"It Never Entered My Mind" Miles Davis Quintet

I'm back at work on this rainy Monday. This song captures my vibe today. It is officially fall in my book, the pool is closing on Wednesday and summer is gone. Time to start playing records and lighting candles!

I have a few minutes to write, so here goes.

So this week I am teaching ESL, and there are students from all over in these classes. I noted this morning when students are prompted to stand and recite the pledge of allegiance, no one did. They didn't even pause to think about it. Not sure why that surprised me but I have never witnessed that before in a classroom.

Here is a shot of a Shaman who performed a blessing on each of us in Cusco. I would have really enjoyed a full on smudging, but it was moving none the less.

Hope you are well...

Shaman

"Cedars of Lebanon" U2

I am finally getting back to "normal" after the 40 hours of travel time. 4 different flights in 2 days time: Cusco- Lima, Lima- Miami, Miami- Chicago, Chicago- Indy. Not including layovers and delays I made it home around midnight Thursday.

Cedars of Lebanon came to mind this quiet Sunday morning. There are many biblical references about strengh and purification it seemed apt to play today.

I think this will be my last day in the pool. The weather will be changing this week and cooling down to fall like temperatures. I am actually ready for it. It seems wrong to start decorating for fall and still have a foothold in summer by swimming.

If I ever get a tatoo it will be this-- the sign of the serpent (see photo below), which is part of the three sacred animal worlds. Here is a little more about what the serpent represents: Transformation and Renewal: The serpent’s ability to shed its skin symbolizes death, rebirth, and the cycles of transformation. Healing and Wisdom: The serpent embodies healing and wisdom, connecting us to the healing energies of the earth and the subconscious mind. Connection to the Unseen: It moves through the hidden depths, reminding us to explore the mysteries within ourselves and the world.

You can read a little bit more about the three scared animals worlds here.

“Send Love” Mary Chapin Carpenter

When all you've got is not enough to get you through the day

(send love) Your candles burnt down to the wick, no fuel for a flame

(send love) And every moment showing you that nothing ever stays the same (send love)

Send love

Dreams that never had a chance, they finally let you go

(send love)

Failures chalked up to happenstance, we'll never really know

(send love)

Why the scars that we keep hidden are worse than what we show (send love)

Send love

Send love without conditions, all transmissions

From messengers and servants Love by air and wire

Through storms and fire, postmarked urgent And maybe to yourself this once

To show you are deserving of Love

All my life I've never felt like I belonged (send love)

Every fix I came up with turned out wrong (send love)

And every moment called a gift suddenly was gone (send love)

Send love We move so fast we don't know where we've even been

(send love)

Some lives don't so much as start before they end

(send love)

And I'd give anything to have it back again (send love)

Send love

Send love

Send love

Love

Sending you love.

“End of the Road” Eddie Veeder Cusco

I've been listening to the soundtrack to Into the Wild (Eddie Veeder) on the long train and bus rides while taking in the amazing Andes Mountains. It is the perfect companion to the Peruvian landscapes-- and I can relate to the character in the book about being free of the societal chains that bind us to what it means to be truly alive. Work for the man until you die? No.

I'm on the last leg of the journey here in the center of Cusco, a beautiful old city. The Peruvian people are so beautiful and kind it's no wonder people from other places come here and never leave. My Great Aunt married a handsome Peruvian, but he was Catholic and after getting his green card, got the marriage annulled, leaving my aunt heartbroken. Georgous and Alone.

She never dated or remarried and died a spinster.

Yesterday's workshop showed how the beautiful colors are made for textile work. I have a new appreciation for each piece and the hours it takes to dye the alpaca and sheep wool and use the loom to create the intricate patterns. Nothing is written down, the women use math and muscle memory to create the designs.

Our group has gelled and it has been interesting listening to each traveler's journey- many echo each other, loss of a spouse, loss of a grown child by suicide, beating cancer, or just this is what they chose to do with their remaining time here.

We have heard several times in different lectures how everything is connected and nothing really is by chance. On the train up to MP I heard several stories about travelers getting lost, and just when they thought it was the end, someone or something rescued them.

That gives me great comfort.

Here's to the last 2 days in Peru! Salud!

