What a drag, fellas! That's a long way to go for a lecture on cigs and your adaptation challenges.
Well, we three gals were sure glad we drove from Port Townsend, WA to Portland and Gresham, OR for your chats there. It was great to meet you both in person.
I was concerned about the gonad-buster schedule you created for yourselves. Don't be foolish, eh? That sort of sleep deprivation inclines the best toward illness, especially during these changes of season. You sure don't want to catch a cold in a blue state — they'll have you masked up and jamming a swab up your nose in a heartbeat! (-;
All blessings for a safe drive and good sleeps in comfy beds, gents.
CJ, it was wonderful to meet both you and Hugo! Everyone loved the event. I shall be writing about it and sharing more photos as soon as I get a minute. Bummed to hear about the hassles in the LA part of your trip. "Bon courage" for the rest!
I can't believe it's already been (and only been) just over a week since you were here, CJ. I miss you and Hugo 😭💓🤗 Thank you for your wide-open hearts, buoying hilarity, and gracious gallantry.
What a shame to have wasted time in LA when Ashland would have been a *much* lovelier place to recuperate! Ah well, lesson learned, and it's the speedbumps that make for more interesting (if exhausting) stories.
Please take the best care of yourselves you can and rest well, CJ 🙏
OMG why just why would such a person invite you to stay with them!? I knew you were a serious smoker since day one of following you.
PLEASE can you say where in Sedona? Oh dammit I just got a call that we need to move … tomorrow. Well stay clear of the vortices in Sedona. Or maybe you’re cool with getting beamed up.
My favorite is a friend who is a smell Nazi.... Smoke, bacon whatever. She has an autoimmune condition and gets treated with toxic mini chemo. Roped in by allopathic medicine.
So she says she's chemically sensitive.
One day at her apartment, me and my woman had sinus issues from this lemon scent that pervaded. We asked what it was and she said Mr Clean was used in the bathroom...
Ugh that's way more toxic than cigarette smoke!
Somehow the cleaner with bleach doesn't bother her.
Mental…as many people have gone. I have a long time friend I visited a few years ago, up in No CA. I had visited him there many times. Per usual I had applied my daily fragrance ‘Idole’ by Lancôme after my morning shower. Hours later when I arrived at his ‘compound’ in Sonoma County I was informed this was a “fragrance free zone”! I was taken aback, and I said to him that if this was his and his wife’s ’new policy’, they might want to inform all guests as such. The whole thing felt quite the ‘shaming incident’. I have not been back since.
I have been wearing some sort of perfume or ‘fragrance’ on a daily basis since I was in my mid 20’s. I have known this person since I was in my early 20’s! I am in my early 70’s now. And on a regular basis people tell me “you smell good”.
My own anti-smoking story takes the cake. I rented an in-law apartment from a woman on the spectrum here in Ft Myers, Fla. There is no rental agreement only a set of rules that say no smoking on the property. I foolishly assume it means no smoking in the residence but by day 2 I’m advised I must leave the property to smoke. The woman hated the smell of smoke but lives with 3 cats that pee everywhere such that her house smells like a lavatory at a sporting event if the event was The International Cat Triathalon.
So I walk my dog to the end of the driveway and aways down the road and figure I’ve got the case cracked. The next morning the landlady assaults me with the demand that I must quit smoking altogether or face eviction, that it was clear in her advert that smoking was in no way allowed anytime, anywheres, ever. How she got from no smoking to deciding which of my habits needed to be changed left me both baffled and irate. I told her I would continue to smoke off the property. She told me I was going to be evicted. I told her don’t waste your time , I‘m leaving.
She was momentarily stunned by the notion that I would wish to leave this anti-smoking totalitarian hate-fest with an overtone of cat pee and had no response. But not to be outdone she returned, guns blazing, and took my door key that didn’t work anyway and told my friend to leave and never come back. She then demoted my car parking privileges by making me move my car 2 spaces to the right away from the entrance and presented me with an official hand written notice of eviction.I told her she had to give me a full 30 days notice and her lawyer told her the same thing. I viewed this an abundant opportunity to annoy this woman for 30 more days.
The next morning a large human turd appeared immediately to the side of her car door, which I had nothing to do with. I received a text from a familiar number suggesting I watch her as she arrived home that night and report back anything I saw. I saw a few flowers and leaves atop a mound of some foreign substance near where she parked each night and watched her approach and park beside the mound. I watched her open the door. I watched her step out with her left foot, and then time stopped. She stepped toward the mound with her right foot, but with cat-like prescience she stopped mid stride and kicked the leaves and flowers off the top of the turd. The turd was fully exposed laying on a car floor mat. She expertly kicked the mat over on top of the turd and strode triumphantly away.
