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Archive for July, 2009

Da Count – a new chapter

31 Jul

dacountToday is 40 days since Mum passed. Various cultural or religious traditions find significance with this. For the most part the common thread that ties all of them is the official period of mourning ends. Life for the living moves on.

So it is for me. This evening there will be a gathering with food and drink. Then a new chapter begins. One without Mum for me. The rest of it I will make up as I roll ahead. At the moment any specific plans are hazy at best but hopeful nevertheless.

It is the start of this new chapter I count today. Like many chapters before, knowing that there is an “ahead” is key to the guarantee of adventure.

To find out what Da Count is all about click the flashing sign.

 
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Posted in Da Count

 

a memory jog…

27 Jul

supkambing… occurred when I read THIS POST today. I’ve been surfing the “internets” looking at recipes in consideration of what to serve on Friday for Mum’s 40th day when I came across that post. It so brought me back.

I didn’t live too far from the Queen’s Hotel. In fact, I used to go there a lot to get the Sup Kambing (Goat Soup). But suddenly a thought flashed across my mind (as it is wont to do on occasion). The guy who was selling Sup Kambing was older than Moses when I sauntered up to his stall… and he is still alive? WTF?!!! He must be in his 90′s by now (and that post was written last year).

It was a delight to have his soup. (Seriously, it was the best in town…. hands down.) I would ride there at least a couple of times a week just to partake. I could smell the heady fragrance of his soup… along with the other aromas that floated in the air when I was at the Queen’s Hotel on Peel Road.

I remember sitting on the sidewalk waiting to be served. And it would come with 2 slices of bread. It was heavenly. (OK… if it was your constant diet… it would give you cardiac arrest.) But it was so much more than a treat. Many a night me and my friends would sit there supping on goat soup and chatting until the wee hours of the morning.

Funny how taste and smell brings you to a time ansd space, huh? BTW… I’m going to try THIS out sometime myself… you should too.

 
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Posted in food

 

early in the morning… early in the week…

27 Jul

… somehow that rings with the promise of new opportunities. Not always though. There have been periods when it felt like just the continuation of drugery. This week… or at least today it feels more hopeful. It’s all in the mindset, isn’t it?

Do I know what it is? No. It’s a bit like that song from “West Side Story”… this one.

OK… maybe without so much excited youthful expectation… but it’s a forward moving feeling anyway.

Went out to Joy’s birthday bash on Saturday. THIS ONE.  It was fun despite the fact that I abstained from even having one beer the entire night. Needless to say a splendid time was had by all… and a pretty healthy crowd turned up too.

All indications point to the fact the triple digits that we have been experiencing will be waning as the week rolls on. That’s something to look forward to as well.

So, I hope you have things in your life to look forward to this week. Cheers!

 
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Posted in just life

 

a couple of random pics for no apparent reason…

24 Jul

… except that I took them this week.

sfjul09b

sfjul09a

 
4 Comments

Posted in random

 

Da Count – technology (skype)

24 Jul

dacountSome friends of my generation are deathly afraid of technology… especially where computers are concerned.. (I have a theory that it’s because they had to slog through the “DOS years” of early home computing… but that’s another story.) Most have a computer simply for email and nothing else. So, on occasion when they drop by and I am in a Skype conversation they are totally amazed.

I agree it is totally amazing that you can have a conversation with someone from across the world… and see them… and it is free to boot! I have been a Skype user for a few years now.  I have a select list of friends and relatives that I video & voice chat with using the service. In fact, a couple of years ago Mike and I rewrote an entire musical using a combination of a closed blog and Skype.

With the events in my life of late, Skype was an essential tool in helping to keep in constant touch with relatives and loved ones across the globe. Yes, you can call regular and cell phones at a fraction of the cost using Skype. (For instance, it is only 2 cents a minute for calls to Malaysia.)  Yesterday, I got a call from a friend who I haven’t seen in 15 years. Yeah, you guessed it… he found me via Skype.

So, this week I am counting the ability to connect and reconnect with technology such as Skype. BTW… if you are interested in signing up yourself… click the logo below for more information.

skype_logo

To find out what Da Count is all about click the flashing sign above.

 
4 Comments

Posted in Da Count

 

blogger meet-up HNT

22 Jul

mlsf09It’s been a while since I’ve done an HNT. But I thought this was significant simply because I met a fellow blogger from across the continent in San Francisco on Sunday. And why (may you ask) is this significant as an HNT? Because it is through (the earlier days of) HNT that we came to know of each other.

