
My momentum was working and the leader was a little pissed off at me. I felt pretty good at the end of the day and was in fact, grateful for the camaraderie.

The weather today was a repeat of yesterday. More high pressure built in and plenty of blue skies. A lot of folks still opted to stay inside and watch the Super Bowl in front of their wide screen, high res, high def, 3-D Plasma pumping monoliths.

People in Texas were gathering outside the stadium in Arlington watching the matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers on similar style Jumbotrons at $200. a head! It was hard not to gloat, making comparisons between our situation and theirs.

Well the Packers won to my delight. I cannot claim any particular loyalty, except that they were slated as the underdogs, and I usually will root for the underdogs especially if someone I don't like is pulling for the opposition.

The problem here is that the people that were hosting the party were Steeler fans, and pretty nice folks. Hopefully they didn't care as much as I didn't care about the final outcome of the game. Besides, we had plenty of fun "dissing" the commercials which were naturally over-the-top, obnoxious and violent.

The party itself was pot luck, so their was plenty of food to nosh on. I had a whole variety of snacks which I am going to have to burn off by exercising at the end of this blog. Yea, right. Another 8 mile hike? I need a week to recoupe.

Locked Out !

The picture above is for my sister Tara. She has been encouraging me to do more landscapes so I drew this picture, scanned it and modified it in Photoshop. This is supposed to be a coastal scene of Russian Gulch, where I collect my Spirit Rocks.
Now onto the blog...

The sun shined brightly today, whereas in Streamwood Illinois, the sun may have been out but a major snow storm hit. My brother reported winds up to 60 mph, and around two feet of fresh snow. Yikes ! I really am counting my blessings and staying grateful for the unseasonably warm weather we have been having here on the west coast.

Speaking of the coast, that is where I went today. Jenner beckoned me with the idea of collecting more rocks for my Spirit Rock enterprise. I arrived around 3:30 PM with a large cloth bag to load about fifty perfectly smooth stones to be painted later. Only four other people were on the beach and around 5:00 PM i had enough rocks and seaside experience to carry me into the evening.Walking back to my car I had quite a load. The bag ending up breaking at the bottom, but no rocks escaped. I just folded it under and carried it like a baby. But when I got to my car i looked inside the window and immediately spotted my keys on the front seat. Shit ! Then came that sinking feeling you get when you realize a situation could become dire very easily.

I cussed some more and began to have racing thoughts. My first thought was to find a wire hanger or something to fish through the window to unlock the door. No such luck. One couple came back from the beach but sadly remarked that they didn't have a hanger and jumped into their car and took off. The next thought was AAA. Luckily, I had my Iphone with me. Not so lucky was that I couldn't get a signal and all my attempts at calling anyone failed. Shit !

I began pray. Some cars were whizzing by on their way up the coast towards Fort Bragg. I didn't want to flag someone down and look like a crazy person by waving my arms near the side of the road. It was getting cold and the sun was beginning to set...fewer cars were driving by. I told myself not to panic, and to listen to my inner guidance. It told me to drop my ego and seek help. So, like a crazy man I began waving my arms. The first truck sped by looking straight ahead. The next Truck slowed to a halt.

" What's up man?" the guy said. Swallowing my pride and told him that my keys were locked inside the car and needed to get in touch with AAA. He laughed and said "Hop in, I will take you to the gas station." He said that this type of thing happens all the time out here. I tried to remain cheerful in spite of an undercurrent of anxiety. We got to the gas station in Jenner and he let me out. Thankfully, the guy inside the convenience store had seen it all before as well. He gave me his cordless phone to call AAA. The operator informed me that It would take around 40 minutes, but to be patient and someone would be by. The store attendent interjected that they will probably send out smiling Dan. I began to wonder who this guy was, and if that was a good thing. Instead of worrying,maybe I should just trust the process and let my Higher Power handle this.

"I put a fresh pot of coffee on if you are interested" said the attendent." Thanks, that sounds like a good idea". so i shelled out a buck-fifty for the coffee and went outside to wait for smiling Dan.The sun began to set, and it was beautiful. Eventually AAA showed up and I got a ride with who I thought was to be smiling Dan. He told me that no, he was not smiling Dan, but was miserable Mark !

I gave a nervous laugh as he just dropped it into first gear and were off.