So much for happy endings.
Later that evening she offered to buy me out and I left 2 days later, somewhat defeated, but richer for the experience. Next time I’m going for the dirt and sand full-blown camouflage approach.
Your Los Angeles host(s) appear to suffer from what I suspect is the modern malady of an unembarrassed and strident hyper-lack of self-awareness and courtesy, or a hyper indifference, maybe disdain, of both.
That they would know you smoke, invite you anyway, and then make a fuss about it, draw a lot attention to it and themselves when you got there (couldn't pass up the opportunity, I would bet) should be embarrassing in its revelation of neurosis - embarrassing enough to enforce their silence before the fact, actually - but, somehow (and for many), it's not at all. Rather, they double down and add personal insult to the discourtesy. It's fantastical to me.
So glad to hear you didn't get bucked off The Stallion. Some advice from Fear & Loathing--fuck'm. Drive on and make them chase you down.
Get some rest, man, and don't lose control because you fall asleep at the wheel. We're all counting on you getting home alive. You have a book to publish, right?
You’re both brave (to lean into the kindness of strangers) and more than a little reckless (such an ambitious itin)…hopefully you’ve entertained some angels along the way-even if unaware. We all await your full reveal.
I’ve got my own “escape” stories (Baghdad & Miami) so thanks for the reminder for my own memoir;)
What a drag, fellas! That's a long way to go for a lecture on cigs and your adaptation challenges.
Well, we three gals were sure glad we drove from Port Townsend, WA to Portland and Gresham, OR for your chats there. It was great to meet you both in person.
I was concerned about the gonad-buster schedule you created for yourselves. Don't be foolish, eh? That sort of sleep deprivation inclines the best toward illness, especially during these changes of season. You sure don't want to catch a cold in a blue state — they'll have you masked up and jamming a swab up your nose in a heartbeat! (-;
All blessings for a safe drive and good sleeps in comfy beds, gents.
Huh? I thought they came to see what America is about these days. But they are just barreling through like insane people.
So weird about the recall notices. So many Americans are like Nazis when it comes to smoking! Oops...dare I say that?
I quit when I was too sick to smoke and being it was SO hard to finally quit AND had failed many times before, I haven't gone back.
BUT I miss it every day and love the smell. Maybe I shouldn't be admitting this...
CJ, it was wonderful to meet both you and Hugo! Everyone loved the event. I shall be writing about it and sharing more photos as soon as I get a minute. Bummed to hear about the hassles in the LA part of your trip. "Bon courage" for the rest!
Nice pic of the Cerulean Stallion, Sanity.
Thanks! The colours are gorgeous right? (No filters.)
I can't believe it's already been (and only been) just over a week since you were here, CJ. I miss you and Hugo 😭💓🤗 Thank you for your wide-open hearts, buoying hilarity, and gracious gallantry.
What a shame to have wasted time in LA when Ashland would have been a *much* lovelier place to recuperate! Ah well, lesson learned, and it's the speedbumps that make for more interesting (if exhausting) stories.
Please take the best care of yourselves you can and rest well, CJ 🙏
OMG why just why would such a person invite you to stay with them!? I knew you were a serious smoker since day one of following you.
PLEASE can you say where in Sedona? Oh dammit I just got a call that we need to move … tomorrow. Well stay clear of the vortices in Sedona. Or maybe you’re cool with getting beamed up.
Mostly please rest up!
My favorite is a friend who is a smell Nazi.... Smoke, bacon whatever. She has an autoimmune condition and gets treated with toxic mini chemo. Roped in by allopathic medicine.
So she says she's chemically sensitive.
One day at her apartment, me and my woman had sinus issues from this lemon scent that pervaded. We asked what it was and she said Mr Clean was used in the bathroom...
Ugh that's way more toxic than cigarette smoke!
Somehow the cleaner with bleach doesn't bother her.
Chemically sensitive or mental?
Mental…as many people have gone. I have a long time friend I visited a few years ago, up in No CA. I had visited him there many times. Per usual I had applied my daily fragrance ‘Idole’ by Lancôme after my morning shower. Hours later when I arrived at his ‘compound’ in Sonoma County I was informed this was a “fragrance free zone”! I was taken aback, and I said to him that if this was his and his wife’s ’new policy’, they might want to inform all guests as such. The whole thing felt quite the ‘shaming incident’. I have not been back since.
