Fearless

Picnic in Mission Bay on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The sun is shining bright, the beer is nice and chilled, the grass - a carpet green...Spectre is great. Angie, Chris, Carol, Tim, Kaitlin, Stacy, Adrien, Marie and I are playing silly games. Breathing fresh air. Drinking fresher beer.

Back to Angie's place for some unbelievably delicious home cooking, and then Chuck and I are off to the Aero Club to meet Bello, Lorin, Brian and Mayte. Haven't been to the Aero Club in such a long place. Nice dive bar.

Next we head down to the Casbah to see Ambulance LTD. I saw them a couple of months ago and was impressed. But second time's the charm. Was left wanting more. More more more! The song craftsmanship, the guitar riffs, the melodic harmonies, the emotional delivery...give me more. And if all that was not good enough, they had to play one of my favorite Pink Floyd songs - "Fearless". I am not a fan of covers, but this one was done perfect. I loved it!


Mingled a bit and ran into Edwin and Tim Pyles. Had a great chat with Tim Mays. Also caught a couple of songs from Elefant's gig. I hear garage music reminiscent of The Psychedelic Furs and even The Smiths, and I see David Bowie stage antics. Not bad.

It's after midnight and the mind body and soul are tireless. Ready for more. We meet B2 at the Thin Room. DJ Zeus is spinning some bouncy house music. His set included an interesting remix of the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" and the Beastie Boys' "Fight For Your Right (To Party)". The Thin room is hip yet comfy. The atmosphere makes me think of the inside of a refrigerator. But instead of everything being frozen, everything's boiling. At closing time, on the way out, we run into the Bulgarian party heads celebrating Daniel's birthday. Happy Birthday Daniel!


The closer for the night is a bing bang - Saeed & Palash live at L5. Tribal. Rugged. Heavy. Dark. Warm. Fuzzy. Powerful late night club music. Makes the packed house look like a basket filled with hundreds of fish out of water, fighting for their lives, yearning for air, hungry for action. This is their shot in the arm. And this is our good-night farewell.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Fearless" by Pink Floyd

My Private Highway

I know the feeling. Tonight Bello was reunited with a friend he hadn't seen for 6 years. They used to be in a band together called Co Jones. They wrote songs together, played gigs in Florida, then moved to California together, chasing the rock'n'roll dream. Exciting past. And now - exciting present, as they dust off the old tunes and jam them out acoustic for a small circle of friends. I hope I can get a copy of an acoustic version of "Private Highway" from these rockstars.

Tonight I am reunited too - with a longtime dream of mine. Finally got to see Kevin's scooter and take it for a spin. That thing flies! Marie and I are so ready to get one(or two) for us. Have wanted to ride a scooter for so long now. Can't wait. Ready for it!


The night takes us to Bully's in Del Mar where glasses are raised over and over, cheering for the past, the present, and the future. Nice chats all around! And as usual, Kevin is making me laugh my socks off. The guy is comedy, but gives me stomach muscle pains...I don't think I want to hang out with him no more.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Elenor Rigby" by The Beatles

Run, K2, Run.

Run, Lola, Run was a great film. I loved the idea of presenting the possibilities of multiple outcomes from one situation. The essence of time. The essence of choice. Tonight reminds me of the movie. I am in the mood to go out and be part of the possibilities of the night. Choices.

Gage was spinning some loungey retro spy muzak as part of the weekly Orange Kiss event at the Airconditioned Lounge. Enjoyed a stimulating conversation with B2 and then headed over to the Beach Bar at the W Hotel. Met Judy, the French girl that works at St. Tropez Bakery & Bistro, talked about Brigitte Bordot, and enjoyed some tasty refreshing cocktails. The video wall was showing Run, Lola, Run. Too bad the sound was off - the film has a great soundtrack.

On with our run, we hit the Sidebar next, and we found ourselves submerged into a boiling mix of liquid party souls. The night is unpredictable, just like Run, Lola, Run. Only tonight I am the one who's running and just like Lola - not running away from nothing; running towards something.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Der Schrieber" by Timo Maas

Sushi. Beer. Coffee. Wired.

Chris and I are quickly making Edo Sushi and Wired Cafe le Bistro favorite midweek evening hangout places.

