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Thursday, 05 November 2009
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Karma Mechanics
LUCKY NUMBER FIVE
One:
Beginning 2009 The Matrix
What happen to my favorite buddy? We were inseparable for over three years...All the camping trips to the coast, to Morrow Bay, to Sea Otter Classic. Toting my bike and kayak from hither to yon. A fine and gas efficient steed, even good in the snows! Due to being out of work for the better part of two years, in April 2009 they came and took him away OH NO!
TWO:
June 24th 2009
The most beautiful car in all the land until...Sigh...A Mercedes Diesel, they last for ever, they told me.
July 4th 2009...yeah, it's all fun and games until someone throws a rod.
THREE!
Arrived in my garage May 2002 departed n July 10th 2009...
We had run together for years. Mostly a seasonal job by job kind of deal. My little Italian friend always had my back especially after the German had broke my heart in two. One morning, taking him out when he knew it was not in his best interest, old Johnny Law gave us the stink eye. I never made it to work that morning and my little Italian friend got a tow tuck ride to the big house...I couldn't spring him. I don't know where my little buddy ended up but he had a gorgeous new canvas top to take him there. Mezza fortuna, my little Spider friend.
FOUR...
Shortly before my birthday in July 2009: HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY!
The Bat Mobile. Eight hundred clams.
No expectations, just a little hope to get from point A to point B for a little while.
For dogs sake, he came with vise grips! On the dash!
October: But when all was said and done, even the vise grips could not save him.
Thank you
(Bat Mobile for getting me where I had to be on time).
You gave your life for the greater cause.
You did not have that axle break and put a whole in your own transmission in vain.
Is that automobile Suicide?
I hope you will still go to auto dismantler heaven.
Here we are at the beginning of November.
All hope is certainly not gone but certainly tempered with reality and the dog awful truth. The best cough suppressant and lion tamer.
I am looking at bus schedules and riding my bike everywhere. I do not mind the bike stuff one bit. For one reason or another the bus bit just chapped my hide.
My mother is especially bothered by my not having wheels. I did not expect her vehement concern on getting mobile. She immediately offered up some cash to get me a reliable automobile. The cash offered was really unexpected (she has been helping me out so much that I am embarrassed and forever grateful).
We also agreed to call my uncle Dan because he has a car lot in Auburn (Quest Motors right off hwy 80 (530) 269-8171)
He checks out used and affordable vehicles all the time. He is honest and a cool dude. In fact an entire blog could be written about his cool flat track racing days. He appears for a moment in "Any Sunday" with Steve McQueen. Look for number 22 on a moto plate and that is him!
I have zero expectation because I am thinking that no reliable auto is going to be found for the dollar amount mom wants to spend. I am fine with this. All I see on craigslist is junk cars and so I cannot for a moment think that my uncle is going to have something we can count on for that amount. I am absolutely cool with this. I have to learn how to use the bus. Mom is awesome for even offering any kind of help, I love her and want to be there for her. Dag nap it.
Anyhoo, Dan has a car in a low dollar range but is not sure it will be reliable. And it is more than mom wants to spend plus tax and license. I do not get my hopes up. Dan is having his mechanic check it out. It has high miles but is a European vehicle, so this may not matter depending on what the mechanic has to say. But my luck is pretty sad with the Euro's, even Dan knows the story. He does not want to sell us something that ends up being a stinker butt.
I busy myself with as much work as I can pedal my bike to and take care of my errands in Woodland by borrowing Michael's drummer's car for a morning. Thank you Jon! This would be the family van with the antlers! I stopped to put gas in it and the woman that works the register at the gas station was outside having a smoke, "Nice Horns" she commented as I went in to pay for the gas...Indeed!
Tueday eve rolls around and my mom calls. The Euro car has checked out a-ok and mom is willing to pay a little more. We both feel better knowing that Dan has had a hand in this and his mechanic gave it the look over.
I would be happy with ANY wheels. Anything safe and reliable. I do not care about a radio or ac or how it looks one bit at this point. Not at all, I promise you...
Check out my mechanically sound European new ride...
Oh my dog, this thing has everything and so much more...
Wipers on the headlights! The Bat Mobile didn't even have wipers that worked!
This car is awesome. It has everything including every service record since it was new because it has only had one owner. A school teacher. Plus it came with those nifty tire stud deals that you can put on easily when it snows because the person who owned it lived at snow level. It has special traction options for wet and icy conditions. I am so lucky.
