Tuesday, December 11

no shit, no bones, no babies.. NO sasquatch!

I just had to title my post that way. Perfect example of Zac-isms. We laughed our asses off watching monster hunters on history channel- "In search of Big Foot". That sentence was his response to the whole thing.
Post coming soon regarding Thanksgiving, Becka, and the amazing Zacity.

Thursday, November 22

Wiggle worm in a jar

You know that Cat Stevens song that goes “ I can’t keep it in, I gotta let it out, gotta tell the world…”. That is how I feel right now. I am on SW Airlines flying away from a man that has rocked my world so hard that I look like Diane Lane in “Unfaithful”. There is a scene where she is on the train smiling, biting her fingernails and then she starts crying, then laughing, then staring dreamily… I’m like that without the crying part. I have never met anyone like Zac. He is transplanted from another time. People are not made like him anymore. He’s like Hemmingway and Frank Sinatra, timeless, original, and so fucking COOL.

We agree on everything. We wake up at the same time EVERYTIME we are together. We crave the same foods at the same time. We want to do or not do the same things ALL THE TIME. We read each other’s minds. We have the EXACT same taste in clothes (first guy I haven’t wanted to dress), music, books, etc… We like each other’s friends. We like being alone a lot. We want to stay and leave at the same time. It’s really strange.

He say’s the sweetest, most meaningful things to me and I am completely free around him. I am completely unedited, “unfettered and alive” if you will.
He can be a little intimidating. He is stoic sometimes and has enough “street” in him to give that “look”; you know the one that can shut anyone up on a dime? For some reason he doesn’t have a chance around me. I don’t let that stop me from being a total goof-ball around him and I cross every boundary I can. I am completely comfortable and affectionate. He doesn’t even know how I get away with it. I can handle “soldiers”. I’ve been with the toughest. At least this one is educated and super-sane. I can’t say that for the others. At least not both at the same time.

In an hour and a half I will be in St.Louis. I am so excited to see my family. I am really filled to the brim with Thankfulness right now. I won’t lie though, leaving Zac today was about as brutal as it gets.

Part 2
It’s early. Dad is playing guitar in the living room. He has done so nearly everyday since I was born. (Same 20 songs, but it doesn’t matter). Current track: “You Are My Special Angel”.
I walked for 2 hours around this transitional neighborhood. Rural yesterday, suburban tomorrow.
Another Target, Best Buy, and Shnucks, just what Missouri needs?

As I was walking I saw 2 figures standing on the sidewalk together. One was my Dad in his oxford shirt with the “Remax” logo on the pocket and khaki pants, the other, a gray haired man in his mid-seventies. I pretended to be a stranger and Dad played along. When I got close to him I raised my fist to punch him and we both started laughing. The other man then learned I was Larry’s daughter.
I said, “ So, how do you two know each other?”
Man: “We’ve known each other since 1965. We worked together at General Motors. I was his supervisor. Your Dad was never on time. It was a requirement to write down the reasons you were late on little pieces of paper by the time clock. His Grandmother must have died 3 times. The best one I ever got though was the one where he wrote “ my rooster died”. Laughs all around.
Dad said he used to go raise hell until 2 am and then park his VW bug by the guards in front of GM so they could wake him up at 6 am when they arrived to work. They were his alarm clock.
Time is a strange beast.
The show we watched last night ("Californication", awesome series) delivered a line, “ It was the time of my life, if only someone had told me. The clock is ticking, and the gap is widening.” Dad and I just looked at each other. It was a moment. A kinda sad one.

Part 3
WHY did I go to bed at 9pm????
I've been up since 4am and today is going to be a long Thanksgiving day way out in Washington Mo.
I'm very excited to see the whole family but I may be fried by noon.

I miss Zac sumthin' feirce. We are both going out of our minds. I'm trying to be in the moment but it's been rough.

Driving to Memphis in the rental car on Friday should be really fun. I'm so looking forward to seeing Becka, my very best friend in high school. It's been over a decade since we've seen eachother. I sort of consider her my "first love" in a weird way. She was my first relationship, that is for certain. More details later when I no longer feel like I am in a David Lynch movie. This crack-0-dawn in the midwest thing is trippy. I think I need a early AM walk and a shower.

Wednesday, November 7

Healers and Romans

Only some people are weight-full.
So solid in their presence they feel no wake from others.

You are a broader human,
A much heavier stance.
You are so comfortable in your own skin that even when you are not,
No one would ever be able to tell.

I am healthier every time I sleep next you.

You feel out words in your mouth, taste their meanings, and only when you know for sure, do you share them with me.

You fired my guard. She’s been let down.
I’ve seen her wandering the streets of LA with nothing but your T-shirt on.
I think it may even be OK to tell you these things.
I think you may even try to stay.

The dragon inside you sleeps in warm sand.
You have learned to make him a softer home.
He is a squatter on stolen land but I know it may be too scary to kick him out, just yet.

I’ve seen your face change 7 different shades of beautiful.
I have never wanted to paint anyone until now.
There isn’t a big enough canvas made.

We have now shared 5 sated moons.
This one rolls in red smoke unaware of its new dirty hue.
It begins a retraction of its light birthing
To settle on the shady side of
The creative current it began.
The dark undertow decides what stays and what is given away.

I look euphoria straight in the eye this time.
I know her ways, she leaves when you become accustomed to her company.
I only foster her feeling,
For ownership is the same as memory.
Neither are results of careful calculation.
Rather reason and meanings’ own false persuasions.
Euphoria keeps unruly company with quiet terror and close lonesome.
They never part but work separate shifts.

You are undoubtedly the culmination of my life spent sorting out
The desired sounds and movements,
The methods and mechanics of the men,
Who lifted my face up with strong hands and perfect wrists.
You took notes from my universal banter and applied the information.
The Alpha star navigates my way across this imaginary sea.
I watch you sleep and wonder if it feels the same for you inside.
Are all your battleships still aligned or do you float like algae?

I never watched anyone sleep before.
I never wanted to.
Now I stare like a museum traveler.
We could meet your artist together,
You could even let him evict the dragon he invited in the first place.
He co-authored a best seller I wish only I could buy.

Mornings are child-like.
The day is sweet and you name me a different high cord each time.
I feel little and strong, yet so well behaved.
I believe in your authority and sign for the borrowed time.
But maybe my being so sure
Will be just enough
To finally rest us…

Sunday, November 4

Silly Monster


I'm home from 10 days of dog sitting.
Now I'm in love with him and his mother's dog!



I'll post in the morning I swear!

Sunday, October 21

Bitch-slapped by love(?) let's call it LUV for now.

I am an unexpected turn around.
I am fetal behind your knees.
I am circular fingertips on your temples.
I am unwritten for a week.
I am your last thought.
I am unaware of Malibu burning and 30 car pile-ups.
I am gonna be so fucked if I don't stop eating take-out food under the covers with you.

Monday, October 15

TeeHee

Man, am I risking looking like a push-over and a big dummy.
Here's the latest.
No, I can't tell. I'm gonna get in so much trouble. My client "B" who made the "what a dick!" comment is gonna fillet me.
Shoot. It is hard keeping it all to myself though.
Maybe I should for once though. Just shut-up and enjoy it. Not add any opinions or vibes to the mystery pot.
So tempting though.
There's some good stuff here.
I am sort of used to looking like a push-over and a big dummy. I never hide it well. I make sure to let everyone know.
I guess it could be a good trait that I am totally OK with making an ass out of myself and know I'm being severely judged at times. I really don't give a shit.
It's more fun to tell my stories than to worry about looking dumb.
I'm pooped though. I'll have to continue this over a cup of Peet's in the AM.