The Old Mountain Gorillaz

I am sitting in my room, window open, just at the feet of Machu Picchu. There is a light rain falling and it is a cool 65 degrees. Every 15 minutes, like clockwork, a train passes just below my window, shuttling travelers up the mountain to see the breathtaking site of Machu Picchu.

I witnessed its magestic beauty yesterday and am forever changed.

The past four days have been transformative for me, offering fresh perpective on what it means to live, what one can do without, and a new appreciation for the Peruvian people and their land and culture.

This time has also given me a chance to meet others who understand and value traveling to distant places in order to make more sense of the world.

l am by far the youngest in the group of solo travelers and the least traveled, some people here have done over 19 trips with RS and have seen the world twice over.

No doubt that will be me in ten years, as travel to me is as essential as nurishnent to our body; it is nurishnent to my soul.

El Nino has played a hand in this unusually wet period, and we will have to trapse to the bus station in the cold drizzle. To me, it is a beautiful blessing to commune here with other believers in lost civilizations and wonderous sites.

i wouldn't want it any other way.

Lima

Well, after 20 hours of travel, I made it to Lima. I'm running on 3 hours of sleep and can really feel it this morning.

As the cab drove to my hotel, he had the windows down, allowing a cool mist to permeate the air. The Pacific Ocean waves were crashing on the shore, their white foam visible even in the dark night.

I was surprised at the number of people out so late on a Wednesday at 11:00PM. And the chaos of driving?! just like in Cairo, it's a free for all. Everyone is honking, there are near misses and side swipes as the drivers muscle their way through traffic with basically no lanes.

Now that it is light, looking out my hotel window, there is a similar sketchy quality to the city. Not quite as bad as in Egypt, but definitely not a place i'll be walking by myself.

Soon I will head down and meet the group. At breakfast I saw two women who are on tour. This part is hard for me- getting to know you, small talk stuff. I'm going to try my best to connect.

Today we ride to Chorrillis then the ruins of Huaca Pucllana and then downtown Lima.

After that it will be Pisco Sour time!

Peruvian Flute Music

Happy Labor Day.

It is currently 44 degrees in Cusco, 65 degrees in Lima and 61 degrees here at home. I have forgotten what chilly weather feels like after the week plus heat wave we endured here in Indiana.

So much for sweater weather.

Soon.

I am down to a few hours before the trip and the nerves are starting to kick in. It's one thing to travel to a different city in the states-- a completely different thing to explore a different country and culture. I wonder if the Spanish will come back to me. Hope so, because when I get back to the states I am teaching ESL for a week!

I haven't been sleeping as the worry about travel woes creep into my thoughts. It is never about danger but more about missing a flight, not having all the details ironed out or forgetting something important. Sometimes I even ask myself why did I want to do this in the first place. "You're way too adventurous," says a colleague of mine. I suppose once the wanderlust fades for me that will be the beginning of the end.

There was a movie that came out in the early 90's (Alive) and was recently remade (Society of the Snow) about a Uruguayan rugby team that crashed their plane in the Andes Mountains. I found the 1993 version of the crash (even if technology wasn't as good as today) terrifying and had a hard time flying for a few years after. Now, here I am, going to the very place the crash occurred.

Here comes the Rabbit hole again...

ON a different subject, The scale won't budge for me. I have been sitting at 119.0 for about 2 weeks now. The training has slowed due to work and home projects, but the discipline is still there. Another worry about travel is losing what I have worked so hard to achieve in the gym. Remember-- this is a bucket list trip. There will be time when you get home to train.

So much to do before I go..adios mi amigo.

"Two Worlds" Daniel Lanois fm Belladonna

I took these decaying magnolia shots when I was out west somewhere. Not sure why I adore flowers as they start to die, petals falling and the colors darkening. It reminds me of the New Order album cover for Power, Corruption and Lies.

Today's music (Daniel Lanois and his steel guitar sound)reminds me of the southwest. Maybe even Mexico with the song titles. When I paint I like to play music--especially instrumental albums like this one. Some of the songs are haunting, like "Oxaca". I usually have to skip that one out of fear of losing myself in sadness. Take a listen to the whole album if time permits.

How is the healing coming along, I wonder? Moving in slow motion? My guides are asking me to elevate and be prepared to expand to what I was called to do. Easier said than done.

The water is calling and I will be poolside in just a few short hours.

Be well.