He looked like a grease monkey and a heavy metal dude ( perhaps a speed freak! ). Then Mark asks if I mind if he plays a little of his music ( I prepared myself for an amped up sample of Metallica ) and was shocked as he turns on a lilting sonnet by Mahler ! The guy digs classical ! Miserable Mark was a tough study, and I think he liked it that way. Long story short, we got to my lonesome vehicle, he was able to unlock the door with a jimmy stick and I was on my way. I thanked him by giving him one of the finished Spirit Rocks and he was most thankful. I signed the form and bid him farewell. Naturally I thanked my Higher Power for all the blessings received.

An Impulse Buy, but then...

Yesterday I returned from S.F. for the second time in two days. I went to MacWorld on Thursday, which is something I like to do annually. While there, I perused all of the expo floor and talked with many vendors about their new gadgets, software and peripherals.I recall being intrigued by a microprojector which you could hook up to your iPhone4 to see movies projected up to 7 feet in perfect resolution against a blank wall. I found it especially fascinating because you could also use it as a portable "still" projector and with special software you could project images onto a surface that could easily be traced using a pencil. I stood and watched the demo presentation over and over and asked many questions until all that was left was my desire to have the thing for myself.The presenter could tell I was chomping at the bit. I plunked down the plastic and after taxes it came to almost four bills. I wandered around to see the rest of the show, but already was feeling a bit anxious. Upon returning to Calistoga I immediately unboxed this jewel of gadgetry and began testing it out. If I were a rich man, this purchase would not phase me one iota. I decided to sleep on it. The next morning I awoke and this was the first and only thing on my mind. I called my friend Leo to come over and check it out before I returned to MacWorld to try and get my money back. The good news is that I was able to return it and get a full refund. Now I have the money I will need to purchase groceries. Food, Shelter and Clothing. These things come first .

Stags Leap

Today a group of us went on a hike to the top of the mountain range on the east side of the Napa Valley, known as the Vacas. We entered near Napa County's fish and game preserve and began walking east, straight up an incline that lead us to a fairly unmarked trail. It was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine. The temperature was unseasonably warm for January. I think it got up in the 70's. Harrison Hood and a fellow named Carter were our leaders. Everyone seemed to have just the right amount of gear to navigate this difficult trek... except me. I had a fanny pack, some chapstick, trail mix,water bottle a baseball cap and some decent socks to wear. Other than the bare bones basics I guess you could say. Thankfully, others had some sun block and extra snacks to tide me over.My shoes were comfortable but not meant for long hikes on rocky trails.Luckily, I did not suffer any blisters upon my return. The view at the top was phenomenal as this video will attest.

Antonia Moves on...

My friend and neighbor, Antonia Guitteriez has taken her family ( Neftali and Jessenia ) and has moved to a house on Fairway drive here in town. She is also an employee of the Culinary Institute and a fantastic baker. She used to bake all the cookies for the campus bakery when it was in operation. Yes, these are the same Peanut butter, Chocolate chip, Oatmeal and Sugar cookies that I got to bring home at the end of my shift everyday, to share with others in the neighborhood. As it turns out, she was never drawn to snacking on her own creations even though she would taste them, just to make sure they came out just right. Her kids are the most well behaved , fun - loving youngsters I have had the privilege to know.

Lately, I have been sleeping in, watching videos on my Ipad and painting rocks. I don’t get out much these days, and if I do it is only to shop or fill the car up with gas.Is this lazy or what? I wish I had something interesting or exciting to blog about. MacWorld is next week so maybe then I will have something to post here. The picture above is of the swamp area of Lake Hennessy. My favorite place to find solace.

Moving on, slowly

Today I accomplished three things that I set out to do. One, I updated my Spirit Rock weblog with a video that demos the luminescent qualities of the Spirit Rocks. Next, I took the single velvet sample bag that I received in the mail and scratched off the bar mitzvah commemoration that was inscribed on the front and emblazoned my own logo on the bag ( see above ). Lastly, I printed out five reproductions of paintings I had done, to submit to the St. Helena Library for consideration of a possible show in the future. All in all, it was a very productive day.