I have been wearing some sort of perfume or ‘fragrance’ on a daily basis since I was in my mid 20’s. I have known this person since I was in my early 20’s! I am in my early 70’s now. And on a regular basis people tell me “you smell good”.
one of the side effects of living in a skinner box.
A chemically sensitive Nazi...a first, or is it?
good one
Mental. You remind me of an old boss who couldn’t share an office with ANYbody who wore any scent whatsoever.
My own anti-smoking story takes the cake. I rented an in-law apartment from a woman on the spectrum here in Ft Myers, Fla. There is no rental agreement only a set of rules that say no smoking on the property. I foolishly assume it means no smoking in the residence but by day 2 I’m advised I must leave the property to smoke. The woman hated the smell of smoke but lives with 3 cats that pee everywhere such that her house smells like a lavatory at a sporting event if the event was The International Cat Triathalon.
So I walk my dog to the end of the driveway and aways down the road and figure I’ve got the case cracked. The next morning the landlady assaults me with the demand that I must quit smoking altogether or face eviction, that it was clear in her advert that smoking was in no way allowed anytime, anywheres, ever. How she got from no smoking to deciding which of my habits needed to be changed left me both baffled and irate. I told her I would continue to smoke off the property. She told me I was going to be evicted. I told her don’t waste your time , I‘m leaving.
She was momentarily stunned by the notion that I would wish to leave this anti-smoking totalitarian hate-fest with an overtone of cat pee and had no response. But not to be outdone she returned, guns blazing, and took my door key that didn’t work anyway and told my friend to leave and never come back. She then demoted my car parking privileges by making me move my car 2 spaces to the right away from the entrance and presented me with an official hand written notice of eviction.I told her she had to give me a full 30 days notice and her lawyer told her the same thing. I viewed this an abundant opportunity to annoy this woman for 30 more days.
The next morning a large human turd appeared immediately to the side of her car door, which I had nothing to do with. I received a text from a familiar number suggesting I watch her as she arrived home that night and report back anything I saw. I saw a few flowers and leaves atop a mound of some foreign substance near where she parked each night and watched her approach and park beside the mound. I watched her open the door. I watched her step out with her left foot, and then time stopped. She stepped toward the mound with her right foot, but with cat-like prescience she stopped mid stride and kicked the leaves and flowers off the top of the turd. The turd was fully exposed laying on a car floor mat. She expertly kicked the mat over on top of the turd and strode triumphantly away.
So much for happy endings.
Later that evening she offered to buy me out and I left 2 days later, somewhat defeated, but richer for the experience. Next time I’m going for the dirt and sand full-blown camouflage approach.
I applaud the efforts but yes - next time do try harder. The thought police are not easily defeated.
Thank you for the update. The cover photo of today's post is a winner. Maybe the book cover? :)
Welcome to Vegas. I'll keep an eye out for the Cerulean Stallion while I'm out driving around...
Your Los Angeles host(s) appear to suffer from what I suspect is the modern malady of an unembarrassed and strident hyper-lack of self-awareness and courtesy, or a hyper indifference, maybe disdain, of both.
That they would know you smoke, invite you anyway, and then make a fuss about it, draw a lot attention to it and themselves when you got there (couldn't pass up the opportunity, I would bet) should be embarrassing in its revelation of neurosis - embarrassing enough to enforce their silence before the fact, actually - but, somehow (and for many), it's not at all. Rather, they double down and add personal insult to the discourtesy. It's fantastical to me.
Hope the swing east features no such encounters.
Relieved you survived LA, hoping the worst is behind you.
Comparisons to 'Fear & Loathing' are inevitable and unavoidable!
YUP, I told them to watch for bats but they'd probably be ok if they stay away from the ether.
Fear & Loathing is STILL funnier 😉 Gotta ask, what rig do ya favor, now you're in zee Homeland? I like a concealed carry shoulder holster, myself 💅
So glad to hear you didn't get bucked off The Stallion. Some advice from Fear & Loathing--fuck'm. Drive on and make them chase you down.
Get some rest, man, and don't lose control because you fall asleep at the wheel. We're all counting on you getting home alive. You have a book to publish, right?
Definitely escape LA! Cesspool of California. I smoke too so I would have left as well. Screw em. Safe travels - cannot wait for your book.
Be sure and walk every hundred miles you don't want to get a blood clot in your legs. 🫡
You’re both brave (to lean into the kindness of strangers) and more than a little reckless (such an ambitious itin)…hopefully you’ve entertained some angels along the way-even if unaware. We all await your full reveal.
I’ve got my own “escape” stories (Baghdad & Miami) so thanks for the reminder for my own memoir;)