Edo serves delicious shrimp crunch rolls. They usually run out of forks, so if chopsticks are challenging to you, make sure to bring a fork from home. Wired is an instant visit to France. The atmosphere. The pastries. The French owners and workers. And we are almost becoming regulars. Good times. Pretty soon we'll start ordering "the usual" at both places.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Shout" by Tears For Fears

Zipdecode

Ever need to decode a Zip Code? Maybe not really. But even if you don't, check out Ben Fry's zipdecode. Pretty cool!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Get It On" by T-Rex

Do You Know Where Your Breakfast Is?

The Toaster is a collage that measures 5m(16'4") by 4.5m(14'8") made from 2,500 pieces of toast. The slices of bread were toasted in different lengths of time to reach the desired color shades. Who did this? Ingrid Falk & Gustavo Aguerre. And why did they do this? It's art.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson

A Room With A View

Visited the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla. Checked out the Chicano Vision: American Painters on the Verge exhibition. My favorite gallery was the one below - an empty room with a 180-degree view of the ocean - a beautiful work of art, really.

In the afternoon watched the final for Copa America. Argentina were the better team, but they lost to Brazil. Go figure. Argentina took the lead with 2:1 in the 87th minute. They thought they had it. Their attitude ruined them. They got way too confident. They felt like champions, and they should've been the champions, but as people say "it's not over until it's over." Brazil scored in the 93rd minute, tying the game and taking it into penalty kicks. The Argentinean team was in shambles. Devastated. Penalties was never a fair way to decide for a winner, but that's the way it is. So Brazil won in penalties lifting their 7th Copa America. I could only imagine the party back in their homeland.

I could also picture the party in England where pretty much at the same time that Brazil were celebrating their victory, Ian Brown was playing a full set of classic Stone Roses songs. I wish I was there. In England. Or in Brazil.

But I'm here. And it's all good! Marie and I headed to the movie theaters for some great entertainment - The Bourne Supremacy is an awesome movie - just as good if not better than The Bourne Identity. Fully enjoyed it. As usual, we made it a double-header so we also saw I, Robot and I am glad we saw it on the big screen, because I don't think I would've ever rented this one. It's a big screen movie - you have to see it in the theater.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Sun (Section 8)" by The Polyphonic Spree

Fantasy And Reality Are One Tonight

Comicon was in town this weekend. Thousands of film characters were roaming the streets of Downtown San Diego, blurring the borderline between fantasy and reality. The streets looked like a movie set. It was so surreal to see Imperial Stormtroopers, Lara Croft, and Superman waiting in line for coffee at Starbucks. Apparently some celebrity folk were in town too - Jessica Alba, Jamie King, Jude Law, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Keanu Reeves were all panelists.

Chris, Lorin, Marie and I spotted Catman crossing the street. Meow! We also witnessed this catfight between a mom and her daughter that started out with the two arguing about the vegetable floor of the parking structure where they parked their car, and then escalated to where the daughter was screaming from the top of her lungs, with her index fingers pointing at her forehead, going "I figured it out mom. You were with a realtor last night. I know! I know because I'm smart!" It was truly a scene out of a comic book played out on the street. Hilarious.

Headed down to Henry's Pub for a nice dinner and fun conversations. We then saw The Blackouts doing the street corner musician gig thing in front of Urban Outfitters. Oh, and did I mention Downtown San Diego was alive and buzzing tonight?

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Nice Dreams" by Radiohead

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me

Today reminded me of the title of a song by U2 - "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me"

Hold Me...in suspense, as I have been waiting for months to see The Thrills live. I went to the Belly Up to get my tickets during lunch. Behind the venue, the tour bus driver was having a one-man party - barbecuing some corn and rocking out to some fun-in-the-sun music blasted on his boombox...right there behind the club in front of the bus. That guy was my middle-of-the-day hero.

Thrill Me...and they did. The Thrills put on a great show tonight. I discovered the Thrills out of the blue several months back. I was supposed to see them this past March, but was out of town. Then tried to see them at Coachella, but missed their set. Tonight they played a great live set as an opening act for Gomez. It was fantastic to see a live performance of the songs that I've been percolificating over and over in the past several months. The Thrills played with feeling. Their harmonies were great live. And their attitude was one that invites the audience into a melodic romantic sonic world. The Thrills even gave me the chills on a couple of occasions. You know the power and magic of music when you get the goosebumps.