Too many distractions

Every day I make a point of getting focused. It is so easy to fall off track or forget to prioritize the tasks I set out for myself to do. I just got up to rewarm a cup of coffee in the microwave and have discovered that it is almost time to go shopping for groceries again. I have been eating lots of almonds, cheese and salami. Great diet, huh? These are items my brother and sister in law sent me for Christmas. i am ploying through them like a cellar rat foraging through the mother load of a squirrel's winter storage. I am still staying busy by painting lots of Spirit Rocks. I think I would be in the looney bin if I didn't have this way to spend my time. Thankfully, it doesn't get boring, and I feel that I am being useful with my time. Back to distractions. I have started about four books that I don't find the time to read but feel that I must engage them at some point ( Life by Keith Richards, An Uncertain Peril by Claire Claire Cummings, Getting Control of your anger by Robert Allan and No more in control by Redford & Virginia Williams). I spend far too much time on the puter reading aimless emails and Facebook postings.Another sip of coffee. Speaking of which, I have the coffee commitment for the Wednesday night meeting at 8pm. Feeling pressure to find meaningful work. Checking Craigs list daily. Firing off a cover letter and resume when something strikes my fancy... even if it is a job far away. Hey, I'm available ! Focus... what is next? okay... focus.

New Year is upon us

I am sitting here at home listening to my police scanner and "amateur night" is turning out to be just that. Already their is an intoxicated patron at Twin Pines casino who fallen off the bar stool and has hit his head requiring medical attention. A car has driven off Silverado trail into a ditch with four people involved. The transport helicopter cannot land due to poor visibility, so an ambulance has been dispatched from Napa.
So, tomorrow I am going to Dillon Beach for a pot luck lunch at my friend Dave 's place. I will be taking a friend named Melissa who I have enrolled in my rock hunting and painting pursuit.
I plan to show her Russian Gulch where I go to collect most of the rocks I use to create Spirit Rocks . I am looking forward to a great day.

Holy Night

After stopping off at my nephew Edward’s house in Napa to deliver gifts for his extended family, I went to Mass at Mt. La Salle. It used to be a midnight mass, but the retired Christian Brothers who live there, like to get to bed early. The chapel was filled with many people who I hadn’t seen in years. Brother Richard did the second reading which he described later as a run on sentence... offering no periods, commas or ellipses. Richard was my sponsor when I was studying to become a Christian Brother after my first year in college. He told me that I reminded him of Jesus Christ, which left quite an impression on me. Needless to say, I had to go out and prove him I was quite the opposite, yet still very much in need of redemption. He gave me a copy of a poem called,” The hound of heaven” which talks about the unrelenting pursuit of God’s love for us.That was years ago. I gave him one of my Spirit Rocks and he was very thankful. The Liturgy of the mass was splendid. The choir was accompanied by a violinist and organist. The sound was awe inspiring. Later after the reception, I drove back to Napa and went to a meeting. One of several that was being held over Christmas.

Inspired by the glow

Today I am following a new direction in my artwork. The emphasis will be on glowing. I like things that glow, reflect, refract or otherwise direct light in a visually pleasing manner.Mostly, things that either glow, sparkle, twinkle, shine from the outside or inside either right before dawn or just after dusk. This is why early Spring and early Fall are my favorite times of the year.As much as I enjoy the coziness of Winter, I must say that it is very much like the dog days of summer, where boredom and ennui creeps in and longs for change... any change. The Spirit Rocks were just a start. I am interested in creating something perhaps in 3-D, that will provide a sense of wonderment for a small child. Christmas tree lights and the fascination with glowing things are prevalent this time of the year. My apartment has several electronic gadgets that support my computers that have small colored lights of red, green and blue. Sometimes I think that it is because of these lights that I have all the computers. They just look so cool !

This one’s for you

December 14th is my friend Eric Swenson’s Birthday. I know, because he is one year ahead of me in the "number of years on the planet” category. I hope that he is having a great time up there in Port Townsend, Oregon. I heard someone say that 60 is today’s 40. Too bad for Eric because he is now 61.God, I hope that he is feeling more like 41 because that is how I remember him. I hope this sentiment is true for every one of the baby boomers that are still walking the planet. Remember when we used to "Not trust anyone over 30?" Now it's more like, just don't trust anyone ! LOL

Lately, the cloudy days around here have made me feel a bit melancholy.Yet it is wonderful to stay inside and create stuff. Today I worked on a new design for my Spirit rocks. I printed out a bunch of stickers with this upside down face on it. The “upside-downers” are fun to do. They say that if your nose runs and your feet smell that you are built upside down. That is what I tell people when I give them this particular rock. It is appropriate for this time of the year, because a lot of people have the sniffles.Anyway, after I print out the stickers, I cut them to size and paste them on the front side of the painted rock. Then after they are firmly sticking, I spray a coat of varnish over the top for protection. Then voila ! a new product is born.If you would like to see more of these rocks, go to my Spirit Rock blog. Just click on the link in the list on the right.

