Where's Waldo?

"Pull Over" Okay, I Will
October 2, 2010--Had to get out of the house. Needed to get away. Outside tapping at the keyboards just enjoying this nice autumn night. Can’t really tell in California, though. No demarcation from one season to another. It is just nice weather,  then not so hot, and back to nice again. After living back East, I rather have more helios. For me, I prefer the steadiness and sun

Just Sitting There
So what now? Well, its bucket list time. Found a website where I can start putting my bucket list on the electron internet-verse. Leaving a record of what I would like to accomplish. Having a guidepost of stuff I’d like to see and do. A list in which I can mark off things I have done. A reminder of what my dreams and wishes were before.

Little Things
Been using my journal to document this and I am a true believer in putting pen to paper. The act of putting a promise to yourself and what to do. Trouble is keeping reminders at times creates clutter.  Been reading a book of Feng Shui and learned something. Clutter, in a nutshell, not so good. I have clutter. Think its genetic. My dad had stuff all around, too. The garage is also a bit messy, too. Bedroom is like that. Clutter, time for you to go. You are are effecting my Flow.

Let Go, Let Flow
One principal states that one should remove the clutter. Let the energy flow. Don’t get stagnant. Reminds me of the Buddhist thing about carrying stuff and how it can bog you down. We are given what we need and we should leave what we don’t need.

Something Happen For a Reason

Well, the gist of this is that these last couple of weeks stuff has been swirling around the cranium. Stuff has been stirring in the emotional core. Body’s feeling backed up. Holding all this stuff is not good and a nice house cleaning may be in order.  My laptop crashed and I lost a lot of stuff there. Still, not too terribly torn up about it. Guess I needed to wipe the slate clean with stuff. Go tabula rasa.

Enjoy Where You Are At
Well, sitting out here in the patio of It’s a Grind. Feeling the swirling energies of the cars behind me. Listening to the crickets sing their song. Enjoying a nice hot cocoa. It feels nice to feel the swirl. To let the energy centrifuge the unnnecessaries out. It rained and lightning-ed (I know not a word) a couple days back. It was cleansing.  It is not the same as getting my ions recharged at the beach, but for now it will do.

Clockwork.Few days back it was the hottest recorded temperature for this time of the year. 113 degrees. Thought it would be an ideal to wash the car. You see I have got this gift. Whenever I go to a restaurant, less than 5 or 10 minutes, it gets busy thus slowing down the servers from getting or order in a timely. But that is not my greatest gift. I can solve the water problem in California. You see whenever it rains, the next day or two it showers. Well, like clockwork. Wash car Tuesday, rain on Thursday.  You are welcome.

Sitting There On Side of the Road

Anyways, just want wanted to enjoy the now. It is just nice to smell the rain in the air. Looking at the clouds hang so closely. It is nice to see the contrast of something a little dangerous and calming. For the longest time, I’ve felt calmest during the storm. My old Myspace had that background. (Think its to delete this one) Well, anyways, its almost eight and I think I’d like to just enjoy my hot cocoa.

Yeah, he's in all the pictures. Something told me to stop at that time. I then started clicking away.

Up and Away
Sorry, no moral. No theme. Just a pleasant sharing of thoughts with those out there.  Guess, I wasn’t ready to say, So Long. Getting the vibe to just take a moment of pause. Sitting there on the side of the road taking picture of the San Andreas Fault line on Highway 14. I realized that I wasn't the only one there taking a moment. Looked up and there he was. Guess, he needed something, too. We all need something. Needed to get some perspective. Needed to Elevate and Escape. Needed to know I wasn't the only one that needed to take a moment. At times, life goes by so fast that it would be best to just pullover on the side of the road.You'd be surprised there is much  to discover and appreciate.

A Thousand Words

Beautiful day this was. Nice summer night. Music in the air. A couple with their dogs take a relaxing break here at the Its Grind promenade. Wind is blowing and the car races by.

Today was a good day. Went to church and had taquitos and nachos. Prayed for M, Mom and the family. Thanked the Big Smile and wondered if the priest's hand has healed. He hurt it playing ball. He said, Go Hard or Don't Go At All. Got the Valley Press Sunday paper and a snicker at Acton. Stopped on the 14 South and took a panorama of Vasquez.

Went off track and found myself at the Japanese Gardens. Was only going to be a 15 minute hit and run turned into an hour plus. Visited Tatay and Rochelle at their house. Put some flowers on their place. Rochelle’s birthday soon, this Friday. Ate some alligator and jambalaya at the Farmers Market. Fresh Lemonade ice nice.

Met the Travel Angel. Lost my camera. Found my camera because a nice lady watching a couple of kids was great. (Who says prayers aren’t answered?) Hung out with Jason got a some vids, a couple of new releases and a classic, on the flash drive. Shot the shit. Now have a new game plan when doing a road trip. Watching Man vs Food is now SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) before heading on drive.

