Silvia’s Birthday

My neighbors are the sweetest people I know and today was Silvia’s birthday. She is the mother of Cesar, Monica and Jessica and the wife of Raphael Ayala. Today was a very pleasant early April day. No rain, but still a little on the cool side. Whenever I hear a knock on my apartment door, it is usually the Ayalas or the Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is rare that anyone comes by to visit. Tonight however, it was Raphael presenting me with a wonderful plate of food which included two tacos, rice, beans and vegetables. The tacos were fantastic. One chicken and one carne asada. After finishing those up, I went downstairs to celebrate with the rest of the family. Lucky me, because cake and Ice cream were on the menu after everyone joined in singing Silvia the Happy Birthday song. The kids are a little shy, but you would hardly know it with all the soccer games banging off the building walls during the day. Everytime Cesar scores a goal he shouts a long winded “ GOOOOOOAAAAAAL ! “ just like they do during the televised games." He is also a Giant’s Fan. He hopes someday to attend a Giant’s game in San Francisco at ATT park. All in all, this is a great place to live.

Recently Read

I just finished the “Twelfth Insight” by James Redfield. It was similar to his first novel, “The Celestine Prophecy” but this time we are taken through documents about practices that are to be integrated, rather than insights to be experienced. The Celestine Prophecy had us exploring meaningful synchronicity as the benchmark of the first of the twelve insights. These insights would build on each other much the same way that the documents tend to propel the reader through this quasi-adventurous tale about warring factors in our own personalities that are also played out in the world. If there be peace in the world, let it begin with me.

Nowadays, principles that are looked upon as “soft” or “ultra-liberal” directly confront stoically unyielding attitudes of people that are apparently after the same thing. Not to be outdone, the book was written in 2011, and looks to December 21st, 2012 as relevant, insofar as it marks the end of the Mayan Calendar. This is a time when, if the world does not end on this date will certainly be seen as a harbinger for a new age. This book also seems to capitalize on themes that are at once political, philosophical and spiritual. This does not take into account an overarching Biblical treatise on the apocalypse.

Miko’s Third Birthday

Daylight Savings Time began today and I was out the door to just make it to mass by eight. Father Brinkle’s sermon was all about how Jesus got angry and threw the money changers out of the temple. It is nice to know that Our Lord could be fully human this way, and yet still be without sin.

After mass, I made my way to “Playground Fantastico” in Napa only because Ed placed some balloons right outside the gate on Old Sonoma Road. Seeing all the kids was great, and it was nice seeing my nephew(s) and in-laws as well. The party was traditional with hot dogs on the grill and a big cake for Miko. The Piñata was tough for the little ones to crack open but the candy eventually got distributed among all who wanted a bag full. The morning was drizzly but the sun eventually broke out, every time Miko smiled. This was not an easy task at first. He eventually did brighten, as did the day.

Later in the afternoon I went by Mont La Salle to visit the Brothers, as well as paying a visit to the Veteren’s Home as I made my way back up the valley. All in all, a very thought provoking and reflective day.

Oh blah dee, Oh blah dah...

Today was another uneventful day. I putted around doing busy work waiting, waiting and yawning. Too much of nothing makes a man feel ill at ease. I am looking at making a change and yet am not about to force any quick solutions.

My friend Veda is wearing the world like a loose garment. She has put all her things in storage and is living out of a suitcase. Today she called via Skype and we had a nice conversation before she went off to sleep. She is in transition and it feels like I am too.

My beard is coming in nicely. You might say I look like a beat poet or a contemporary of Ernest Hemingway. I like that image. Plans are brewing for the end of the month. Veda and I will be attending a “black tie optional” dinner at my alma mater in Moraga. Oreo cookies turned 100 today and the St. Mary’s Gaels are progressing to the NCAA tourney ! Sweet sixteen is on the horizon!

I really don’t have anything to gripe about do I?

Patience

"Waiting is… “ This is a particular tenant of faith that does little to quiet the conversation and conjecture that goes on in my mind when the answers don’t come. Today I waited to hear from a prospective employer about the possibility of a job. When I didn’t hear from him, I called and left a message on his voicemail with my number. So far, nothing. I did my best to occupy my time today, which included painting rocks, updating this blog, cleaning my car, going to mass, starting my taxes, cooking my lunch, drawing a picture ( see image included ) and meditating. Yesterday I brought a group of people on a hike to Coyote Peak. Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away.

I believe in Yesterday.

Now it's Thursday

It is an unseasonably warm day ( we’re talking 70º plus ! ) . Winter here in Calistoga has probably never been more enjoyable, weather wise. I will be hiking through Bothe State Park with my pal, Don around 10 am. It was just as nice yesterday, but even though it was sunny out I couldn’t get out into it. It just seemed sort of wrong, being the dead of winter and all. My niece Elizabeth is in Hawaii, where there are continual tropical thunderstorms . My nephew Justin in Australia reports lighting storms for over a week now. Phew ! The image above was taken on my recent trip to SF. It is a view from Lafayette Park looking north across the bay. Sweet, huh?