Productive Day

I got up, showered and went to Dr. Mike to pick up some fresh water. Then I went to the Christmas Bazaar and bought a beeswax figure and some Fuyu persimmons. Back to my place to paint some rocks and finish putting together my reflector tables ( see above ). Then I went to Ace hardware to get my next door neighbor Antonia a tarp to cover her deck like the one I have covering mine. I decided to have this be an early Christmas present for her. Then after painting a few Spirit rocks I rode my bike back to the Christmas Bazaar to give two rocks to a couple of vendors who were about my age and rather attractive.Hmmm... where am I going with this? To the Tractor Parade which starts right about now and goes down main street in Calistoga ( Calistoga has the most parades of any small town in California ).Fun times !

Having options

Testing the new blogging app on my iPad. It's called "Blogger plus". it's nice having another option when it comes to creating and posting blogs. Naturally,I only have a handful of readers that check in now and then. It is great when they post something however. It makes me feel like a news reporter on special assignment. If only I had a special assignment to devote my attention. Lately, I've been experiencing a little boredom. Painting beautiful rocks can only get you so far...

Life

“Life”is the name of Keith Richards new book and it is a pretty good read.He and I are both Sagittarius, and it seems that when we aren’t creating new adventures , we’re reflecting on how we got through the last one. The Stones are an iconic group that were instrumental in forming a lot of my generations late adolescent values of originality ,rebellion and creative pursuit.They always have been able to write their own ticket.The music and lyrics continue to intrigue me and are listened to often. Not always the mainstream hits like "Jumpin’ Jack Flash" or “Satisfaction", but more selective pieces like, “Memo to Turner” or “Can’t you hear me Knockin’ ”. These nuggets are stored away in my ITunes favorites, and only get pulled out occasionally depending on my mood. When I think about the Stones, I think mostly of Mick Jagger; Although Keith’s role is as essential to the success of the formula that is the Rolling Stones. Mick is someone who Keith almost seems at odds with at times, and if he weren’t such a necessary vehicle for transmitting the gestalt of the work, would probably not be as successful as a solo artist.

Sunday go to meeting

I went to St. Helena Catholic church this morning and sat next to a little kid that made farting noises with his mouth which had the back rows of the church red with blushes and side glances. It was too funny and the culprit was hardly even two. After mass, I sat at the Coffee Roastery and had my first cup of Joe in around three months. Man was it good ! Suddenly, I felt erudite and verbose !
I wanted to chat it up with everybody! After the coffee and my usual Jalapeno bagel with cream cheese I headed off to the Tucker Farm meeting. Later on, i headed home and worked on my Spirit Rocks. I haven't come up with a consistent prototype yet, but I am getting there. I am at least numbering these rocks so that I will be able to personalize them as I sell them. Friday is when I showed my methods for packaging and designing these rocks to a women I know named Melissa. She likes crafts and has created some beautiful hand painted eggs, so I think she will enjoy taking on a new creative challenge. I am looking at getting these items in a Christmas fair as soon as I find out who to contact.

Introspection

Today was a quiet day. I stayed at home until noon and then went over to help unpack a truck for the Food Bank. It didn't take long and I was back at home working on how I want to package the Spirit Rocks. I am thinking about using them for fund raising purposed or some such. I haven't decided. The last thing I want to do with them is sell them. It's not that they aren't marketable, it's just that I really despise attaching a value to something I have loved into existence. The same is true for the chefs hats. I absolutely love giving them to kids as a gift, just to see their reaction. The Spirit Rocks have a special meaning for me that is beginning to be revealed. To me, they are about focusing and centering on something good, so as to bring you out of a blue funk. I don't know how to use them yet, except that I think that having them under the light to charge them is an awesome exercise. Then to observe them until the glow fades is a good way to drift into a meditative state.

Creative Pursuits

It's Monday morning around 7am and the sun is just coming up. I took some Melatonin to help me get some sleep last night. I take a quarter of a tablet. Any more than that and I feel groggy the next day. Yesterday it was beautiful outside and the wind made everything look crystal clear. The wind was warm and felt tropical as I sat out on my deck reading a magazine.Earlier, I painted a few more Spirit rocks to add to my collection. I may drive out to the coast this week to gather some more rocks to paint. The other thing I accomplished was designing a box to package them, much like a pet rock only this is the next version. A rock that glows in the dark and has its own web page.It would be nice to code each rock separately and have a personal code that would unlock a 3-D figure that would be the rocks own individual "Spirit". This is something that I may develop down the road. I have a friend that is a master at Flash and HTML 5, so I will see if this is something he would like to pursue.