Do you think my karma has improved?????
Monday, 02 November 2009
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Vice Grips, Art Openings and so so much more!
The Vice Grips
And this is all that is left of the Bat Mobile.
My mechanic told me that the axle came apart from the wheel and some sort of flange thing. Once it came apart it whacked into the transmission and put a hole in it. A thousand clams, with a used or rebuilt transmission, is what it would cost to replace it. The clutch may need attention so no telling what the actual total cost might be. For my eight hundred dollar car.
Another one bites the dust. I am donating it.
Formal Cogitation - Deladier Almeida
I was asked to work at the art gallery the last days of last week. On Friday eve there was an opening reception for a new show that displayed four talented local artists. It was an exciting and successful show. First floor was Del Almedia's new works. Please check out his site. This guy is prolific. He is best known for his California landscapes, but the scope of his work is so much more than landscapes.
Rene Martucci's ceramic works were on the second floor. She is known for her animal pieces. Her dog and cat sculptures are very popular with everyone. She captures our pets personalities dead on. Her new works are energetic in motion wall mounted sculptures. She is also a musician and I think she really understands movement and rhythm of people and pets. I enjoyed her show very much.
The figure works of James Chaffee on the third floor and the California landscapes of Chella in the loft
I served booze, my special skill. I had a fabulous time chatting, pouring hooch and mixing it up with all my Davis buddies that I have not seen in some time. It felt great to be doing a good job and to be appreciated. A long and successful day.
Sunday I was kind of exhausted and feeling a little punk. I kept a low profile hoping I would be up to going to a Halloween party I had been invited to. But no, early to bed. That was all I had in me.
My room mate, Gloria, has been hanging close to home these past few days because of finals. Up late studying and what not. I was woke up late in the night and over heard what sounded like a tv news station chatting away. I figured it must be Gloria listening to the news for background noise while she studied. Then I realized I recognized one of the voices. My son.
I looked at the clock, 3am. Even after fall back. I got up to find three boys sitting around my dining room table gnawing away on fast food and chatting as though they were at a coffee shop at lunch time. Always glad to seem him BUT, for dogs sake...shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Zac Nelson of Hexlove and Prints and currently Trawler Bycatch
Nothing says Good Morning Sunday, the day after Halloween and did you set your clocks back like a young musician in his underwear in my living room. My son, his pal Zac and a new guy I had not met before named Zack were conked in my living room. I knew that a huge breakfast had to be made for these boys. And gallons of coffee. Stat!
I organized my morning and made sure to set up the kitchen to begin cooking once the boys started to shake their sleepy heads awake. The boys woke up and began rattling around while I put together coffee and what not. But wait, there is more, so much more.
The new Zack informed me that there were still two more members of the band sleeping in the van outside. They probably had no idea where he was since they rolled in so late. Oh well, I figure, slice more potatoes, scramble more eggs! The final two came in and seemed to be relieved that we also believed in coffee as a mid morning ritual.
Zack, Jonnie and Russ of Trawler Bycatch out of Portland OR
They were very polite and set about to get refreshed and revived after a late night playing a radio show and house concert. They played me the recording of the radio show from KDVS, the local college radio station. Michael's band Afternoon Brother and Trawler Bycatch filled the station and played together. Way too much fun. I enjoyed sharing the music this morning with them while I put together a big morning after breakfast.
My son Michael and his long time friend, Zac
My son seems to get a kick out of showing up at my house at odd hours with a covey of musicians looking for a couch. No phone call, no warning. Honestly, I woke up at 3am to voices thinking it was a television. They all bedded down. His friend, Zac, is a pal of ours for some years. His ambient pop music has done quite well for him. His other projects keep him pretty busy too. He has no trouble giving me shit. I love that. And I never recognize him. He is either heavily bearded or clean shaven. At 3am in the dark he is just another boy in my living room. It is great to see him! He creates this awesome ambient pop music that I love - check him out here: Prints
Jonnie the singer, Zack the broken handed guitar player and Russ the bass player
These kids were very polite. Zack number two was funny and a smarty pants right away. I appreciate that. He had a broken hand from some trouble with a train schedule sign. I believe the sign was belligerent and bothering passengers awaiting a late arriving train. Alcohol may have been involved but this was not clarified. Jonnie is gorgeous and has a super sultry voice that I appreciate. She also has another band she sings and plays keyboards for called Fist Fite. Russ is the bass player of this outfit and studied under Terry Riley (credited as one of the pioneers of Minimalism in the mid sixties, explored the use of tape loops, developed the time lag accumulator, performed All Night Concerts (10pm-6am)), my son informed me. He and Jonnie were pretty quiet.