Tuesday, October 9

Annacita

I miss my Mom.

Wednesday, October 3

Out of the box

Yesterday my life got more interesting. Once and while an event takes place and it threads a million tiny ones together. When I moved here I told myself that it was for a reason, a big reason. I knew I had to see what could happen here. I felt strongly that something would. The day I arrived I exited the 405 and cruised east along Sunset Boulevard. I was happy and light hearted, not a fear in the world about moving to a new city. Those first emotional responses usually indicate good move verses bad move outcomes. As lonely as I can be here, I have never regretted this decision. Just as everything has been thus far, I once again feel like I am in a "choose your own adventure" book. Choose your own life, that's what we are all doing of course. Two very different people live within me. Two different motivators. It's amazing how one little decision can alter your whole story, I could be big or small- or even make you into nothing at all.. Sometimes I am a mountain woman. I want solitude. I want organic food and tea. I want to OM and AHH and meditate. I want to contemplate nano technology and the slip string theory (or the dismantling of it). Ultimately, I want a partner that enjoys these things as well. But Sometimes I am a tequila drinking biker chick that wants to be with a man that has decided protecting me is his life long mission. He would be slightly dangerous and probably never knew his father(kidding). I would say things like "I love you baby" and he would slap me on my ass as he walked out the door.
Some guy calls from my hair dressers chair a few days ago. "Hey, Mike says you're the best and you'll give me a deal on a massage, call me back." First of all, I like Mike but we ain't that close and since when does my hair dressers friend have deal gettin' rights? If I am "the best" am I really in the market to be giving discounted rates? That's like saying "Hey, I hear you're the best lawyer in town, will you give me a discount and take my case because we share the same hair dresser?" I was immediately annoyed. I called back and said my rates are already low and I prefer not to drive to West Hollywood for one massage anyway, it's not worth the drive or the time." He says "OK, my girlfriend and I will get one then." Good. That is settled.
"I'll call you in a couple days."
"Great, Bye."
These LA people I swear.
He calls me a couple nights later and says with a slur, " I have a client here and he gets massages everyday and we are making a movie about his life story and can you give him a massage tonite?" It was 9:30 pm. Umm..,NO. Try me at a normal time and quit trying to impress your client with your "massage hook-up". (I said it in much nicer way than that though.) I then gave him a little shit about being buzzed. He laughed, it was all good.
Finally, I get call from the real McCoy. (Thick east coast accent) "Hi sweetheart! Can you come up to the Sofitel suite---? " If we like you we will get massages everyday." Sure. Off I go.
Now, I need to digress for a moment here. I have always had this ability to win over the meanest bikers, thugs, huge Hawaiian locals, gangsters, you name it. Back in High School I was probably the nicest punk rocker in history with the meanest friends. I don't know why. I guess I'm not scared. I never have been. I have been told a MILLION times that I should be. So far so good. My approach has worked. My body tells me when to leave or stay and I have a super sense of my surroundings at all times. Could be why I hate pot. It takes all those senses away. Never have liked it, never will. It's like a sensory abyss.Horrible.
So when I arrive to the room and say to the Tony Soprano look-and-act-alike "So what makes you so important you get to have a movie made about you?" He exclaims "Honey! Get this girl some champagne I love her already!"
Moments later his wife and I are sharing exact thoughts and life perspectives and basically liked each other so much we were teary about it upon exit. I couldn't wait to see them again. I did see them again, everyday for a week. All the valet guys love me and have individually all told me of their physical ailments while waiting for or dropping off my car.
Without going into much detail(or I could be killed- ha!ha) I will say that this week has been FASCINATING. SHE is one of the strongest women I have ever met (and beautiful, Holy Mary.) And he has so much going on in his mind at such a rapid speed with so much heart to back it up, you just wanna sit next to him.
The story is so mind blowing and they shared the whole thing with me.I read things no one has seen yet, watched video's fresh off the press, got to put in my requests for the actors up for the roles, etc.. They completely trusted me and I will be going to Atlanta in a few weeks to "be their guest" and will have my own driver who apparently doubles as a body guard.
Don't worry though, he is an reformed ex-kingpin, mobster, druglord, involved in one of the largest coke busts in history, and thought so far out of the box he walked away from 2 life sentences and made millions of dollars legally.
He said he has alot of single friends in Atlanta who would love to be around my energy. Ha! You couldn't keep me from checking this adventure out if my life depended on it. I hope it doesn't! I know, everyone in unison now "BE CAREFUL".
More thoughts soon.

Wednesday, September 26

Angel in America

I just got home from "Taco Tuesday's" at Marix in WEHO. Lovely evening with Mikey, Ivana and James. The four of us pack ourselves in the tiny, hip, gay, establishment every so often and drink margaritas and eat enough cheap but delicious tacos to be stuffed and sober enough to drive home. It is loud and crazy and we still seem to put on a big show for everyone. Mikey insists on high five-ing every 2 seconds across the table until I eventually have to cut him off by not holding my hand up in return. He holds his solo,waiting, hand up enough times that he looks dumb and stops doing it. A little habit he picked up about 4 years ago to torture us with. Man, I do love him though. He is my angel. He went on and on about my red, 1930'sish, polka dotted shirt. He loved it. He slammed his fist down in protest for not being able to wear it. "We (the gay community) just don't have enough polka-dotted clothing!" He was dead serious. It reminded me of the time we were shopping at Lohmans together and he picked up some fuzzy designer purse thing and bellowed "I want to accessorise too!" He totally meant it. He was upset about it but not enough to "slip over to the transgender arena". What a little cutie pie. Just what the doctor ordered. Mikey and my 4 hours of soil prepping for the grass I ordered for my yard helped me completely release all my anger towards the PRCB. I mean really. It's so ridiculous I can't even write the details out because I can't bear to give anymore thought or energy to this human being.
My client who rarely swears or gives an opinion without complete and utter diplomacy exclaimed face down on the massage table "What a dick!" Well said my friend, well said. Believe me, I didn't recite the events with any emotion or positive self portrayal. I just gave the facts. The only thing I will say is that showing up at my house with fingernail scratches and dried blood on his biceps is not cool. I confronted him in a light-hearted way and he denied it (and WOW did his explanation suck!). I didn't even care (no,really,I didn't) until the following day when he said " Dude, last I checked, we haven't gotten married." OK, that's all I'm giving up.
Mikey said " Stef, it's a numbers game, NEXT!" Oh GAWD. I'll give you a number ZERO!!
Goodnight world. Hope I don't feel crappy in the AM.

Friday, September 21

Rain! Finally! Rain!

I have missed the rain soooooo much! It is raining hard right now! First time since I moved into this lil' cabin and can I just say? I think I have died and gone to heaven. It's like my Waipio house with electricity. And windows. And indoor plumbing. And Internet access. And no raging river or 2,000 ft. waterfall. OK, it's nothing like Waipio except that it's cute and rustic and peaceful.
Here come the sirens. Welcome to LA. I bet there are 70 accidents right now on the freeways. The problem here is partly this:
The combination of many high performance, ultra expensive, vehicles and the ego maniacs that drive them, combined with tourist and (pls. don't take offense because I practically fall into this category) the "help" in beat up cars that came from mostly third world countries. The outcome is many angry horn blowers in cars they will never be able to drive the way or speed in which they were intended, and several scared nannies and gardeners in Toyota Corollas and pick-ups going 30 miles an hour causing several accidents on already congested freeways and side streets. Luckily, I do not have my life set up in a way that requires me to drive very often in this mess. Can you say "GUESTHOUSE!"? Yes, live among the wealthy in which you service and be OK with the fact that everyone on the block knows you and your car belong in Hollywood! Receive dirty looks sometimes because you have independently lowered the value of your neighbors houses with your dented 1998 Mitsubishi. Sorry!
Not!

