Sisters of the Coast ~ Adventures of a Piratess

Will I Be One in Fifty Thousand At The Burn This Year?

2012-01-29T17:59:00.001-08:00

There are all kinds of people that Go To The Burn.

And plenty more still who won’t Go To The Burn.

Will I be one in fifty thousand?

That shall attend The Burn this year?

By lottery or auction,

Or perhaps a financier?

There will be those who” Got A Ticket!”

And those that work and wait…

Last year there were lots of “Big Names!”

That waited till “Too Late.”

There are people, who have gone,

Who say they’ll “Never Go Again!”

Those who are, “Absolutely Going!”

They just “Don’t Know When.”

Some, whom we hold close and dear at The Burn.

Others we are told, “loathe and fear” at The Burn.

There are some that go “Just To Play With Fire!”

And others that consider themselves “Guns For Hire.”

There are plenty of those who come “With The Band”

And thousands more still that “Wanna hold your hand…

At The Burn.

There are people you don’t even know at The Burn.

So why should we care, if we Go To The Burn??

Something is happening out there in the desert.

Tens of thousands of people living Life In The Present.

Somehow that just doesn’t happen everywhere else.

Over fifty thousand people,

Strangely acting like Themselves.

WendeWho!

©Wende Thompson 2012

Keelhauled?!

2010-04-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

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I think I was “keelhauled” by a friend on FaceBook this weekend…

Online social networking and visceral friends…where can all this texting lead?

Perceiving “posts” as communication, or lack there of without giving a ring.

“…but, dear friend, I’m sure I tweeted! “ I thought you’d call… Where was I, when?

Then your angry post, scrawled on my plank, publicly scorned for all to see.

Plus emailed with your remedy and explanation, solved the riddle, yer done with me.

Non-communication, missed-communication, mass-communication yes, it’s all happening.

I want to sit and write you a letter…hands off the keyboard, back away from the screen.

Sent in a card with bling and bright colors, with no occasion; just a note from me.

Just a “Hi friend! I have been meaning to write you…

“Dearest friend, where shall I begin…

I’m trying to gather up the pieces and put them on the road to mend.

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All images and text © 2010 Wende Thompson

Rockin' Bones - A Night for Natasha

2010-02-04T12:45:00.000-08:00

Friday February 5th, I shall be in Hollywood, at the Dragonfly on Santa Monica Blvd!!

My good friend Natasha did a real number on her left foot and hip... yeeow!!

"Rockin' Bones will be held February 5, 2010 at The Dragonfly, in Los Angeles. This show is a benefit show for Los Angeles-based artist Natasha Vetlugin of Skellramics, to help pay massive medical bills for an accident sustained in November, 2009"

Check it out! YouTube Video! From Jane Wiedlin's website Jane's April 4th Blog entry

Bonfire Night

2009-11-05T18:53:00.001-08:00

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Remember, remember...
Seems there are endless ways to sneak in a little celebration, bonfire, fireworks...perhaps even a bit of dressing up...
I personally LOVE extending the rituals of the season;
Hallowe'en or All Hallows Eve, Dia de Los Muertos, Guy Fawkes Night...just good warm fun, while getting used to a chillier/darker, time of year.
Keep it festive!
Keep it fun!
It's all good, just hurt no one!!
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Happy All Hallows Eve 2009 !

2009-10-31T09:04:00.000-07:00

On this day of summer's end,

with glass in hand, some toasts do lend.

To friends and family far and near,

and those who've passed, whom we hold dear.

All Hallows Eve the veil is thin,

your message carried on the wind.

So listen long and late do stay,

for some will answer, if they may.

Happy All Hallows Eve!

Enjoy the day! Haunt the night!!

Cheers mates! WendeBird

AskmyZombie video on YouTube

2009-10-29T09:12:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year!! All Hallows Eve is just days away and the undead are showing up everywhere! Dia De Los Muertos characters, zombies and things that go bump in the night!!

Keep your flashlight close and be sure there are fresh batteries in it...ye hate to be left in the dark..... muahahahaha haha hahaha!!!!!!

Dia De Los Muertos - Hollywood Forever Cemetery 10.24.09

2009-10-26T11:13:00.001-07:00

I feel so fortunate to have been a part of this wonderful celebration! When Natasha and Kelly of Skellramics invited me to join them Saturday and help out at their booth for the evening, I decided to dress the part and am so very glad I did!! What a fantastic event!! Donning full face paint and festive costume, departing home about noontime, driving there - SoCal style...taking the 405, to the 605, to the 5 to the 101...crawling in bumper to bumper the last 15 miles or so...I certainly got some looks from my fellow commuters!

Thousands of people gathered Saturday, within the gates of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, coming together to celebrate and honor the traditions of Dia De Los Muertos -Day of the Dead. I really enjoyed the beautiful and hugely diverse alters throughout the cemetery and especially the families and couples that obviously went all out on their make-up and costumes -truly honoring the traditions of the day.

The historical roots of this celebration date back to the pre-Hispanic cultures of Meso-America of the indigenous people, especially the Nahua (Aztecs, Mayans, Toltecas, Tlaxcaltec, Chichimec, Tecpanec) and others native to Mexico more than 3,000 years. When the Spaniards conquered the country, this indigenous custom was rooted so deeply that, after five centuries of colonization, it has continued to survive and remain as celebrated as in its first days.

Dia De Los Muertos is a time of celebration on remembrance. It is also a time to come to terms with our mortality and become aware of the cycle of life and death. Rather than deny and fear death this event teaches us to accept and contemplate the meaning of mortality.

This time of the year has great significance for many people. Many cultures with many varied traditions and rituals, all celebrating the change of seasons, the harvest, life and death and our connections to the planet and each other - those of us above and below the surface of the earth and even those perhaps dwelling in places more ethereal or unfathomable...

Longing...

2009-09-25T15:24:00.000-07:00

Longing?

Is our master plan, to completely seal ourselves off from the natural?
To live inside technology, protected completely from the elements?
Is there another option than, "total devastation" in the game plan?
Is it possible to disengage from “The Machine” or am I stuck?

I love waking-up to the mysteries of each day, live – visceral - living
Having awareness and concern over the consequences of my actions
Taking the time to look people in the eye and focus on here and now
Unplugging from the “noise” and taking the time to really listen

There you are, driving in your car, waiting in line, busy at work
And suddenly you remember… you feel something familiar, so ….
Just a fleeting moment when you notice how very blue the sky is
A conversation with a “stranger” that seems like a long lost friend

Certainly not a thing that can be purchased at your local WalMart
You will not find it as an ingredient in the latest sports drink
But it is something we remember having and long to have again
Something more important and lasting than politics or plastic surgery

We will search for it and keep searching -everywhere, anywhere
Within ourselves, journaling, meditation and deep introspection
We recognize it when we feel suddenly “at home” or “connected”
Some perceive they’ve found it through their religious observances

Will it all be stripped away, like our plans for the wilderness?
Carved-up into convenient pieces and paved over for “better access”
Easily viewed and photographed from the car window at 60mph
Controlled and temporary access allowed for a nominal fee

Everyday plans are made to further destroy that for which we yearn
We keep building our synthetic prisons to protect us from the world
Safe inside our computers and cars and homes and cellular phones
The American Way of Life – determined to eradicate all living things

Nature continues to abide regardless of our blind existence here

Despite our ever expanding cities; our growth for growths sake
Still feeding our apparent need to consume, consume, consume
Beyond our 140 byte communications and high definition lies ...

Regardless of how many “can’t do without” devices we employ
Our futile attempts to shut ourselves off or distract ourselves
Nature is always there, willing to immediately reconnect with us
Ecstatic life exists everywhere, all around us, all the time

No words can truly explain what seems to be missing
Because real life exists without words, it always has
Technology separates us from nature, it always will
Climb out of the condo, the car, the cubicle, the supermarket

Take a walk and listen to the birds – they have much to say
Sit down on a piece of dirt or grass or sand – that is Earth
Notice a plant that is pushing up the sidewalk - determined
Remember this is where you live – I live here too

September 2009

All images and text © Wende Thompson

Tom Waits Step right up

2009-09-11T16:47:00.001-07:00

we're going out of business... we need your business.... we'll give you the business... step right up... step right up...

Bad Religion - Los Angeles Is Burning in HD

2009-09-01T16:49:00.001-07:00

this is not a test...

check out the video at YouTube

I'm Soooooooo Tired! - Godt dammit I'm exhausted!!

2009-08-21T13:48:00.001-07:00

Madeline KKhan - my heroine!!

Like a Jaguar in a cage...

2009-08-14T09:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the air looked and felt like a wild fire was burning. Not all hot and filled with smoke, like you might think. More ethereal - pink and still - reminding me of working a piece of line, high up on some mountain, when the smoke column bends back over the top of you and yer mates, who are busy there, digging ditches around a charred ridge top.
The giant tankers dumping slurry all around, helicopters applying buckets of water on hotspots, busy little bees, chipping away at nature’s big business… All asses and elbows on the ground, looking up at the column…

It makes me pace and bite my nails.

