Dolly Parton

Two left feet

So I get a text from Wagman today, something is wrong, only getting a ten day old cached copy of your blast. 

Settle down Steve, everything is okay, the reason you are seeing that is that I actually have not written for ten days. 

Truth be told, I have been extremely busy. 

Sorry.

Actually I haven't taken a day off in about three months,  

So let's look at the wayback machine. 

I stopped chemo in early July, knowing I would not be able to function in Santa Barbara, Albuquerque and Santa Fe if I was still throwing up every day in the trashcan.

Shows went well, I end up getting home last Wednesday afternoon but get a call Thursday, the client I flew to Jackson Hole in the Lear Jet with has sold her lodge and needs an emergency content inventory appraisal.

Like right now.

I have to drive up to her digs in Los Angeles, spend two days forensic accounting and then an additional five days preparing a report, which shipped out Sunday. Painstaking work but financially rewarding. Stayed in Joseph and Linda's beautiful Casita for a night. She made a lovely chilean sea bass. 

Unbelievable flurry, would have crushed a lesser man. 

But now I am home, totally whipped.

Leslie said that we had visitors over the weekend while I was gone. A raccoon stopped by one night with two cubs. Next night she came back to our upper porch with five of them, she said they were awfully cute although our cats didn't necessarily think so.

Sunday was Leslie's birthday and she wanted to go out to soak in the hot springs. We booked a new place for us, the Onsen, a Japanese spa. 112° out there, should be lovely. 

We leave Sunday afternoon and as we are getting on the 15 north I hear a thump, which is followed by four beeps from my dashboard and then a tire light signal.

We drove to the Sinclair Gas in Temecula and I put money in the air machine before realizing that it had no tire fitting at the end, someone had cut it off. 

Tire is dead flat at this point but we nursed it to another gas station.

I filled the right front tire and rolled the car back slowly as Leslie inspected it. 

Lo and behold, there was a rock stuck in the tire, sort of like it had melted in. 

We could hear the air whooshing around it.

Have never seen anything like it but it has been really hot here.

We managed to find an open tire store on a Sunday afternoon, the Firestone on Margarita and Steven replaced our old tire, which could not be fixed. 

We drove the next hour and a half to our destination, only to find the Onsen was shut tighter than a drum.

Leslie yelled and another guest, a sort of beaten up looking roadie for a death metal band let us in. 

Said the customer service there was lousy. 

Had to keep the door shut because homeless people kept trying to sneak in. 

Was glad at that point that I had my concealed carry. 

DHS has always been a bit dicey.

We spent a half hour calling the manager and she finally called us back. 

Gave us a key to a room with no air conditioner remote. 

Leslie complained and we got a new room but the a.c. had not been turned on and the room was well over a hundred degrees. Nothing like a hot room in the desert.

Rooms and grounds were honestly quite nice but the service was atrocious.

Manager sort of apologized and said that she had a problem getting decent help out there.

We got the unit turned on but it did not cool down until four in the morning. 

I jumped in the pool, which helped a little bit and we finally ate birthday dinner in our warm bed. 

I got up early the next day and saw that there were foreclosure papers newly taped to the pool gate.

Place was lovely really, someone put a lot of money into it but obviously poorly managed or maybe somebody was just having a really bad day. Will never return, to be certain.

We left fairly early the next day, stopped by and saw Kaplan, bought a beautiful monumental Rookwood vase painted by the early artist Matt Daily that he had found the day before in Indio..

We then went to the Belgian restaurant Leslie likes in Ranch Mirage, Si Bon. 

I had lobster crepes, hers were duck confit in a Mexican truffle sauce. 

I thought it was delicious, Leslie's mushrooms were a bit sweet, hopefully we can give them another try.

We then continued home up the mountain, safely back with our two cats Nico and Tiger.

I was back at it today, buying paintings and selling paintings. 

It has been a whirlwind of late. 

