I knew if I didn’t go today I was going to miss this wonderful treat.  It was opened Dolly Parton hours (9 to 5). $ 12 fee and the owner’s name is Mary.  88 degree pool in 51 degree weather was inviting. And to suit your jacuzzi needs there are two 102 and 104 degrees of hot mineral goodness. Met Stephanie and Michael. We had nice chat about love, location and time. They have know each other 40 years, both been  married to other people had  kids and then divorced.  Social network brought them together. “You guys are LDR’s”  “Whats that?” Long distance relationship. She lives in Santa Cruz and he’s a

local. I said in no time he will fall in love with the Ocean too. Stephanie had a idea I’ve discussed with others. Some relationships have a shelf life and  hers was about 25 years “And what you value”? she said  “Monogamy” . I said something along the lines of real estate of the heart can be an acre or a millimeter. Micheal was feeling his oats saying that you get older you notice a lot more people die.  Then another gal entered the jacuzzi and join the light banter. “I’ve been experimenting with chocolate and vegetables. Leeks and chocolate to be exact.” She deliciously describe a variety of dishes. “I sliced the eggplant and put salt to dry them out..you know. I used ricotta..” I said “sister you gotta stop I’m getting hungry”.  I booked a massage and could hear the running water creek which was nature’s  spa soundtrack. I had a hamburger, beer in a can and bottle water  $10.47. Went back downstairs and then a family arrived. The Muslim women had their bathing suits on. It’s a poncho with an attached Habib with  a colorful batik border and a  full length skirt. Swimming must be a drag. They, along with their children, look to be enjoying themselves. I love listening to the language which was pretty much the

same in English “get in the water it’s not that hot”.  There are universal truths.  All kids run with excitement to jump in a pool and husbands and wives hold each other in the water. Ziajian.

Porterville California I embraced dearly as a temporary home. One more month and off to another assignment. The people here don’t ask for much. Here, I  developed a bad thrift store habit. Did I really need the Con air stone massage set up? I could use a crock pot some hot water and tongs couldn’t I?  Funny thing I know I’ll come back to work here again.  There is a small town feeling in all of us and its not necessarily a warm and fuzzy one but one of recognition. Porterville ‘s  gifts of fruits, nuts and especially livestock and horse talk make me a fan. People here taught me love of family as they  they walk the walk. Long lasting relationships and marriages outweigh just about everything else. A tank of gas lasted a month if I stayed local. And no one knows outside of tulare county  where this place  is but that’s okay.  Next stop Cuba.

DEAR LISA
         You are sweet, pretty and good company  as the day is long. You make an effort to keep the ties that bind and you married a cool  person too. A big thank  you when you  gave me great advice “Run when you happy”. This has made such a good impression I’m blogging about it lol. Seeing you mom and pops, My Auntee Marina and Uncle Bill felt good and wholesome. We may not hang out much at all but we are loosely in each others spheres. You turn lemons into lemonade (you too Jon D.) And I feel close to you because you initiate memories of Aaron. You are indeed a special person and I look forward to seeing you again even if it’s  another 2 or 3 years. Thanks sweetie U Da Best.

It’s best said if you knew what it took to get that radicchio walnut cranberry salad you wouldn’t mind paying the price.  I drove thru central California’s back side near the Sierras’ and Sequoias’.   I did not know anything about all the towns on my way to Sacramento. Exeter, Ripon, Lindsay, Tulare, Strathmore, Terra Bella,Visalia. Of course Fresno.  These fine towns provide us with such abundance.  There is train called  The Lettuce Express.  I’ve been told it gets preference over other cargo.  Then I observed two women sitting side by side on an open bench tractor like machine.  I notice the sprayer she was pointing to the ground.  As  they rode up and down back and forth I thought is it a pesticide? Probably. They had masks but really we all know about repeat exposure. Living here in Porterville has exposed me to the harsh  lives of others. I’ve been taught to appreciate Nature’s church that feeds and sustain all of us. From limb to limb I reach out to all the crop harvesters, pickers and  generational disciples of Cesar Chavez’s migrant farmers. Thank you and God bless you.

I’m half a century old. This birthday is painless and carefree.  If I’d  lived during the pioneer days or the Byzantine Era I’d be dead already.  Now I’m eligible for some mature person discount and the fun will be finding out where and when I can explore these perks. My mom says when I was born she was scared to take me home from the hospital  and my Auntee Lover came over and gave me a bath.  This simple statement reminds me we are  all so lucky to be loved and cared for. Nothing has changed.  I feel like I can live forever  and I bathe in the notion that this life is not read thru.  My birthday wish is this “To rock steady and keep closer God like qualities in my heart and think clearly with my big ol head” I might not party like a Rock star but  its been fun trying.  Ziajian

