Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Camping it up.

I like camping.
How amazing would it be to live in the middle of nowhere to have some early mornings and some very memorable sunsets with a good and steady love, right? Breakfast could be amazing and dinners would bring on sleep. It'd be great to live off the land and take just what you need. How did that old saying go: "take what you need and leave the earth like you found her" I don't know when that will take place. I might make too much money someday, to live in the country. You just never know. That may never happen. I'll let in on a little secret that placates that desire of living like a magical wood nymph while still living like a reality t.v. star in Hollywood, North Hollywood: I like camping. There it is. I really like camping. I didn't used to. I do now. It took a couple of camping enthusiasts forcing their love of camping on me: an innocent camping virgin.As a full time city dweller, I was defenseless and fully exposed before a very powerful nature who easily managed to  have its way with me until I learned to like it (oh...my). Are ya fearful of taking a break from the city? I won't leave LA for just anything so it took quite a bit for me, but I did learn to like leaving it as much as I like the city. My fondness grows for this, my city. My dear tough as nails of a city. One that makes anyone who lives here for a prolonged period of time also tough as nails at the same time soft, doughy and with a sense of privilege .Leaving someplace is good because you then get to arrive somewhere else. even if it's just for a weekend.
Approaching wilderness, nature, it smells different. It's the smell of grass that's bloomed and dried. But has become moist  overnight.You like to do nothing?The idea of not doing anything, may sound terrible to some. It sounds easy and definitely lazy but it is actually hard, no t.v. no phones no internet. Setting up camp? easy as can be if you do it a couple of times. How big a sleeping bag you'll need depends on temperatures you'll be expecting. The size and price of tent depends on amount of people in your party if any tent is used at all. Food? Same thing. It can be as expensive, light and varied as you may need. Peanut butter and protein bars or whole planned out romantic meals. I go with friends, usually the same friends and we have our duties someone sets up tent and  ground, someone sets up foods and beverages some one gathers substantial wood.Then? then you do nothing, ideally. You should do nothing for a little while at least before going hiking or exploring.As silly as it sounds, It's hard.As time goes by we've had to remind each other to put away more and more varied electrical devices.  Eventually our pockets are empty, feels weird at first and we have nothing to do except look at each other and breathe. Again this feels weird, a type of nakedness. All there is now is bird noises and the different scents that nature will gently present to you. Crushed pine needles and  tree sap. Hundreds of grasses in different states of development and regrowth. The odd sense that something needs to be done, that something has been forgotten? it takes a while to leave you. this is the city slowly letting go of you, when you finally realize that no there is nothing to do. There is no phone call you must make. No television show you're missing, no meeting you must take. You will start to feel your neck and back muscles relax, and tension breaking away, soundlessly.


Next time loosing your fear of skinny dipping. Hint: not making a big whoop about it.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Here you go

Take a load off, kick off your shoes, let the breeze go through the curtains and enjoy the moment. Have a seat with a drink and give thanks for all that you are and are not. Or take your partners' hand and firmly and steadily slow dance all their complaints away, even if you don't dance. In their ears you might whisper... sssshhhhhhut up. Let all the tension  begin to slip away with every badass note. on this style council classic: The Paris Match, with Tracy Thorn on Vocals before she was The Tracy Thorn that we know now. Tomorrow? well that's another day.    Ruben



Or If you prefer deep, country male vocals to do your relaxing and ...stuff: here you go



But( and that is a big butt), if you prefer to relax with a little more bouncing and dancing well then...BAM!
Here you are.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Not a professional opinion

Awright. Can't ignore the elephant in this room. Writing anything with alcohol or drug abuse connotations to it, at this time (Amy Winehouse's sad passing, the ads they keep posting on this site ) , as truly unrelated as it may seem, I can't help but point out:  drinking and numbing oneself with substances to a degree that it affects your day to day is not good. Once again, not good. We have all been in situations that required a drink or two for it's wonderful calming effects. I have also been in situations that prolonged the calming effects for a long, long time (the calming effects seem to lessen as you continue to use more frequently by the way). So as a rule, If a friend or relative you genuinely trust and enjoy, mentions your habit and suggests you slow down, it's probably not good. Be mad, and process it however you process unpleasant informations, then swallow your pride and ask for help if you need it. If you can't go a day without alcohol or "medicines" (the illegally obtained and/or legally manufactured variety), you probably need it. Go to a free program available locally to most. Go to Rehab. If you can afford it. Follow their rules and get a grip. E-mail me if you have any questions.
This is not meant as a slam on people who drink or take drugs. Anyone who's ever had someone they love in the terrible grips of abuse knows what desperation truly looks like. They also know how hellishly strong a hold it can have on people you used to know and like. Similarly anything habit forming not kept in check  can easily spiral out of control. And you want to be around to see things get better. We might need you someday. You never know.Okay? okay.
This is one of my favorite songs, with such an uplifting tune , it echos all day. It's originally done by the Zutons. But this, this version is big. This version is Amy and she's not in the video, sadly.