Kiss Me...is part of the name of the band that I saw at Brick By Brick later in the night. Angie's nephew Jake plays the drums for Kiss Me Stranger. And he is a great drummer, really. His band is a high-energy teen spirit fiasco - hardcore punk metal with enough theatrics to provide entertainment even for the ones who cover their ears when Tom Petty plays distorted guitar during the chorus of a mellow song.



Kill Me...with your attitude, security dude at 4th & B. Was supposed to get into the Crystal Method/Paul Oakenfold show to take some photos, but the Mr.T look-alike was riding a high horse so high up in the skies that I don't believe he could even hear what I was saying.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Big Sur" by The Thrills

Happy Birthday Jackie!

The Cheesecake Factory has a very misleading name. I always thought it was just a dessert place, but this is actually a full restaurant with a huge menu and a full bar. This place offers so much great food, and all of it is low-carb of course, so you know you'd like to try it all. I am too stuffed to write anything. Getting sleepy.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Cream" by Prince

Beauty On Canvas

I went to bed at 2am. She stayed awake. I got up at 7am and saw this beautiful creation drying in the living room.

Marie has become an oil painter. Impressive.

Bidding starts at $50,000.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Carnival" by The Cardigans

Sonic Youth Sounds Old

I got my fix with that cool song "Bull in the Heather" but the rest of Sonic Youth's concert at Soma tonight left me wanting more, especially for the high price of the tickets. The feedback was overdone, and the delivery of the music was a bit uninspired and dull. Yawn. I had never seen them live before so am not sure if they were always this boring, or if they are now riding on their laurels and not having to try too hard. Sonic Ripoff.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Bull in the Heather" by Sonic Youth

Bellofish

So my friend Chris Bello gets invited to play guitar on stage at Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay with one of his favorite bands, Hootie and the Blowfish. Really, plain and simple, this is a dream-come-true for him. Unreal. This doesn't just happen to people. This is some kind of a lucky arrangement in the stars - the stars in the skies and the stars on stage, including an extra one tonight - Chris, the Bellofish!

Hootie and the Blowfish never grabbed me. Back in the day when they were making it big, I never paid attention - simply not my cup'o'tea. But this is beside the point. I won't be a hater and will say that tonight I gain respect for what they do. They are inspired playing their music and try to please the crowd. The music still doesn't do it for me, but it's not about my taste in music or about Blowfish tonight; it's about Bellofish.

JC and I are invited to take pictures and video and be Chris's support group. We're the paparazzi and his bodyguards tonight. I can feed off of Chris's excitement. Preshow he's climbing up an 80-degree incline with his rollercoaster cart.

Then the time comes, and the Hootie guitarist announces in the microphone: "Tonight we have a very special guest - Chris Bello from San Diego" The crowd claps and his support group in the back - Kevin, Amber, Rod, Tanya, and I yell from the top of our lungs "Rock out Chris!!!" The song kicks off, and Chris's rollercoaster cart speeds down a rapid slope. I know he's experiencing an incredible adrenaline rush. Rockin' with his heroes.

He looks comfortable on stage and plays with confidence, a smile on his face, and a joy that glows an aura around his space. I am so stoked for him. I make my way to the front and snap some photos.

The band plays for a while without him, but to everyone's surprise, including Chris's, they call him back on stage for another song. Chris has won an extra ticket for his favorite rollercoaster ride. This time around he boards right at the top and goes for the big drop again.

The show is over, the crowds leave, and family and friends surround Bello like groupies. We're escorted backstage where the band is hanging out chatting and drinking. Good vibes. All in all I had an excellent time and enjoyed so much to be a part of one of the happiest nights of someone else's life.

Dreams do come true!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Waltz #2" by Elliott Smith

Get Your Kicks On Route 66!

Saw "Route 66" - an entertaining musical full of catchy tunes and humorous short stories produced by the The La Jolla Stage Company.

