The number of hours it took from Las Vegas to Azusa Calif. I’m not complaining in fact from time to time I take the Supertramp way. Flight delayed a little. Guy wth yarmulke max bet 1.oo x 5 wheel of fortune x 2 machines at McCarran, no spins or wins. Jet blue is the best, 34.00 one way and in 45 minute we hit tarmac in Long Beach. Flight attendant reminds me of Bridgette Bardot, she is both pretty and sexy. Weather is fantastic for walking to bus stop. Listening to Burt Bacharach I do leg lifts and stretching while waiting. 1.25 gets to blue line. I hop on and homeless veteran wants to talk and I get it. Turn off music and he and I engage. He says “Ya got caught in the Peruvian blizzard in the 1970’s”. I say ” Dig that movie ‘Blow’ with Johhny Depp. I ask him if VA hospital stuff gotten better “ya it has”. Amen. Here’s his stop. Two sheriffs hop on and I feel tax dollars at work. Guy gets on and its likely he is on drugs but coming down so sheriff #1 gives him fist pump and I think of Erik Estrada. Passenger entrepreneurship living large. One selling chips, chargers and CD’s while walking aisle. I pass thru several cities and note the following: I’m No longer bothered by graffiti, one mattress so far and new housing in Compton. Subtle art work everywhere. Hills green with solar making a comeback. Warmth of sun thru glass feels especially nice because it a hug from God. Filming in LA I look quickly for movie star but no luck. Hop on Gold line and admire two pretty face asian girls wearing lanyard “class of 2020” but they look so much younger. I think of those twins from Godzuki and Godzilla movies. They are darling as they giggle and cover their mouth with their hands only to hide perfect smiles. Tats and piercings on rugged men ending their shift. I stare and trace with my eyes the lines leading to the biceps….Nice. Farmer’s market in south Pasadena on Thurs. Afternoon. Door opens at stop and wafting garlic aromas wander in. Tiny houses and trifecta Virgin Mary postcards tape to windows as if to say “Bless this Mess”. Everyone on the phone in low head position, guilty as charged. Frequent eye contact and smiles are effective in lifting my spirits from recent news of Jay poker old man at Orleans who went to the big table in the sky. My stop and brief walk I notice confetti of pedals from white rose bush is simply beautiful. Pass a bar “Nah I dont really drink” and see my reflection in large pane glass. I say shoulders back and stomach in. Greeted by four legged family member and I’m done 420 minutes. Ziajian.

Aside from its massiveness there are interesting and evocative works of art to admire on this vessel.  Some of the interior cabins have a virtual window which is nearly flawless in providing a mental nudge for those who rely on their circadian clock.  I heard at least nine languages spoken,  Deutsche, Spanish Portuguese and French to name a few.  An ice skating rink. And giant slides which were  both wet and dry.  The mid section of the ship is a  large open space and I felt like I was at a mall.  My first cruise I had a tiny porthole and had to un-latch my sleeping cot in a 4 cot cabin  but the feeling of bliss and peace  is still the same.  Balmy quiet nights and endless ocean  makes me feel humble and small. Ziajian.

Riding on the Metro of Love.  It’s the Gold line but I like me some Berlin. And I especially dig this bag. 

The national north American curling championships is held in Las Vegas.  Cars with Manitoba license plates and other provinces all here to see that large stone object slide on a sheet of ice.  They  came maple leafed covered in bright jerseys and ready to party, not really. I’m not surprised since I’ve heard they are the gentle giant of the north.  I hit up my friend who is a cocktail waitress there ” How’s the tips?” Canadians generally don’t tip.  She says they do and  they’re mostly  drinking coffee and water.  Although I know very little about curling I imagine it to be exciting and relaxing at the same time.  Remarkably the noise level was about the same as a regular day at Orleans which is amazing due to the volume of people. A whole arena  and yet sound wise you could not tell there were  at least   10,000 people or more. Mike Myers, Pam Anderson, Michael J. Fox and Justin Beiber are Canadian and I’m wiling to bet they’re good at curling the Iron. Ziajian 