Got my teeth cleaned today by my dentist herself. 

You want a great dentist in Fallbrook, try Robin Mells. 

I paid a guy for some scrap gold and sent a painting to the Postal Annex for shipping tomorrow.

This afternoon I had a meeting with a cancer resource center in Temecula. 

I want to volunteer to talk to new cancer patients about my forty one year experience dealing with the disease. 

Told them that I would be happy to man a phone. Will see what if anything, comes of it.

I don't know if you have seen me walking lately but I have had a serious limp for three months and it ain't pretty. I had a meniscus, anterior cruciate and medial collateral tear in 1979 and I have been bone on bone ever since. And now the arthritis has taken over. Probably need a new knee but going to see if I can get an x-ray and shot at Scripps Green on Friday to keep me going.

My last three chemo infusions start September 2. Wish me luck. I am still not unpacked from New Mexico and at this rate it might be October before my house and shop is in order. Can't work when I feel terrible, especially in the heat.

See the shot at the very top? Put my shoes on in the van and something didn't feel right. Remember Eugene Levy in Best in Show with his two left feet? That was me. Helps to put them on the right foot, or in this case the left one. What a shmegegg.

Moby Grape

A band who should have been much more appreciated, harmonies that matched or exceeded Byrds, Beach Boys, CSN, three great guitar players, one of the first and best acid country rock bands but sadly mostly unnoticed...

New Mexico 2026

'twas a long trek, about two weeks in duration. Starting to blur a bit so excuse the abbreviated run down. Bit tired and used up.

It was a great two weeks, profits far exceeding my earlier pessimistic expectations. Always expect disaster and then be pleasantly surprised...

So last you heard I had narrowly averted said disaster, finding myself in Winslow with no money, credit cards or identification and not a prayer of getting home.

Found the wallet finally and was on the road again.

Thank you Bill.

But losing things turned out to be a continual theme the whole trip. 

Lost my phone once and it turned out it was in my hand. That was a trip.

Lost a rare weaving, caused a real kerfuffle. Losing it, man. Of course I found everything eventually.

Set up was non eventful. I had a lot of merch, used up about every inch of space. I have the whole setup thing pretty down by now after thirty five years practicing.

Thought I had 16' more of wall, they say they told me, I sure don't remember if they did. 

I rented a quarter of my booth out to my friend Steve. 

It worked but let's just say we have a different type of situational awareness, I could probably have used the room in the final analysis. 

We definitely had a different type of aesthetic but viva le differencé.

His clothes rack did bring more young people and gay men shoppers into the booth.

Didn't help me much but he made some sales. 

Found a really good Vietnamese place, Viet Pho, which was good because the place I liked on Louisiana closed down.

Had a great meal with Mark B. at a nice joint downtown, Antiquity.

 Great branzino.

J.F.

Saw some cool faces. The guy next to me is Stan, owns a guitar shop, friend of John Feldman.

Sold some paintings, sold steady, had a real good show.

Finished up the show, found out I didn't have a hotel for the night and extended.

Next day went up to Santa Fe and saw my buddy Ron, bought some pots and hung out.

He and his wife Lisa and I went to Paloma for dinner and had a nice talk.

Went to Tad and Sandra's Tuesday morning and had brunch with a bunch of smart folk. 

Wednesday I set up for what is thought of as the better show.

I brought some very high powered art and sold a high dollar painting right off the bat.

Was good because allowed me to coast a bit but business actually stayed steady the next three days.

Was a good week for food, new chef at Santa Cafe, amazing lamb dinner. Phenomenal hamachi crudo with melon balls appetizer. Elk carpaccio. Lobster rolls.

Best I have had in years there. I like Santa Cafe because not only is the food consistently delicious, I am claustrophobic and like to eat outside.

Next night was another great meal at Geronimo. 

I had the elk, which was good but I think the previous night's food was a smidge better. 