Wednesday, September 19

I'm too sexy for my blog..

I love photography. I love swanky downtown loft model shoots, I love holding the reflector, I love my teacher... More soon.
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Brigham Feild

And the model Nicolla

Sunday, September 16

Big Adventure

This is where I am at right now. I got stuck, like a fish hook, this AM on a rose thorn exiting the drive way. It hurts right now,14 hours later. I burned my hand badly just now trying to light an almost wax-less candle with a half dead lighter. I have to do 6 hours of massage tomorrow starting at 11am and I can't sleep because the PRCB just left for the umpteenth time at a bit before midnight without a decent explanation. He insists on it being a "creature of habit" thing and my abandonment issue. SORRY CHUCK. I am sensing way more malevolent behaviors here. Masked in a triple reverse twist flip psychology. It may not be other women, it may be more ominous. I dare not vocalize in this forum but it is something.. and if I have learned one thing in my 36 years it is that there is no such thing as paranoia, only some level of intuition and real is real and questionable is worth questioning. I trust me. I do know that he can't stay away from me because I challenge the very heart of him. I know that I am in a city temporarily deemed purgatory. Gray matter within gray matter. I can't leave, I can't really stay, I don't have a choice- for the first time EVER.
Too old to leave, to smart to stay, too confused to write about it. So I'll wait this one out and try to not become a "crazy cat lady".
BUT I got asked today to be the assistant on photo shoots and get taught "everything I want to know about photography" and get paid for it too. I start Monday at 9am. Are you kidding me??
AND the PRCB is still worth my time because my head fits in between his pecs and his vocabulary is better than mine. What a sucker I am.
What an awfully big adventure surviving another one of you this will be.
He slapped my ass as he walked out the door and said " Keep it up, but you and I know we are just a few steps away from falling in love". Now, why'd he have to go and say that?

Sunday, September 9

Angry Muffin

I think, for the very first time, I may have met my match. This is not going to be a cake walk my friends. Transparency is NOT my comfort zone. In a world of artists, it could be time to live within a proverbial, spiritual budget. You figure it out because I am about to.
Direct quote " why can't you just accept this stage? It's not going to to be like this forever, the phone rings and we are happy as fags in a dick tree. It will end and that stage be over but the next stage will be good in a different way. We will share a toothbrush later if you just let me like you. Stop trying to control everything. It aint gonna work with me."

Thursday, September 6

I'm not in my car!

First matter at hand; Mom is OK. Thank God.
I'm whirling from the Punk Rock Cowboy's most recent visit. Last night.
Before you judge, hear me out.
He texts me 2 weeks ago " I miss your face." I don't respond. I would have said "you miss my #@$%&*!!" Then I get a text yesterday morning. A long one, a good one. A heart felt one.
"We were getting along famously, you are smart, sexy, and funny. I like you, and you tell me to get lost because I happen to like to sleep where all my stuff is." Now, I actually understand this reasoning. I understand well. We were both only children raised by single moms. We both read books at the breakfast table quietly with our mothers. We both want to sleep at our houses and do what we want. We will either grow to want more or we won't. T and I took our time and it was a long time before we went on 4-day stretches. I forget that.
He came over. His energy was authentic. He was humble. He was beautiful. I mean it. He is dewy. He is ridiculously smart too. I took him in like medicine and I'm not even sick. He is metaphor embodied. He earned my trust last night. Let the story unfold because I am ready to write it with quill and ink.
But that is beside the point.
What he got last night was a woman fresh from the ground. Grassroots. I left a mountain of love from above. I literally "drove" myself crazy up north. The traffic in the Bay Area is sci-fi. It is soooooo bad that it out ways LA by huge percentages. Believe me or not. It sucks DONKEYS. At least in LA I have alternate routes. Being stuck for hours on a bridge or in a tunnel is horrible. However, I drove around to feel the pure love of my people. Friends that love me to the core. Clients that have become so family that a grown man of extreme conservative nature cried on the table and confided his stresses of being all that he is; a provider. He hugged me 3 times before I left. Their home is my home. I am as comfortable there as I get. I can open the fridge, crawl in bed and watch TV, take over the computer, laugh, cry.. you name it. The most unlikely people are some of my closest friends. They want to fly me up every other Thursday and let me use their car to massage other people while I'm there. I said I would because I miss them and I would finally have a way to stay connected to my friends as well. It never really hit me until now how alone I can sometimes feel down here. I have half friends here. T was my true bud. Tomorrow we will meet for our first outing as friends. We are going to the garment district to pick out fabric for Pastease. This is easier to imagine now that I may officially be dating someone.
Back to the bay.
I neglected at least 7 people of extreme importance and still was a complete mad woman. I drank with my single friends at night (I have alcohol poisoning for sure) arrived at my married with kids friends houses hung over as hell, and sat in horrible heat and traffic to massage people in between. I am fried, and broke.
Oh well.
Per visit with Alex: When little Devin ran out after me into the garden and yelled "I miss you right now" and then ran into my arms and kissed me on the cheek I died. She calls her dad "Falula" and Alex "Tanalee" for no reason. That's just their names. She is my Goddaughter. Such a funny little fairy girl.
Per Clair visit: Her husband came to the door with a pamper on his head and the house was crazy full of toys and smiles and kids raised with heaps of love. How a woman that calm can have that much activity around her is amazing. I can't even listen to 2 people talk at once without having a panic attack. How do people do it?
Per Jacqueline visits: We are like the same person. It's weird. All drama and passion. Being there for this time in her life is like a gift. I watched a strong woman cry and smile her way through a seemingly impossible situation and be totally present in the unfolding in an intentional, spiritual way... She will be fine- but I could still kill her husband for doing this to my friend. What a fucker. Who starts dating other women 2 months after buying a house with his wife and 6 year old? Dickweed. I told her to let HIM figure this one out. She's done everything else so far.
Per Mike visit: Thank God someone loves me THAT MUCH. He is my rope. I can't believe how lucky I am to have him. I will gladly be by his side at 90 yrs old. We say it as a joke but we both know it's a probable outcome.
Per Sarah visit: Walking through the woods in half moon bay to the restaurant for sunset, laughing like hell, dissecting our childhoods, fried egg sandwiches in bed. What fun. What a crazy life this is turning out to be.
Per Nikki machine shop visit: How I missed that smell of grease and metal. I love machines. I love big men in cover-alls with bigger hearts. I will never be homeless because there is always a home for me with 2 two huge cranes in the drive way and 5 dogs to greet me. Just don't turn right instead of left or you will be in the world’s scariest projects. Hunters point.
Per Daune visit: You are so badass. I must be too to have a chick like you on my side. You have been dealt a bad hand and you are still so willing to love.
Per hunting Tony down, my ex-boyfriend, and the man who had the largest impact on me in the shortest amount of time: You are like no other person I have ever met. I think I will always be in love with you. Every second is interesting, electric, over-whelming, exhausting, funny, uncomfortable, comfortable, challenging, and downright strange. I love people that light up whole cities. He does.
This is an over-view. I have to write more specifics later.
I’m sure you are excited.
This entry sure lacks writing skills but I wanted to get it out before I lost the feeling.

