Although I haven’t left California lately  it’s a the idea of going home to be with people I love. A sadness came in the form of death.  Attending a funeral of someone who represented  all that is good. Family, love and commitment was Mrs Retrosi’s Forte. The silver lining was reconnecting with all the schoolmates I knew as a single digit midget. The warm fuzzy feelings are there especially when you know everyone is thriving. Laughter supercedes all other emotions followed closely by love and touch. Selfishly I beam with pride. No one in jail for extortion or anything scandalous just a sense of wholesomeness. I’m leaving for Cuba in a few days and the first time in Long time I’m kinda of nervous. A former friend went about 10 years ago and she was mugged. I am going  utilize the love I received and like a invisible cloak, wear it knowing I’ll be just fine.

Poker has taught me a lot. To me Patience, discipline and observations are the most important tools. What poker hasn’t taught me  but life has, is to be childlike and relish the good stuff. I drove to a card casino to play an Omaha poker tournament with $25.00 buy-in with multiple rebuys in the 1st hour.  Sat between two local guys. First thing I said to myself “If they’re old and white they play tight”. Then an Asian married couple sat down “danger danger”. Couldn’t place plywood between them so if they knocked knees “oh well”. 33 people I’ve never met all wanting to make in the money. But is really about the money. No! its the rush! I live for the rush which some one had said “It’s like a drug”.  When you are in the zone nothing can stop you. Cut to the final table. 6 people left every one gets paid. Strategy is to eliminate the short stacks and collect “steal blinds”. Here is where I got into the Zone. I told myself I made it this far and I DON’T CARE. I played late position knowing people would fold. I doubled up. I knew that homegirl was going to get tired of me stealing blinds in late position and call me. When she did I had monster drawing hand. She singlehandedly double me up and she didn’t see the two 10k chips on the bottom of my stacks. Final table rules allowed no limit status so I pushed all in knowing I had a fifty percent chance of winning. The two remaining players asked to chop and I agreed. Whenever I won my showdowns I jumped up and down and did a little dance. I didnt care if I looked foolish “really a $25.00 tournament?” I jump with excitement knowing I was in the zone and I was going to use my whopping $288.00 win at the cash game and make more. Ziajian

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.