Lufthansa pilot says “we are diverting to another airport”. Apparently the weather was so bad all flights grounded.  My Swede passenger and I were suspicious. Both of us had come from harsher climates “Terrorist threats?” Two hours later waiting on the tarmac, we leave for Frankfurt. Long story short I got meal and hotel voucher to spend the night. This will be only the 2nd time I’ve stayed in Germany. Angela Merkel has been  chancellor here for at least 10 years. I know very little but the Germans say she “okay” (I asked a few people while waiting in line) I also  found out the Mega Panama canal is open (more people in line). I took pics back in Dec. 2013 and story back then was the Chinese were running out of money to finish it.  Not much has change with German food. Pickled, sour and bread type food  still same. Euro strong, dollar weaker. Played with makeup, perfumes and sunglasses at duty free and learned a little about caviar. If anyone ever asks me what kind of roe I’d like I will say “Imperial of course” But I thought caviar was a Russian thing? Oh well Auf wiedesen

This is a Swedish Finland heavy metal  band. It has a few meanings “Storm and drive” or Storm and Stress. Finland has one of the greatest number of death metal bands, who knew?  Swedish fish Ikea and meatballs is what I initially think of. We talked our driver in to taking us to Sweden last night extra 50 €. We drank cider and Irish table whiskey. He drank Fanta Orange. Zero tolerance here in Sweden and Finland etoh level 0.05. The driver shared that  3 out 5 top formula 1 drivers are Finnish. Kemi Finland bought Sampo the ice breaker ship from the Finnish government in 1987 for today’s equivalent of 125k euro (deal). It was going to be sold to Russia for scrap metal.  And now it’s strictly for tourism. Several rivers run into the Baltic Sea so it’s not so salty and water forms into ice. We put on the red survivor suits and floated in the ocean and it’s was not as cold as I thought and the water tasted more like creek river stream water then briny ocean. I felt peaceful and relaxed and the suits do really protect you. They have Sauna on the ship but not for guests. One person lives on Sampo and the ship was built in 1961. They give you a “Diplomi” for Artic operations and it’s signed by the Captain.  Ahoy Mate.

I remember the segment on Alaskan men  and what was said after loads of gals arrived there with their stuff.  ” The odds are good..but the goods are a little odd.”  Here in Lapland they like calm and quiet. The men here are hearty to say the least. I observed men doing the following; reaching into fires to adjust burning logs, cooking and fetching water (frozen lake and axe).  Chopping wood and starting a fire so quickly. And offering coffee in one fell swoop. I  took an informal survey and found out there are plenty of singles here. To apply one must like wide open spaces, the cold and working hard Every single day. Beautiful names “Aiva, Santos and Opi” do not begin to describe their solid mass and strength. You will be safe because they read tracks ” rabbit, reindeer and red fox” Bears? “No they are sleeping now…no worries”  beautiful faces and love of nature make them attractive but the courtesy and kindness make them special. These guys aren’t pleasure seekers, living here provides that. They are low key and content. They are asking for the same.  When you apply tell them the Mexican sent you. Ole haavya

OMGI what did I sign up for. 2 days of husky sledding which meant falling…a lot.  Watching dogs go at like some couples I know, either f.ing or fighting. The guide introduced himself ” My nom  is Visa like the card I’ll be your guide. He gave us gear, a short lesson and off we went. I fell 1st and the 6 dogs kept running.  Heart beating so hard I heard it in my eardrums.  Although I had no regrets I began to realize that this was not for everybody.  Unfortunately (I won’t go into details)  we lost a dog (died) and the  3 females in heat created such a stir that breaking up dog fights became a routine. I would  yell in my harshest tone and the more blood I saw I had to  use something substantial to avoid further harm. I would pull off a branch tree switch and with all my might try to  break up the fights. Sometimes I could but the  pitch blackness made me really scared  and my head  lamp worked but in 35 below it’d freeze. I been bitten before..no thanks. The guide  helped  but only if he realize I’d fallen behind.  Then I remembered Visa  saying  theses dogs were more like a pack of wolves than pack of dogs. I had nothing to compare this to and writing about this has helped. I have a healthy respect for mother nature even in  its  cruelest moments, it  had defined me to be initially pro-active  then have my emotional collapse later. I wish to thank my true friend Cynthia who was with me and Visa the guide. I just didn’t want to cry. May the beautiful husky go quickly to dog heaven. Amen.

Hell maybe hot but here is not. Observation led me to believe a few things. During winter with double digit negative temperatures the Fins get by with very little. One approached me and was frank, he pointed to my ensemble and said “it’s too much and I am from here.”   Diners looking out the window would tap their companion as to indicate to look at the passers-by.  I did not care because I was warm and planning on staying outside for hours.  Sardines and lovely jams do well for sustenance. You can have open bottles of booze in public. Saunas are ubiquitous. Sweden once occupied Finland then the Russians had a go at it.  Then around  1918 Finland came into its own, a relatively new country.  The language with its  multiple meanings and maximize use of the umlaut is an auditory treat.
Its a tongue twister without being harsh   KUSSI KITTOS and Terveuloa. Hei hei  moi moi are easy but ruisvalipalanakkileipa and suklaapatukka are not. I close my eyes to listen.  To me it’s the most lilting diaphanous language I’ve heard.  Next stop Lapland. A local said there is nothing out there, I beg to differ because it’s all new to me.