I am human. I am imperfect. This is my journey Life is short. Live it. Take more risks. Be bold but honest. Be humble in the face of success; be courageous in the presence of risk or failure. This is my outlet to remind and encourage me (and you) to be better, push harder, embrace change and grow.This blog is my muse and my journal. My objective is to live a full and colorful life, be creative and humorous, to observe and listen, and enjoy the company of others that embrace this perspective fully. If you share these objectives, feel free to tune in.
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Naked Ambitions
You have to love this photo of Wilbur Hot Springs. Originally published in the New York Times. The photograph is interesting to me, but not nearly as interesting as what the photographer must have said or done (or not done) in order to be able to take it!
The money quote from the article
it was there that I learned my first lesson in nude coexistence: your naked body is not the most potentially embarrassing thing about you. If I felt any self-consciousness or anxiety, it was on behalf of my boyfriend's naked body, which exposed more about me than mine did.
another fantastic observation:
I was smitten. Not with being naked with strangers per se, nor with being naked in nature - because California, unlike New York City, where I now live, is teeming with quasi-secret hot springs. I was interested in the places where a domestic routine is imposed upon a hippie-leaning community that I, without my clothing, could invisibly infiltrate. Far more revelatory than people's sexual organs are their kitchen habits, their reading habits, their romantic relationships in action. After many awkward dinner preps in communal kitchens with strangers whom I'd seen naked, I've realized that the awkwardness has nothing to do with the genital factor. Cooking next to a stranger requires far more intimacy than exposing your body; it's an extension of the shame you occasionally feel while scrutinizing strangers' groceries, their habits and predilections bobbling along the conveyor belt.
and finally this...
A native East Coaster, I find this focused self-regard on the mysterious interior fun for a two-day vacation, the hippie equivalent of Civil War role play, but I always leave before my relaxation is counteracted by inbred skepticism. In "Ways of Seeing," the critic John Berger wrote, "To be naked is to be without disguise." My forays into clothing-optional hot springs have been as much about slipping convincingly into a culture that isn't mine and partaking of the pursuit of inner physical purity as though I weren't a stranger to its ways. For this, there is no better disguise than the naked body.
http://travel.nytimes.com/2005/09/25/travel/tmagazine/25TALK-WILBUR.html
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Remembering Esalen
If you have never been, I encourage you to go. I try to frequent it a couple times a year. Last year I went every 3 months. This year it may be only one or two times. I go for the workshops and the people - oh and of course the wonderful views and hot springs. If you don't know anything about it, please visit their web site If you live in the Bay Area or Valley - you really have no excuse. It's one of the most amazing places on the planet. I've met the most incredible people from all walks of life. (tv stars to hippies)
I only discovered Esalen two years ago, but I now find that visiting it regularly is something that centers me and my focus both in life and work. Check it out. I can't recommend it more highly.
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Telemarketers (or AmVets) Bothering You?..Google is Your Friend
Thanks to Google, I can answer my phone again. I just got off the phone with a telemarketer and I've never had such a wonderful experience - I encourage you all to follow my lead.
In this case, an organization called AmVets called me. Apparently I had given them a modest donation in the past. The woman on the phone was engaging, elderly and friendly. She worked for a third-party group but wanted me to re-up my contribution. At this point I had some basic questions. I don't remember giving to you previously but what do you do and are you a non-profit and what is your mision?
She had good answers - but very general. We help out Vets, we're supporting them. It all seemed fine and not very suspicious but I ultimately told the woman that I thought that sounded quite well, but I don't hand out money without doing some research and invited her to call back in a few days. I told her I thought a quick Google search would be helpful. She kindly (and rather immediately) hung up the phone . . . a gesture that almost made me just leave it at that.
In searching Google I found that Amvets seems to have a very legitimate web site. www.amvets.org Nothing off base or suspicious at all. It seems they do good work.
That said, I also found the following links rating the group and also material about various AG investigations about the organization. Sorry AmVets. I'm all about getting money into the hands of Vets, but you don't seem to be the organization that I can trust to do that. I think this is a tough call.but it shows the type of scrutiny these organizations face now. Thank you Internet.