Rainy Sunday

A nice little storm passed through today, and the rain was refreshing. After mass I went to the Napa Valley Coffee Roastery for a cup of Hot Chocolate and a Jalapeno Bagel ( Toasted with Cream Cheese and butter dontcha know ).Then I drove by the CIA and had a good laugh. The World's of Flavor Conference is going on and it is typical that the event should be faced with the extra annoyance of showers. I feel for the Staff that has to work this event, but this is usually the last big blow-out event before they go into the quiet season. Too bad I'll be missing it. When I got home I turned on a Blues station and broke out my color pencils and began to draw. Above is the creation that emerged. I started with those eyes, and went off from there. It's nice to just sit and practice using color and lines to formulate an idea. I added this to my portfolio, which you can visit by clicking on this link:

http://gallery.me.com/banteron#100351

November Peace

This short movie clip is of Lake Hennessy, which I feature on this blog from time to time. It is one of those places here in the Napa Valley where I can escape to find Serenity and Peace. Today was no exception. Earlier I was bored so I found an old pair of suede slip on shoes and I ended up painting them metallic blue ( Yes, just like the Spirit Rocks in my previous post ). I feel goofy wearing them, but also somewhat liberated. The shoes went for the brief hike up into the hills you see featured in the video above.Then around 6pm I headed back into town and then up to the Friday night meeting at the St. Helena Hospital. Afterwards I met with a group of people to have a late dinner at Amigos in downtown St. Helena. It was fun fellowshipping with my friends from Napa. Everyone had a few yarns to spin and a lot of catching up to do. It was a fun day today.

Halloween

Today began with mass at O.L.P.H. ( Our Lady of Perpetual Help ) Where Fr. Manny told the same dumb tequilla jokes during his sermon and the two bellowing babies in the back made his homily all the more very difficult to hear. During the prayers of the faithful I submitted that we pray for the Giants to win the pennant, which got a good laugh. I'm glad it cheered everyone up. After mass, I went back home and spent the day painting more "Spirit Rocks" like the ones you see above. This is my latest creative/ crafty pursuit.Yes, they are painted with metallic and glow-in-the-dark paint.They dry real easily and are fun to make. I let some of the neighborhood kids pick one out to take along with a handful of Snickers bars when they came by my apartment trick or treating. They are such great kids around here.I heard that their was a parade downtown where the whole community gets to take pictures and gawk at all the interesting costumes, but I opted to just hang out at home.

Focusing on Art

The rains are on the way and still the Giants are in the World Series to play their second game in San Francisco. They won the first one and hopefully this one won't get rained out. Go GIants ! Tomorrow they go to play in Texas.

I drove to Napa this morning thinking that it was Friday and got to the dentist's office only to realize that my appointment isn't until tomorrow. It was not a futile trip though, because I went to see my friend Arnie, who is currently at the Queen of the Valley Hospital getting treatment for pneumonia in his lungs ( yikes ! ) He has to stay there until they get the infection in his lungs under control. I hope he will be out soon.

Trader Joes is my favorite place to shop because they have the best products and value for my money. I made a stop there to buy vegetables, nuts, crackers, avocados, ginger chews, cranberries and some tahini sauce. So now you know what I like to nosh on. Yesterday I went for a hike up to Coyote peak at Bothe State Park. I did some artwork in the morning, and hiked in the afternoon. Today it is a little too overcast and it may rain tonight,so I'm going to take a pass this afternoon. Besides, my feet hurt after only a four mile hike... sheesh !

A friend of mine suggested that I paint some not so common fruits and vegetables that are used in the kitchen. This is how I spent the day. The other thing I've been painting are "Spirit Rocks" that I will be giving out on Halloween. No really... these are pretty cool. I got some rocks from the beach out at Jenner and found the smoothest and roundest ones around. Then I got some nice acrylic metallic paints to cover them. Then I paint small designs with glow in the dark paint on top. More to come...

Cozy Cocoa

It is raining today , and it is looking like winter already. These are the days where I usually stay inside and draw or fiddle around on my computer or make something in the kitchen. I had a big breakfast after mass, with turkey bacon, a cheese omelette with jalapeño peppers and avocados. Then I prepared two slices of whole grain rye toast and topped it with yogurt butter and fig jam.I also made myself a cup of cocoa with cinnamon just for giggles. I am now making another cup because the first one was so good.
Nothing like a hot cup of cocoa on a cold, wet day. As a youngster we used to make it with warm milk and plop a marshmallow on the top. I can honestly say that I don't think I can remember the last time I had a marshmallow, can you? They were a highlight of my youth, especially on camping trips. Roasting a few on a stick was great fun, except when you burnt the roof of your mouth from eating the damn thing while it was still roasting.