Rooftop dinner on Labor Day with Mike and friends.

Tony when we first met

Tuesday, September 4

Henriette, Felix, and the people who are living with them

I was going to write quickly and let everyone know I made it home safe, as of 2 hours ago. I was going to say "for those of you who have been worried about me and where I have been, don't worry I am home.." then I got this worrisome e-mail from my Mum.
AT 8 PM PDT...0300 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS REPLACED THE
HURRICANE WATCH AND TROPICAL STORM WARNING WITH A HURRICANE WARNING
ALONG THE COAST OF MAINLAND MEXICO FROM TOPOLOBAMPO NORTHWARD TO
BAHIA KINO. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO
COMPLETION.

Yep, don't worry about me. Worry about my mother in an aluminum trailer.

PS pls read my friend Charlottes blog. It's so good. Especially since she just moved to the place where Felix passed through.

Sunday, August 26

Ray Bradbury, My Mr. Electrico


Ray Bradbury


"Every morning I jump out of bed and step on a land mine. The land mine is me. After the explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the pieces back together. Now, its your turn. Jump!" Zest. Gusto. Curiosity. These are the qualities every writer must have, as well as a spirit of adventure."

One night driving home from a long night of massaging, I listened intently to my favorite paranormal radio program "Coast to Coast AM" (10pm-2am)and George Norry was interviewing Ray Bradbury. I knew nothing of his books nor did I know he was the writer for the "Twilight Zone" series. His energy, his positivity, his connectedness to creative energy affected me in a profound way. I went on and on about the interview to "T". He said "Wow he really got ya' didn't he?" He did. He is a treasure and I can't wait to read everything he has ever written. I am such a dork that I am going to his 87Th birthday party/opening night of his latest theatre production on Sept. 7 here in LA. I must meet him! I came across the little, understated add in the LA weekly and had a small silent cow over it( at Peets coffee).
Words cannot describe how I feel about this man! Click on this pic -of dandelion seeds no less- and read just a taste of what initially drew me to this amazing soul!
I'm off to SF at 5 am. Hopefully I'll be able to write an entry up there.
Here is another exerpt I found on his site that I must share..
Hello again!

At the end of my last web-site talk I promised to tell you about how I happened to fall into becoming a writer.

Some of it was gradual, and part of it was accidental.

Back when I was twelve years old I was madly in love with L. Frank Baum and the Oz books, along with the novels of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, and especially the Tarzan books and the John Carter, Warlord of Mars books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I began to think about becoming a writer at that time.

Simultaneously I saw Blackstone the Magician on stage and thought, what a wonderful life it would be if I could grow up and become a magician.

In many ways that is exactly what I did.

It was an encounter with another magician that changed my life forever.

During the Labor Day week of 1932 a favorite uncle of mine died; his funeral was held on the Labor Day Saturday. If he hadn't died that week, my life might not have changed because, returning from his funeral at noon on that Saturday, I saw carnival tent down by Lake Michigan. I knew that down there, by the lake, in his special tent, was a magician named Mr. Electrico.

Mr. Electrico was a fantastic creator of marvels. He sat in his electric chair every night and was electrocuted in front of all the people, young and old, of Waukegan, Illinois. When the electricity surged through his body he raised a sword and knighted all the kids sitting in the front row below his platform. I had been to see Mr. Electrico the night before. When he reached me, he pointed his sword at my head and touched my brow. The electricity rushed down the sword, inside my skull, made my hair stand up and sparks fly out of my ears. He then shouted at me, "Live forever!"

I thought that was a wonderful idea, but how did you do it?

The next day, being driven home by my father, fresh from the funeral, I looked down at those carnival tents and thought to myself, "The answer is there. He said 'Live forever,' and I must go find out how to do that." I told my father to stop the car. He didn't want to, but I insisted. He stopped the car and let me out, furious with me for not returning home to partake in the wake being held for my uncle. With the car gone, and my father in a rage, I ran down the hill. What was I doing? I was running away from death, running toward life.

When I reached the carnival grounds, by God, sitting there, almost as if he were waiting for me, was Mr. Electrico. I grew, suddenly, very shy. I couldn't possibly ask, How do you live forever? But luckily I had a magic trick in my pocket. I pulled it out, held it toward Mr. Electrico and asked him if he'd show me how to do the trick. He showed me how and then looked into my face and said, "Would you like to see some of those peculiar people in that tent over there?"

I said, "Yes."

He took me over to the sideshow tent and hit it with his cane and shouted, "Clean up your language!" at whoever was inside. Then, he pulled up the tent flap and took me in to meet the Illustrated Man, the Fat Lady, the Skeleton Man, the acrobats, and all the strange people in the sideshows.

He then walked me down by the shore and we sat on a sand dune. He talked about his small philosophies and let me talk about my large ones. At a certain point he finally leaned forward and said, "You know, we've met before."

I replied, "No, sir, I've never met you before."

He said, "Yes, you were my best friend in the great war in France in 1918 and you were wounded and died in my arms at the battle of the Ardennes Forrest. But now, here today, I see his soul shining out of your eyes. Here you are, with a new face, a new name, but the soul shining from your face is the soul of my dear dead friend. Welcome back to the world."

Why did he say that? I don't know. Was there something in my eagerness, my passion for life, my being ready for some sort of new activity? I don't know the answer to that. All I know is that he said, "Live forever" and gave me a future and in doing so, gave me a past many years before, when his friend died in France.

Leaving the carnival grounds that day I stood by the carousel and watched the horses go round and round to the music of "Beautiful Ohio." Standing there, the tears poured down my face, for I felt that something strange and wonderful had happened to me because of my encounter with Mr. Electrico.

I went home and the next day traveled to Arizona with my folks. When we arrived there a few days later I began to write, full-time. I have written every single day of my life since that day 69 years ago.

I have long since lost track of Mr. Electrico, but I wish that he existed somewhere in the world so that I could run to him, embrace him, and thank him for changing my life and helping me become a writer.


-Ray Bradbury, December 2001

Sunday, August 19

Random facts about me

I lived in the jungle for nearly 10 years across 7 rivers.

I got stranded on a motu (small island) in Tahiti once for 12 hours with my best friend Alex.

I have been in two car accidents, one almost dropped me 2000 ft to my death but the truck stopped upside down with inches to spare. The other was last year and I broke my nose from my cable box ricocheting off the windshield. Good times.

I live alone and unless I am in love, I prefer it that way.

I love swanky Brazilian music.

I can't stand it when people put stuffed animals in their back windshields.

My whole family lives in St.Louis, mostly Italians. My Mom has 50 first cousins.

My father used to make used car commercials in the 80's and even used the phrase "if I don't give you 0 percent financing, I'll be a monkey's uncle." I'm not kidding.

I used to live with 10 heavy metal guys in a Victorian house in SF. I was shot at twice there. The Projects were across the street. I babysat a boa constrictor one summer and took it to the liquor store below the apartment building and scared the boys in the hood so bad they never messed with me again.

I have a half brother that is a foot and a half taller than me.

My Mother lives in an Air Stream off the coast of Mexico and is writing a book.

I like salty food way more than sweet food.

I was a Black Jack dealer for a while when I was 22.

I went to an alternative arts high school in Portland Or. There were 30 people in my graduating class and I know almost all of them to this day.

My father's mother ran away when he was 10 years old and he found her 8 years ago living in Louisiana. She had 4 kids with my Grandpa and another 4 with her new husband who knew nothing of her previous existence or other children.

