So this is my last blog as a resident of Santa Barbara, CA. What can I say?
All the people I've met here, and those that I've loved here... well... its been swell. I'm not the kind of friend who can't pick it up after months of no contact. I'm the kind that will always be there, in some way or another.

I watched the sunset from Campus Point at UCSB tonight with Esthyr and Michael. Michael could not stop hugging me goodbye. I actually think that this is harder on them than it is on me. Its really hard, but neither of them spoke much tonight. It was like they were listening because they knew that they wouldn't hear my voice again like that for a long time. Its making me cry. Hold on a second.


Okay... I'm not quite done yet, but I thought I'd just lead into it. I sang Leaving on a Jet plane to them, and they sang it with me on the choruses. I'm going to miss them so much. I'm going to miss the sunny shore. I'm going to miss my favorite place in Hope Ranch. I'm going to miss the mountain drives. I'm going to miss my room. I'm going to miss Santa Barbara alot.

So to all my friends here, and actually to all my friends everywhere, I'm going to write down the lyrics to a song that Michael and I sang to each other on our road trip up north. It's meant for all of you. Because that's who I am, and no matter where I am, that won't change.


When you're down and troubled,
and you need some loving care
and nothing oh nothing is going right
close your eyes and think of me
and soon I will be there
to brighten up, even your darkest night

You just call out my name,
and you know wherever I am
I'll come running
to see you again.
Winter Spring Summer or Fall,
all ya got to do is call
and I'll be there oh yeah
you've got a friend.

if the sky, above you
should grow dark and full of clouds
and that old north wind should begin to blow
keep your head together
and call my name out loud oh baby
soon I'll be knocking upon your door.

you just call out my name
and you know wherever I am
I'll come running
to see you again
Winter Spring Summer or Fall
all you got to do is call
and I'll be there yes I will

Oh, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
when people can be so cold
they'll hurt you and desert you
and take your soul if you let them
oh but don't you let them

you just call out my name
and you know wherever I am
I'll come running running
to see you again
don't you know that
Winter Spring Summer or Fall
all you got to do is call
and I'll be there
You've got a friend.

and that's me...

download "Carole King and James Taylor - You've Got A Friend"

Okay. Here it is, 3:30 am, and I'm watching VH1 Top 20 countdown, and I see the Dave Matthews Band video for Where Are You Going.

#1. That is an amazingly beautiful song

#2. I'm on a mailing list for DMB (link can be found at nancies.org) and a couple of days ago, someone posted about the video, saying that it wasn't one of their better ones, and they didn't really get it. Okay, I can see how at first glance, the video didn't make much sense. It had a few well placed clips from "Mr. Deeds" the new Adam Sandler movie, but overall not a very enticing bit of music video. On second glance, I noticed how much in common this video had with the other most recent video, "Everyday". Think on this for just a second. In the video for WAYG, a blue screen shot of Dave starts in what can only be assumed is Southern California. The scenes move across the country with interspersed band members playing along. There are some creative segues into clips, shown on billboards and tv screens. All throughout, there are colored lines running across the screen, resembling the colors and turns of the New York Subway System. And, the boys end up in NYC (much like Mr. Deeds), where the colored lines actually turn into a subway map.

Is this video suggesting that all parts of the country are represented in NYC? Is it suggesting that no matter where we are, or who we are, we are all a part of this crisscross network of connections? That the "everyday" man has a chance at the big time(see:Mr. Deeds)?

I don't know, but I don't, no, I can't believe that this was a crappy video in any way. It was poignant. If you can't see that, well, that's your problem, but I won't hold it against you.

-as an afterthought, the DMB video was #16. "No Such Thing" by John Mayer was #15. Go figure. (or as a good friend would say, it won't last, he's a one hit wonder)

To those of you who I don't know... hello.

To those of you who I do know, unless I have your information complete, please e-mail me, I will not have complete access to my records soon.


Thanks


"Stoner's Guide to Life" Pg 2
Sometimes you feel like a nug, sometimes you don't (but not often). Take a break once in a while, so you can lower the levels of THC in your bloodstream, and make that next toke more efficient.

So I haven't blogged in about a week... lots of stuff happening here in Santa Barbara. The most interesting and important to me is the fact that I have only about a week left in this town. Then I'm finally heading up to San Francisco for a change of scene.

I'm scared. I'm excited. I don't know what to feel, really.