In less than two months I will be 60 years old. This fact freaks me out a bit because I still feel like my life is just getting started and I am already past middle age! I know for certain that I am a late bloomer when it comes to maturity. I have to make all the mistakes there are to make in life before I get something right.

Compiling Artwork

It has been a while since I have thoroughly reviewed my portfolio and all the other art work I've kept over the years. Yesterday I went through my collection and framed a few pieces and went on to archive some others. My game plan is to submit some smaller work I've done to the Napa Valley Museum this weekend for a small format show coming up.I've also upgraded my photo gallery to include a lot of my more recent works. Above is one i did a long time ago but added a few embellishments just to make it interesting. I call it the "Shaman".

The Crush

It is sunny and beautiful outside again today. Yesterday was 10-10-2010 and the Giants pulled a little bit closer to making it into the playoffs. Saturday I went to help my friends Dick and Carol Uschyck, harvest and crush grapes. This has been and event that takes place every year about this time since 2001, and this was the first time I participated. A few years back I designed a label for their Merlot which they have used to make gifts which they give out during the holidays. What makes this amusing is that the grapes they harvest are from their "vineyard" which is basically a rather small yard in front of their house which we jokingly call the "lower-forty". What is so surprising, is that they usually get about two tons every year! The juice is very sweet and nutritious but don't worry. I won't be sampling the juice after it ferments. That would be road I won't be traveling down again. Dick invited me to stay and have dinner with the family which was great. They made tacos and we sat around exchanging stories about life in the Napa Valley as I drank my water. Carol gave me two jars of her fig jam to take home with me. They are nice people and good neighbors.

Staying busy

My creative juices have been flowing. I have been spending the time beefing up my portfolio and reorganizing all my art work. Today I came across a Mandala I created at SRJC about ten years ago. I added some color and filigree to make it into a more complete piece. It looks to me like an Alaskan tribal motif by the Eskimos there. I will have to look up the name for that style. Anyway, I've been enjoying these cool Fall days in Calistoga.

Staying Connected

It's Tuesday and the clouds were out this morning, but gave way to some beautiful sunshine this afternoon. I was not able to post to this blog earlier today because my internet connection was out. I called Comcast and they determined that it was the modem that was faulty and I ended up driving to Napa to get a new one at the Comcast store. Luckily, I had some shopping to do at Trader Joe's so it worked out well for me. When I got back I plugged in the modem and called Comcast to activate it. Unfortunately, they couldn't do that yet assured me that they would stay on it and scheduled a technician to come out at 2 PM. When the technician arrived he checked the new modem and determined that it was not the modem but the cable going to the box on the outside of my apartment. Yikes !! That box has been padlocked for a year, so that no one could access the cables and the former landlady was the only one with the combination. The Comcast guy told me that he would stick around until I found a way to open it. I ended up calling the Calistoga Housing people to see if the combination could still be found. No luck. Then I drove to ACE Hardware to purchase a hacksaw to cut the lock. That worked. I didn't think my day was going to proceed this way, but thankfully I am back on the internet and won't have to go through any withdraw from this crazy dependence.

October is here

Fall is upon us, and the days are getting shorter. The harvest for a lot of the Zinfandel grapes will begin either this week or early next week. It should be crazy busy for the grape pickers. The late harvest is to allow for more "hang time" which will increase the "brix" which in essence is the sugar content of the grapes. They are around 25 brix presently and may go higher. This also means that the alcohol content could be higher too ( not that this matters to me ). If you live in the Napa Valley, it is always fun to watch as the leaves turn from green to yellow to red. You can also smell the must of the grapes just by sticking your head out the window of the car at certain points up and down the valley.

Good orderly direction

Today is my sister Martha's Birthday. I sent her a gift certificate for two cooking classes at the CIA. I hope she enjoys them and comes away with more skills that she can add to her already bountiful set. The temperature should rise up over one hundred degrees today. It was the hottest day on record in Los Angeles yesterday. It is still early enough in the day, so I haven't turned on the fan or air conditioner yet. Presently, I am working on a couple of pictures to add to my portfolio. I will post them as soon as they are ready to be put online. During the past couple of days I've been reflecting on the events of my life. It is difficult to stay in the moment. It is important for me to set out to accomplish a few tasks every day. I am going to start with baby steps.