I had a pet duck named "Clover" in Hawaii for 7 years. He was best friends with our Jack Russell terrier. They did everything together.

I lived in a machine shop for a summer in the mission district in SF. They called me “mamashop”.

Please don't put raisins in food. Just don't do it.


The shop

laughing is the antidote to idiot invasions

I should be going to bed but I need to write. What an interesting day indeed. I woke up with horrible cramps and a headache- hormones flying. I cancelled my massages and stayed in. I thought about this distracted, separate from myself feeling I've been having lately and really got that this physical relationship I have been having with the punk rock cowboy is NOT GOOD. I've felt like he was a fun movie but so NOT genuine. So lacking any real respect for me. He never asked about my life, commented on any topics that I brought up unless they pertained to his "persona" somehow, or made any plans with me outside of my house. He even did that annoying thing I hate. He would kiss me in the middle of my sentences. You have no idea how much that bugs me. As it should.
Here is the transcript of my ending this via text: (BTW, one strange factor in all this was that we did text and call each other several times a day. Always initiated by him. We had good wit together but no depth of soul.)

ME: You know Z, feeling a little weird about this have sex and leave deal. I'm not really comfortable with it.
HIM: Dude! I've known you for like 2 weeks, way 2 early for this. PMS?
(my thoughts not spoken*pls.don't call me dude, and it's been a month moron.)
ME: Well, I've never done THIS before. Have you? Maybe it's an LA thing. I've never slept with a guy I had never been in public with before.
HIM: Maybe this isn't the best idea
ME: Guess not. Was fun though (insert smiley face)
HIM: Yup, Good luck.
ME: Wow, you're cold.
HIM: I'm direct and don't mince words but call it what you want.
long pause...
HIM: And yes, it was fun.
That was that. Kinda strange to have the phone stop lighting up 6 times a day. It's always weird that two worlds can collide for any length of time and then nothing... Just dead air. I was pissed and felt totally used but it passed and I got perspective quickly. I'm happy I said it and I'm glad it has ended.
Then I got a call from my HILARIOUS, huge, friend Andy that I met through the guys (T) at the animation studio. He and a group of guy friends just got back from a fishing trip and had 4 huge Ahi tuna's they were grilling and asked if I would like to join them, girlfriends, wives, etc..I made myself go so I wouldn't sit here with that awful text vibe floating in the air.
So now I have just returned from 5 hours of laughing and eating with the greatest group of people ever. I must have been with the funniest people to ever have been in one space together without being at a comedy club. AND THE FOOD. Oh my God, it was amazing. They have their tuna grilling down to an art. Thank you life for unexpected life preservers and quality humans everywhere! I think I just made a whole new group of friends, genuine ones.

Saturday, August 18

Him

I have been completely distant with blogger. I can't seem to write a thing. The truth is that it could be 1 of 3 things or all of the above:
1. I am so impressed with the writings of my new blog friend Jenn (as I was passing) and my talented Mamacita that I am shy these days. I want to focus! I want to ramble brilliantly! I want to remember the little tales of a day and gift people with details of my human mingling. I just can't seem to. Even e-mails are a chore, which immediately annihilates number one as a arguable reason for blog distance here.
2. I am totally confused about everything. I am sleeping with a man that could be the poster boy for "women in need of a hot, strapping, tall, dark, handsome, man call this number..." add and YET. I miss you know who. I MISS HIM. I miss the comfort. I miss the dependability (in his own weird way). I miss the friendship combined with passion. I mean, the dude held my hair back for 3 hours one night after I drank about 60 chocolate martinis. He brought bowls to the bed for me to puke in. He DISPOSED of them. He still slept with me again! I fell in front of the cab too, FYI. Didn't even make it to the door. I haven't EVER been that drunk in my life. He just kept saying, "it's the cream, it's the cream". Another time he drove all way to my house at 1am and took me to the emergency room for my black widow spider bite. He stayed the whole time sleeping in the waiting area. Once he loaded all the supplies in his car for my clients’ daughters 3rd birthday party and drove it all to the Santa Monica Pier. He even helped set it up and stayed to film the whole party for her. He had never met her but knew I was committed to helping and she was an important client of mine. We got corn dogs after we were dismissed and loved every bite of them.
He's the first guy/love interest I ever took walks with. Not the Sean kind where we would kill each other if we didn't take a walk in public to pipe down. These were real walks for exercise. We liked many of the the same books and movies. One time we took a 2-hour bath and took turns reading aloud to one another. Then we walked to breakfast in the sun. We went to a museum. We went on road trips. We took a class together(Sort of,I took it, he filmed it). We went out on the town together in Vegas, SF, and LA. We slept in a bunk bed at his Grandparents and woke up to biscuits and gravy. We liked each other’s friends.- I'm doing one of those crappy love story montages at the end of a sappy movie aren't I?
He called me about 2 weeks ago at 7:30 in the AM. His voice was quiet and sad. I miss last summer Stef, things were so simple and fun then". Yeah, me too, that was the stuff of life right there". We had a great talk that lasted over an hour. We both hung up elated at the idea of being friends again soon.
Then I went and fucked it all up. I'm having a crazy week. I drove to Ojai to a friends party and got really smashed on tequila, then got shuffled into Ojai proper for some of their friends going away party. I was soooooooo tired and drunk and who is standing there but T himself. We hugged, my legs wrapped around his waist like they do every time, automatically, for some reason they just end up like that. We got to the end of the bar to get a drink. About half way through my first SIP I knew I had to get out of there or I would start spinning. I said something drunk and horrible like " take me to your house right now". He said "no, I'm getting a drink for Terra and want to hang out for a while". (BTW it was only 10pm; I thought it was like 1AM). This was an outrage! Not leave with me now? Goodbye! The rest I am too ashamed to write but it involves a careless act that I never do. I am truly ashamed. I drove on very curvy, windy, back roads in that condition. It was so scary what I had just done that I was completely sober by the time I got to the 101 south and was back in my bed in LA by 11:30. I was in a lot of trouble once that cat got out of the bag. Six cell phone calls later. "YOU ARE WHERE? HOME? STEFANY!!" I know, I bow down in shame. T's texts in the AM said, "I wish you hadn't rushed off, I was worried about you". "No you weren't". I respond like a child. Now, no more friendship again. He's exhausted. I'm exhausted.
To be continued.