Going on three years now, since I “separated” from the loving green arms of the USFS…
And still, the pull is so strong… Still, when the sun turns salmon and the air glows pink and gold - I pace and look up, chomping at the bit to have a shovel in my hands and a gallon of water on my back… Will it ever go away? The yearning…

Like a jaguar in a cage, the pacing makes me crazy.
And I feel like I have been pacing for many years now...
I know the decision to end my tenure with the U.S. Forest Service was the right one to make. The frustration levels – dealing with the bureaucracy, the bull shit, the boyz…
I believe the pacing started when I saw my career path melting away; as the funding for new fire investigators went to “bringing democracy” to the Middle East…

For the moment, I continue to hang in Huntington Beach – “between jobs” as they say.
I am living meal to meal right now, as in; I know where I'll be for lunch in a couple of hours...maybe even dinner...but tomorrow? Next week? Next month?? Really, I am seriously floundering a bit... but in some good ways I suppose... to be honest I feel fairly tremendous! I have been going to Bikram Yoga three days a week, frolicking in the ocean, riding my bike around town, buying fresh food at the farmer's markets, playing golf, loosing weight, getting tan, writing, taking pictures, painting…even learning to surf this month. Laughing and smiling a lot.

As far as long term plans…

Perhaps heading to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in November...
I would be staying with my youngest brother and his new Canadian wife and her family, at their B-n-B in PV. The rainy season ends in October... There’d be exploring the Jalisco Coast, surfing in Sayulita, living simply, about to be an aunt to the first baby girl born in my family, since I was born...almost forty-two years ago.

Forty-two years ago…

Yeah, my 42nd birthday is right around the corner and I have no clue as to what I am doing next. Is that crazy? Is that normal? Do I care?

Last month, I told my man of over six years, that he had to go figure out what's important to him – and to make whatever changes he’s going to make – being sure he makes them for himself. Sadly, I have ceased to care about "our dream"...

I believe my self imposed Yard Sale “lobotomy” made it possible to step back and figure out what is important to me... and what compromises I can no longer, willingly, to submit to... IE: not being included in my lover’s "family life" - whatever the dynamic may be. Glorious, dysfunctional, hugely complicated, Peyton Place or just plain "fucked-up" – whatever the case may be, I am just DONE with pretending that “other” life doesn't exist…

Is that crazy? Is that normal? Do I care?

The Books "Be Good to Them Always"

2009-08-07T16:10:00.001-07:00

I can hear a collective rumbling in America... " The Books

I have been hanging out on blip.fm and have been introduced to some amazing music that is being produced.

Give a listen and a look at the video.

A month of cozmik connections continues

2009-06-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

Well, the Extraordinary Yard Sale went OFF on Saturday, June 13th - and my journey toward un-stuffication continues. Yes, plans are being laid for the Absolute Yard Sale, Saturday, October 17th – Halloween costumes and winter gear. Early Birds welcome! Six AM till NOON, and what’s left after… what doesn’t go to donation - all burns that evening. Beach bonfire bitches! Oh sorry, getting carried away…

So Saturday, June 13th, my alarm went off at 05:00 – had to get cash for change - always forget something important till the last minute. But it gave me a chance to get out, greet the dawn and prepare myself mentally for the task at hand. A drive by the ocean and then back home to the bungalow to, “git er done.”
Oh yeah, the “Early Birds” were pissed! (I had caution tape stretched across the front of the drive way while we set up – and this guy Jinx – an HB local, starts hollering at me from the street at 6:30 AM! Seriously, he’s yelling from the middle of the street, “I’ve been yard selling for 20 years! NO EARLY BIRDS?!?!? By 8AM all your buyers are in Santa Anna!” ….. really?

Well, they didn’t all go to Santa Anna – ‘cause we had “standing room only” – jam packed for hours. Buyers, shoulder to shoulder in the drive-way, hundreds of items flying off the racks and tables, dollar bills flying in and out of my apron! Everyone shopping and grooving to the tunes on the iPod (“No, it’s not for sale”) on shuffle – the soundtrack for the day as eclectic as the items for sale.
We tapped the keg about 10:30AM (and it was blown by sunset – gots ta have the keg, eh!) As the afternoon ground down and pints were consumed, we were selling “five dollar bags” – grab a big brown paper grocery bag, pay five bucks, fill it up and take it away. Much was taken away! Oh, don't forget your "gift with purchase!" Yes, many pumpkins will be grown in Huntington Beach this summer!
Of course there was some “pirate stylings” going on. It’s so great to see a person discover their piratical self – swagger, swagger – another satisfied customer at Wende’s Extraordinary Yard Sale.

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And it continues to be a wonderful month, full of amazing cozmik connections.

Perhaps it started a year ago, being unemployed, having the time to write a lot, taking lots of pictures, staying positive and concentrating on the things that are most important to me (family, friends, communication, adventure, joy, health - physical, mental and spiritual)
Also, being pretty damn clear with the Universe that I am over the stuffication, working hard to divest myself of the things that no longer fit – which is difficult work – a true challenge to the pack-rat soul – but absolutely necessary! I basically have had to give myself a “lobotomy” of sorts – to separate myself from the heavy chains of nostalgia. I am so fortunate to have this amazingly diverse and beautiful journey of a life – and there are so many treasures that have been accumulated in the name of memories. Photographs, jewelry, books, t-shirts, tchotchke, gee-ga ….iiiieeeeee!!! So wild, every box I open, the ghosts are just flying out. I had a backyard bonfire on Wednesday with the new moon and invited many of them to leave with the smoke and flames. Visions of all kinds of adventures were swimming through my head, people and places from long ago – names and faces, good times and bad, tripping and skipping, gallivanting through Northern Faire with me mates, laughter ringing through the moonlit night, blue-bird powder days and blustery storm days – bundled against the “iceybits” smile frozen on my lips…
And then knowing that I do not need the Kirkwood T-shirt from 1989, when I learned to snowboard – I do not need the drink coaster from the Mangy Moose, that epic trip to Jackson Hole is burned in my memory regardless of scraps of paper or hats I never wear.

Call it feng shui, call it cutting through chaos, call it out with the old - in with the new, call it whatever you like – with the clutter and fodder disappearing, the horizon is coming into clearer view.

Oh, and I'll be hanging onto my marbles - since I found them in that last "box of crap."

Clearing the decks - makin ready to sail

2009-06-10T12:03:00.001-07:00

That's right mates, I am clearing the decks! After years of thinking about it, writing about it and thinking some more – I am doing it!
I am clearing out the coffers, shoveling out the closet, letting go and moving on.
Actually, this will be the third big clearance sale I have done – first one before I left for my “souljourn” to Alaska in the early 90’s, second, leaving Tahoe in the late 90’s, but this one is the granddaddy! I swear!

It’s a lot of work, getting it all together, and simply fraught with emotional baggage and memories fer days! I have been trying to keep my ruthless hat on, really ready to release the past – time for some of those oh so precious things, to go to someone else.

The clothes, holy crap, there are a lot of them, nice stuff, sweet threads, designer labels, cool vintage dresses, leather jackets, some things I have had for over thirty years and have just been hanging on to them - precious memories...

For instance, this cool vintage Mexican skirt skirt, where the little ladies on the skirt, have their own actual skirts. So cool, I wore it when I was in elementary school for a ballet recital, seriously! It was pinned up to fit, and I have worn it a few times since, but enough already - the memory is solid and there's no need to have the physical thing any longer - moving it along to be enjoyed by someone else.

The books seem to be the most challenging part for me. Which people who own a lot of books can understand – it’s like giving away a trusted friend for a quarter!
I just have to believe that those “friends” will be as enjoyed on someone else’s bookshelf, as much as they have been on mine. My plan was to sell "all kinds of books" and that is turning out to be the most difficult task of all - might have put that one off fer a bit, perhaps resort to Amazon to sell the books later on...

So, it’s touted as an “Extraordinary Yard Sale” and I sure hope I can meet that mark.

I am looking forward to Tuesday morning – when I shall be looking back from the other side. Meanwhile, it’s mayhem!

Not only the physical part of moving and sorting through boxes and boxes and boxes and bags and the closet and the shed out back…whew! I have spent the time to make some great signage – bright yellow signs to put up in the neighborhoods. And I have also been busy with the online marketing, taking pictures to post and creating some buzz. Posting on craigslist, kijiji, hoobly, Facebook, MySpace and I figured – blog it, eh! Just getting the word out, I have to believe it will all pay off, with hopefully some serious traffic coming through on Saturday. Now, if I can only convince the neighbors to park around the block!

Meanwhile, I planted my un-carved giant pumpkin, back in May...well, needless to say, I have some pumpkin seedlings, looking for new patches to grow in.

Glider man flying above mountain

2009-06-09T13:45:00.001-07:00

This has got to be the most exhilarating bit of testosterone driven shenanigans I have ever watched! I wanna play!!

