Heading back to Los Angeles today. Chicago was kind enough to give me some real fall weather and even a hint of snow. That should hold me for another month or so. Back to the land of eternal sunshine.

Hello SG Land. I've been doing office work on a Saturday night, which is every bit as unexciting as it sounds. On the other hand, I just finished and have cracked a beer and bottle of Woodford Reserve to help me while away the remainder of the evening.

I've been light on the updating. And on the doing anything worthy of writing about. However I did get out of Los Angeles for a month this summer. Spent several weeks in lovely Portland, OR, and a week bicycling around British Columbia.

Prior to heading to Vancouver I spent a lot of time around my old haunts in Portland. I got there just in time for the 4th of July:


I was living near Little t Bakery at SE 26th & Division. Anything that involves flaky crusty goodness they do to perfection. I was unable to resist daily trips for goodies like this cappuccino and an apricot almond danish:


Soon enough I headed to Vancouver BC on the train, where I met my native guide, SG Shanti. She took me to Wreck beach, where I had a transcendent moment floating all nekkid-like in the pacific. It was lovely. The next day she took me to a diner with the best cup of coffee in East Van.


(Super cute, ain't she, folks?)


As lovely as chilling in Vanouver was, it was time to go, so I set my face in a visage of steely determination, to wit:


And set off for the Lion's Gate bridge,my first water crossing of the trip:


After that it was on to the ferry to Langdale and points north along the Sunshine Coast. Here's my view at dusk on that first day:


And this is my little camp setup from one of the provincial parks I stayed in:


The trip was great. The daily ferry rides were some of the best parts:


Not least of which because I could indulge in the onboard cafes:


As opposed to my usual lunch in the rough:


I also got to chill with some llamas. Oh yeah:


It was all in all a lovely trip. I was sad to see it end in Victoria:


I did manage to have a bit more fun in PDX before returning to LA, not the least of which was hanging out at Lucky Devil with Atomicant. Besides the lovely nekkid ladies inside, they've got a nice outdoor patio.


But now I'm back in LA and trying to get my career efforts in gear again. Oh and I'm moving. Oh and... ahhhh, I'll write more on tall hat later.

Take care, all. I'll write more soon.

xo

--Obelisk

I'm back! It took me a full month to actually miss Los Angeles, but I finally did and I'm quite happy to be here again. I have the notion to head out to a happy hour tomorrow in Hollywood. Check out the event thread and come join me if you can.

I'll post details and pics from my travels shortly. Here's one little preview: a view from one of the many ferries I took during my bicycle tour in British Columbia.

Last month I saw an old tv put out for disposal near my house. It looked so sad I had to take a photo of it. I call it "Cathode Ray Tube contemplates the autumn."

Hey all. Nothing momentous to tell, must various little pleasant episodes of life, the telling of which I'll punctuate with pix. To start with, I've been having a nice sunday today by myself. I went out and washed my car--a chore you enjoy when you like your ride as I do. Mmm... shiny.

Life seems pretty decent these days. Nothing earth-shattering, but a lot of little pleasures. For example the pleasures of a late sunset, beer and a good book.


My Mom was recently in town for a few days--it was pretty great to spend some time with her. One thing she pointed out was the huge purple-flowering trees in Los Angeles. I guess I got used to them and stopped noticing, but they're pretty and unique--certainly no trees in Chicago look like these. There are a bunch near my house:

If anyone knows what kind of trees these are, do let me know.

The Mom and me did a fun "culture" type thing--we went to the Getty Villa. It's awesome there, the whole place is a replica of an ancient Roman villa from Pompeii. It's gorgeous and contains an amazing collection of Greek and Roman artifacts. A few things I really liked there:

A striking bronze winged feline from 6th century BC Iberia:


A badass Parthian drinking horn from around 50 BC. I would so totally swill beer out of this if I could get a replica:


Speaking of swilling, here is Bacchus himself, three sheets to the wind,sitting on top of some empty wine skins and still calling for more. Needless to say, he's just about my favorite mythological figure.


All in all it was a great visit with the Mom. If you can stand the cuteness, here's the two of us at the Getty Villa:

So that's it. I'm slogging forward, writing, auditioning, trying to plan some travel in the next few months. And I'm trying to find some time to think big. I think it's time for a grand venture. I'll let you know more about that when I do.

I hope everyone is well out there in SG land. I remain your sometimes snarky, but ever affectionate correspondent.

--A

Just so you know, I'm doing the best that I can. I'm trying. Really, I am.

"Because we're here one minute, and the next we're dead
So love me or leave me but try not to need me
Enough said."



"And if your love changed into hate, would my love have been a mistake?
I don't know, I don't know."

I don't know either.

Hang on, I've got some more.
"The legs go limp, the arms retire, every life will soon expire.
Whether it's the time or place, the fist will have to kiss your face.
The grand facade will phony smile, will keep you busy for a while.
Every Ounce of strength left in you lacks the courage to continue."