Did have two great bottles of Caymus.

People were great at the show, always see old friends there. Lots of no shows this year, not sure why. 

I met a tibetan man, told him I had been through initiation ceremonies with Kalu fifty years ago and gave him my tibetan name and secret handshake.

He said my third eye opened up then and there. Could have been, I was looking in the other direction.

I bought some great things, hung out a lot with Barry at our normal breakfast haunts.

I liked his hat, make america gracious again...

The best part of the show for me was when Emily, the late Chris's daughter, came up and hugged me and we shared a tear over her mother's passing. My memorial blogpost evidently really touched her. I also got a brother and sister who normally don't speak to share a picture and laugh together.

The important shit.

I bought a collection of wonderful baskets Monday morning, my friend Rick gave me a good lead.

Drove to Flagstaff, which had been hit by a flash flood.

The next day I headed home in the monsoon rain. Took the 66, all the way to Kingman.

At exactly 8:05 the song 8:05 by Moby Grape started streaming on the radio.

I looked up at the heavens and laughing said, "You've got a hell of a sense of humor. What happens at 8:06?"

 Back home now, all good.

I love you

Lost week

I am in the middle of my two show swing to New Mexico. I would like to give a quick recap to a very frenetic week. It has been mostly good but intermixed with a moment or two of terror.

I drove to Flagstaff first day, through 112° heat and high winds in Kingman. Three days before I embarked on the trip I received a recall notice on the van. Turns out the cooling fan relay could melt or catch on fire, starting an engine compartment fire.

I found a dealership in Temecula that could fic it, a five hour job Tuesday. They also informed me that there was another recall, a parking brake problem that was a two day fix, requiring that they drop the transmission.

I guess I will deal with that later. Had to fix the fan deal, didn't want to be driving in intense heat with uch a problem. 

So I get to Flagstaff after about nine hours driving Wednesday, I can't help it, I drive slow. Van ran fine, air conditioner worked, hallelujah. Stayed at the Hyatt, doordashed crappy pizza, which I mostly left in the room. Weird but post chemo have had little appetite.

I take off early Thursday, to mmet Bill and Shirley at the La Posada in Winslow when disaster struck.

I get our of the van and reach into my back pocket and there is no wallet there. I checked the cab and behind the seat for half hour. I call Bill and he comes out and checks too. 

Nothing.

I am freaking at this point. No money, no credit cards, no i.d.. Bill gives me a hundred bucks but I can't even get back home on that in gas. I called the Hyatt and they checked my room and the parking lot. Nada.

I was thinking about just cancelling my shows and going home, what choice did I have.

Bill and I decided to go through the van one last time.

I had paintings against the side door and we pushed them forward and opened it. And there, wedged, below the bottom box and the door was my wallet.

Hallelujah!

I am telling you it was salvation. I gave him his money back, or well, at least a dollar of it and had a mini epiphany. No matter what happened on the rest of the trip, I would be happy and grateful because I want to tell you, I had hit bottom...

to be continued...

Stills

Hits just keep a comin'

 

Fifteen million hits and change on the blast as of this morning. Thanks for reading and being on this journey with me.

Eva

JRAD

Quick Sunday ramble

Are you getting bombarded with money raising pleas on YouTube from the Democratic Senatorial candidate in Texas, James Talarico?

 I am. 

I can't stand his opponent, Ken Paxton and would never vote for the GOP candidate if I lived in Texas but there is something really nauseating about Talarico too, his hand gestures seem forced and disingenuous.

Sick of him asking me for a dollar.

Ossoff I like, I will send him a dollar.

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Another phenomenon I am not quite ready for is the shuffle dance. I see it on YouTube shorts, mostly from Electronic Dance Festivals.

Looks like a hell of a cardio workout but exactly what drugs are these people on?

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More than 1 million children lost access to food benefits after Trump bill passed - way to go starve the children and fire all the food inspectors until everybody else is shitting themselves.