Cutting Through Chaos - downsizing

2009-06-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

How in the hell did almost two months occur in such a short time?
I am realizing I have not put anything to the blog since April.
I have been writing at least four days a week – in my journals.
I say journals, emphasis on plural, because there are a few right now.
There’s the 5x8 inch black Moleskine, that is pretty much reserved for writing morning pages and then there’s the smaller Moleskine that gets put into the bag of the day – good for recording observations, random thoughts, grocery lists or quoting friends and strangers on the fly…auditory voyeurism… there must be a better term for that…
Then there is the beautiful red silk covered journal that I have used to do some of the exercises suggested in The Artists Way – (haven’t written in that one in months, stuck on week 12 but I suppose therein lies the challenge.) There are actually some brief moments of brilliance in the red journal, surrounded by hundreds upon thousands of words that don’t amount to much more than “brain drain drivel.”

I have been working on this one piece in particular, (currently residing in the “blah blah blog” folder on my laptop,) for well over two months. Perhaps it is time to just “shut-up and post it.” It is another one of those attempts to put obscure feelings into words that will convey…
No come to think of it, it’s been more months than that – but I thought I was pretty close, about a month ago and then I just put it out of my head. The weather has been gorgeous and my gardening therapy sessions long and fruitful.

I have also been busy getting ready for a big ole festive yard sale. It is time for some serious downsizing of the storage and excess clothing. So I have been just going through stuff, finding all kinds of treasure – of course the entire process is fraught with emotion and memories, even if the plan is to be as “ruthless” as possible when it comes to the “keep” pile – oh, how can I give this up, oh this thing, that t-shirt, nostalgia = “little death” brutal.
So along with going through all of my clothes and things I have in storage, I’ve been doing the same with pictures and document files on the computer. Sorting through, clearing out, downsizing, “cutting through chaos” (Honestly, it feels pretty chaotic.) It’s quite a process, and I find myself, daily, sometimes hourly, going back and forth - from feeling productive and joyful - to feeling lost and confused - immersed in memories better forgotten and then breathing… and discovering what I am really doing - is finding out what is important to me (what continues on the journey) what is not (releasing the past) and what I just am completely unconcerned about (cutting out the bullshit.)

Ahhh....Sayulita

2009-04-17T14:00:00.001-07:00

A couple weeks ago I took a trip to Mexico
I stayed for a few days in Sayulita… ah Sayulita
A lovely surf village on the Nayarit coast of Mexico
It reminded me a lot of Santa Cruz, CA - where I grew up
A small town with a laid-back attitude and its own sense of style
Like most quaint laid-back little villages,
Sayulita has undergone a recent “growth spurt”
Busily being supported by the tourism industry
And quite a few wealthy boutique owners
Some Americans I spoke to are concerned however
Apparently the seriousness of the recent “economic down turn”
Is not recognized by the local peoples – true I suppose, to some extent
It has certainly been noticed by the wealthy American boutique owners
Worried that other wealthy American boutique owners will stop coming
I thought to myself, whilst exploring the town
Eating smoked marlin burritos at Burrito Revolution
Walking along the long stretch of golden beach
Chatting with the village sign painter, Chuey
Listening to the birds evening ritual chatter
Watching the moon reflected on the waves

“Would that be so bad?”

~ Sayulita ~

A shining piece of coastline
Time to think and dream
Flowing freely through my toes
A golden sandy stream

Stones and shells are shifting
Trading places in the sand
Drum and hum of surf and wind
A well worn book in hand

Quiet place to reflect and read
A place to listen to the hum
Feel the wind on well warmed skin
Get reminded of the sun

Spend all day watching surf and birds
The clouds will record the time
Forget about the list of chores
This day is yours and mine

Longing replaced by laughter
Angst dissolved into evenings calm
This feeling held for ever after
Remembered in the oceans song

April 2009 © Wende Thompson

~

It does not matter specifically where it is on the planet
Just somewhere that allows for quiet contemplation
I love it where the sun and sand meet ocean waves
Some clear cool waters found near-by
A river winding its way down a canyon toward the sea
Springs bubbling to the surface from deep within the earth
Sea breezes provoking the trees to sing
The island palms of Hawaii and the Caribbean
The cypress trees of Monterey Bay
Pines of Big Sur
Jungles of Mexico
All beautiful places, willing to give-up their secrets
Places where one can be reminded of life’s simple pleasures
A place to allow the sun and sand to melt away the worries
Let the longing float away on the breeze

Armageddon "just around the corner"?

2009-04-08T22:43:00.000-07:00

Armageddon is just around the corner, so why bother.

Enough with the doom and gloom! Let us get on with living and improving life as we know it. There are plenty of things we can each do to improve life on this planet. “Economic down turn” seems to be the latest excuse-catch-phrase-euphemism for “Armageddon is just around the corner, so why bother.” I simply am not convinced that this is more than the hyperbole and media fueled fear mongering that it appears to be. Really, is it just me, or is anyone else tired of hearing about Armageddon being just around the corner? Let’s try this one on for size; Armageddon??! It’s here, it’s been here, and we have been busy living it day to day and managing to survive. It really takes the pressure off doesn’t it? I mean seriously, back in the day, when the ancients were speculating and prophesying about a time when “Life as we know it…” would cease to exist…well I truly believe that whatever life they were living or could have even imagined living, ceased to exist long ago.

Think about it. Today, we can walk into a grocery store with a little piece of man made material, we know as a debit/credit card, and use it to purchase a big Mylar balloon for a friend’s birthday – Mylar, a material that did not exist two thousand years ago, or a thousand years ago, or even a hundred years ago - a material developed by DuPont in the mid-1950s. If the ancients had seen this Mylar balloon on the ground or in the air, they wouldn’t have known what to think of it. But this is just one shining example (sorry, had to pun) of many. Hell, if a person living in the 1920s saw many of the things we now take for granted, they would have figured these things came from outer space or worse! As I see it, the Industrial Revolution marked the end of, “life as we know it” and it has never been the same.
We have opportunities ahead of us, we still can’t imagine. We just need to keep imagining. Maybe, one day if we are lucky and play our cards right, life as we know it will cease to exist and an amazing Willy Wonka world will exist here instead.

Alright, in my previous post, I mentioned my reading list and ongoing research. I can tell you that this research and observation has been going on for a very long time; my copious diaries and journals all attesting to the fact that life continues to amaze, confuse and amuse me. I keep on writing about my life’s adventures, concerns and frustrations, though very little of it has ever been shared. (I have begun recently, on the blogosphere, to share some of it, eh.) Sometimes the words pour out, occasionally there’s poetry, but mostly just words, millions or maybe billions of them, scribbled onto paper. I have a bookshelf full of journals and sketch pads. I have mailed hundreds of letters to dozens of people. In school I used to turn it in as homework and hope for a good grade.
I specifically remember speaking to Mr. Joiner, my fourth grade teacher, about a paper I turned in that expressed my concerns – one might have called me a conspiracy theorist back then – regarding our rights and liberties being chipped away at, “ For the safety of the children.” And though my theories were considered far fetched and incendiary then, the increasing use of biometric scanning and finger printing of children in schools are certainly common place now. Retinal scanning used in our businesses, RFID tags in our clothing, cameras in corners of buildings everywhere. Have you been to Disney World in Orlando recently? To enter the park you’ll be asked to place your finger on a biometric scanning device, prior to entry. Yeah, back in the seventies I was theorizing about life and liberty as we know it, ceasing to exist; fourth grade conspiracy theorist or psychic?
Okay, apparently “they” are watching us, cataloging us, debit cards track our moves and purchasing habits, a huge data base of personal information is being collected. We now continually feed the machine with our volunteered data on FaceBook and Twitter, etc.
So what? Big deal. Go outside and take a walk. Make someone’s day. Share a story. Plant a tree. Take a picture. Use a cloth grocery-bag, even if you have to walk back to the car to get it. Tell a joke. Call your mom. Read a book. Write a blog.

So, where was I? Ah, the reading list. When I was in elementary school I read and re-read; Call of the Wild by Jack London. I ate up A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. I read books by my favorite authors; Lewis Carol, Ray Bradbury, Tolkien, Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake to name a few. I enjoyed reading a good story as well as books about life in the theatre, history, science, spirituality, exploration and pirates. These days my taste leans more toward non-fiction, biographies, travel diaries and books about life on the planet. I just finished Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey and Dancing in the Streets – A History of Collective Joy by Barbara Ehrenreich. The current stack of books I am reading (I usual tackle a few at a time) - Autobiography of a Blue Eyed Devil ~ My life and times in a racist, imperialist society by Inga Muscio, Hot Flat and Crowded ~ Why we need a green revolution – and how it can renew America by Thomas Friedman, and A Bond Between Women ~ A Journey to Fierce Compassion by China Galland.

Life enthusiast, incurable romantic, skeptic, philosopher ~ I long for something more, something I can’t quite put my finger on. I read to feel connected, to feed the empty spaces, to learn something new and perhaps to one day answer the wacky questions that continually come to mind as I make my way through life as we know it.

Apparently Transparency is for Me - Maybe

2009-02-16T16:04:00.000-08:00

My list of research books continues to grow, and my – I’ve been calling it - my treatise, continues to clarify. Like a cloud of glitter it is now before me, swirling together like some earthbound galaxy. Made up of my words and pictures, experiences and dreams, people and places, trials prevailed over and miracles witnessed – I feel as though I am standing on the edge of nothing or everything.