A legend of the Fall

Looking at my previous blog, it is ironic that I have a picture of the Main entrance to what many consider to be the best of the best in west, facing eastward. Because that is the doorway view from the desk where I have worked, laughed and cried for the past seven years and nine months. I have since walked through this portal perhaps for the last time. As I right this, I have been "shown the door" as they say, with a warning not to step on these hallowed grounds again. To the best of my knowledge, Monday marks the last day I was allowed to work as Concierge at this beautiful facility. This happened on the last day of summer as the Autumnal equinox began it's yearly sojourn. One could have said that I should have seen it coming, but like the last of anything, I was the last to know. I am sure there are big lessons to come from this, and certainly more shall be revealed. Suffice to say that if Pride cometh before the Fall, This Fall happened on very short notice. As it turns out, the woman in this picture is Janice who worked the same position as me eight years earlier. I had the distinct pleasure of giving her my final tour on my final day.That's a badge that she is holding which designates her as a "Tourist". In some ways, I think this is what we all are ... really. Just tourists.

Peak of the Season

This is the time when all the " Seasoned" tourists arrive in the Napa Valley. They come for the numerous festivals, weddings, tastings and crushing parties that all take place during our harvest. For the staff and students here at the CIA, it adds up to a lot more work all around. It has been difficult getting through the day with a gazillion tasks and distractions that seem to be happening all the time.Today, I will kick back and do my laundry, get my tires rotated and perhaps do some shopping. If I even do this much, it will be enough. My serenity is directly contingent upon my spiritual growth. My relationship with my Higher Power is numero uno.

Light my fire

It was a very pleasant evening at veteran's park in downtown Napa. I showed up for the last hour of the show which featured a few original members of the band The Doors. Ray Manzarek was on keyboards playing along with the Napa Symphony.What a hoot! These 50 somethings were singing along, and pretending to pass around a fake doobie. I caught their shenanigans on video. All in all, everyone seemed to be having a good time. I hope your Labor Day was as fun as this party here.

Elevating the Humble

It pleases me when people will make a request by asking, " May I ". I want to bend over backwards to make whatever we have, available and open to them. But when people come in like they own the place and demand to see our teaching kitchen, I have to let them down easy. If I have learned anything on this job, it is how to be of service. I cannot promise things that cannot be delivered, and by the same token I cannot favor one person over another. Thankfully, I have met the most gracious people in the world and have learned that people will generally treat you as well as you extend yourself to them when they arrive. First impressions are lasting, and no one should ever miss the opportunity to make a great first impression. Today, it is my hope that our Special Events team doesn't think that I am being persnickety when I point out that Greystone has been looking rather crumpled when I come to work after a wedding has taken place. The fact is, that a lot of stuff gets moved or is lying around waiting for someone else to pick it up . The problem is that it has to be picked up.

Summer winding down

Today we are experiencing a heat wave in St. Helena. The temperature is slated to go above 105 ☠ Yikes! I will be in an air-conditioned environment however, and will probably spend most of the day inside. It is Tuesday and this is my "hump" day now that I have Fridays and Saturdays off. I will drink plenty of water today and will be stopping by Dr. Michael Mulaney's office to pick up some more Kangen water this evening. This Kangen water is an ionized water that has a high alkaline profile. My system has been fairly acidic for some time so I have been converting to a healthier lifestyle by consuming up to eight - eight ounce glasses of water every day. You should always drink before you get thirsty. Water is the best hydration fluid. I have been off coffee now for over four weeks. Good for me. The picture above is of a healthy salad that I was indulging in last Thursday.

On top of the heap

Or underneath it? I never seem to know or care these days. I have been driving a rather modest and dare I say, crummy little car for the last fifteen years. I am almost scared to talk unkindly about it for fear it may stop running as well as it has for over 190,000 miles. If I change the oil, I will probably try to drive it through the next winter instead of getting a new one. It has gotten me around in spite of it's rather banged up appearance. I wanted to purchase a cute little white Jetta a few weeks ago, but my neighbor sold it. Damn. Now I have been thinking of that Jetta almost every day since.I definitely want a white car because I like the way they get seen. I don't want to be missed as people pull in and out of traffic. I have been affirming that the perfect car is now manifesting for me in my life, in totally satisfying and harmonious ways for the highest good of all concerned.