I'm going to miss all the friends that I've made down here. I'm not going to miss my inability to get food at any places other than Jack in the Box and Ralph's anytime after midnight.

So yeah, my main reason for moving is food. Great.

So wish me luck, because I might not be blogging for awhile.

C-ya!

"Stoner's Guide to Life" pg. 1 -
Watch "Win Ben Stein's Money" every chance you get. Its funny, informative, and they didn't make him the spokesperson for Clear Eyes for nothing!

Sometimes I like reading my horoscope. It sometimes puts things in perspective for me. I hadn't seen this site before, or read something so detailed without paying for it, but it was right on so far. For this month and the past two. I only posted my summary, but any of you who know me well can agree with most of it. I think.



June will be a month of action. Psychologically, you are ready for a new chapter to begin, and honestly, it cannot start fast enough. The trick is to get over the bumps on the road to your life. Undoubtedly, the solar eclipse on June 10 will trigger massive, unexpected shifts in your personal life. By the time this month is over, almost nothing will be the same. While you may suppose that the pieces of your life are separate and distinct, you will see that they are all dynamically linked. When you make changes in one area, a shift will be felt across the board.

This month you may redesign one or all of the usual areas (career, home, friendships, love) but you may also change your looks or even your name. Your closest relationship will have to conform to the new you or face closure. Finally, one large project or endeavor will require hefty funds. If so, the full moon on June 24 will bring the cash you need. If splitting resources with a former partner, a settlement can be finalized then, too.

You have been through quite a strenuous past 12 months, but the year that lies ahead should bring an improved picture. You have become accustomed to the challenges that Saturn, the teacher planet (now in Gemini) has wrought, and you are more likely to come up with workable, practical answers. Friends say you are more mature and less likely to let disruptions rock your world, and they're right. A whole new you is emerging, and it couldn't be more exciting!

Inspired by this worldly chica, I changed a couple of colors on my site.
A new season, a new look.

I did however find this really cool site that has the entire color palette, and you can see how the colors look together. For those of us that can't remember the palette off the top of our heads, its a very useful site. Check it out.

Go rent this movie right now! I mean it. Now. Its at your local Blockbuster/Hollywood/Wherehouse/Mom&Pop. Didn't I tell you to go? It may or may not change your life, but its really freaking cool.

Today is the day. The day that Dancing Nancies got stuck on replay all day. One of my favorite songs. And if I can't celebrate my birthday by having a beer, I'll celebrate by playing one of my favorite songs.

Could I have been
A parking lot attendant
Could I have been
A millionaire in Bel Air
Could I have been Lost somewhere in Paris
Could I have been
Your little brother
Could I have been
Anyone other than me
Could I have been
Anyone other than me
Could I have been
Anyone other than me
Could I have been
Anyone

He stands touch his hair his shoes untied
Tongue gaping stare
Could I have been a magnet for money?
Could I have been anyone other than me?

Twenty three and so tired of life
Such a shame to throw it all away
The images grow darker still
Could I have been anyone other than me? Then I

Look up at the sky
My mouth is open wide, lick and taste
What's the use in worrying, what's the use in hurrying
Turn, turn we almost become dizzy

I am who I am who I am who am I
Requesting some enlightenment
Could I have been anyone other than me?

Sing and dance I'll play for you tonight
And thrill at it all
Dark clouds may hang on me sometimes
But I'll work it out then I

Look up at the sky
My mouth is open wide, lick and taste
What's the use in worrying, what's the use in hurrying
Turn, turn we almost become dizzy

Falling out of a world of lies
Could I have been dancing nancy
Could I have been anyone other than me

Happy Birthday to me. Oh yeah, and Michael called me from Moab, Utah. It was great to hear from him. He sang happy birthday to me. Told me he was going to have a beer just for me, while the sun was setting, and he was going to sit on my rock. Listening to Bob Marley. Celebrating my birthday for me, in the same place I celebrated my 20th. I can't believe it was three years ago.

That's it. I've had it. I'm just plain giving up.

I CAN'T BE IN THIS ROOM FOR VERY MUCH LONGER!!!

Oh yeah, and even though I was told it sucked, I went to go see About a Boy last night. And my friend was right, it did suck. I still like Hugh Grant though. He kind of reminds me of this guy only cuter. (Sorry, but he is)

Um... excuse me. Sorry about that. Yeah, maybe.