Either I am a lazy sack of shit, good for nothing looser or some amazing star preparing for a gamma ray burst. My copious notes and musings all to a purpose, with the belief that I not only have something worthy to say, but that I will be able to say it in a way that can be understood – or who knows, perhaps these blogs will be viewed as bizarre “crazed” rantings - I teeter somewhere in the middle myself – and I am the one doing the writing!

I have an entire folder entitled “blahblahblogmaybe” on my hard drive, filled with word documents of various themes. Most of these writings or rantings - as I love to call them – will just sit there, and some, like this one, may eventually see the light of the blogosphere. Much of what I write about comes from the debates that are going on in my mind all the time. I often wake, early in the morning, or just as often, in the middle of the night, to find myself fully involved in a large discussion. It’s not like the waking-up and feeling like I went to school without clothes situation – I just wake up to discover I have been engaged in complete conversation mode, with an entire village, hotly debating some subject of significance – in my head.

One of my more recent ponderings has been in regard to the proliferation of online social networking sites and the choice we are being given to almost effortlessly share our personal lives with an ever expanding network of online friends and family members.

Having just finished reading a book by a Russian born author named Yevgeny Zamyatin; I wonder, are we headed toward a world where total transparency is the norm? This science fiction novel “We” was composed in 1920-1921, but denied publication in Russia. Written before Huxley's “Brave New World” or Orwell’s “1984” - “We” tells the story of a world where there are no individuals, simply “numbers” – where all facets of daily life are transparent to everyone. Everyone knows what everyone else is doing because everyone is doing exactly the same thing at the same time. In the name of peace and happiness, every morning at the same hour and the same moment, millions of numbers, in unison get up as one. Working, exercising, even eating and chewing is done simultaneously. A world where everyone and everything is monitored and controlled completely by the One State, where it is good to know that the vigilant eyes of an unseen Guardian, are around every corner. Their only purpose, to lovingly correct you and keep you safe, against the slightest seen or heard misstep. A world where imagination is a threat to the monophonic happiness of the One State and must therefore be surgically removed. When our hero, D-503, goes to the Medical Office, having become gravely ill after meeting or heroine I-330; it is diagnosed that he has developed a most dangerous and incurable disease, a soul.

This book both disturbs and intrigues me. Am I crazy to make a correlation between Yevgeny Zamyatin’s world of glass apartments - total transparency in all matters – and the road of complete transparency I see us headed down?

After all, is it not this transparent world, which our online social networking sites have afforded us to some degree. Under the guise of personalization and connection, we can now voluntarily share our every waking moment, with everybody or perhaps just with our “friends and family” or maybe our entire “network.” If you've registered with Face Book or Tribe.net or MySpace.com – right there at the top of the page – UPDATE – What are you doing right now?

Wende is _____________________________________.

How about Twitter – designed specifically so that as a registered user, you can continually update your “followers” or for that matter, everyone registered on Twitter, of your immediate status. (And yes it is true; President Obama’s 2008 campaign included the use of a Twitter account.)

A post on the WhiteHouse.gov blog, on January 20th Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov -- Transparency -- President Obama has committed to making his administration the most open and transparent in history, and WhiteHouse.gov will play a major role in delivering on that promise. The President's executive orders and proclamations will be published for everyone to review, and that’s just the beginning of their efforts to provide a window for all Americans into the business of the government. You can also learn about some of the senior leadership in the new administration and about the President’s policy priorities.

Google has just launched an application for use with its Google maps, called Google Latitude. This software, will allow users to activate tracking software on a cell phone. So, if you’d like, your every movement (or your child’s, or your lovers, or your employees) can be tracked. Oh sure, it could also raise privacy concerns, but Google is doing its best to avoid a backlash by requiring each user to manually turn on the tracking software.

The jury’s still out on a new website about to be launched - www.me2everyone.com/81176 where registered members are all part owners, helping to build a virtual world…sounding to me, like MySpace, FaceBook, Amazon, iTunes, eBay and the yellow pages in one place.

Look, there are far too many examples to list and I participate in only a handful – but participate I do - hell, I have multiple email and gmail addresses, two websites, two blogs, an eBay presence, and a bushel of urls – talk about transparent! I’m a total webwhore! Yet even in buying into all this online reality, I remain watchful with a healthy dose of skepticism.

I ask again, is it total transparency we seek?

In the book “We”, D-503 is compelled to write to us “my unknown readers” after he reads a proclamation printed in the One State Gazette. This proclamation stating, “Everyone who feels capable of doing so must compose tracts, odes, manifestos, poems, or other works extolling the beauty and grandeur of the One State.” This body of collected work will be the first cargo to be carried by the “Intregal”, and be blasted off into space to, “Subjugate the unknown beings on other planets, who still may be living in the primitive condition of freedom, to the benevolent yoke of reason.”

I too am compelled to write to you, my unknown readers and ask that you ponder this question with me… Is the carrot of the “American Dream” pulling us toward a world of total transparency? Is the lure of safety and happiness – even if it is gained at the cost of imagination - taking us and the rest of the world, toward a monophonic future? Would we have every hour of everyday, scheduled – all of us synchronously working, eating, sleeping, daily walks, personal time even sex, scheduled according to - and for the benefit of - the benevolent One State?

Everyday, I see the effects of government subsidized, name-brand, celebritizing, television/media; pouring out how to think, where to shop, what to buy and who to listen to. Are we being conditioned to behave under the benevolent yoke of reason?

For example, if you plan on flying anywhere commercially, be sure to queue up the pleasant law abiding citizen program. You know the one where you do not laugh too loud, or move too quickly. Please, no sudden outbursts or jerky movements. If the program is running properly, you will not joke about placing your items in a quart sized bag. TSA officials do not joke; they do not understand or acknowledge jokes or sarcasm and most certainly do not tell jokes. Stay in line and act “normally.”

Now, go update your online status, wont you. What are you doing right now?

Wende, # W-81176 is...still pondering unanswerable questions.

Praise Song for the Day - Going Humble

2009-01-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

"It's good to go humble into a task of this enormity."
~ Elizabeth Alexander

On the morning of January 20th 2009, a crowd of close to 200 people gathered at the Anthill Pub and Grill on the UC Irvine campus, to watch the inaugural ceremonies on television. We watched and listened as America's 44th president was sworn in.

The moment President Barrack Obama's speech was over - the college crowd was up and moving. Classes to get to - excited conversations - noise all around us.

I remained seated and cupped my ears to hear, as Elizabeth Alexander approached the microphone. This would be the forth time in American history that a poem has been recited as part of the inaugural ceremonies. She took a long pause before beginning, looking out at crowd of a million people - I simply can not imagine how that felt.

Her poem,"Praise Song for the Day" was beautiful; the language clear and simple, her words conjuring images of a country founded by hard work, her themes echoing those of our new president.

President Obama saying, "In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom."

I hear truth in his words, "Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age."

The time has come to put aside childish things. America has become the spoiled child. You want a new car? New house? New life? “Bling bling” and who do you know. All flash and no cash, it all seemed so easy. The credit kept coming and the bills never came. Yes, until now.

I listened to Elizabeth Alexander's poem yesterday and today I went online so I could read her words -
“Sing the names of the dead who brought us here,
who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges,
picked the cotton and the lettuce, built
brick by brick the glittering edifices
they would then keep clean and work inside of.”

Some Americans have forgotten.

There is much work to be done now, and I believe the most difficult task will be that of reminding those who have forgotten and teaching those who never learned.

The “American Dream” can not be bought with a platinum credit card or achieved through an over developed sense of self importance. The “American Dream” is more than the size of your toy box or badges on your car. The “American Dream” can only really be attained through determination and fortitude for the task at hand, and the way that dream is kept alive is with an attitude of gratitude for all that we have and our willingness and ability to share it.

New year!? HellsBells, there's only 50 weeks left!

2009-01-15T09:47:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is officially "2K9" and has been, for 15 days now - Only 50 weeks left. And still no real "resolutions" ...

Still, I am feeling very wealthy – lots of friends, little debt and beautiful places to live and visit.

Last night, I returned to my beach home after a 23 day and 2500 mile adventure, visiting friends and family over the extended holiday season. Ocean, desert, mountains, desert, ocean.

Arriving home and picking up my mail I find a stack of cards and letters making me feel rich indeed! And thankful.

I am also thankful for my good health. I need to honor it more. Honor myself more. That’s a good resolution.

I want to honor myself more in the coming year – (s)

And how about resolving to take forward motion – as in not spending “sideways energy” worrying about how to start. Just make the “to-do” list and start checking things off. Perhaps break things down into smaller tasks, instead of HUGE milestones that loom ominously in the "future". I can check off the mini-steps taken toward total completion.

Inch pebbles.

Last night's Yogi Tea fortune read: "Grace brings trust, appreciation, love and prosperity."
Truer words were never spoken. I would also like to resolve to walk that talk more.

Walk with grace.

50 weeks left. One could really accomplish something, if one put one's mind to it.