OK, where was I?
See, the thing is this. It wasn't all great of course. He is moody and so easily distracted. He has this verbal strategy that is infuriating. I would spew off my deepest thoughts, be open and honest, and he would just nod and not speak. He could write me the best, most communicative e-mails but he knew better than to say what I didn't want to hear if he was in the same space with me. I saw a sticker yesterday that said, "think twice, say nothing" I think he must have invented that. I know his method was a good one for the most part but sometimes it was just torture. He also likes to disappear. When we got close he would run off for 4 days or more. I used to think that was always to reclaim his much needed freedom but now I see that he is kind of that way anyhow. It was just difficult deciphering his actions. Lastly, he could do hurtful things. He took another woman home to his family on Thanksgiving at the peak of our time together. They slept in the same bed and everything. He didn't ask what I was doing for the holiday or even say goodbye.
His parents set him up with a woman who has a two-year-old kid. Clearly the year he spent with me didn't matter enough to have ever talked about me to them. They were so eager to have him meet her. These things hurt bad. They are big awful things. They are 2 of several situations.
Would things be different if he wasn't mourning the loss of his lying, cheating, wife when I met him? I would like to think so. So, I have moved on in most respects but now that I am spending time with someone else who really is GREAT, believe me, but has .0002% of the depth, authenticity, and friendship we just shared. I am certain that T has experienced this feeling in his dating life again. I know I get calls after a weekend with her. I know he's feeling that loss too.
So I guess I have just been distracted by these thoughts of what now if not that? I’m OK alone, I am a little too good at it but people have said so many things to me lately about being single in LA. "Better work it out before you're 40 Stef! 50 year old men date 30 year old women here." Whatever, I'm not buying into that crap and if I do, someone tell me to move! I know a great little spot on the Sea of Cortez. A new client of mine who is 56 said, "LA is a trap, you'll never be able to make the same amount of money as you can here even if you don't feel like you're making that much now." It's true. I can see the trap.
The last reason I haven’t written until now:
3. I move on to the next day so fast, pack it in with stuff, and miss the little stuff to write about because I am done with that day. These character traits of mine are the same reasons I am terrible with money and can completely space out hugely important bills and stuff. IT SIMPLY DOESN'T ENTER MY MIND. Out of sight out of mind has never been so true. This is why I am much better in a partnership- Man, Woman, doesn't matter. It changes how my mind organizes info. It motivates me to "strategize" for two. Strange I know, but it is true.

Friday, August 17

The things my wild kitty only lets me see!


I seriously walked outside 2 mornings ago to this. How funny is my cat? I had been laying on that sheet reading the day before. I'm glad he didn't suffocate himself!

Saturday, August 11

Fucking Assholes

http://weazlsrevenge.blogspot.com/search/label/Chemtrails

I encourage everyone to follow this link. READ THE WHOLE THING! If I had not been observing beautiful blue skies turning to streaky, cloudy days time and time again in LA skies I wouldn't believe it myself. The LA news has tried to air a few stories on the matter but can't get a single answer from the US goverment. They are NOT made from regular aircraft fuel. This is clear to everyone.
(Copied from web)
"Chemtrails" - a definition:


The word "chemtrail" is not yet in the Oxford English Dictionary and so various terms have come to be used to describe what is seen - such as "Anomalous Spreading Trail(s)" and what the Canadian government likes to refer to as "Persistent Spreading Contrails" - that is without bothering to explain why today plain old-fashioned condensation trails should now behave in this new way!

The chemtrail theory is a group of theories regarding what are claimed to be unnatural condensation trails from high altitude jet aircraft. Contrails are formed by condensation of water vapor in the aircraft's exhausts whereas some trails, or plumes, have an appearance and quality different from those of normal water-based contrails - that is "chemtrails" are not consistent with the known atmospheric properties of contrails.

The term "chemtrail" should not be confused with other forms of acknowledged aerial spraying such as crop dusting, cloud seeding, military chaff dispersal or aerial firefighting. It specifically refers to systematic, high-altitude spraying by military-type aircraft of unknown substances for some undisclosed purpose.

Friday, August 10

cowboys are my weakness


I wish I had the book handy to quote Pam Houston but basically at one point she says something about being a strong, autonomous, woman but when a man calls me "Baby" I get weak in the knees..
My cowboy says things like:
"Get over here and give me some sugar"
"Hey Baby doll"
"Hi Peanut"
"Jeff is great,you'll meet him someday".
"We won't be able to sit out here like this in December"
"I had such a great time tonight, call me tomorrow right?"
You get the picture. This guy is either REALLY good at this or he actually likes me. I know he likes me yet.. something is amiss. I can't believe this guy. I mean WHAT?? I couldn't have written him. I couldn't have made him in a lab. This much I do know, my head is not up my ass. I soak all this cowboy stuff up but when all is said and done, I'm gonna marry a guy who has never uttered the word "baby" in his life. I may be 60 but I'm not that nieve.

Wednesday, August 8

Joni, my other mother

I promise to write more than just lyrics but I just have to add this one. To be raised with lyrics like these cascading around the room ... Such a blessing to have had such soulful moments so early on. Joni still sounds just as good 30 years later. Who knew that as an adult women I would someday so vividly relate. Maybe she infiltrated my subconscious and set me up for this prophecy I now live!

The Same Situation
by Joni Mitchell

Again and again the same situation
For so many years
Tethered to a ringing telephone
In a room full of mirrors
A pretty girl in your bathroom
Checking out her sex appeal
I asked myself when you said you loved me
Do you think this can be real?

Still I sent up my prayer
Wondering where it had to go
With heaven full of astronauts
And the Lord on death row
While the millions of his lost and lonely ones
Call out and clamour to be found
Caught in their struggle for higher positions
And their search for love that sticks around

You've had lots of lovely women
Now you turn your gaze to me
Weighing the beauty and the imperfection
To see if I'm worthy
Like the church
Like a cop
Like a mother
You want me to be truthful
Sometimes you turn it on me like a weapon though
And I need your approval

Still I sent up my prayer
Wondering who was there to hear
I said Send me somebody
Who's strong and somewhat sincere
With the millions of the lost and lonely ones
I called out to be released
Caught in my struggle for higher achievements
And my search for love
That don't seem to cease

Monday, August 6

An ode to two beautiful souls




When Sean and I broke up for the third and final time, I used to listen to this song over and over. I pretended they were the words he wanted to say.
I don't know if anyone knows what an amazing musician Jeff Buckley was. He drowned in Memphis in 1997. Sean makes me so sad. I talk to him only sometimes and I usually spend the conversation encouraging him to live. Things could have been so different. (Just take the Goddamn anti-depressants!)I have no regrets for my own life combined with his but I doubt any peace will ever come to him, and that is so darn sad. I am an eternal optimist but somehow when it comes to Sean... I guess I just need to write how much I love him, how sorry I am that he is unhappy and confused so often. Age 23 is a lifetime ago.

Lover, You Should`ve Come Over
(Jeff Buckley)
Looking out the door i see the rain fall upon the funeral mourners
Parading in a wake of sad relations as their shoes fill up with water
And maybe i'm too young to keep good love from going wrong
But tonight you're on my mind so you never know

When i'm broken down and hungry for your love with no way to feed it
Where are you tonight, child you know how much i need it
Too young to hold on and too old to just break free and run

Sometimes a man gets carried away, when he feels like he should be having his fun
And much too blind to see the damage he's done
Sometimes a man must awake to find that really, he has no-one

So i'll wait for you... and i'll burn
Will I ever see your sweet return
Oh will I ever learn

Oh lover, you should've come over
'Cause it's not too late

Lonely is the room, the bed is made, the open window lets the rain in
Burning in the corner is the only one who dreams he had you with him
My body turns and yearns for a sleep that will never come

It's never over, my kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder
It's never over, all my riches for her smiles when i slept so soft against her
It's never over, all my blood for the sweetness of her laughter
It's never over, she's the tear that hangs inside my soul forever

Well maybe i'm just too young
To keep good love from going wrong

Oh... lover, you should've come over
'Cause it's not too late

Well I feel too young to hold on
And i'm much too old to break free and run
Too deaf, dumb, and blind to see the damage i've done
Sweet lover, you should've come over
Oh, love well i'm waiting for you

Lover, you should've come over
'Cause it's not too late

Sunday, August 5

Saturday, August 4

ay dios mio!