Leaving the Firehouse after the play, I had Bobby Troup's famous "Route 66" song (covered by everyone from Chuck Berry and Nat King Cole to the Rolling Stones and Depeche Mode) stuck in my head for the rest of the day.

If you ever plan to motor west:
Travel my way, the highway that's the best.
Get your kicks on Route 66!

It winds from Chicago to L.A.,
More than 2,000 miles all the way,
Get your kicks on Route 66!

Now you go thru St. Looey...Joplin, Missouri!
And Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty.
You'll see Amarillo...Gallup, New Mexico.
Flagstaff, Arizona: don't forget Winona,
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino.

Won't you...get hip to this timely tip:
When you...make that California trip.
Get your kicks on Route 66!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Route 66" by Depeche Mode

College Football in Your Hands

Spent yet another fine evening at Lorin's house with a fine group of relaxed cool cats. Met Rod's wife Tanya and also Lorin's friend, Adriana. Bello was DJing some Heavy Metal as well as some Rush and what-not - stuff I never listen to. The fun really is in observing his enthusiasm for a style of music that was never appealing to me. I am only broadening my horizons and enjoying seeing Bello have so much fun playing air-guitar and lip synching to Hair Metal. Fun stuff. I just love seeing people being really into something.

Tonight I was also exposed to something else I am not too familiar with - PlayStation2. Unreal. Bello showed me the new EA Sports' NCAA 2005 College Football for PlayStation2. It is unbelievable to see how much the gaming industry has advanced. This game is so close to looking and feeling realistic - it's incredible. It almost looks like a Pixar animation that you are in control of. The 3D rendering is near-perfect. The interactivity is full-on - you have the sounds of the roaring stadium, the commentators being on top of the action on the field, and lifelike sounds and actions of the players running or tackling - everything controlled by you. You can also have instant replay and views from different angles. Truly Impressive!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "My Generation" by The Who

Come On Baby Light My Bonfire

Haven't been to a bonfire in such a long time. Tonight, Marie and I joined Alexis, Amanda, Koa and some other dudes and dudettes for some serious pyro-s'mores mania. I love staring at the fire. The dancing flames relax me and hypnotize me. The dying fire in the late hour of the night was the perfect way of drawing the curtains and ending the showtime of a long day.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Light My Fire" by The Doors

Stunning Sunset at Sunset Cliffs

Joined Chuck, Anna, Bella and Joe for a drink and a chat at the Grand Opening of the Inn at Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach - great place, great company, and a great way to unwind after a long day of work.





Happy Birthday Bella!! I hope you didn't think I'm crazy when I almost walked through the glass door. I was just trying to entertain you for your Birthday. No, really!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Triple Funk" by Lemon 8

Let the Stars Sing Your Lyrics

Got lyrics but can't sing? Have the pop stars do it. Let them sing it for you is an interactive online project that lets you hear any lyrics that you type in sung by some of the world's greatest pop stars. The creator is Erik Bünger - a Swedish sound artist.

If you get a pretty decent sounding piece, let me know what were the lyrics that you typed in.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Mercy" by Marvin Gaye

Let Your Car Park Itself

If you have trouble parallel parking, you need to check out the Evolve Project. 17 students from the mechatronic project course of 2004 at the division of Fluid & Mechanical Engineering Systems at Linköping University, Sweden, have developed a mechanism for a car to find a parking spot and then park itself. Is this cool, or what? I'm thinking this could really come handy in Downtown San Diego on a weekend night - especially on a one-way street where you need to park on the left side of the road. It always feels awkward to me parallel parking on the opposite side of the road - it's kinda like eating with your left hand (or the right hand, if you are left-handed)

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand

Spider-Man 2

I figured it out - the "2" in Spider-Man 2 stands for the 2 things you might like in the movie:
1. The character of J. Jonas Jameson played by J.K. Simmons.
2. The special effects when Spider-man is in action.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Hit" by The Sugarcubes

Deep Dish - Deep Into The Night

Wow! Deep Dish live met all of my expectations tonight. Went to L5 at 12:04am. Deep Dish took to the decks at 2:15am. Rocked the house until 5:30am. The crowd was electric. The vibe incredible. The music - deep, tough, rugged, tribal, heavy, solid house. The club was off the hook until the early hours of the morning. Boiling.