PyrateCon or Pirate Christmas - I'll be there

2008-10-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

I’ve just spent the morning, reading a lengthy thread on the website, http://humidcity.com/ titled, “Pyrate's Way Magazine Hates New Orleans”

An epic to be sure! It took a lot of concentration to not, “have an input problem” (code words for “skim reading”) and caused me some amount of consternation. (Some of the posts were downright painful, considering the lack of “spell check” and the fact that some folks insist on talkin’ twice as much, ‘bout something they know half about.) All in all, it was not a waste of my morning – mostly I am left with a feeling of tentative optimism; that those close to home – New Orleans – will be hosting (and hopefully organizing as well,) a gathering of pirates in the Big Easy, in April of 2009.

I made it a point to be in New Orleans during PyrateCon’07 and again for PyrateCon’08, regardless or in spite of whomever claimed, argued or was suing fer ownership of the “event”. I hope to once again, find myself in the Quarter – rubbin’ elbows with pirates - both of the flesh and blood variety as well as those of a more ethereal nature in April 2009.

I found out about “PyrateCon07” on line, in January, while researching pirate festivals and looking for networking opportunities. I had recently become an independent contractor – and had signed on to work with a clothing designer named Samiah Khatib, who makes the most gorgeous coats, that “pirates” like m’self were clearly drawn to…the convention seemed a wonderful excuse for my first official business trip!

I bought my Con credentials and a plane ticket that day.

I convinced my pirate pal Mary Ravenback to do the same.

Managed to find a great deal on a hotel in the French Quarter – being none too impressed with the idea of staying at the convention headquarters, the Holiday Inn – Superdome…

It would be my first time to New Orleans and I wanted to enjoy the city. I wanted to have my headquarters in the Quarter. I figured I would pop in at the con…having some familiarity with the overt geek fest that some cons seem to perpetuate…I had my reasons, okay. I made my reservations without any expectations and looked forward to the trip.

Mary and I flew in on Thursday afternoon and took a walk around the Quarter.
I was hooked, immediately! It felt to me, like I had finally “come home.”
We happened upon Pirates Alley, just off of Jackson Square. The pull was palatable! I took a picture of the “thin grey line” and noted a feeling of familiarity and welcome. Not having received any Con paperwork – I had no idea what Pirates Alley was or that we’d be spending a great deal of time there that weekend. As we walked past, we (very) briefly met a local, Miss Jezebel – (Who we ended up hanging out with on Friday – she and her friend Vin, showed us Coops Place and introduced us ‘round their city – took us in, they did.)

It wasn't till Friday night that we met the gals of Pirates Alley and made it our home away from home.

The Quarter was fairly quiet when we first ventured out that Thursday afternoon -- however, by the time we had made it back to the hotel, the sun was setting and the music and alcohol infused slushies had started to pour out into the streets. But we had decided to called it an early night – get a fresh start in the morning and “save ourselves” for the days and nights of revelry ahead. The feeling that I had truly found my home was everywhere, from the moment I set booted foot on cobblestoned streets to Monday afternoon, when I watched the city shrink in the distance as my plane returned west!

Rudy had done a wonderful thing! He knew the city was the conduit that would bring together people of a piratical nature from across the nation. This gathering of “pirates” from all over was really fantastic. I met pirates that "sailed" in from the left coast to the right and everywhere between. We drank rum in the streets when the sun came up and absinthe in the Alley at night. People hailed us from balconies and bars, “Yaargh!” went the call -- raise yer tankard and yaargh right back, a hundred times a day!! We were celebrities, ambassadors, brethren and sisteren.

Sure there were rough spots, as far as the convention went – it’s a first year convention – I’d seen worse. The city and its history is what brought us together. Anyone sitting at Pirates Alley late Saturday night – after the ’07 parade - saw and felt our connection to the ancestors surrounding us. The memories in the stone flooded our awareness, we had been welcomed home.

Monday afternoon before we left, I went to the cemetery, to pay my respects to the dead; it seemed the right thing to do. Rudy showed us (Tiger Lee and his assistant Douglas, Scarlett Harlot and I) where Lafitte’s men are resting in their tomb and told us some pirate history. It was a melancholy day and I left with a lump in my throat, several cards from new found friends in my address book and a promise to return.

It seems a damndable shame that the bickering and mudslinging have become synonymous with the idea of PyrateCon. I truly hope that the people, my friends, my sisteren and brethren of the City of New Orleans, will embrace us once again – despite the individuals with an overdeveloped sense of self importance, that pervade the pirate community – as it was so long ago, so it still is, it would appear…pirates…will we ever learn?

Like I say – I attended the 2008 piratical gathering, regardless and in spite of all the political bullshit flung around the internet and within the piratical circles I sail in and out of. I went and will go again to New Orleans to be at home, with the friends and family I met and will meet there.

Call it what you like – “PyrateCon” -- hells bells, we called it “Pirate Christmas”, having tired of explaining the Con come postcon Monday'08, when Pamela, Michael and I were hanging out in the Barataria Preserve…no matter what it's called...Hoist the colors, they will come.

Meanwhile,tonight I’ll lift a glass of rum (ice optional but preferred, damn I love ice!) here on the Left Coast and picture myself late at night at the Skull Club, with me mates, especially, TawnyPort and Lord David – reveling in a moment of “Lordissa this is cool!” and hoping the sun will take it’s time to rise…

A cast of characters at Ojai Pirate Festival

2008-09-25T14:05:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update -- I know there are those that keep an eye on this here blog...
And Friday's just 'round the corner...
AVAST!

It's off to Lake Casitas fer all goode pirates and piratesses, what can make the trip!

There's sure to be a fyne cast of characters, mark me words!

Last year, it were filled with some notable folks.

Perhaps I am biased to some degree, but truth be told one of my favorites, wont be attending this year...

Damndable hell, gas prices aarrgh a bitch!
It's a good thing I'll be seing her next weekend up in Northern California!

I'll be seeing this scallywag - the one smiling at me from the background... My no account brother - the vermin... Lord love em. hellsbells, I'll be camping next to'im, lakeside!

And the Rum Runners! Ah, a fyner bunch of rogues 'ave never sailed the seas!

And then there be this wonderous lady! I'll be glad to put eyes on her again! It's been an age, it has!

My Tibetan Prayer Flags -- in a Fine State

2008-07-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

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Say it ain't SLO, or weathering the storms of summer or Everything's Fiiiiiine!

2008-07-09T20:30:00.001-07:00

Well, the ship’s been careened fer nigh these last four weeks – and were lookin’ ta put-in again come August ( if we have enough funds for provisions.) It was a rough passage, May and June, but we’ve seen worse and weathered the storm before.

Speaking of rough weather…

Folks keep asking about last summers “storm” in July.

The events told further here-in, well tha names may quite possibly be changed or just plain not mentioned, so as to protect those who would not be named, blah, blagh, blaaagh…and truth be told, we are so over it.

It was just last summer it was, in the heat of July 2007, the 21st to be exact, and a fine Saturday afternoon it was.

To get right down to it; we were booted from a Renaissance Faire on the California Coast, fer being…well, Pirates.

First and foremost, I'd like to say to all of you who were there and the many that called to check on us later, thank you so much for your kind support!
On that fated Saturday afternoon, it was so wonderful to see our friends surrounding us during a most upsetting and difficult time.

I am sure there are plethora of folks out there that will give ya their version(s) of what they thought happened that day, or heard happened that day, or maybe even saw happen that day – and plenty more of those who will provide the shoulda, woulda, could-have done, this and that’s…I was there mates. I was there… and I will give the entire story, in detail, but for now suffice to say - the long and the short of it was, and shall continue to be: “They”(he who shall remain nameless) ordered us to remove our most popular and glorious coat (The Bailey) from the front of the booth (The very same coat which, in our application we said we were selling, and yes they took our money to vend said coats at their little Renaissance Faire...), we questioned complying with “their”(yeah him) order to remove said coats (due to precedents set and evidence to the contrary - IE: that others were not being asked to remove their far more offensive "piratical wares" like rubber duckies with pirate hats on, jolly rogers and foam pirate hats - egads can you imagine?! Items that clearly were identified as being PIRATE) and replace them with a far less popular item which simply made no sense to us at all. We made multiple requests for clarification and justification of said Order to Remove "offensive piratical items" which all apparently fell on deaf ears…
AND THEN… they summarily dismissed us, rudely, with total disregard for the attending publics enjoyment of the day – oh yeah and provided lots of big serious looking security guards to “assist us” …hmnn…

Later on that afternoon, no place to stay (we were camping out for the show), out on the streets, all the dangerously “piratical” coats loaded back into LittleBigVan, we decided to go to the movies – and ended up seeing what felt like, the whole debacle replayed for us on the silver screen…well we certainly could identify with Harry and his mates…watching the Order of the Phoenix…questioning the Ministry of Magic...you get my drift…

So what was the point? What point did it prove? What is my point, you ask.
(I tend to speak in paragraphs more than sentences – so if your attention span is shorter than a sea voyage, ya better hop off.)

Perhaps we are; “pirates.” We most certainly throw in with pirate types on a regular basis. Perhaps it is just their sense of fashion that draws ‘em to us, and us to them. Back in the Golden Age of piracy – those who identified themselves as associates of the “Sweet Trade” were known to be quite the fashionistas of their time. They were travelers and, ehhem, procured what they wanted and wore what they pleased. They were considered the rock stars, celebrities, outlaws…(you get my drift here) of the times.