Taking a Survey

Here I am at the Fleishman Field Research as part of a Focus Group. The group is pretty mixed. This is a fun way to earn a quick 75 bucks.

What an interesting day. I left Veda on the Freeway next to the San Quentin off ramp because the CHP would not let me drive through due to an Occupy protest. I ended up in SF after all. We are still on good terms... I think. She is living in her new home in Larkspur. I have yet to see it. The picture here is a sample picture which was in the Sample Pics folder at the focus group.

Making time for painting

Today I have been painting rocks to keep my focus. The new type of rock I have been painting is much smoother than sandstone. This smoother surface I have found is preferable for several reasons.This type of rock I have begun painting on is called “Mexican Pebble” which is Basalt rock that you would find in a decorative garden setting. It is black, heavy and very smooth which saves me from having to purchase new brushes every month. It is also much nicer to hold. I got these rocks at a place called "Clarks Rocks" in American Canyon. They were not expensive and saved me money from having to drive out to the coast to collect the rocks I usually get.I keep looking for ways of improving my craft. I am also remembering to allow the clear coat finish to dry before handling the rocks, because they can get pretty gummy if I am not careful. The rock above is a good example of the type of Spirit Rock or "Glowing Stone" that I am producing lately.

Still pounding the pavement

It’s been a year and a half since I left my job at the CIA. That almost sounds like a Catch 22, huh? ( You check out, but not really ). I have looked most every day for some type of work I can do; But at 61, sending out another résumé and cover letter almost seems like an exercise in futility. I have been trying to start my own business, painting gift rocks. This has been a seasonal business so far, as I usually sell mostly during the summer months. I have been trying to get a shopping cart on my Spirit Rocks blog so that friends can purchase their rocks online. This has been my strategy for the few months remaining until Spring.I hope to have that up soon.

Everyday,I paint a rock or two. Some are more beautiful than others. I try to think of ways of improving them. Being away from regular employment has been difficult. Today I went to the Dentist because I think I have an absess infection around a molar that has been capped. He took an ex-ray and determined to send me to a specialist for a root canal. Thankfully, hé has seen me with or without insurance. Job or no job. He is a very ethical Dentist, who I have been seeing now for twenty five years. I was able to get an appointment with a doctor who worked alongside the doctor who did the root canal originally. The original doctor has since gone out of practise ( good thing, because hé pretty much did a less than stellar job ). Now comes the money part.

Yikes !

Scammers Posing As Friends On Facebook

Yes I am embarrassed to say that this happened to me. The Profile harvesters abound, culling every nuance to make your “friends” stories seem entirely plausible. Don’t fall for it like I did.Tell them to wait until you give them a phone call for personal verification, and even then … Ask questions that you would be certain that only they would know the answer to; Of course, nothing is entirely secure.Also,Don’t part with more money than you would be willing to lose.

Meeting Leo Laporte

Today is Friday, and I made it back from MacWorld last night around ten. The trip to SF from Calistoga usually takes around two hours comfortably.Veda and I got to the Moscone Center around noon and parked at the Mission street garage.We arrived on the showroom floor and began collecting schwag and chatting up the vendors to learn all their was that was new this year. It only took two seconds to lose Veda, and luckily we had our cell phones because even though we planned to meet by the first aid station at 2pm, that did not work out as well as we had planned. I walked up near the front of Moscone West to look for Veda and found Leo Laporte holding court with a bunch of geeks in black open collar shirts. It looked like the staff from Macbreak Weekly which is Leo’s show that is video-podcasted every Monday.I have been a fan of Leo’s show for around five years or so. He really is very knowledgeable about all things computer related… not just Macs. He graciously posed for this photo which really shows off my belly (not so much his) but I guess I will have to start doing sit ups to counteract all this good food I have learned to enjoy.He is a bright likable guy, who should run for president.Just because.

Monday Again

Well as you might have guessed, the Niners have not been picked to be the team to go to the Superbowl this year. It was a game that ended exactly the way I thought it was going to end.I am not disappointed. They had a great season. I ended up going to Newman Hall in Berkeley after the game to the Holy Spirit chapel for mass. I got home around 12:30pm . It was worth it.Today I worked on several posters for my upcoming show.The poster shown below is one that am very proud of as It showcases the real beauty of these rocks.

Moonshot

This is another picture of one of the posters I will be featuring at the one man show coming to the St. Helena Library on February 1st. This is a modification of a picture I have drawn in the past, along with the painted rocks, which sometimes take on a figurative images such as the smiling man in the moon shown in the upper left portion of this picture. All I am doing here is showcasing the rocks which are the real stars of these pictures.