Talked with Mikayla on how fast she was at Jalen's party last week. All I said was she was a blur. Asked if she was the fastest in her school. She said, "No." She thought this guy cheated on a jogathon. I believe her. She is a smart one. I am lucky that I am related. Kissed Aunty Ellen and air kissed Mikayla goodbye. She’s too cool for this uncle. Can’t blame her. I was the same way. Still am.

Got some Tilapia, Tucino, and Shrimp Shumai at Seafood City. Took some sunsets and panoramas at Lamont Vista Point. Now I sit here on a nice summer night with my soon empty large passion fruit iced tea while listening some teens and tweeners playing some tunes on their Ipod. Closing in ten minutes here. Still waiting for pictures to download to FB. Would write more but time is short. Plus, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Grind Observation: August Morning Ramblings

[-28] 03610.00
Last day of August. Two-thirds of the year gone.Two Hundred forty-third day of 2010.Stardate: [-28] 03610.00 Not sure what that means, but they it Star Trek: TNG all the time. As for this moment in time and space, this is what my senses tell me.

Nina and Charlie
A lady is texting away on her Iphone. Another lady waits for her macchiato. She samples the silver coffee mug. Nina Simone is playing overhead and Charlie Parker is to my right. I can hear the workers laugh. Fresh brew wafts in the air. Mid-morning and my attention span is short. 

UCLA: What Are You?
Mesmerized by the lady tap at her tiny touch screen keyboard. She is wearing a wrinkled UCLA tee. Black binder and older leather purse/ back pack are placed in all around in "her' area. Binder is her work. She coughs. She seems to be a former athlete, a swimmer maybe. Wearing flip flops. An outline of a sports bra or swimsuit is under her tee. Perhaps a freestyler or breast stroker. Maybe a nursing student. Short hair in a pony. Thirty something. Purposely Tattered denim of the 90s.

She has a chart of sorts and is warming up her netbook.Her hair is unwashed, unstyled. Focus of a single or windowed mom. Could tell that she has business approach, mixed with vernacular of a therapist. She talks about session of therapy with teachers and children. Maybe a social worker? Her body language is that of an assured confidence. Right knee bent and hip protruding. Short-haircut. Her paperwork showed a chart, perhaps a science chart or an experiment. She uses a pencil and is writing on her papers.

Lady In Red
Well, another lady in red sits in front of me. Drinking her flavored iced tea. She is studying her open notebook too. White, green and magenta purse on the table. She is organized. Her faded red shirt is snug. No more luster. Has these button straps on her arm.  Reminds me on an old Members Only jacket that men used to be in style a lifetime ago. Shops at the Ross is my guess. White tee underneath. Watch is on her left. Probably a right hander. Clothes don’t seem very fashionable, but this is a lazy Tuesday morning. No highlight marks on her paper. I peaked as she lifted her binder. Fall semester started recently at the college so I would assume she is a student. Papers stack are only on the top few pages. Must be a student.

White Washed Vato
An older gentlemen just placed his Valley Press on the seat next to hers. Must be a father or uncle. Don’t think its her husband. Seems to big of an age difference. He is wearing a blue button up. Black, shiny faux alligator belt hugs his rising dockers. Many older men have the pants raised up midway on their belly. Like an old school Vato. Thing he is caucasian. Maybe a former mafia, gangster. Don't think he is Italian.  Shirt is somewhat untucked. He’s ordering right now. Can’t really hear what is saying. Coffee is my guess.

Prim and proper she sits. Crosslegged. Right over left. She is grasping her leg securely with both hands.

Brazillian Berry
The cashier is counting change. Breaking a roll of coins on the counter, as the change falls to the ground. She apologizes for that. The server comes to my table with the Jumbo peach iced tea. Over priced, but I consider it rent for using the Wi-Fi for the next couple of hours. She says that my reward card can get me most drinks on the menu. Her favorite is Brazilian Berry smoothie. I will try. Its free. Made my ninth drink purchase. Its Yeah Me time. Maybe tonight after I complete some errands on the last day of August.

Medication and Machiato
A traditional man. No ring. Widowed, my guess. People his time didn't divorce. Drinks coffee. Small. He has muffin. Just got a packet from his pockets. Medication of some sort. Never seen that type before. Its PO w/ Food. Means by Mouth with food. Read somewhere that almost every 65+ is taking some type of medication. Dark eyed. Grey and white hair. He eats his muffin with his hand. 

SCORE
A good shot, too. Just tossed in the ketchup looking packet in the trash a few arms length away. Even had some follow through of the bent wrist. This tells me he is a risk taker of sort. Lazy, too. Shirt is striped. Mini-stripes. The two don’t say a word. She got a coffee cake. Iced tea and coffee cake. Probably not a diabetic.