Look mates, I am constantly being asked, “why?” “I don’t get it,” you say “ ‘splain it to me.” What’s the big deal about pirates?

Try this one on fer size ~ “pirates”, or the modern day “…a pirates life fer me”/ POTC watching/ Johnny Depp fan clubbing/coat posse/choreographed sword fighting, types, might just be representing those who would dare to color outside the lines. Folks whose dough just will not fit into a convenient cookie cutter shape…charming, eccentric, looked up to, emulated and reviled… the gamut, but always – well dressed, as far as each is concerned. Whether it be a fine frock coat or yer favorite pair of gunpowder stained and tattered pants…you love em, love to put on the garb and take to the streets, or pier, or where ever else they’ll let ye carry 25” inches of steel on yer hip! Represent!!

Then there’s the whole “equal shares” part of being with a good crew of like minded mates. And remember folks – which “side” you were on, decided who you believed were “thieves” and who you though more of as “business associates” or those who you might “do a bit of business with.” Frankly that’s still the case, eh…
Yes, so “What about the cut-throat, take no prisoners, afford no mercy, send yer blood runnin’ through the scuppers part!!??” you ask, you judge.

There are copious examples of modern day “pirates” dressed in $1000.00 suits and ties, oh you who would judge … cut throat, conniving, take-no-prisoner types, to use as yer example there mates. Don’t get me started.

Why do I personally identify with pirates?

To start with, I love history. The history contained between the lines of the textbooks we were loaned in school. I love the colorful characters of history. I love to read about the women, the ones they didn’t dare tell us about in High School. Those dangerous ladies that did not follow the rules, (or maybe just questioned the rules and were told to “leave”…or “go home”…or “put on the proper clothes, you’re scaring us!”) The ones you’ll have to do some research on, to find out the truth about their adventuress lives.

As I see it, the truth of it mates; is that there are rough seas ahead. But not as rough as the media (aka man made weather) are telling us of. The many predictions of untold doom and gloom, the economist’s theories, speculations on commodities, the expert’s opinions – the smoke and mirrors; “We’ve thought about it and we believe those with money will continue to keep it to themselves and those with out will continue to want for more.” “Tighten yer belts boys, she’s gonna blow!” Feels more like the big bad wolf than big brother (jus’ to get ye straight that I am no conspiracy theorist…well not at the moment anyhow. ) And frankly, those who study this kind of thing on a macro level (think big picture) - globally, things are fiiiiiiiiiiiine.

Anyhow, I can digress.

Point being, that even though I hear nothing but, boo hoo hoo and how we are a bad bunch of capitalists – not spending enough, not making enough, not selling enough, built too much, bought too much, think too much….all I see , all around me ~ is people spending money left and right! How about all those giant vehicles, zooming around, sucking up the petrol! No “tightening the belt” fer those folks, they appear to be happily using up it as fast as they can pump it into their tanks. The restaurants; packed, all over town. My town, your town, all over towns everywhere…there is evidence to the contrary of “a bad economy.” Believe me – I am as restless about the lack of dollars in my savings account as the next guy…. I have no treasure buried for my “golden years”, I have no 401K, no IRA…However, as much as I lack in the “piles of gold” department; I also have acquired very little debt mates, and that makes me a very “rich” piratess indeed!

I think I can sum it up nicely, this feeling we are having regarding “the economy” - with a quote, vis-à-vis Hunter S. Thompson’s lawyer in Fear and Loathing (the movie) “…too much, too much, you took too much!”

So go ahead, quit trippin’ and get yer head straight.

Please, for all of our sakes, let’s get off the “juice” – get back to what makes each of us truly happy and nice people to be around. I am convinced we’ll figure it out, regardless of what the disembodied voices hollering at us from the mists are saying. *

I have to keep reminding myself everyday to look around and see all the amazingly diverse people who are also “coloring outside the lines” like myself and are happy doing it. Look past the hoards of "sheeple" that seem to be trying like hell to fit them selves in “the box” and you’ll see what I mean.

As my brother likes to say loud and often, “It’s astonishing!”

* When are we going to quit listening to the disembodied voices hollering at us from the mists? We’ve been listening to their lies for way too long. (I’ll get back to that thought some other time.)

A Couture Coat Tour in June...

2008-06-18T17:40:00.000-07:00

so where did May go?

22 of 31 days
spent on the road

9 of those spent
just drivin' the load

a thousand pounds
of coats and gear

so many tales,
to tell and hear

so stay tuned mates, just careenin' the ship'sall

Another Dam Traveling Coat Show!

2008-05-02T13:23:00.000-07:00

Someone tell Mr. Chris Angel that the Traveling Coat Show is in Boulder City, Nevada for the weekend. Tell him we have a coat for him...

Really, any one who knows our coats, knows that Chris Angel should be wearing one of them. Not just on stage either, this coat is one that he'll wear every day!

So we are out at near the Hoover Dam this weekend...

From one dam show to another...
Last weekend we were out at the Sante Fe Dam, Irwindale, CA.

Saw lots of friends and family, it was a truly joyous weekend.

Of course the weekend before, was New Orleans, for PyrateCon'08!!
And that me lovelies, was one hellova weekend - Thursday through Tuesday.
From The French Quarter to the Bayou - all pyrates all the tyme.
Just a few pix to tease ya....

Rakkasah Show a huge success!

2008-03-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

Ahh springtime!! And with the blooms and warmth of spring comes the beautiful festival of Rakkasah-West!

A new location at the Solano County Fairgrounds brought old and new friends together for a weekend of music, dance, laughter and shopping.

Dancers and vendors from all over the world came together for a magical weekend in Vallejo, CA.

Stephanie came by to say "Hello" and left with the "Half-a-million dollar, periwinkle Abbey Coat" that I had worn up to Pacheco Pass for a photo shoot!

Sharon stopped by the booth to pick up her Tiffany-Blue Abbey Coat and was spotted among the crowd throughout the weekend, looking faaaaabulous!!!

Ava came by the booth for a fitting and a glamorous photo shoot ensued!!

Natsumi Suzuki a fan of Disneyland (and CaptainHook!) like ourselves, sent us this wonderful group shot.

Beautiful Ruka is taking a black on black brocade Bailey Coat, home to Japan!

The Samiah booth was located in front of stage left, so we had the great fortune to be able to watch many of the performances. The entire weekend was filled with music and amazing visuals. Every performance was wonderful and diverse. The incredible commitment of time and energy spent on costumes and choreography was obvious in every performance.

And suddenly, it was Sunday evening...and our 10' x 10' Universe managed, once again, to fit into "Little Big Van"

with only one "magic, golden, safety-pin" remaining on the ground to prove we were there...

Farewell to Rakkasah-West for another year!

"Fair winds and full sails!" to all our friends, old and new, far and near.

From California to Japan and all stops in between, we will be seeing you soon!

Piratess Fashion Spotted at Pacheco Pass

2008-03-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful morning. At O'Dark Thirty we left Southern California with one goal in mind; To hike the green foothills off Hwy 152 and see some wild flowers in the afternoon on our way to Vallejo.

Exploding out of the cracks of Interstate 5 were hundreds of silky orange California Poppies, heralding our arrival. At just after 11AM we arrived to the foggy clad hills of Northern California's Pacheco Pass.

Strolling the pathways with our cameras in hand, I couldn't help but feel like some uber-fahionable National Geographic photographer on safari, dressed in my periwinkle Abbey Coat.

Now it is time for some much needed rest and tommorrow it's off to Rakkasah!

The Traveling Coat Show is Northward Bound!

2008-03-11T21:51:00.001-07:00

The Traveling Coat Show is setting sail for our first Northern California adventure of the 2008 tour season. First stop will be Vallejo, CA for Rakkasah, a three day belly dancing event. Before attending last year, I was not even aware this kind of gorgeous event even existed! And here I thought I was so "well traveled... "

http://www.rakkasah.com/west/

We set sail on Thursday the 13th of March from our port in Huntington Beach, for our temporary weekend mooring in Vallejo, CA. Then, Monday morning, with the booth packed back into "Little Big Van" we shall head to Santa Rosa, CA. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to just hang out for the week, and soak in the Northern Cali vibe. It is wonderful to be able to do so much work remotely; in these days of technological advances. I'm all about my laptop and cell phone!

Super exciting news!! The Samiah Northern Cali Trunk Show has found a home! We will be looking forward to seeing everyone who can make the journey, Friday and Saturday the 21st and 22nd of March in Santa Rosa, CA. The website www.samiah.com will have all the details. Hopefully I can manage to pack all the boxes that are filled with treasure, into the van tomorrow. I plan on leaving just enough room for us to accompany the product...

So, we shall be looking for you, oh Piratesses!

Fair winds and full sails !!

http://www.samiah.com/_Samiah-Show-Dates.htm#current

Academy Awards Weekend and the Traveling Coat Show will be in Santa Monica!

2008-02-20T11:11:00.000-08:00

It is sure to be a star-studded weekend!

The Film Independent's Spirit Awards hosted by Rainn Wilson, are in Santa Monica on Saturday.
The 80th Annual Academy Awards will be sure to lure all of Hollywood's Illuminati to the red carpet on Sunday.