So as far as dates go, last night was a 9. Would have been a 10 if he was still here now. There is something magical about that guy and me. He has that good-guy-biker-with-a-code of honor thing going. Loves his friends, is creative, kind but definitely wears the pants. Yep, I'm in trouble Mama. He said after he saw me everything around him went into soft focus except for me. He didn't even sound cheesy when he said that! Then he said "me and you, we just work." Yeah we do.
We sat in my yard last night, I made a fire and drinks for us. We kissed alot, we talked alot. It was easy and simple. I was so worried that it would be hard, I didn't want to have to seek anyone out or play any fucking games. I didn't have to. He just fell, literally, at my feet. hijole!

Friday, August 3

the ox and the boar meet again

Tonight I see the punk rock cowboy again. This has been the longest week of my life. We have been textin' fools. I am suddenly terrified.
"Will he still think I'm cute?
He's way too good looking for me, he could be with anyone.
Was he just drunk before? Will he think I'm fat?"
Oh GAWD. Make me stop! The same thing happened with the Bee Charmer and I survived.Why do I date men prettier than me? I think I have a problem.
So, wish me luck world. Ox's are steady, habitual, kind, and dedicated.
Boars like me are decadent, freewheelin', and happy. Can this even work?
You couldn't stop me from finding out if there was dynamite attached to me feet.

Monday, July 30

"if you don't want to do it twice, you probably shouldn't of done it the first time"












There are only a few nights like Saturday night in a person's lifetime. Another one for me was June 2, 2006.
The moon was huge, the house majestic and the people seemed to be hand picked as the best Los Angeles has to offer. It is agreed that this party was one of the best ever.The food, the entertainment, the DJ, the pool temperature, the gorgeous full moon hanging above the canyons, the fog show that rolled in through them at dusk and then cleared for night time... Truly amazing. Then as if it couldn't get any better, a vision of sheer RIDICULOUS beauty suddenly appeared at the edge of the jacuzzi sporting a black cowboy shirt and a mohawk, a chest the size of "The Rock", and a smile that could kill small animals, and said "Hi sweet pea". Good God. Sorry, no pictures but believe me, it's silly, mad, illegal kind of manliness. The rest is like a an Anne Rampling novel.
He even quoted my favorite Dorthy Parker poem to me, which is well, HOT, and the fact that he is a writer is well, Hot, and I don't care if I sound like a total idiot right now because you would too. Trust me.

Razors pain you;

Rivers are damp;

Acids stain you;

And drugs cause cramp.

Guns aren't lawful;

Nooses give;

Gas smells awful;

You might as well live.


D.Parker

Saturday, July 28

Drinking on the job






Yes, this is my life. This is my job.. Notice the expensive french champagne I get to enjoy at the same time? I only do that at his house actually.. We've become close friends. Just thought I'd take a minute to appreciate California, my job, the good life.

Thursday, July 26

naked art

When I was a kid my mother had a poster that said, " when one is not rich you either buy art or you buy clothes" and a tall naked woman sat in a room surrounded by paintings.
Today I bought my very first painting. My friend Melly is a fabulous artist. We have started having "arts and crafts" nights at her house sometimes. We paint tiles and our newest thing is to paint old records. They come out really great actually. Melly is the sister of a certain rock icon. Her brothers’ music is such a huge part of my life, the soundtrack to my days living in SF and my serial relationship with Sean. Some 20 year old the other day said “who's Alice in Chains?” and my mouth dropped open. I’m getting old. She has great stories, and some not-so-great stories about that time. Those boys sure knew how to self-destruct. Sounds like they still do, if they survived.
My Mom bought pieces of art from her friends over the years. My favorite artist is a man that we were friends with in Oregon when I was a kid. We lived on a piece of land for a while in the mountains off the coast of South Beach/Newport. We lived in a huge wooden house with a family and several other people lived in other spots on the property such as the barn and in a tree house. We all piled into the most gorgeous sweat lodge every Sunday that was large enough to seat 15 people or more. It had tiered seating and an oak slide at the top that plunged you into freezing cold fresh mountain water at the base.
After doing the sweat Rick Bartow and his band “Knee Deep” would often set up on the land and play the blues for us. He has become a renowned artist and the piece my Mom bought from him is my favorite in her collection. He loves to paint crows and the crow has been a special symbol in my life for many years. I love the black shiny feathers and their intense dignity. I even took care of an injured one when I lived in Santa Barbara. A school mate of mine came up to me in high school and handed me a painting of a crow she had done and said "It's a portrait of you." She wasn't aware of my connection with them at all. In fact she and I had never really spent any time together so the fact that she painted a picture for me at all was odd. I shlepped that around until the mold got to it in Hawaii.
I bought this painting from Melly because it represents so much. Business,hustle and bustle, the confusion of dating, urban life at large. It looks sunny in it's color and almost as if it is raining.As if smeared and reflected sky in puddles.
I will write more later now that blogger seems to functioning again!
Pic 1- Ms. Starr herself( best last name in the world!)
pic 2- the art I purchased from Melinda- U da' best, werd up.
Pic 3- My latest finished piece
Pics 4-7 Rick Bartows art





Wednesday, July 18

Snap Peas are deeeelicious

HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Feeling squeaky clean and bright eyed, in love with life and everyone I know.
Produce has never tasted so fucking good.

Monday, July 16

Day Eight

I'm kinda ready for this to be over now. I miss food. I miss food with friends. No one wants to hang out with someone who isn't drinking or eating. I miss stopping for an afternoon coffee. I miss my red tea and even my vitamin B drops. I feel great, I'll make it to day ten but I'm HELLA bored.
Here are the food goals I have set though.
I will bless each meal. It is proven that it increases it's nutritional value.
I will refrain from all white flour and white sugar.
I will eat slowly and really enjoy it.
I will eat TONS of veggies.
That's not too hard. Not after this, nothing is.
I'd like to say I'm quiting coffee but I'm not. Forget it.

Sunday, July 15

Day Seven

Can anyone believe I have gone this long without food? I sure as hell can't. I'm pretty proud of me. I massaged the greatest guy yesterday. New client. He was happily married, a writer for "Lost", a triathlete that did Iron Man on the Big Island. We had a great conversation. He said in a totally non-sleazy way "do you get hit on while you're massaging people, like, all the time?" It was a nice way of him telling me he thought I was cute without breaking any rules. We got in a conversation about relationships and how he met his wife and he said " Don't worry AT ALL Stef, he'll find you, he will." I thought that was a sweet thing for someone to say who just met me.
I find it funny that the said "heart breaker" said " you shouldn't be thinking about me with another woman during this time of your cleanse." WHAT THE HELL ELSE AM I GONNA THINK ABOUT? I can't numb my feelings with food or alcohol so I just have to face the pain. Yes, I meditate every morning, I do oil pastels every night, I work my ass off all day, I organized all my paperwork, I read great literature, study quantum physics,... I think I am doing pretty well considering but to ignore the fact that the close friend I had I lost to someone else named STEPHANIE (because I can't be around him without wanting to punch him) hurts like fuck and I am not going to put that out of my head right now. I want answers without having to ask questions, I want peace and closure without losing anything precious to me (him). I want things I can never have. Not with him. This sucks donkeys and I am not going to pretend it doesn't.
I can't wait to spend a month in Hawaii in December. I can't fucking wait to go to SF next month. Hopefully I get to see the Bee Charmer. He makes everything tastier. Just like honey he is.