It's 7/11/2004 today so I am off for a free Slurpee at Seven Eleven. After that, I should probably get some sleep - have slept 4 hours in the past 48 hours.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Clocks"(Deep Dish Remix) by Coldplay

Pirates of the Coronado Islands

The sea wants me. Back.

Yesterday I asked Angie what she had planned for the weekend, and she told me all excited "Going sailing tomorrow!!" My eyes were wide open with double her excitement. "Do you want to come with us?" she asked. I think I answered half-screaming: "blleyyeaoohh!"  before I could even think about it.
Just 5 days ago I was invited to Rock The Boat off the coast of San Diego. I went on a 24-hour trip and loved 23 hours and 47 minutes of it. The other 13 minutes I really liked.
 
I've known for a long time that Ken is a sailing fanatic, so I wasn't at all surprised that as soon as we extended an invitation to him he was already packing his bag. Early in the morning, Angie, Chris, John, Ken and I put up the sails of our adventure vessel and embarked on yet another trip away from the shore.


The relaxing sounds of the splashing water, and the hypnotic side-to-side rocking of the boat are perfectly augmented by some silly humor, mostly courtesy of funny-mouth Chris. Eight minutes quickly stretch into 8 hours, and as we make our 360-degree turn around the Coronado Islands, we find ourselves in boiling water and playful winds. Chris tries to calm the jittery nervous boat, but quickly loses control. Holding on to the helm, he says "Somebody tell me what to do!" At that point, we all knew we were in good solid hands. Our captain gave us so much confidence, that even though the flatbed of our boat was cruising tilted at an 80-degree angle, we felt safe and relaxed.

Panic. 
 
Swing. Splash. Slam.
 

The unfriendly sea is so exciting. Adrenaline is rushing through me. Angie thinks we're dying; I think we're being re-born. We're fighting winds and water. The boat and I are both rocking to Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" in our heads. A perfect soundtrack for this adventure: 

We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!

We take control of the restless beast that is our boat and now we're smooth-sailing North, locked on steady course, galloping towards San Diego Bay. A stunning sunset rewards our efforts and relaxes us. We're back to where we started from 13 hours ago, but feeling 13 hours younger and 60 miles closer to some truth.


Would I go sailing again tomorrow? Name the place and time.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin

Bully's

Bully's in Del Mar is a great place to have a bite and a drink. What makes the place super enjoyable is of course the company you are in. Tonight Marie and I had a great time hanging out with Lorin, Chris and Mike. I owed Lorin a drink and Chris four drinks from my What's In A Name post, but was not given the opportunity to take care of that so we'd have to go back to Bully's another time. No problem.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Starman" by David Bowie

Superstition Mindshift

Superstitions are so incredibly silly. Most people have them and don't realize they do. I was thinking of some of the ones I live with:

If climbing a staircase make sure right foot lands on top step.

If you bump heads with somebody, do it again so you remain in good terms.

A black cat crossing your path, opening an umbrella indoors, braking a glass, or stepping on cracks in the sidewalk is bad luck. (In such events I usually buy a lottery ticket right away which takes care of the bad luck and protects me from a worse one.)

When a lady bug lands on your hand, let it crawl up to the tip of your index finger. The direction that it flies in is the direction of the place where you'll get married.

A bouquet of even-number count of flowers is only for funerals.

Crossing fingers for good luck. (I don't fold my thumb inside my fist but rather keep it extended - that way the 5 visible fingers spell the word "good" in Bulgarian; if I fold my thumb inside, the 4 visible fingers would spell the word "bad")

Saying "Bless You" when someone sneezes.

Watching someone else yawn makes you to yawn.

If you make a wish while throwing a coin into a well or fountain, the wish will come true.

If your ears are burning, someone is speaking of you.

Celebrating your birthday prior to the birth date is very bad luck.

Pour a glass of water in front of your doorstep. Walk over it and you'll do well if you are taking an exam, having an interview, etc.

Can't think of other ones, but I probably have another 20 at least.