In Pasadena California. Every 2nd Sunday of the month. The beautiful mass of vintage, mid century modern and anything you can think goes on sale. Ziajian 

Hello. Social media says “you have one new view” it’s enough for me.  This is the Year of the Cock according to my friends…lol.   Fidelity and punctuality are the key concepts.  And 2016 was the year of the Deaths. Many wonderful people including Carrie F. whom  I met briefly in a bathroom( she had to piss test) died.  She was fun and funny.  I looked up the definition of fidelity which also included being faithful to a cause or movement.  So I will be faithful to this blog and write about poker the spirit and observation.  Cock a dottle Do. 

Listening to the Donnas and The Muffs on Pandora,  while I wait for an alternate flight. Reno airport requires the pilot to  nose dive onto the runway. “Cancelled” in bright red on the board because 24 mph winds. This is a first and been so lucky all this time.  I thank Tongan ticket counter guy  and tell him “I love you” in Samoan. That is how I found out he’s not. “You’re not wearing a ta ovala” we laff I get an upgrade.  Passing thru security I often  wear an airport outfit for ease and use a square scarf as a top that later doubles as cover up, blanket or pillow. This time while flying from Las Vegas Nevada to Long Beach California I was told to “take it off” sheehs! Okay.  That’s it I’m getting the TSA pass. Finally homegirl recognizes my situation and comes to my aid. I have passed  thru many a security and not asked to alter my outfit. I love hearing these words but situations may  vary.  It pays to be nice and compliant. Ziajian.

YOUR  TINY HANDS BRING RELIEF.  I AM BOTH QUIET AND REFLECTIVE, ANTICIPATING RELIEF FROM HOLDING BACK AND HOLDING IN.  WE MAY NOT SPEAK EACH OTHERS LANGUAGE BUT I FOLLOW YOU AND ASSUME.  WE LISTEN TO THE OTHERS WHO COMPLAIN AND THOSE WHO SNORE.  MY ARM REST ON YOUR TINY LEG AS THE MUSIC WAFTS MUCH LIKE SCENT OF BLOSSOM BALMS AND OILS USED TO INFUSE THE NOTION THAT KNOTS WILL UNTIE.  YOU ARE DECEPTIVELY STRONG AND TIME IS CAPTURED PERFECTLY.  A DEEP  SIGH TO INDICATE HOW GRATEFUL I AM IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME.  AND SOMETIMES I WISH THIS WOULD NEVER END BUT ALAS IT DOES. 

If am not aware I might be overwhelmed by life.  So much is going on 24/7. Baby births and lobster fests. Projects and deadlines seem to be looming above my head and I wonder do the bedouin people have the same feeling?   I remember going to nine weddings.  And nine birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese within a years time.  I think it’s okay to hibernate during the summer isn’t it? I’ve NOT been writing either so what gives. With recent events I continue to pray and not give up. Then I listened to Pablo Neruda poems and one stood out. The one about the bane of exsisting. The gift of dread and longing. I long for quiet, tranquility and isolation but only for a moment. 

It’s been pervasive in  thought that so many commercials seen reflect men as children and their wives as the parent.  I choose to see men as wonderful God given creatures who do just about everything in their power to makes us happy and  love us “just the way we are”.   Women must be charge of the advertising. The Carl’s jr. ad.  “The man puts a whole avocado in Blender?”  or the dad cooking with his children and the kitchen is mess.  Dad  implies it’s the a kids fault and the wife gives a look of disappointment.  Who did you think built the kitchen and a dad in  the kitchen enjoying time with the kids,  it’s where you focus is what flourishes.  Few years back I observed a slovenly dressed unattractive woman chastise her husband while at baggage claim in Las Vegas airport. She was nice to everyone except him. Final straw came in the form of  group shaming.  She gave him a dirty look and everyone around her looked at her as if say “Enough” and  she knew it.  I often say  “the weakest man is still stronger than the strongest woman”.  I stand by this message come rain or shine.  X is Y I love you.