Doing what every musician I have met does when on tour...
After everyone was fed and showered and properly caffeinated, they did what every touring band that I have ever met did...they youtubed. Yes, they youtubed. I swear, I would never know the silly things one could find on youtube if it were not for these charming and talented kids that end up in my living room from time to time. There was the Best Freak Out Ever, there was Pissed Off RV Sales Guy, Turrets Guy and on and on. A little angry for a Sunday but entertaining nevertheless. Actually the bestpart is everyone's banter during said youtube-isms.
Goodby Zac 1 and Zack 2. Good by Trawler Bycatch.
These kids packed it up and headed to Fresno. It was awesome to meet them. As for the moniker Trawler Bycatch, read the following: "unwanted marine creatures that are caught in the nets while fishing for another species; "thousands of dolphins and porpoises and whales are killed as part of the by-catch each year"
My question is this: Are you kids the net or are you kids the unwanted marine species? I have to create some kind of back story but unfortunately, this needs attention.
Jon and Michael watching Encino Man
Jon showed up after the other kids had left. This made my day complete. He and Michael lolly gagged watching bad movies, eating lunch and catching up on the days events. They left shortly after a dinner of home made chicken noodle soup and bisuits.
I have a stupid week of bus rides to Woodland. This no car business just stinks, I tell you.
How was your Halloween, xanga pals? Mostly Tricks or mostly Treats?
I know you guys think I lead this exciting life, but I swear, it just knocks on my door when I am dead asleep.
Saturday, 31 October 2009
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My Favorite Halloween Memory
I was just thinking of my favorite Halloween for the past several years and remembered an early Halloween in Davis, the kids trick or treat Downtown in full regalia. I was having lunch with a friend at a middle eastern place with a window view of the downtown streets. It was a spectacular thing to behold. The parents dressed up as well. The downtown businesses handed out candy.
That eve I went to Tracy and Kim's for dinner. We had some ween festive meal and watched Night of the Living Dead. Tracy decided to celebrate my birthday either early or late (more likely early, I was always the late one). We got wasted on martinis.
The film was fabulous, my gifts (a basket of ten or twelve small gifts!) were all blue and it was my most favorite Halloween that comes to memory. As I unwrapped each blue gift Trace would say to me "How can you be blue when I love you!!!??" It was on the heels of Bill dumping me shortly after I had moved to Davis.
Le Finis
Sunday, 25 October 2009
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I hate everything...but thank you
Well, I prefer to write when I actually have something to write about.
Unless, however, I have forty new photos of my children...but, alas, my children are scattered about hither and yon, so, no new kid pictures. I do have things to write about. It seems to be of the usual "Cassi has an adventure or a tragedy, you decide" variety.
With pictures. Of course.
My Beeeeautiful dot-air
This week, after starting out feeling pretty illin', has been super-cala-fragile-listic-expy-ala productive. Over the previous weekend I visited my daughter. She is doing wonderfully and looks gorgeous. I helped my mom with stuff. She is doing well. Her energy is down and her memory is scattered. I was glad to be over there checking in and visiting with her.
Kim is so organized, color coding the boxes, I was impressed
Then to my girl pal Kim's to help her pack stuff for an upcoming move. She was awesome and we tackled her much dreaded office and her kitchen. We worked very hard and partied after we accomplished the tasks we had set for ourselves.
After my sick day I was all over the place following up on appointments and setting up more stuff. I had work and errands. I finally addressed a long stressed over traffic court appearance for later in the week. This thing has been looming over me like the most unwelcome of long put off responsibilities. I was relieved just to schedule the court appearance. This self inflicted situation, while understandable, has really created more problems than I could have imagined. So, I set an appointment to be in court this Friday, today, this afternoon.
The vise grips have been working over time on the Bat Mobile, amen!
Must mention, the Bat Mobile has been running just fine. Just fine, I tell you. Traveling back and forth to Woodland and Sacramento with out a problem. Up the hill to visit fam a couple of times. Not a hitch.