Over the years of visiting each others blogs, commenting, and exchanging the odd email this is the first time that we met face to face. Mark (Leslie) and I had arranged to meet outside the Powell Street BART station in San Francisco on Sunday. He was attending a conference in the city and when I found out it gave me a great excuse to hop on the Amtrak to get away from the Big NO for a bit.

As we walked up Powell Street to the clanging of the cable-cars I pointed out “John’s Grill”  – a known (and famous) hangout of Dashiell Hammett… we quickly decided to share a meal there. (Seafood cannelloni BTW.) It seemed apropos since he is a novelist and me an (off and on) playwright. (Also, Mark was staying at a hotel on California Street… not too far away from where the character of Sam Spade’s office was in Hammett’s books… or at least the movie. Coincidence?)

That sealed the deal and the rest of the evening (after dinner – which was delicious) was spent engaged in great conversation as we hopped bars in the area. In fact, we closed down the last one we were at where we sat on the sidewalk sipping our beverages of choice as a great local jazz band was playing inside… while we engaged in a session of “local, transplant or tourist”.

mlsf08b

It was very soon after we met that my suspicions were confirmed… Mark is as genuine and as nice (and even more so) as his blog persona is. The conversation flowed easily throughout the evening… as did the drinks. It wasn’t dominated by nerdy writer shop talk (the entire time) but spanned various topics including HNT.(Yeah, we talked about a lot of you.)

Meeting Mark was just the refreshing tonic the doctor had ordered. It was a privilege getting to know him better and my hope is that this is not the only time we meet. So, Thank You, Mark. (Yeah, he kinda looks a bit like James Taylor in that top picture, huh?) And yes, thank you Osbasso because without HNT I would have been denied this wonderful opportunity to meet and spend time (and several drinks) with this stellar and talented individual.

Cheers and Happy HNT!

Click the banner below to find out more about HNT.

EDIT: 7:10 AM… HERE is Mark’s post on our meeting.

 
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Posted in HNT

 

I’ve been taking some “lecram time”…

21 Jul

… in facr, I still am… in an undisclosed location. But I will be back an on soon enough. Plus, I had a great meet-up with a blogger buddy at this undisclosed location. To find out what,who and where… you’ll just have to come back, won’t you?

Until then… have a good one. Chers!

 
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Posted in

 

Da Count – where I am

17 Jul

dacountThe Big NO has been my home for lo these 30 years. It’s not particularly known as a glamorous city but it is a good place. At least it has been good to me.

fresnoSure, it does have it’s issues… but every city does. The bottom line is it is affordable, the people are great… plus produce is fresh and abundant. (This is key for a foodie like me.) Over the years the cultural diversity has expanded to make living here even more of a richer experience.

More importantly it has been a sanctuary for my creative (and often) wacky endeavors. Ironic because the mindset here is generally down to earth with very little pretension. Though it is that solid honesty which has been of paramount influence in shaping both my work and daily dealings with those around me.

Many who have moved on (and some who have never even been here) often (feel compelled to) take pot shots at the place. This used to anger and irritate me especially from those who were born and bred here. (That is like disowning a part of your life that shaped you and negating your friends and loved ones who still live there.) But no longer. Simply because it takes a special, stalwart, honest breed to live and create in a place which may not be the easiest… but is also not impossible… and that is worth counting.

To find out what Da Count is all about… click the flashing sign.

 
5 Comments

Posted in Da Count, life in da Big NO

 

o.k., just cuz

16 Jul

 
2 Comments

Posted in video

 

the 10 day forcast…

15 Jul

hotsun… is going to keep the Big NO in the triple digits. So, this means early rising for me to get the chores done before noon. Then to hermitize in the cool of an air conditioned room until it passes. This also means that I can get computer work done… which I so need to do.

Been doing a bit of shopping at BIG LOTS over the last few days. The haul included a scanner/printer ($30), a laptop cart ($39) and a 4 gig mp3 player ($30).  There were also other sundry items including 6 gallons of tradewinds iced tea )both the green and lemon varieties) that’s sitting in the garage at the moment. Though I think I’m done with this spree… for now.

Also been getting out for a bit in the evenings. The local watering hole has been the destination of choice for the most part. I’m still usually back by 10. But getting out and about a little more has been nice nevertheless.

This morning (after watering the vegebed and feeding the dogs) I went out to get some ice to stock in the freezer. This is an essential item to make the iced tea that’s stocked in the garage work to it’s maximum effect. I suspect that it will be another 5 shower day. The plan for accomplishment is to clean out the office. It’s a bit of a disaster zone at the moment.

Guess I better get to it. Happy Hump Day!

 
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Posted in bits and pieces

 
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