I wonder what the relationship is? He’s engrossed in his paper. Oops, not Valley Press, A Daily News. Probably lives in the Valley. San Fernando that is. Don’t think he’s from the Woodland Hills. Maybe Northridge or Van Nuys. Clothes aren’t stylish. Looks well worn. He has a gold watch. He walks like an old man. No bounce in his step. The old man shuffle. Yet his shoes are black Maddens. Faux Fashion. He shops at the Rack, Nordstrom Rack, I think. (Thinking the Style Channel must be on TV when I sleep) 

Still no words have been shared yet. She is locked into her reading. Bent over in a focused study.

UCLA is sitting cross-legged. She reminds me of Michelle in a way.

He's Not Around Here
Coffee man is now using his fork and knife. This after he grabbed a couple of bites with his hand. Now he is choosing to be civil. Its okay either way. Locked on the third page of the front section. Nope, I was wrong. He is reading the sports section. Not studying the stats. Intent on reading the weather, though. Guess, weather becomes important as age goes by. Guess that is why I have the Weather Channel on my Blackberry. Yeah, I am betting he is not Palmdalian.

Thank YouTube
UCLA likes the song overhead. Her heads bobs like one of those kewpie dolls. No I mean Bobblehead. Who is this singer? Maybe Dido. Something alternative. Bouncy in beat. Not the angry femme fatales. More adventurous. Trouble is a friend. . .Trouble is friend you. that is the lyrics of the song. Now its going to bug me. Lenka. That is it.  I love the internet at times.

Brought to you by YouTube

Hello, Seventh Month of the Year (Originally. Until Some Ceasar Wanted it Somewhere Else On the Calendar. Vanity Amuck)

Well, the two are gone. He left his paper. Said only a few words. “Ready.” So they went. Its time for me to go to. August at the Grind. Thank you for sharing this time with me. See you next year. Hello September. What do you have in stored for me?

Not Seeking. It Will Be Revealed

Where do I begin? Feeling troubled of late. Not sure if its me or if it is others. 

“Yesterday opened your eyes in many ways, the biggest of which was the fact that your current relationships need some tweaks. You may even be thinking that it's you, not the others, who need to make those changes. You've been thinking of little else since, and you're willing to put Stage One into operation yourself. Asking for help with Stages Two, Three, etc., certainly couldn't hurt and might be part of the solution.” My Aquarius Horoscope

This was my horoscope for the day. Actually tomorrow. Used to be an avid reader. Used to believe on getting a heads up for tomorrows adventure. Then I realize that I didn’t want to know the future. It took away from the excitement of living everyday as if it was your last. It took away because these generalization would be true whether I believed them or not. It was true in that I would do the opposite to make sure that these events the horoscope forecasted would not become true.

Learned of thing called self-fulfilling prophecy. If you believed certain events would happen, then consciously or unconsciously they would happen. Used to get déjà vu all the time. Got the feeling I’ve been here before all the time. The events of life moments seemed so familiar.

Well, I read the horoscope of the day before to see if what happened or not. I mean I still keep my birthday horoscope each year, but the power of horoscope once held no longer interest me. It seems a bit tired. I read once in awhile, but now no longer. They mystery of the day unfolding via the daily horoscope has passed.

Sure things of the future I am fascinated by. Walked by the New Age section of Barnes & Nobles and it was covered with 2012 stuff. Read stuff on Yahoo about the Sun being inactive and the next few years could be a turbulent times. Even picked up a dvd from the library about the rise and fall of Mayan and Incan civilization. They say that an increase of earthquakes would be signs of Armageddon ahead.

Perhaps my bout with Diabetes and CHF have made me get more spiritual. Seems a bit crappy I think. However, in my defense, I did not cry to God to help me because I had these illnesses. I did seek spiritual solace in my mistakes I’ve made. Found myself going to church weekly and daily. Visited churches and mission up and down the LA area. On my trip to SF, I wanted to visit all these missions. Started reading about Islam, Hinduism, Judaism. Still doing that now. Watched videos on Mormonism. Catholicism, and the such.

I attend church regularly, and I find that I thank the Big Smile more and more every day. Read snippets of many religious practices. More and more I read, I find myself wanting more. Learning more. Each religion I found very sensible and very uplifting. What I’ve been troubled is with a lot of the humanness and frailties that take the Word and distort the message by the messenger. Catholic priests and child abuse. Muslim terrorists and plots against Americanism. Christian zealots attacking same-sex marriages. It seems many conflicts and wars were religious based.

Live this way to reach Heaven, Nirvana, and so on. Live another way and you will go wherever.