I completely stressed myself out this morning over the court deal. I can get like that sometimes...well, alright, many the times. AND I drank coffee. No no no! I should know better. No matter, I pulled my day together, gathered any needed documentation and got to court on time. Signed in, went to the designated court room with about about 75 to 80 other folks. It was pretty organized. I have been to court, criminal and what not but never traffic court. I honestly did not know what to expect.
The court guy in charge provided a very clear over view of what to expect. More folks came in and sat down. I figured I was about in the middle or a little more in the order of signing in, which is how each case is called on. Finally the judge/commissioner guy took the stand. He summarized what the other court guy had already discussed. He was clear and very nice. I was impressed how kind everyone seemed.
Carol Miller Justice Center
Honestly, from my couple of phone calls for information, to my visit to make the court appointment, to signing in today, Sacramento Traffic Court has their shit and attitude together. I appreciate that a great deal.
Once things started rolling the judge/commissioner called about six cases up at a time and rolled through the sitch. You are charged with this, what is your plea, here is your verdict and fine, go talk to the DA. He reduced fines, signed off their infractions and kept things moving right along.
One less Ben on my back
When I was called up he in fact reduced my fines by a hundred dollars. I was hoping for more but no matter, I am grateful for this and glad to start getting this deal behind me. You have no idea how this traffic monkey has been on my back.
I go to the finance office to make payment arrangements. I leave with a little pep in my step.
Confronting this stupid thing has been KILLING ME. It is finally going to be resolved. Yes!
I only saved a hundred bucks, but, geeze, a hundred bucks is still a hundred bucks. So, thank you Universe!
I was only there for just over an hour, too, I can get home and tackle more stuff on this day. No sense burning daylight!
I leave the court parking lot. I am turning onto the main road into traffic to head to the freeway home...
I accelerate from the stop sign onto the main boulevard...accelerating quick as a semi is heading up the road but I have time to get onto the lane...
I am in first gear and press the gas to get into my lane...the car is rolling from basic momentum but...
NOTHING HAPPENS.
I go into second, nothing. I can hear the car accelerate and something is turning but the car is not motioning forward. The rolling noise of the front end has a kind of low thud thud thud with the roll of the tires but no real forward movement...
The first thing I think is this "At least I got to court on time and got this situation handled" (Alright, what I really thought was "I hate everything but thank you")
Then I panicked because I am in traffic. I roll to the small shoulder and stop.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!"
This is a wet spot that was left on the road once we moved the car out of traffic
With help I manage to get the Bat Mobile backwards to a auto repair shop parking lot. I am at a loss as to what to do. I do not have triple A, hell, I do not have anything. I call my mom. Uhm, for moral support. Then I call my Davis mechanic. He says he will try to help me find a tow but I never hear a word back. Finally, I start calling tow companies in Sacramento. About an hour and half has passed.
The Bat Mobile resting comfortably at a nearby parking lot (note the tell tale drip spots leading back to the Bat Mobile...who has been tampering with the Bat Mobile...note to self, is the Joker in town???)
I call like six places. They range in price from $240 to $85 bucks. Can you imagine this? The place called Budget was by far the most expensive. I kind of figured this but still thought to have some faith. Some of the ads read said Damage Free...well, I wondered if I did not care about that option, might they lower their price? Nobody laughed...
I kind of figured going for the lowest price service, this guy was gonna show up
But, no, I got a real tow truck driver with a real tow truck
I think the end to a perfect day is a ride in a tow truck during rush hour traffic on Friday, don't you?
Interestingly enough, I called one guy and he says a hundred bucks. I say good, lets do this. I call the last couple of numbers on my list and another guys offers $85 so I says YES! I call back the other guy and he lowered his price for me. The cheaper guy was not remotely bothered when I called to cancel (seriously, who wants to drive to Davis from Sac during rush hour on Friday).
I finally got home around 6pm.
So, like, the weekend has not even started yet. Should I bother to get out of bed tomorrow, or maybe, percentage wise, do you think the coast is clear?
Sunday, 18 October 2009
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Afternoon Brothers, Wacky Storms and missing cats
Kim and I made our Beat Conference last through most of Tuesday.
Ah, one cool thing. Kim wanted to check out our Davis SPCA Thrift store. It completely rocks. I picked up a GRACO metrolite stroller for $7.50. This thing retails for $169.99 and aside from needing a little cleaning was in perfect condition. Total score. If you do not know, my daughter has a baby due in April of 2010.