The traveling Coat show will be out and about as well.

We are putting up the Samiah booth tomorrow and spending the weekend out at The Santa Monica Art Festival.

Rain or shine, regardless of wind and weather - we are outdoors and under the big tent and ready for anything!

I have packed the van with the hottest items. From shimmering orange tops to dreamy brocade jackets - just the thing for the red carpet or one of those festive after parties. Who knows, this could be the show where Hollywood discovers a new favorite designer!

www.samiah.com

The 2007 Northern Cali Three Week Tour

2008-02-18T11:17:00.000-08:00

June 6th, we leave for our three week tour of our scheduled Northern California summer festivals. The Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, CA. will be the first on the tour.

Part of the journey includes finding a place to pray on the way. It is nice to be able to find a peice of grass, just off the beaten trail - even if it is behind a fast food resturaunt.

Pack it up, drive it there, unload it, put it up.

It is always amazing and magical to see the space transform from bare grass or parkinglot or street corner - into The Booth!

Even better when we have a few days to stay and enjoy what we've created. Time to hang out with old friends and meet some new ones.

Then tear it down, pack it up, say ciao and move on.

Full sail ahead! The winds are with us!

2008-01-17T14:48:00.000-08:00

Whew! The summer of 2007 was quite an expedition.
A whirlwind! Where did the time go?
All I know is that the "seven seas" are vast mateys, and there were many days and nights (yaar) filled with adventure and untold treasure!

I know I have been remiss in sharing the tales with ye, and many there are to tell.

Some tales'll bring a tear ta yer eye in the telling, and others that will have your guts splitting from laughter. Sagas of courage and fortitude in the face of dimwitted, short sighted individuals with nothing to do but wield their misplaced power in a haphazard way. Still others filled with wonderful anecdotes demonstrating genuine friendship and camaraderie. Examples of serendipity, kismet, destiny, synchronicity - call it what you will, no matter the label on the box, it is amazing how many times the "uncanny" connections happened.

So, as promised - the tale to be told - from June, when we sailed for Santa Rosa and the Harmony Festival - through the long summer's journey of renaissance faires, street fairs, food, craft and music festivals - to the pirate faires of autumn - and finally arriving safely back in port in December - (whew, I'm tired just managing to smash it down to one paragraph with poor grammar.) Along with getting the sails stitched up from a few rough passages and provisioning the ship for our 2008 voyage , I'll get some pictures up as well.
This one here, my official "Quartermaster" portrait, taken by the famous pirate portrait photographer himself.

Photo by Tiger Lee Photography

Pirates On the Road

2007-08-06T10:04:00.000-07:00

So many adventures!

And they will be shared eventually, I promise.

Fer now I will just say-

the stories be many, they will be told.

There are pictures t'prove them, they will be shown.

Have patience me lovelies.

Officially a Left Coast Piratess!

2007-06-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

It is true what they say, moving is indeed Hell! I am however, glad to say I am now, officially a Southern California or "Left Coast," Piratess. Half my possessions are in storage, but I am really working toward being ship ready, so the slow but sure progress toward a lot less impedimentia is key. Now that I am basically moved into my new little bungalow near the beach, I will be leaving on a three week road trip to Northern Cal.

Last weekend was the Hermosa Beach Festival. The weather was beautiful, with cool foggy mornings and warm sunny afternoons. We met lots of great folks out there on the streets of Hermosa.

Pictured here, myself with Heather, looking good in our new Bailey's. (Oh, did I tell you I simply had to get my second coat for the trip to New Orleans.) I am wearing my Aladdin Brown Bailey. Heather picked the delicious Merlot Bailey - thank goodness - I had been eyeing it greedily, and was very glad to see it go to a good home and caretaker.

I continue to be mystified as to how all these amazing individuals find the Samiah booth, but find us they do. I have such a wonderful time at the shows, meeting our peeps. We end up sharing stories, joy and laughter and I can not believe how quickly the day goes by.

So, we leave on Wednesday, for our three weeks on the road - that seems like a long time. I will attempt to keep up the blog while we are on tour. First stop is Santa Rosa, for the Harmony Festival, on to San Francisco for the North Beach Festival and wraping up the trip with the Monterey Blues Festival. A journey filled with adventure and finding treasure along the way, it'll be sure to be a grand one.

Good bye till next time New Orleans

2007-05-30T17:36:00.000-07:00

Ahh, New Orleans. I can not really explain how difficult it was to leave. I felt like, had I gone there, instead of South Lake Tahoe, when I was in my 20's; I would still be there. It was really hard to say Good-Bye.

The ironic thing was, how many wonderful people I met, that are Left Coast Pirates, like Pamela and Scarlett. Here I traveled the farthest South and East I have ever been in North America - to meet kindred spirits who live in Southern California!

My move to Southern California was eminent - in fact, the day I was leaving for New Orleans, I got the call telling me that my application was accepted for the little bungalow I will rent in Huntington Beach.

I am so grateful, to know there is a wonderful circle of friends when I get settled in - I am really looking forward to being there.

I met amazing people from all over the US; pirates like Cliff Long, living in Maryland, "Quicksilver" from Oregon, Eric, Kat and Steve from Colorado, Clay from Kansas City, pirates from Oregon, Arizona, Florida and Louisiana. I am looking forward to further adventures and meeting up with them as our paths cross in the near future.

The most difficult "Good-Bye" I said, was to the folks at Pirates Alley Cafe. Thais Solano, was the most amazing and gracious piratess hostess, ever. No matter the hour, we were treated like royalty. She served up the most delectable Salmagundi I have ever had - oh, and the rum cake!! Divine.

Pirates Alley truly felt like home.

So, hopefully next April, will find us all back home in New Orleans for PyrateCon08!

04.21.07 thar be pyrates parading thru the Quarter

2007-05-03T20:41:00.000-07:00

Ahoy maties, beggin' yer paaardon for the lapse in tyme, with my re-capping of my pirating adventure in New Orleyens... where were we now, ah yes, Saturday.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and when the photographer is the Famous Pirate Portrait Photographer, Tiger Lee, of Hot Pirate Babes, you've basically got an entire disaaartation right here.

I can honestly say, I never imagined the day I would be in a parade through the French Quarter, wearing a sword and pirate coat, strolling along with hundreds of fellow pirates and piratesses. Accompanied by horse drawn carriages; carrying such pirate luminaries as Cap'n Slappy, Chumbucket and The Wench of TalkLikeaPirate.com ! It was a blast!

Along the parade route, we broke into various renditions of , "What do you do with a drunken sailor..." , we gave "pirate gold doubloons" to little pirate children, we threw mardi-gras beads to folks that were hanging off of balconies and pouring out of bars and shops... all the while brandishing weapons of mass pirating and growling "yaaarr" back at any one who "yaaared" us; of whom there were many!

Through the Quarter we went, parading from "Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar" (reported to be a headquarters for smuggling, "back in the day"; owned by the pirate brothers Jean and Pierre Lafitte. The very same brothers who became heroes after helping Andrew Jackson win the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812. ) on to our Buccaneer Ball at the Funky Pirate.

The revelry continued far into the night. When, after much singing and jigging in the street, admiring of weaponry and finery, picture taking and networking, many of us ended up, well of course, at Pirates Alley, where we were once again treated like pirate royalty. I love this town!!!

Now, you may be a sceptic or just have never seen or felt the presence of "those who have gone before us". If that is the case, then read on with your incredulous looks and disbelief... For the rest of ya, I will say this; in all sincerity, early Sunday morning, in the wee hours some time before dawn, we were joined by our bretheren and sisteren of long ago. Pirates Alley and The Thin Grey Line are older than most folks remember. Much has passed and transpired along that cobblestone street and that famous and distinctive section, known as the "Vieux Carre" (Old Square). The memories and spirits of the first European settlers and pirates were definitely with us. Without the proof of pictures (though I have requested that some that were taken that morning - with vapours, confirmed like, savvy - be sent to me, to show to you) you'll just have to take my word. Suffice to say, many of us who were there acknowledged the presence our ancestors beside us. And fyne company they were!

Friday 4-20 at PyrateCon07-

2007-04-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

Friday was a day of meetin', greetin' and eatin'.

We started off the day by heading down to the Clover Grill. One of our "local recommended" places. All the way there we were greeted at every corner, out of every bar and the occasional open shop, with "Aaaar" and the word "Pirates!" caught on the wind and brought to our ears.

The Clover Grill was as promised and with bellies full of chicken fried steak and grits, we headed to the Holiday Inn Superdome for our first day of the convention.

Just lovely, seeing all these kindred spirits! All gathered in the same place. Turns out there are pirates visiting from far and wide; Oregon, Texas, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Kansas City.... and the ironic thing is that here I traveled the farthest SouthEast I have ever been - to meet so many great folks from my home state of California! And what a bunch of fabulous rogues one and all!

So, we hang out at the conference for a while, where we meet up with a couple of local pirates, Vin (who tends bar at The Old Absinthe House) and Jezebel (Pouring up drinks at Pirate's Alley Tavern - I mean Cafe...) , who walk the streets of New Orleans with us to Coops Place, for lunch. One of their favorite haunts, Coops Place serves up great local favorites, delicious! I had the Rabbit and Mary had a big place of fried goodness from the sea. Oh yes, and don't forget the rum!