I read that in “Everything You Need to Know About Judaism” book that Abraham as child destroyed all the statues in his father’s shop except the big one with a hammer. When his father asked, Abraham said that the big one destroyed the others. Here is where monotheism begins. In another book about Buddhism, it said that Brahman also believed in the monotheism centuries years before the Lamb of God and Prophet Muhammad. Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva were all facets of the same ultimate being.

Guess a little knowledge is dangerous. Guess, I am deadly. Lots of little knowledge here and there. Immerse myself in all and everything. I am learning nothing.

All this reading, experiencing, and discovering I have asked question and the answers are coming. Intuitively, there is a higher purpose, a higher being. Intuitively, I believe there are reasons for things happening. Intuitively, I believe in a Flow.

Do I believe in Muhammad? Do I believe in Joseph Smith? Buddha? Dalai Lama? Jesus Christ?Of course I do. They all preach a lesson of God’s Love. All preach be good to one another. All preach a Higher higher.

So this spiritual journey, this quest, this moment of my life finds me not looking for answers. These answers will be revealed to me.

It’s funny sitting here at It’s a Grind a Bible study is forming. Twelve people are surrounding all around. I may say something. It’s funny how things manifest itself. Well, guess, I will listen and pray.  Answers are being revealed.

A Place Where People Know Your Name

Khris is her name. Pleasant smile. She looks you in the eyes. She remembers your name. Customers know her name. Kids wave bye. Dressed in pink and with obligatory "It’s a Grind" brown apron. Saturday at noon and the place is packed. Electrical outlets filled. Kids are sitting and smiling. Taking pictures. People with backpack look around and smile. Laptops wi-fied in. People are locked in on the computer screen

Fiji, Arizona, and Perrier stand tall in the refrigerator stand.  Butter croissant, bran muffin, apple fritter are displayed.  Bulletin board could be of better make, but it has that feel of homemade. Order here and pick up here signs hang from the ceiling. A lady with gorgeous red hair walks out the door with her nieces I am guessing. Red dreds, blue eyes with a pretty smile.

“At last, my love is coming home. . .” plays on the speaker over head. The workers are staff mingle and smile.  Backs to the wall ready for the next rush of customers to come in. Can smell the macchiato here. white foam. Heaven.Three women, one man. Man has a tight goatee sipping on a. . .I don’t know. The other latin lady smiles as he converses with Khris. Wearing a red top with and white thermals she smiles as the conversation goes on. The other lady with the long pony tail is deep in making macchiato magic.

Good morning they sing as two walk in. One is dressed in light suede jump suit. She’s obviously the mom. Looking at her kids. Red Verizon phone in her hand hugging her left ear. She has her right arm on her hip in a motherly manner. This is the power stance. A stance of. . .waiting. She sits down with her kids as they are peruse the internet.

She leaves with a smile. Guess, her kids are doing school work. She drops her sunglasses and kicks across the store in soccer style. Accident, of course. She passes me by and we do the obligatory eyebrow lift. We recognize and smile.

Many things are resolved in a smile. Wish most things were that easy.

Another man sits typing away. He’s in the corner next to the bathroom. An oversized painting of Ray Charles looms overhead. Ray Charles is also smiling his big giant smile. 

Two sit next to me. They got the big grand daddy chairs. Large, leather. A pattern one would see in hotels like the Oxford Inn or Hampton Inn. A mini table separates the two as they flip through their business books. Don’t get that science feel. Feels more accounting, management, MSCI feel. One is in an orange, white, and blue gold shirt. Hair slicked back. Both speaking Spanish as they peruse. The other dressed in a white Geoffrey Beane. He has white wife beater underneath. Face has a bit of rosacea. He looks at his silver imac, playing with the wiresless mouse. His IPOD phone is left hand as speaks English to his girlfriend or wife. How do I know? He says, “Okay, Baby.”

He hangs up and faces his associate. Back to Spanish.

Latin It’s a Grind has the long view. Linda is her name. She looks out the opened front doors. A pretty face. A new edition to the staff. Haven’t been here in awhile. Khris is in the middle of the group. She looks and smiles. Apparently she’s the manager. Latin lady says, you are the manager and you are showing a bad example. This is a good crew. Ready and waiting. I can tell it’s a good crew. Everyone is smiling. Everyone is cracking on each other. A new rush comes in. 

Medium sized black man, wearing a mammoth t shirt. Good shape. Shaved head. He’s cool. He has his oakleys on the back of his head. His girlfriend (wife?) just left the restroom. She’s in light blue with a faux alligator bag on her right shoulder. Blue and white parachute pants. Okay. Everyone is laughing. Smiles all around. Pleasant place. Don’t want to say where it is because you may want to come in. Its my spot. Okay, I’m selfish. 

Time to go. Time to run. It’s been fun. Time to sun. No, no, no gun. Okay, you won. Needs some mon. A ton, hun. Much fun. Got stunned. No sesame seeds on the bun. No pun. I’m done. . .Son.