Oh yeah, and my birthday is in two days. Wouldn't it be cool if I had surgery on my birthday, so I didn't have to work?

When, may I ask, does it get any easier to be sick? I mean, when I'm sick, I can be the most miserable person. All I want is my mom to make me tea and pat my head and say "everything will be okay".
What sucks even more than being sick, is that someone you'd really like to hang out with (pretty much anyone at this point) won't hang out with you because they're afraid of getting sick too. So you have to resort to talking on the phone, and when you've got tonsilitis, it can be uncomfortable talking. So you're screwed one way or another.

I think I'll take some Tylenol PM and go to sleep.

On the music player "Why didn't you call me?" - Macy Gray. (my life story)

As MacArthur said... "I will return"... and so I have, apparently.

So what can I say about my vacation? So many things, so little webspace. But I digress...

And away we go!

1. Day 1 Los Angeles. Have I mentioned before how much I hate LA? Yes, well things haven't changed, even though I saw a pretty damn good show at Staples, with thanks to a good friend who I ambushed, from a VIP box. That was fun. Free beer, even if it was bud light. Parts of me wish that I had driven right back up to SB, parts were happy that I stayed in town. But most of me was not happy about the traffic I encountered when dropping off a friend near LAX. They're doing some sort of construction during the middle of the day, with no signs posted. God bless the CalTrans workers! The ride back was excellent because I drove up the coast through Malibu and Pt. Mugu. I love that drive.
2. Day 2 road trip. So I picked up my friend Peacock (the SB one) and hit the road for SF, planned on going up Hwy 1 because we were to stop in Gonzales for an early lunch, which was awesome. I highly reccomend this place even if it is in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. As it happens, Michael usually gets sleepy when dosed with herbs and a really big steak, so he quickly passed out in the passenger seat while I was twisting and turning my way up the absolutely gorgeous California coastline. It was a clear sunny day and there was hardly any traffic. So we arrive in San Mateo just in time to have some homecooked lasagna and a couple of glasses of wine. Watched a movie and went to sleep.
3. Day 3 Shoreline 1. Clarke's is a great place to eat. A great place to drink. Not so great a place to hang out with people that you may or may not know, when the person you're with doesn't know anyone and all of a sudden has become completely anti-social. But he was social with me, and that was good. Maybe there were a couple of people there who would have liked me not to be there, but I kept to myself for the most part, so I don't think I bothered them too much. Anyway, it convinced me that going the second day would not be a great idea. Got to the show, found a couple of my friends from SB and hung out some. Michael was talking shit about people who go to concerts then get so messed up that they get sick and don't remember the concert at all. Note to all: do not under any circumstances make a statement like that unless you plan on not drinking or doing drugs at all. If you can't guess what happened...
And then it happened. I heard the first notes. I felt a rush. THEY PLAYED MOTHER FUCKING PIG!!! Highlight of my evening. Nothing could get me down. The rest of the show rocked solidly too.
4. Day 4 Shoreline 2. Was going to do some sightseeing in the morning, but it was raining. So I washed my car instead. Nothing like soaping up a car and not having to hose it off afterwards. Had a chill afternoon, and got to the show just in time to pick out a spot on the lawn. Shoreline lawn is the best lawn. I love that lawn. The people next to us had been to the '00 Bridge School Benefit, and we reminisced on the rain that night. It only ended up sprinkling for about five minutes near the end of the show, but it was again a solid show. Mostly radio hits, but that was okay, because Michael knew all the songs. And they did the 36-Everyday-36 thing. The people around me were clueless when I started singing 36, but then they got into it too.
5. Day 5 road trip home. Made it back to SB in just over six hours, because we had to stop in Buellton and do some beer tasting. That was fun. Nice ending to a perfect trip. We had so much fun together, and really bonded, which was what I was hoping would happen. And coming home to SB for the last time was very poignant. We came over the mountains instead of the 101 route. Just beautiful. Came home to find out that Michael's dog had a run in with some barbed wire and had stiches. He was not happy, so I left him to bitch about it to his "not"girlfriend. Went to my house and fell to sleep.

All in all, a nice time was had. Wouldn't change it for the world (ok, I would change Michael's puking, but that's it, and he still had a good time).

OK. there's more since then, but I'll wait to see if its something I should blog about, or something I should just enjoy until it ends.
Till then, ta-ta!