Giving money to a caller? Tell them you want to seach them on Google first. Then maybe they should call back....or maybe they would rather just hang up on you and move quickly to the next sucker.
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Tom Cruise Meets American Psycho
Finding this incredibly fascinating. Weirdness of Tom and the Psycho, but the cool video and the David Byrne song make it rather addictive to watch.
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Demonstrating how hard it is to get an acting career even if you are rich and have a name - the video stars the son of the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank - Miles Fisher and none other than Lydia Hearst of the Hearst family. Lydia, if you're reading this I love your work and I am an aspiring socialite. Give me a call anytime, would love to get some tips. Seriously though, the video is quite good and entertaining.
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Best DVD Ripping and Backup Software
I've spent the entire weekend (well most of it) rather "geeked out". Working on backing up files and figuring out my Windows Home Server. Needless to say, I've run into my fair share of issue (don't ask me about my iTunes library right now). That said, I've found one pleasant surprise. A great FREE program that will turn all of your DVDs (yes including the ones that are copy protected) into files that can be saved on your computer.
Enjoy.
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Miles Davis
I seem to be exploring the 50's and 60's. In large part because my American history class never got there t'ill the last day and also because this is the era that my parents lived in. I was born into in the late 60's. It's a complete blind spot in my mind since I wasn't either alive or I was too young. Wow, how lucky my parents were to live through this era. So jealous so I'm exploring it now.
What's amazing about Jack and Miles is that it's easy to see these "greats" as Wikipedia articles rather than people. What's important to remember is that they were people. Young people, with hopes, insecurities, dreams, fears and, of course, talents. Just like us.
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The Beat of the San Francisco Scene - as told by Jack Kerouac
Jack is such an interesting character to me in so many ways. First, he grew up in Massachusetts but ultimately moved to San Francisco. He loved Big Sur. He attended Columbia and was a football player but ultimately dropped out. How many football player poets do you know?
Prior to being a writer he tried multiple careers. He threw things against the wall, but one constant - he carried a notebook everywhere, constantly writing.
He also narrated a documentary "Pull my Daisy" which was filmed by the famous photographer Robert Frank. Author of The Americans.
It may have been a short life, but it was a meaningful and powerful one.
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Living Small
I just returned from Potomac Maryland. Potomac is where all of the "fancy people" in Washington DC live. Lawyers, lobbyists . People that make lots of money and live like it. I almost died in the several hours there.
Don't get me wrong - I loved the people I was with, but I realized that everything in Potomac reflects what was wrong about America the last decade or two. Huge homes. 7, 8, 9 bedrooms. Who needs that. I grew up just fine in a 3 bedroom home. We started out in a 2 bedroom place. As a kid I didn't care about the mortgage - I wanted my parents' attention and love and that's what made me. Ironically the people that own these homes have to work insane hours and do insane things too keep them. I'm positive the children suffer. I know these people because they are my friends and I work with them. I see the strains.
Living large, lots of cars, space, spending money on image rather than freedom which, in my mind, is really the source of happiness.
Pretending that all of this makes you happy! We hung out at a local country club. Tiger woods recently played there..hint hint. The age of the average patron was 10 to 20 years older than us. It made me realize that Potomac is doomed. Those 2-3 million dollar houses are going to 1 to 1.5 if that. Maybe much much less... It will take time, a long time I think...but my generation doesn't want to live large, we want - almost insist - on living small. Saving money and buying our freedom. Seriously I'd much rather retire at 45 than work myself to the bone until I'm 65, only to die at 70. I feel the prior generation was much more about image, fortunately I think there is a huge shift in our culture - big and wasteful is out. Small and efficient is in. It makes so much sense and I'm so very glad I was ahead of the curve notwithstanding the fact it was uncomfortable to be so under leveraged for so long.
What passes for common sense, is largely insanity. Truly.
ps. This fine welcoming home can be yours! for just under 10 million dollars. Yeah, right.
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