From there it's on to Vin's crib for a few shots of rum-what else do pirates drink?? We'll I found out the answer to that question later, much later Friday night...er, Saturday morning.

After Vin's hospitality, er, rather, th'rum...runs-out, Jez and Mary decide to head off for some much needed rest and I continue on to the Blacksmith Shop bar and met up with a fyne bunch of scallywags and rogues! Stormy Seas, who I had met at the Ojai Pirate Fair, Valerie, m'self and Steve pictured here. There were a bunch of pirates and piratesses hang out, drinking rum and ale, singing bawdy good pirate songs and visiting. Yeo ho, yeo ho, a pirates life fer me.

Pirates Alley Cafe, turned out to be "the place to be" for the length of the convention. Not only did they serve up fine grog and ale, they serve up a magical drynk called Absinthe my friends. Be ware, be very aware of this beverage. It starts off with a flaming sugar cube perched atop yer cup. A tube from some place below the decks douses the flame with a green liquid....ahhh, Absinthe.

PyrateCon07 in New Orleans - we arrived on Thursday

2007-04-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

My 6am flight got me into Dallas a bit before Mary Ravenback's plane arrived. I was able to meet her at her gate when she got in, which was fun (we don't get a chance to do that very often these days) and we had lunch together in the airport before flying together to Louisiana.

We met a couple of great gals on the plane, who gave us some good recommendations for sights to see and places to eat, while in New Orleans.

Once we got in, got a shuttle to our hotel and checked in, there was time for some reconnaissance of the Quarter.It was so weird, on our way down Bourbon Street to the river, the place was pretty quiet. Most of the stores were closed and not a whole lot of activity on the streets.

On our way back we came across an alley - I had a strange feeling and felt compelled to go that way - later we found out, that it was Pirate's Alley, where the "Thin Grey Line" between church and State is located, leading to Pirate's Alley Cafe. I took these pictures Thursday evening, with out knowing the significance of the place.....hmnnn. We did not stop in, the place was pretty quiet.

Once back on Bourbon Street, it was like a different city entirely! People everywhere! Music on every corner and alcoholic slushie drinks being poured in every bar!

We kept on our mission of heading back to our hotel. We were determined to call it an early night so we could really enjoy the next three. Apparently we missed the Rum tasting at Pirate's Alley by about a half an hour...damnable luck, that...too bad I did not check the updated Con schedule; but we more than made up for it, spending quite a bit of time there the following three days.

An Evening at Disneyland in Pirate Coats

2007-03-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like hanging out with the ladies on a beautiful spring evening at Disneyland.

All of us were wearing our Samiah Bailey Coats and had a great time riding the rides and strolling through the park and Downtown Disney. We stayed to watch our friend Scott Williams play a few tunes and Aurelia purchased a few CDs.

Other stops on the tour included Aurelia photographing Samiah and I as we explored the caves of the Indiana Jones ride.
Of course, a trip to Disneyland wouldn't be complete with out a visit to The Pirates of the Caribbean ride, to say "Hello" to our friend Captain Jack Sparrow and a rock-n-roll ride on Space Mountain! I never thought I'd hear the day, the Red Hot Chili Peppers would be the soundtrack for a Disney ride, wow!

Piratess 'Introductory' Business Cards

2007-03-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

I have designed and ordered Mary Ravenback and myself, "cards of introduction" for our trip to PyrateCon 2007. Figuring on the fact that one goes to a Pirate Convention to network with like minds, it is a good idea to have a "business card" at the ready for those whom you would like to keep in contact with.

This is not a new idea, the Japanese use business cards to facilitate communication between companies as a contact media received upon introduction. A meeting in Japan starts with a formal and highly ceremonious exchange of business cards, a ritual referred to as meishi kokan. When receiving a card, a businessman takes it with both hands, reads it over carefully repeats the printed information aloud, and then places it in a cardholder or on the table in front of him, referring to it in conversation when needed. He never drops it in his pocket. That is considered disrespectful.
The business card exchange is a way of expressing the importance one places on an encounter. It shows that you value the meeting, just as you’ll value future ones.
It is not necessary in our culture to do the full meishi routine. When you do exchange cards, take the time to absorb the information on it. It can’t hurt to actually remember a potentially valuable contact’s name and you may look rude if you just flippantly cram their card in whatever pocket is closest.

Some of our most famous pirate brethren and sisters in days of old had impeccable manners. I think that modern day pirates and piratesses should employ the exchange of business cards. We are after all, on the account.

Some thoughts on discovering piratess fashion.

2007-02-28T21:06:00.000-08:00

I can honestly say I have never considered myself a fashion victim. I have always loved clothes and never seem to have enough room for all my senses of style. I can not part with that hot-pink polyester jumper my mom passed down to me when she was done wearing it in the 1970’s, or those pair of two-tone leather bell bottoms that Mallory Knox from Natural Born Killers would love to get her little serial killer hands on.
I have pounds and pounds of clothes, something for every mood and occasion; and the shoes to match – So how and the heck have I gone this long, not realizing the truth of the matter?
I am a hard-core fashionista and can’t wait to really take a closer look at my wardrobe with the discerning eye of a born again piratess.

Last year, I dropped (for the first time in my life,) three digits of hard earned ducats on a jacket, because I felt it clearly represented to the world, who I really am.

First off, let us be clear, we all know that a jacket is not just a jacket, it is a lifestyle ingredient. Being at a point in my life, where I can wear, piratess fashion whenever and wherever I please; I no longer have to lament the fact that I was “born in the wrong century.” Here I am, a piratess, living in the 21st century and loving every minute of it.

As Ralph Lauren once said, “I don’t design jackets, I design dreams.”
Well, when I bought my tone on tone, red velvet brocade Bailey Coat from Samiah, I wasn’t just buying a coat, I was buying an attitude. Samiah is an artist, her medium is fabric on bodies, and I am happy to be one of her pallets.

Pirates in the Eastern Sierra

2007-02-22T09:52:00.001-08:00

On the way to a few days of snowboarding on Mammoth Mountain, in California - we anchored the ship at these fabulous rock formations near Benton Hot Springs.

Just waiting for the storm to settle in and then we shall be riding the big white wave on Mammoth in the mornin'.

Piratesses in Nevada

2007-02-20T17:26:00.000-08:00

Here be a true piratess, spyed in Nevada.

It be true me hearties! Here y'are seein' Piratess Carli, sporting a Samiah original. She's wearing the Bailey Coat in Red Legion Stripe with crushed black velvet contrast. Notice too, that being a true piratess, she is well armed, carrying both sword and pistol ~ certainly not a woman to be trifled with!

Here be yet another piratess, spyed in Nevada.

Ahh, the Tiffany Blue Bailey Coat, and it looks like a million doubloons on this Nevadan Piratess!

Piratesses going to PyrateCon 2007 in New Orleans!

2007-02-18T11:32:00.000-08:00

It has been confirmed, April 19th we'll be setting sail fer PyrateCon 2007 in New Orleans!

We shall be sporting our piratude and piratess garb - certainly our piratess coats, (don't leave home without em) - swords, pistols, and any other weaponry the civil servants of New Orleans will let us get away with.... for a piratess should always be well armed and well dressed - especially for the Buccaneer Ball.

yeo ho yeo ho

a pirates life for me

yeo

and

bot-

tle

rum

Me sistaaaar and fellow piratess will be joining me in New Orleans, for what should be a grand weekend indeed. We'll be looking for all our Sistaaaaars of the Coast! See ya there!

Avast! Thaar be fyne coats for piratesses!

2007-02-15T12:51:00.000-08:00

Ahoy sisters of the coast!

These be a real treasure!!

A most wondrous pirate coat for the true piratess! Pictured here, two versions of the Bailey Coat.

If you are like me, you have all your garb ready for the 2007 pirating season. Yer sharts and skirts and leggings and boots, yer bodice, pistols, knives and swords....

But, ladies, sistaaaaaarrrs!!! Do ye have yer coat? Look for Kathy, sporting the Crimson Tide Bailey-Coat at the 2007 Spirit Awards February 23rd!

What is an amazing pirate outfit, without the fine frock coat to wrap yerself in when the sun's gone down and the rum's run out!? It's high time you got yourself the pirate coat of your dreams!

These beautiful coats are all made by hand in Huntington Beach, CA by Samiah. That's pronounced "sam- me -ya"

Check out her website at www.samiah.com

Available in many colors, that are sure to compliment your current wardrobe or perhaps inspire a new look! Fitted perfectly, from sprite size to beautiful bodacious. Every coat is fully lined, made with yards and yards of wonderfully rich brocade fabrics, 32 metal buttons....you get the picture. This is a quality made piece that will be the crown jewel of your wardrobe. I wear mine all the time, pirating or clubbing, it always gets me in the door!

Ask any woman who owns one of these amazing coats and I am sure she will tell you the same; it is by far, the best thing I have done for myself in years.
When you contact Miss Samiah, be sure to tell her, the Piratess Vendredi le Bijoux sent you!