February 26, 2016

6:07 – I can sleep as late as I desire and this is when I awoke- bright-eyed and bushy-tailed…at 6:07.  So I did yoga – day Five, and I stretched and stretched.  It was time to pack up, but since I am planning on driving home tomorrow evening from Sebastopol, I only need to pack for one day. 

 

I can tell you that driving to drop the dogs off, it became very evident that I really need to handle my PTSD symptoms which have remerged.  As I drove over a slight hill – an every-day occurrence in my part of the planet – I saw a car driving towards me.  Suddenly, it was driving AT me and I screamed as fear assaulted my chest and heart.  So many things in the fraction of a second:  My breathing and heart rate increased as a I felt pressure in my chest area, and I witnessed what was about to happen.  It didn’t of course…the car rambled on in its own way, I headed in my direction with the dogs, but that moment…that near-death occurrence.  I hate this.  It took forever to get the dogs checked into to the boarding facility – as it does every time.  Goddammit, people… push “save” on the information you got the first 5 times.

 

I headed off into the wild, blue afternoon.  It wasn’t long before I arrived at my hostess’s place and what a lovely place it was.  We headed off to go bra-shopping for me.  I am really not trying to make this such an issue, but the one I purchased from Soma is quite uncomfortable right now.  It does seem so silly, but I feel as if I am being compressed from all sides.  We found Macy’s and in we went – I found 2 for the same price as the one from Soma.  We headed towards Santa Cruz then and came upon a beach scene – with surfers…  oh my god.  Surfers.  I need to get to the beach more.  I remember being about 13 and being so sad the I was in Midland, Texas –so damn far away from the ocean.  I wanted to surf.  We headed to the downtown section then and ambled about – seeing all sorts of interesting things…getting a thing or two for my boy, who will soon be 14.  

We were to meet a few people at a taqueria not  too far away from Moe’s – excellent food and such incredible musical stories from Dennis Cook – who used to write for Jam Base along with many other musical entities.  The stories and musical knowledge this many is brimming with.  My god – to share his brain for a bit each day…I might actually do something with writing.

At 8:30ish we were at Moe’s Alley – the same place I had come to years ago for my first solo Hips show. I was here to see the Hips, of course – OF COURSE!  Yet I was also here for a different purpose – a primary purpose of support and being there in case of temptation for someone.  Not drinking at a show is, for me, the norm for quite some time, but for some of us, that magical elixir is a lifeline to life.  I’m grateful I am off the juice.  By the third song, my back was in so much pain that I was not sure how I was going to stand here – front row/Greg side for the whole show.  Looking back, I still don’t know.  I do know that I heard from two very reliable sources that Tim was in so much pain, yet he sat there, in a very uncomfortable chair  with a  smile on his face, and goddammit, if this man can be going what he’s going through and smile, then I will stand there with a paralyzed back and shoot some videos for his fans. 

Pics n' Vid: SC scenes, "White Falcon Fuzz" and Mr. Scott Thunes

December 19, 2015

Once I arrived at my hotel, The Phoenix, I dressed, grabbed a little bit of cash and my room key, and I walked into Tenderloin to explore in the rain.  I found a Vietnamese restaurant with only men, sitting at 2 tanked and conversing loudly with their many bottles of beer.  The food was delicious and plentiful.  Every so often, a young man would walk in and and was yelled at shrilly by the only waiter until he left. I enjoyed observing.

The show was to begin at 8, so around 7:45, I was there and immediately saw Whitey (who didn't see me), then Cherie and I went upstairs.  This time, the first time ever, I wore my glasses to the show and as silly as that sounds, it's scary.  Once the Hips started, i began dancing.  I tried so hard to set Sam in front of me as she was there, but within minutes I was in front again.  I lose it here.  So many incredible people where there-a veritable treasure chest of love.


When I awoke (early), I was saddened to have left my coffee maker (a mini I keep in the bus) at home, but it shouldn't be too long until breakfast.  I went downstairs to ask and saw a man who looked very familiar.  Last year while staying here, Joe helped me find candles for my Christmas tree.  He had asked I send him a picture which never proved successful.  Today, I told him I tried numerous times to send it without success and he was overcome with emotion.  He said in 25 year's if working there he had never had anyone remember him that way and it made his whole day.  As I sat talking with Clare, he presented me with a basket of Phoenix mugs, breakfast foods and the Phoenix book.  This time it was my turn to be touched.  It's amazing how far words can go.

I wandered....walked around the TL, went to Union Square to do some shopping, came back for a nap.

Now, I shall go explore the TL again, dine, and off the the show.


 Pictures:  The Boys; That F Train; The Tenderloin; Phoenix art