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Robert Reich - Sunday thought: When the sleeping giant dances

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Trump and the narcissistic collapse

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Two people I am pretty sick of at this point, Bill Maher and John Fetterman. The final straw with Maher is him championing Bari Weiss, the CBS head who asked her reporters to lie and create false narratives so that the network can go full Maga.

Fetterman is a capo for sure, there is nothing democrat about the guy whatsoever. Independence is one thing but he prides himself on screwing his party members, much like the departed Senator from West Virginia, Joe Manchin. Total dinos, love to be the turd in the punchbowl.

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Ever notice how the Fox empire, specifically the New York Post, runs article after article denigrating California? So scripted. I have friends from back east, all worked about the sorry golden state. News for you, we are doing just fine. Don't like it here, move, we won't miss you.

Manassas

Progressive perfidy

 
I read the headlines today at the NYT, Democratic Socialists Are Winning Big. Now They Want Action.The Democratic Socialists of America, after a string of election victories in New York, is eager to tax the rich and enact anti-Israel policies.

The left has a new whipping boy, Israel and its supporters. Jews in general are advised to keep their heads down and kippahs off because they are getting attacked, killed and beaten by many people who don't bother to query them regarding their views on Israel and Palestine.

The only thing that scares me as much as the far right is the far left and it's pretty even steven at this point.

I don't Facebook but couldn't resist the urge to post this comment on Linked In.

Sentiment in the column ran against me on this point about twenty to one. No big, I got it off my chest. When Hamas kills it is a sudden terrorist event or righteous liberation, Israelis are of course always guilty of genocide. Now I am the last guy to be an apologist for Netanyahu or the Israeli far right but how about some fairness here?

No, instead the left mostly glorified October 7th as mere collateral damage. Israel had it coming and Israeli kids were saved the opportunity to become genocidal Israeli adults. Alahu akbar.

Two nights ago this Islamic terrorist drove his vehicle into a Pride parade in Berlin, killing one and wounding many. Abdel Ballout tried to join Islamic State and ended up taking his displaced wrath out on a bunch of poor gay people.

What do you hear from the far left progressives regarding this foul act? Those people so fervently concerned with human rights?

Basically crickets.

You would think it would be roundly condemned. But no. It is a fact, the Islamic world is one of the most homophobic cultures on the planet but it doesn't fit the progressive narrative so we won't talk about it. You want to throw your lot in with Abdel here, well be my guest. You won't be breaking bread with me. And I won't be voting for you.

Let's look at the facts: gays are routinely hung in Iran, women are beaten for showing their face or touching a man in much of the Islamic world, honor killings of daughters are rampant in Arab society, homosexuality is a criminal act in Gaza and much of the Islamic front.

On 18 September 1936, the criminal code of Mandatory Palestine, British Mandate Criminal Code, which drew from Ottoman law or English law, was enacted. Section 152(1)(b)(c) of the code states that any person who "commits an act of sodomy with any person against his will by the use of force or threats" or "commits an act of sodomy with a child under the age of sixteen years" is liable for imprisonment up to 14 years, while Section 152(2)(b) states that anyone who has "carnal knowledge" of anyone acting "against the law of nature" is liable for a prison term up to 10 years.

The Islamist militant groupHamas took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2006, and has controlled the territory since then.[22] In Gaza, Hamas has criminalized homosexuality, and LGBTQ+ individuals risk incarceration, torture, and execution.Gaza under Hamas offers no possibility to live a queer life: lashings and "honour" killings point to the aggressive enforcement of anti-LGBTQ+ policies.

The left, once again turns a blind eye. 

And it is not only in the middle east, the first thing the all muslim mayor and city council did in Dearborn last year was outlaw gay pride flags. 

It seems like the progressive left's concern for human rights is somewhat selective, doesn't it?

Sharia is great, until it comes for you.

Don't say you weren't warned.