"You Go to My Head" Chet Baker

This weekend's Glamping was a chill experience with time to sit by a campfire and listen to some jazz greats like Chet Baker.

I especially like this song not just for the liquor references but because I sang it as an audition piece long ago.

You go to my head/And you linger like a haunting refrain/And I find you spinning round in my brain/Like the bubbles in a glass of champagne.

I read about Chet in But Beautiful. Didn't realize he was such a womanizer. I guess you never can tell... I would have been a fool for Chet as well. What a tortured soul. Sigh. I loved how the book described his loathsome attitude toward conversations. I can relate.

It's a trip to read about an artist while listening to them play. But I've started to make a practice of it recently. I have been enjoying the last days of summer in solitude reading poolside. It seems to be the only time in my day I am not in perpetual motion or feel compelled to DO something.

And sometimes I just sit in silence--listening to the angry sound of migrant hummingbirds flitting above my head competing for food at the feeders or leaves falling and thinking of the final scene from The Great Gatsby when Jay Gatsby (in his striped suit) gets shot while floating on a raft in his pool music playing...

I hope you are well.

"After the Goldrush" Trio Dolly, Emmy Lou and Linda (Neil Young Cover)

Dolly was an angel. I'll miss her talent and her bravery.

" Pretzel Logic" Steely Dan

I thought of this one today for some reason.

I have 1st hour prep, so I thought I would get something down and move the grey matters around a bit. Ah, the silence of morning. It is my favorite time of day.

The mornings are starting to get chilly and the college kids are back in mass. I have mixed feelings about their return to Btown-- I dislike the traffic and wait time when they are here, but their energy and youthful optimism is welcomed.

Pridefest was in full force this Saturday-- it's a great time to people watch, and the weather cooperated, which is nice.

Yesterday I had to myself and I managed to refinish a 1950's formica kitchen table and chairs. I have to order seat cushions, but it is mostly done. I'm not all that fond of gold and black and prefer silver in my work, but I had to stay with the original colors.

The table and chairs were a steal at $99 and just needed a little love to bring them back to their former glory.

I've been thinking back on where I was a year ago today... so much change. And yet, there is so much I need to figure out. I get stuck in my head a lot and worry about the things I messed up. I can't undo what has been done. I can only hope there was a reason for the things that happened and it will become clear to me someday.

In the meantime, guess I'm doing fine.

"Cest La Vie" and "Elderly Woman.." Zion Crossroads & Pearl Jam

C-est La Vie

So my SO did a thing. He is officially an Elk. The initiation was a cross between some kind of creed you recite in church and a watered down Shakespeare monologue. But I appreciated the pomp of the whole ordeal--too bad I had to leave for the secret handshakes.

The Elks Lodge is a funky place but is on the Historic Register for Monroe County. While he was initiating, I toured the place and found my way to the basement (it was roped off but I went down anyway.) There is a beautiful bar that looks like it came from the movie set THE SHINING but not quite as fancy that just needs some renovation and it would be good as new. I'm going to look into some funding for that..

Meanwhile, now that I am well versed in bar management, I was shocked at how the bartenders pour at this place. So what if I am drinking with geriactrics-- the drinks are cheap and stiff and tonight ZION CROSSROADS is playing. I have not heard them since my DJ days, so I am looking fwd. My girl is up for it, so it should be a hill-billy-bluegrass-rockabilly good time.

Less than 2 weeks until the big deep dive into Peru... Hope you are well.

Heard this one coming home from work today.

Do hearts and thoughts fade away?

"Amber" 311

Well, we will call it orange.

It has been an easy day at work but sooo sloooowww. I don't know how people can teach math for years and years without getting bored. I've learned that my next two days are going to be rough with freshman general algebra. Yay. Again, math people just seem so meh.

Yesterday I finished the front porch project and it looks amazing. The door pops and my paint touchups to the house, siding and door are a welcomed addition. Can you say curbside appeal? Yes.

Today I ordered my hiking gear for the Peru trip. I can't believe it is 21 days away. I have started to revisit the places I am traveling and am looking so fwd to Sacred Valley as well as Machu Picchu. Here's to hoping the trip will be a gamechanger for me and I will come home with clarity and purpose.

I just received my Degree of Certificate for Bar Management Summa Cum Laude. So I am official! Crazy what one can accomplish in a year's time.

What does this year have in store?