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zyzylyI drove up the coast road from San Luis Obispo to Monterey today--highway 1. It's one of my favorite drives--lots of scenery, twisty roads and artichokes at the end. I had this road in mind when I bought my car, and today was the day the two met for the first time.
I stopped a couple of times along the way to hike around, but most of the day I just drove, listened to music and thought about things. What did I think about? Oh, this and that:
--Whenever Arlina saw a sign that said "No Pets Allowed" she would always turn to me and say, "I'm sorry honey, you'll have to wait in the car."
I saw one of those signs today and heard her voice. The last time I was on this road, we were together. She and I were in conflict about something that we never got the chance to resolve.
--Pink Floyd, Shine on You Crazy Diamond. I can remember so clearly the night I first heard this song. I stopped at the record store on my way home from work and bought it--it had just been released. I took it home and played it in my room. My parents were having a party in the other room.
As I pulled out onto the highway this morning it was the song that was playing on the radio. It hasn't lost a bit of its magic.
--I have a friend who has kind of figured out my somewhat complex sense of humor. But not completely.
I thought about her.
--Writing. I like to write. This is new for me. I thought about writing as I hiked around today. The paper journal I started at the beginning of the summer is almost full. I wrote ten pages at lunch today. My gumbo recipe is in this journal. I made gumbo for a friend the other night. I wrote about the experience in my journal. North meets south, east meets west. I like to write.
--I thought about my sense of who I am. I am much more comfortable with me these days. But not completely. I still have things to work out. I decided to do the work necessary to do that.
--I seem to be at a crossroads. I pondered this at great length today, but no answers. I looked for the burning bush but it was nowhere to be found.
--Seals, when you get right up close to them, stink.
--Oh, artichokes. I stopped in Castroville, the artichoke capitol of the world, and bought a bag of 'em. Steamed one up tonight and it was the best artichoke I have ever tasted.
I stopped a couple of times along the way to hike around, but most of the day I just drove, listened to music and thought about things. What did I think about? Oh, this and that:
--Whenever Arlina saw a sign that said "No Pets Allowed" she would always turn to me and say, "I'm sorry honey, you'll have to wait in the car."
I saw one of those signs today and heard her voice. The last time I was on this road, we were together. She and I were in conflict about something that we never got the chance to resolve.
--Pink Floyd, Shine on You Crazy Diamond. I can remember so clearly the night I first heard this song. I stopped at the record store on my way home from work and bought it--it had just been released. I took it home and played it in my room. My parents were having a party in the other room.
As I pulled out onto the highway this morning it was the song that was playing on the radio. It hasn't lost a bit of its magic.
--I have a friend who has kind of figured out my somewhat complex sense of humor. But not completely.
I thought about her.
--Writing. I like to write. This is new for me. I thought about writing as I hiked around today. The paper journal I started at the beginning of the summer is almost full. I wrote ten pages at lunch today. My gumbo recipe is in this journal. I made gumbo for a friend the other night. I wrote about the experience in my journal. North meets south, east meets west. I like to write.
--I thought about my sense of who I am. I am much more comfortable with me these days. But not completely. I still have things to work out. I decided to do the work necessary to do that.
--I seem to be at a crossroads. I pondered this at great length today, but no answers. I looked for the burning bush but it was nowhere to be found.
--Seals, when you get right up close to them, stink.
--Oh, artichokes. I stopped in Castroville, the artichoke capitol of the world, and bought a bag of 'em. Steamed one up tonight and it was the best artichoke I have ever tasted.
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no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 06:16 am (UTC)I'm fond of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," too.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 06:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 06:24 am (UTC)Lee Mellon
Date: 2005-10-28 06:26 am (UTC)Re: Lee Mellon
Date: 2005-10-28 06:31 am (UTC)Re: Lee Mellon
Date: 2005-10-28 10:53 am (UTC)I really stopped by to say how much I agree with you about Shine On, You Crazy Diamond.
Re: Lee Mellon
Date: 2005-10-28 03:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 07:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 03:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-29 12:46 am (UTC)yum! :-)
no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 10:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 03:42 pm (UTC)random bits
Date: 2005-10-28 10:59 am (UTC)That's hysterical! Arlina was a hoot, heh.
Did you wave to Lee Mellon for me? Hitchhiking on Highway 1 with the ghost of RB.
I have a photo of my mother standing by the Giant Artichoke in Castroville...
Are you writing some of your paper journal here, too? Although I've found that my paper journal and this journal seem to be two different things, is it the same for you?
Re: random bits
Date: 2005-10-28 03:34 pm (UTC)In my paper journal I often write for pages and pages on a particular thought--it is really a way of helping me think through the things going on in my life. I really only started journaling on paper a year ago--October 1, 2004. I think it was writing in LJ that gave me what I needed to start journaling for real. My first entries sound just like what I write here.
Writing in LJ is a different process for me. I am much more aware that people will read it, and I do a lot more self-editing. Often these entries will begin to take some shape in my mind way before I sit down at the computer.
When I was hiking yesterday and saw the "No Pets" sign, I almost immediately thought about how to incorporate it into an LJ entry, and pretty quickly came up with the idea to put it in with a bunch of "random bits". I like throwing seemingly unrelated things together--for me they are all connected in some way.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 11:26 am (UTC)We drove that in the opposite direction a few years ago. My pictures are not that great (especially compared to yours), but that was one of the nicest drives I've never been on. Did you take any on this trip?
no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 03:40 pm (UTC)Arlina and I stayed at the Madonna Inn a bunch of times--different room every time. What a crazy place!
no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 01:02 pm (UTC)I like artichokes, too! They are kind of expensive here in Maryland, though. The lowest price is about $1 each.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 03:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 01:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-03 07:24 am (UTC)Down in Monterey where the artichokes grow
Towsey headed artichokes row after row
(forgotten line)
They like the sandy soil and the cool salt air.
And that's about the size of it. They like the sandy soil and the cool salt air.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 06:04 pm (UTC)I like to write too.
Fresh artichokes are so yummy!
dj
no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 06:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 08:13 pm (UTC)a looooong time ago you posted a picture of a statue/monument up north cali - of the man braiding the womans hair.
could you put a name/location on that for me?
thanks! :)
no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 08:16 pm (UTC)Who is this?
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Date: 2005-10-28 08:38 pm (UTC)i see it's on top of a masonic temple - but would love to know.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 08:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-28 11:45 pm (UTC)