Stags Leap 2

It was cold and foggy at the start but after about an hour the sun broke through. This was the second time exploring the trail that led to the top of the Vacas mountains lining the east end of the Napa Valley. The Stags leap district is a designated appellation on the Napa Valley Viticultural map. The area has a lot of Manzanita and Madrone trees and bushes with craggy rocks to walk over getting up to the top. We traversed two large hills getting to our destination where we stopped after three hours to have lunch. The return trip went pretty quickly as it was mostly down hill. The views from the top were spectacular.

All this walking was far better for me than sitting in front of a TV set watching football. Next week however, is when the Forty-Niners face off against the New York Giants.You can bet that I will be watching that one. It will be great if our Niners make it to the Super Bowl this year. Incidentally, when we were over looking the Napa Valley, we could see a large group of people watching the Giants vs. Green Bay game on a jumbotron at a local winery down below. They were screaming and yelling every few seconds as their team performed. We yelled back at them from above on the mountainside. I think they heard us because they kept yelling back.

Upcoming Show

Today I went to purchase some frames at Michael’s Art Supply in Santa Rosa. What a store that is! It made me realize how much the Chinese people have contributed to glut of available merchandise in this country. Everything from the smallest sticker to the largest frames have been produced in China. I bought six frames , some high gloss acrylic spray and some mylar stickers for future rock creations. I have about five more 18X24” prints to frame to complete the show. I also need to purchase some sparkling cider, water and juice for the reception that will take place on the first of February at the St. Helena Library. I want to display my Spirit Rocks under a plexiglass case if possible, so that people will know that the rocks have been scanned on my flatbed scanner and subsequently modified in Photoshop. The excitement is building.

Getting Ready

I will be showing my work on the walls at the St. Helena Library for the month of February. I will be featuring a collection of imagery from works that I have collected throughout the years. The image above is of a rock I painted , scanned and modified in Photoshop. I like how I can take something as mundane as a river rock and build it up to be an object of interest. The picture above is of a rock that I had made into a 18” X 24” poster. I am thrilled that I was able to frame this piece and keep the cost down. I hope to continue painting and making these rocks special for everyone to enjoy.

A real Santa and a Chinese Christmas

Veda and I travelled to the city to have Christmas dinner at Martha and Ernie’s house. Rita and Hamish were there at the door to greet us when we arrived. Martha was in the kitchen on her laptop chatting away with my brother John in Chicago on Skype. Veda leaned over and said hello and was probably taken back when she realized that my brother was Santa Claus. I mean, his beard and snow white hair are all very real. The picture above will attest to the Chicagoland Santa's authenticity. I am still not sure what she made of him.My brother-in-law Ernie was busy preparing the clay pot and sautéed veggies along with some sweet and sour pork. We all sat around chatting about different things throughout dinner which didn’t get through until around 11:30 PM ! We had a mango custard for dessert that was absolutely delicious. Then it was time to head back across the Golden Gate. Veda suggested coffee, so we stopped at a café on Church street that was still open. I was ready for the ride back so we crossed the bridge and I bid her a fond ado as I continued on to Calistoga. Nice time!

The Winter Solstice

It is another beautiful day here in Calistoga. The sun has been shining here every day for the past three weeks! The high pressure is sending all inclement weather either north or south but not in and around the bay area. The Forty Niners are doing well and have a good chance at making it to the Super Bowl this year after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers monday evening. Today I am going to a store called “Mr. Moon “ downtown. I will propose that they sell my Spirit Rocks, some of which I have fashioned into a crescent moon that looks like a perfect fit for their store. I also have the idea of doing refrigerator magnets that would be the exact same rock with a magnet glued to the back. I want to give them exclusive rights to and hope to make them the sole distributor of my work. This way I will have a retail outlet that can show my work year round ( I am keeping my fingers crossed that perhaps they will sell it as a "Mister Moon Rock “) I will keep you posted.

Progress, not perfection

Today is Sunday and I’ve intentionally missed the Republican debates on TV. I have no interest in the Republican Agenda. I painted rocks, I ate Quinoa, I went to a meeting and I went to mass. All in all, it was a good day because I accomplished a few things and intend to accomplish more tomorrow. Every day, I do something to further my desire for financial independence. I made a pendant and a beautiful rock that looks like it’s going to be a big seller. Tuesday is my birthday. I will be 61 and... MY SPIRIT ROCKS !

Fun filled weekend

Just when I thought that I would not be participating in the Calistoga Christmas fair, I got a table set up at just the last minute ! The event coordinator let me display my Spirit Rocks and I had the best time ever. I connected with old friends and made some new ones. It was a lot of work and I was bushwhacked by the end of the day. I took a short nap because I knew the tractor parade was happening on Lincoln avenue as night fell. I shot the picture above just as the parade was ending ( doggone it ). I thought that the festivities were to start at 8PM and found out too late that they began at 7, so I caught the tail end of it. I spent a little time chatting it up with my friend Eleanor who kept me company and recalled her days events as she enjoyed a cup of Pumpkin Chai. I had a pomegranate juice before heading home and settling in for the evening.

All in all, a very satisfying day.