MAMA we're all crazy now
I had an undogly early appointment in Woodland on Tuesday morning. I was there at 8 am (I arrive at 8am to discover that I am there to make an appointment for that day...at 10am) amid crazy wild storming (it was raining rats and snow leopards) weather, tree debris, cars covered by broken branches. Leaves smothering the streets. The wind gusts were at around 52mph. I promise you it seemed far worse. I was anxiety stricken driving back and forth to Woodland. Once home, though, finally , the power goes off and I have a home filled to the brim.
The hair bet continues (Afternoon Brother, progressive metal titans)
Afternoon Brother had returned to the Sacramento area for this week before their continued out of town dates. Surprise for Kim and I. But my living room easily accommodates three boys weary from the road. They had entered paradise. There was tons of cheap wine and pizza. Kim and I know how to throw a party and even if we are not aware that there is going to be one.
We had hellacious storms around here Monday night and all of Tuesday. My power was out from 11am to after 9pm. My place is 100% electric. We could not do anything, not even make tea. My cell phone died from over use and no way to recharge it. Cut off from all of humanity.
Michael doodling in his journal and playing guitar by candle light
We entertained our selves and each other for the night. Took a walk and ordered Chinese take out. Michael was busy on his guitar and writing in his journal. I checked on the PG&E guys and trucks that had been there all day but not making any headway. Michael and I had a really nice evening. Thankfully it was never cold since we had no heat.
I was up early on Wednesday. Gloria asked for a ride to school. The roads and paths were completely debris ridden and I understood. Traffic was ridiculous but still, I was happy to take her.
My friend Cheryl texted me about doing lunch. I had a 1pm appointment in downtown Davis and asked to meet after, for coffee.
The missing Bubbles
We hooked up and caught up. She is helping a new friend try to find her lost cat. Cheryl had made up big and small fliers to distribute door to door hoping to find the missing Bubbles. I agreed to join her in canvasing the immediate neighborhood of the cat's last seen whereabouts. Lots of walking, chatting and distributing. I hope the missing cat gets found. They do like to disappear for a time and the neighborhood is a community one filled with kids and cats on every corner. Maybe Bubbles just wanted a new type of kibble for a week and will be home for comfort food soon.
Check out this fallen branch in the missing cat's neighborhood
It was cool to check out a new neighborhood in Davis. This area is Village Homes, (the following is copied and pasted from daviswiki.org) designed and built (starting in 1964) by Michael and Judy Corbett on 60 acres in West Davis. The development comprises 220 single family homes, 20 apartments, and Cooperative Housing at Sunwise. Most of the buildings incorporate solar power and design features. There is business space in the community center, an inn, an olympic-sized pool, and a large playing field. Village Homes is one of the nicest places in Davis to live. There is a playground near the Community Center.
The village has its own vineyards throughout the neighborhood and garden belts snake throughout the village so residents can grow their own produceMany of the streets in this neighborhood are named after places and characters in The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings books, causing some to refer to the neighborhood as "Middle-Earth." There is a continuous bike path on the western edge of Village Homes next to the gardens, and there is a geocache (
![[WWW]](http://wikispot.org/wiki/eggheadbeta/img/sycamore-www.png)
"Gardens of delight: West"). There is a parallel bike path through the middle of Village Homes crossing all of the streets, with smaller paths between the backyards (there are few fences). 
Village Homes was actually quite the place to be in the early 1980's. Jane Fonda reportedly bought a house in her pre-Ted Turner phase.
A cool entry gate with a turtle and a giraffe amphibious rig
We walked the neighboring hoods distributing fliers and chatting with folks about the missing Bubbles. It felt good to help. I hope the Bubble cat comes home.
Michael and his band mate Erik are here. We made a terrific dinner and the boys are sitting around working on new music. I need to go to bed cause I have houses to clean tomorrow. They are looking for movies to watch.
That sums up the week. I hope to make it up the hill to help my friend Kim pack and to visit my mom and my daughter.
How are you all doing?
Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves.
Your wealth is where your friends are.
It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating.
The trouble with being poor is that it takes up all of your time.
Behind every great fortune there is a crime.
Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.
True
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" P-o-o-k-a 'Pooka. From old Celtic mythology. A fairy spirit in animal form. Always very large. The pooka appears here and there, now and then, to this one and that one at his own caprice. A wise but mischievous creature. Very fond of rum-pots, crackpots,, and how are you, Mr. Wilson?"
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