Check out OldestSuperstitions.com - The Largest List of Superstitions on the Web.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes

Percolification

I invented a new word today. There is a need for this word, trust me. Without a further adieu I present to you:

percolification
per·co·li·fi·ca·tion
Pronunciation: p&r-"ko-l&-f&-'kA-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : the act of grabbing a pair of headphones with both hands and pressing them tight against one's ears with the volume cranked up to 11

percolificate
per·co·li·fi·cate
Pronunciation: p&r-"ko-l&-f&-'k'At
Function: verb
1 : to grab a pair of headphones with both hands and to press them tight against one's ears with the volume cranked up to 11

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Born Slippy" by Underworld

What's in a Name

Do you know who any of these people are? If you do, tell me and I'll owe you a drink. (Now, don't be too clever by going Googling on me. No cheatin')

Stuart Leslie Goddard
David Robert Hayward Stenton Jones
Vincent Damon Furnier
Robert Zimmerman
George Alan O'Dowd
Reginald Kenneth Dwight
Farouk Bulsara
Yorgos Panayiotou
James Jewell Osterberg, Jr.
Richard Wayne Penniman
Annie Mae Bullock
John Simon Ritchie
Steveland Hardaway Judkins

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Trust Me" by Roni Size & Reprazent

Rock the Boat

The vastness of the ocean is inviting...and we are ready! Maria, Emmo, Ivo, Asyo and I headed out to open sea at 10pm last night. Less than an hour into our journey, as we are completely engulfed by the black void of the night, we hear the engine shut down. The only sounds we hear are the splashing water on the side of the boat and our own breathing. Silence. Darkness. Middle of nowhere. Below us - the magnificent depths of the ocean. Above us - the infinite space of the skies. We are stranded. But this is adventure. Asyo loves the challenge. He identifies the problem, has pirate Emmo clean a filter, and in no time we're up and running again. We are reaching for the deepest darkness ahead of us. And we all feel as if we are on some great super important mission. We are to conquer new land and discover the unknown. (OK, not really, but it feels that way)

I was keeping Asyo company until around 2am. The guy's been sailing boats since age 10. The ocean is his playground. He is almost as excited as I am. The other 3 pirates are asleep - rocking in their crib that is the boat tonight. So I am asking Asyo all kinds of questions about sailing, fishing and the ocean, and he explains everything to me. Fascinating.

I wake up at 7am and the view outside the window of the cabin is fantastic. The waters of the ocean extend for as far as the eye can see. We're combing through the waves. On our way to wherever. As I step outside the view is breathtaking - a 360-degree scenery of only water. The horizon is as straight as a laser beam. The air is crisp. The breeze is fresh and it feels as if it pierces my body and flows straight through me.

We are getting closer to our destination - the Butterfly Bank at coordinates 32.22.00 118.15.00. I had no idea that we actually had a destination. Cool. We spend the next 8 hours trying to catch some fish. No luck. And the 8 hours seem like 8 minutes really.

Asyo is exhausted and finally goes to sleep. So do Ivo, Maria and Emmo. I am the only one awake, now at the big wheel, holding a steady course at 10 degrees North.

When you are in open sea and it's just you, your vessel, and the ocean, you can't help but surrender to your uninterrupted random thoughts. They say that right before you die, you see your entire past flash before your eyes. No need to die to experience this. Just go sailing. Scenes from your childhood are played out on the ocean stage in front of you. And your present existence is as vivid as it can be. You realize what a drop you really are in the ocean of life. You are just a click on the swing of the seconds hand on the clock of the passing of time. You have the time and comfort to think about anything and everything. You can remember every person you ever met. You can remember events from your life that you normally never have the luxury to think about. And your mind is a blank canvas, if you wish, as empty as the open sea, where you can paint with the brushes of your imagination. Inspired.

Sailing has such a great effect on me. It's a healing experience. It puts me in a meditative state. It makes me think. Makes me fantasize. Makes me relax. Makes me dream. Oh, and makes me want to catch some fish. They say that the trip is more important than the destination and today this is more valid than ever. Lost in the middle of the ocean, all I can do is make the best of this experience. The Now. The destination is far away. I cannot see it. Can't really know how far it is. Hell, can't even be sure I'll ever reach it. All I can do is keep the course. Fighting shifting winds and restless waves, no matter what, I have to lock the wheel at 10 degrees North. Steady.