Saturday, July 14

Day six

My last entry included the lyrics to one of my favorite songs of all time. I think it may be one of the happiest, most good-feeling songs out there. My Mom informed me that it too, is one of her favorites. I miss Jon. I think he's in Boston for his beloved Grandma's funeral. We danced on top of his coffee table drunk a few weeks ago singing along to that song of ours. We have done so probably 50 times. In fact, I think I'll play it now while I write this entry. Pause pause... Ah, that's better.
It's hard to type when my head is bobbing.
So here I am beginning day 6 of the cleanse. It's been a roller coaster ride. Hold on, I need to dance.
I wish I still had the cow bell Sean gave me for my 23rd birthday. So romantic.
" I'm just an animal lookin for a home...."
OK, I'm back. So anyway, day 6 without food. I'm over the half way point. I have massaged like crazy for the whole time even with raging headaches. I feel so clear. My brain is working so fast, I can calculate quickly, access memories with vivid clarity and recollection, my sense of smell is RIDICULOUS. I can smell the TYPE of fish my neighbor is grilling and what spices he used.I smelled mold in my expensive pillows so they're gone now. I can breathe through my nose and mouth with ease for the first time in 2 years. My WAY skinny jeans fit.. That won't last but it gives me something to aim for while I'm eating food again. It's nice to look in the mirror and like what I see. I can't believe someone else isn't enjoying this! (T! You loser!)
The lucid dreams are crazy too. I'm dreaming about everything and everyone. I sleep like a stone too though. Lights on, TV on, I'm crashed out. I wake up refreshed at 6 am. Leo and I are finally on a similar schedule. "Meow meow mew mew" doesn't bug me so much at the butt crack of dawn. (Whose Dawn? T would say).
Lastly, my new found creative medium, oil pastels, have gone to another level I think. Art is so loving, it's like pets and babies, it doesn't care how old you are or what you look like, or notice your bad sides, it just loves you back without question.

Wednesday, July 11

This must be the place

Home is where I want to be
Pick me up and turn me round
I feel numb - burn with a weak heart
(So I) guess I must be having fun
The less we say about it the better
Make it up as we go along
Feet on the ground
Head in the sky
It's ok I know nothing's wrong . . nothing

Hi yo I got plenty of time
Hi yo you got light in your eyes
And you're standing here beside me
I love the passing of time
Never for money
Always for love
Cover up & say goodnight . . . say goodnight

Home - is where I want to be
But I guess I'm already there
I come home - -she lifted up her wings
Guess that this must be the place
I can't tell one from another
Did I find you, or you find me?
There was a time Before we were born
If someone asks, this where I'll be . . . where I'll be

Hi yo We drift in and out
Hi yo sing into my mouth
Out of all those kinds of people
You got a face with a view
I'm just an animal looking for a home
Share the same space for a minute or two
And you love me till my heart stops
Love me till I'm dead
Eyes that light up, eyes look through you
Cover up the blank spots
Hit me on the head Ah ooh
Talking Heads

Day three begins..

"Inspiration comes forth from within. It's what the light burning within you is about, as opposed to motivation, which is doing it because if you don't do it, there will be negative repercussions. Motivation is making myself do something that I don't really want to do. Inspiration is having the clear picture of what I am wanting -- and letting Universal forces come into play to get the outcome."
Abraham-hicks
I liked today's quote. It makes alot of sense. Am I inspired to write or motivated? Inspired.
Let's recap.
I ate only homemade veggie soup with TONS of organic veggies, garlic, jalapeno pepper, ginger, cayenne, parsley, and cilantro on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Monday and Tuesday I have only had sea salt water in the morning and then the lemon concoction all day. This will be the case until the end of Wednesday the 18Th.
The headache I experienced on day one and half of day two were nothing short of horrific. Still even though the pain was so present, and other circumstances regarding my same ol' broken-hearted-ness, my outlook has been amazing. I love waking up naturally at 6 AM. I love feeling light on my feet again and in full awareness mode. When you are not eating ANYTHING, many things happen.
This is such a meditative experience. I am always taking care of myself, monitoring my physical and emotional meter. It's a strong feeling of self-love, these extreme circumstances that I am sticking to for my own importance, it feels good.
I miss food and coffee but I'm not DYING to have it or feeling all that hungry. In fact when I have gone into stores to get distilled water or something, all the food looks disgusting and toxic. This is not the case at Whole Foods, therefore I cannot even step into that store for another 7 days. The lemon, maple syrup, and cayenne are supposed to provide enough calories and nutrition to keep you from extreme hunger and it works. I think about making Peet's Coffee and it seems so decadent right now. My appreciation for delicious rich food is renewed. I love rich, creamy, salty, food. Hopefully now I can enjoy small amounts of it and really stop and slowly enjoy it instead of wolfing things down. God, if I didn't massage for a living I would probably be HUGE. I saw this chubby teenage girl eating french fries with such vigor yesterday it was scary. She could not eat them fast enough. She truly looked like a junkie getting her fix after days without.
My bond with Jacqueline is at an all time high. We are in touch every few hours for phone support and its terrific. When "circumstances" regarding the "heart-breaker" occurred yesterday she was right there too. She and I have the ability to throw ourselves int he other persons shoes, access how it would feel and the also give an outsiders loving perspective. That is the kind of friendship that never goes away. People can be so lazy and self-centered with one another. My friends never are. Not my really close ones.
I filled my house with plants and flowers and candles.(coincidentally my client gave me a beautiful glass aromatherapy candle last night. She knew I loved the one she always had burning so she got me one. What a sweetheart. I have the BEST clients).It smells delicious and looks divine too. An old "friend" came over last night for a visit and he got tears in his eyes when he saw my house. He kept saying how good it feels in here. It does. I love it too.
I hope this cleanse catapults me into a new behavior. I would like to try eating raw for a while but it is a huge lifestyle commitment that seems more confining than freeing at times but maybe I'll try it. I'll tackle that subject after these next 7 days are finished.
My body looks good. I haven't felt that way for a while. I think I lost about 6 pounds already and I'm walking or stair climbing everyday (except for day 1,the headache was too debilitating). This is good. I'm really enjoying this time.

Friday, July 6

This house is clean

So here's the deal. One of my dear friends of many years, Jaquelina, and I are on day 2 of tapering off the food intake. We will be eating pretty much veggies and seeds until Monday wherein the TEN day Master Cleanse diet will start.
The master cleanse website
This means, NO FOOD, only a lemon,cayenne,maple syrup concoction. I haven't done this since I was 19, living in Isla Vista, and madly in love with Greg. We were each other's first true loves. I'm not sure I have been loved like that since.
He could be such a pain in the ass though. If you think I can whine... never mind. We are still friends, he lives here in LA. He really is a fantastic guy.
Anyway, I remember how good I felt after the first two difficult days. The headaches and lethargy is replaced by an incredible sense of well being and unbounded energy.
I don't know how it will be to massage under these conditions but hopefully not too bad. I am eager to do this. I feel like I am really ready to start this process. Jaqueline and I are a good team too. We have the same intensity about things. After watching "sicko" I feel more than ever, that I want to be in control of my health. I don't want to rely on this medical system or on the "relieve the symptoms/mask the real problem" method western medicine predominantly lives by. I would much rather spend 250$ a month on healthy foods, delicious tea's and acupuncture. That amount of money (which is what I have been quoted by Kaiser) would make a massive impact on my over all health.
So, wish me luck! I am not looking forward to the 32 Oz's of salt water we are to drink each morning for, you know, intestinal cleansing. EEgadds.

18 reasons Ojai will be my home someday

"Meditation Mountain" where my prayer "please God please help me stop being a jealous little bitch." was said. See older posts if you are confused as to why.
It totally didn't work BTW...Well, maybe a little.










Love love love you guys!!!!