Eight, Nine Ten

Okay, so it's August ninth, Two thousand ten. We have someone who decided to have their wedding here at Greystone on a Monday night ( How quaint, huh? ) Anyway, it is already creating a bit of a hassle among the staff here, because the Atrium is being decorated and the tourists are getting confused.Already, the entry to the store has been compromised because of the insistence on having drapery above the door. Several people have already bumped up against the stands and have almost knocked them over. I am trying to keep my cool because the Concierge is usually the first to get blamed for anything. Thankfully, I am just here to do MY job and not anyone elses ( which, by the way had to get sorted out when I first came to work here ). The Concierge is the go-to person at the main entrance.Usually we are the last to know about any types of protocol regarding special events.

Plum Tuckered

Giving tours 3 times a day can be a bit draining, unless I play around and modify it each time I give one.Today I was so exhausted that I pointed to the flags in the atrium and exclaimed that they represented the many ways one should know how to prepare an egg. People looked at me like I was nuts. luckily, they had a sense of humor as well and I was quickly able to point out that the flags actually represented the major wine growing regions of the world at one time. Now that was true and far more plausible when I said it.This week I was tipped a 20 by a guy who looked and acted like he had a little too much wine. I humored him throughout the whole tour so I guess he appreciated that.Last night I sat and ate Hog Island oysters on the terrace and drank Pellgrino water at a table with five female coworkers.Ah life is good ! ( so long as I didn't have to pick up their tab !! ) Right now I am home and wondering what my next two days off will look like.

Review of this month's posts

Okay, I have been exploring the Social Media a little more now that I have a new IPhone 4, and a bit of the know-how in posting videos both on my blog, FB, Twitter, QIK and Google Buzz.It's a big step into the unknown,only because I haven't asked all the questions there are to ask and it is all still a bit overwhelming. Below is the video I took in San Antonio at the big ALAMODOME Showdown with the friends of Bill. You can see that the place is filled to the Rafters with lots of special people. I ended up spending the night in my car because all the rooms near downtown San Antonio were BOOKED SOLID. I felt so grunged out the next day, but luckily I found a motel not far from the Conference Center and RIverwalk area. Before that though, I scoped out a community pool where I took a free swim along with a hot shower to freshen up. My higher power was with me the whole time I was there. It was an incredible experience even though I missed hooking up with the folks from the Northern California Fellowships.Waaaaaahh ! Anyway, I will be going to these again in the future.

Let there be peace in the valley

Hi, This is a silly little video I made for fun. I am poking fun at the fear some people have about "illegal aliens". I hope you like it. Today I am going for a hike with my friend Dave. We will explore Lake Hennessy which I haven't done in quite awhile.Yesterday, I baked my buns up at Harbin Hot Springs and had a great time swimming, soaking and sweating. I have also begun this regime of drinking a ionized water that is reaping me numerous health benefits. The other thing I am working on is my creativity. It seem that I will have to head off in another direction until I can find my muse again. Sometimes I have to change directions to get a better perspective on things.

Warm Summer Day

It's one of those days where I slept in, and did very little. Eventually I got my laundry done and fed myself, but only feel motivated to drive into St. Helena to get a cup of coffee at the NV Coffee Roasting company. I feel safe there. I have not been feeling too secure lately. I am not soliciting help, but perhaps I should be. The world seems to be in pretty bad shape, and it is not at all what I envisioned as a comfortable place be as an adult.It doesn't even feel safe to disagree with people anymore. Everyone seems on the defensive... so less inclusive as they once were.How sad.Perhaps it's because I am on vacation and feel compelled to be doing something...anything !

Back from San Antonio

Well it was a whirlwind couple of days but I am glad to be back. The heat was not as unbearable as previously thought. When I arrived we had huge cloud breaks and torrential downpours. Drove from Austin and got to the conference in time to attend the meetings in the Alamodome. Went for a swim in the morning and explored the Riverwalk downtown. Later on, I drove out to see the CIA at the old Pearl Brewery. It is quite impressive. I look forward to hearing about what it will look like when the rest of the building is renovated. Visited the San Antonio Museum of Art which was exhibiting a show of psychedelic art. All in all an interesting trip.

Still on the fence

As of today, I have not gotten a ticket for San Antonio, and I am still open to the possibility. When I come home from work this evening, I will either book it or I won't. If I don't, it means another "staycation" around Calistoga. I really don't feel like going anywhere at this point, but a lot is weighing on my mind. Today is another gorgeous day in the Napa Valley and the weekend is likely to be hot ( like San Antonio wouldn't be?? ) So I guess it is six of one and a half-dozen of the other. The only difference would be that I would be saving some money if I don't go, yet passing on a very significant gathering of the tribes. Oh decisions, decisions...