The crew is up again and we are on a mission. Listening to radio communication from the other boats in the area, we keep looking for that spot of shallow water with a bird hovering around. No bites. No luck. But we're active and we're having fun. Yet again I realize that it's the trip that matters and not the destination.

I take a nap and when I wake am told a whale just passed us by. Grand. As we approach the shores getting closer and closer to Point Loma, we spot some dolphins, pelicans, and even a shark. We drink Rum like pirates now (especially Emmo who called his cup of mostly rum with a splash of coke "a cup of tea") and talk fast and loud and feel alive. We own the ocean.

And you know what else? I have a newfound hobby. Can't wait until the next time the ocean will take me in its unpredictable bundle of time and space and teach me more about life.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Army Of Me" by Bjork

Greece Are Champions... Fireworks Are Stunning... Spectre Is Great...

Happy Birthday America! Had a great 4th of July.

In the morning enjoyed a nice breakfast with Marie and my sister. Relaxing.

In the afternoon headed over to Steve's house where we watched the Euro 2004 final between Greece and Portugal. How incredible is it for Greece to win the cup!!! Good for them. They deserve it. My favorite part of the match was that nutbag that ran through the field being chased by 17 security guards and after losing the flag he had wrapped himself with, darted for the goal and threw his body into the net. Hilarious. I managed to catch what his t-shirt read - JimmyJump.com (if you can't pull up the site, try another day; his site is getting millions of hits because of his clever self-promotion) I read up on the dude and apparently he's a pro at what he does. Impressive silly fun. It's amazing that someone can pull off a stunt like that.

After the match met Steve's British and Irish friends and hung out with them in the back yard. Marie and I were cracking up at some typical dry sarcastic British/Irish humor. At least the much of it that we could understand - the accent is enough to throw us off.

In the evening we tried to find some party in Mission Beach that we were invited to, but after being stuck in traffic for almost 2 hours, it was time to leave and go check out the fantastic 4th of July fireworks spectacle at Shelter Island. Stunning. Loved it and wished it had lasted for hours...





After the fireworks, five of us - Asyo, Ivo, Maria, Emmo and I - boarded a 60-foot sail boat and headed out for the open sea. We are going fishing off the coast of San Diego at a destination 80 miles or 8 hours away. I am as excited as Steve Buscemi's character in Big Fish in that scene where he was spinning in circles at the dance in Spectre.

I love the ocean. Ready to go.

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Eclipse" (DJ John Kelley remix) by Timo Maas

Hot. Crowded. Fun.

Marie and I invited some guests over. Usually when we invite 20 people, 12 show up. Tonight we had invited 35 and about 45 showed up. We were thrilled, of course. Really loved seeing all these people. Had a blast! We hope everyone enjoyed themselves at least a half of how much we enjoyed ourselves hosting, even though our place was way too hot and way too crowded.

Our super cool neighbor complained to the landlord at 9:40pm. It's Saturday night on a 3-day 4th of July weekend. This is unbelievable to me. Seriously. What is his problem? I can't find an explanation other than him being some kind of a holed-up rat, a sociopath - a real people hater. Not cool what he did. Period. I don't mean disrespect; I would never be inconsiderate to a neighbor in the middle of the week or even on a regular weekend. I even consider him being inconsiderate to us for not being a good neighbor and let us have our fun ONCE every 3 months or so. The guy didn't even have the guts to come and talk to us. So no excuses for him; no guilty feelings on our part. This is war.

Nobody ruins our fun, of course. Stayed up 'til 2am, having some killer conversations with some cool heads. Let the weekend begin...

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Where's Your Head At" by Basement Jaxx

Running on Empty

I slept 3 hours last night. Today, I am running on empty. The mind is awake; the body is asleep. At times like this, hanging out with JJ is my way of recharging my batteries. Oh, that and sleeping. I forgot. Good night!

Krassy Can Listen To It: "American Dream" by Jakatta

Rock. Paper. Saddam.

Silly fun featuring Saddam

And here are some of Rumsfeld's Fighting Techniques

Krassy Can Listen To It: "Riders On The Storm" by The Doors