Sunday, February 26, 2012

Extra Extra, Drink All About it

I never change, never change, the lyrics once again speak true.  I'm under a deadline of self imposed importance which is the easiest and worse kind of deadline to break.  once again I suspect that I'm about to let myself down.  It is already nearing the end of February according to the calendar.  Yet hope rings true, suddenly I realize it's a leap year, I've been blessed with one extra day to make everything right.

opening a bottle of Caymus Special Select, I pause to reflect on the blessing of one more day.  Suddenly discovering an extra day opens a new world of thinking.  having recently been confronted by the death of friends friends, I'm been wondering about the meaning of my own mortality.  not usually a topic I dwell on, death, it struck me that suddenly I've seemingly been granted an extra day in life.  taking a sip of my wine, I begin to ponder how to spend the day.

if we could be free of everything that needs to be done, guiltless of who we should share that day with, aware that this fictional day is extra how; I wonder how I would choose to use such a day.  not to meet some deadline I realize, that needs to be dealt with first.  And being that this not so fictional extra day is in february I know exactly what I want to do with it, so I need to get stuff done so the coming wednesday can be guilt free.  taking another sip I put down the wine in favor of a pen.  I have work to get done, on the 29th we ride

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Taking It All In - Face Value

"Welcome to the Doll House," I said opening the cabin's front door, revealing the party.
I watched her eyes as she scanned the participants of tonight's gathering.  a couple pretty young things giggled as they pushed their way past us traveling out into the starlit night.  "wanna join us?" a brunette with a wicked smile shot back over her shoulder.  "perhaps later, I just arrived." I responded as we walk the opposite direction, entering into the parties center.

"are things like them why they call it the doll house?" my night's companion asked.

looking at her lips I replied, "it's actually Dahl, in reference to my buddies last name."
she smiled.  you can learn a lot watching someone's face, especially when you bring a city girl to a mountain party.  Usually I can get a sense of how the evening is going to go by watching first reactions to my crazy ski/snowboard friends.  Tonight's lady however, was an interesting read.  as I studied her face all I could gather is her awareness to the many faces around her.  the looks in the crowd were a much clearer read on their faces.  ranging from "is she good enough for him" to "who's this bitch he's f'n now" made up the spectrum of thoughts visible among the women.  for the most part the men gave their default stare; fresh meat, I outta see about this girl.  as always the faces of my close friends were much more inviting.

dropping the shot ski from the three of their lips, expressions on their faces came more clearly into view.  "who's the new hot lady" the first of my buddies inquired.  "You mean who's tonight's arm candy?" my second buddy added. hoping to stop them before things were out of my control I broke in, "unfair, I often enjoy roll'n solo." but already a few drinks in my friends weren't going to allow me to take back control of the introductions easily. "WHEN do you roll solo?" my gurl, the third of my three friends broke back. "you love having some sweet thing to toy with all night."

knowing it was my face now being studied  all I could do was turn to my partner and smile.
"don't worry," my buddy urged her.  seemingly coming to my defense, "in general, that puts you in a pretty attractive group."  laughing as he gave me a loving bump, my other buddy added, "is that a group or a harem that you are meaning to refer to?"  "I said nothing about exclusive, I was just complementing the lady on her looks," the first buddy responded.  keeping things real my gurl was compelled to add, "he wishes it was a harem, rather than just list of failed lays."  the chorus of all three now laughing.

I offered that she enjoy herself for a moment while I find us a couple glasses of wine.  the adorable look on her sexy face said it all, getting to know her was going to be more than just a one night thing.  as I departed in search of something special for us to drink, more laughter took over the expression on their faces.  she was in good hands.  enough studying of faces, I was off to the cellar to study labels.

Sunday, February 05, 2012

Reflections on a Long Walk Home

I've come to believe that we are reflections of the company we keep.  the people we choose to take on as friends says much about who we are as a person.  taking on their energy and share ours with them, it impacts the world, for good or for ill.  thus, you can learn much about a person by getting to know their inner circle.  of course, I probably believe that because the only people on the planet I admire more than myself are my friends.

these days I am seldom surprised by the many things my circle of friends are able to accomplish.  While I continue to bum though life, learning to share the richness of the story that unfolds, my friends live inspired lives that help me find the joy in living.

Following the premier of the movie about his life, a friend of mine decided the best way to stay humble and true to his story was to walk home.  over the next three days he'll hike and ride from paradise on mt. Rainier back to Crystal mt and his home in greenwater.  meanwhile another friend juggles, full-time school, full-time work and part-time snowboard instructing, all so that she can carve our time for the important things in life, living a spirit life of joyful free-time.  they might be brief, but when the opportunity presents itself she gets after it.

It's not all rainbows and unicorns however in the lives of my friends.  pain and tragedy as of late is no stranger.  Having just lost a very special girlfriend to cancer, the grace by which my buddy is dealing with such lose is a powerful thing to witness.  I've fallen hard in the past and I watch as others I know fall even harder. It is easy to allow negatives in life to pull us down.  But to stand in the face of that fear, to be strong while at the same time be open taking help as it is offered, to be aware that it is okay to be vulnerable so that healing can occur, that is a powerful lesson.

I see these friends in good times and bad and they also see me.  through it all I continue to vibe with these people because in my heart I know, we all are just doing our best to pour love into the world around us.  That is a reflection I'm happy to see look back at me from the mirror.

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Who's Sexy Sexy - Enjoy the Tempranillo & I'll Tell You

the bounce is back, the dude is back, got my swagger back, sexy sexy deal with it...

in the city again dealing with all the drama. up in the mountains things have been simpler. staying warm, surviving, understanding joy and discovering the depths of love; these are the things that consume our daily life. down here in the city life is easier but living is so much more complex. everything I could ever want is within reach, yet so much junk is in the way. disconnected from the world the city seemingly consumes the soul. people think of self before considering the "us" in each other.

I can feel the energy shift as the drama rises. grabbing a bottle of tempranillo I head off to dinner. my hope is that the earthy notes of this Washington grown wine will ease the burdens of a city day. we drink in the juicy notes of red fruit and savory the long finish.  paired with a home cooked vegetarian meal the energy around the dinner table is good. Drama swirls around us but life rolls on in our comforting little bubble. Friends, real friends, people that care for people, they can keep you sane in the insanity of the city.

finding what I need, this time is the city has come to its conclusion. change clothes, yeah uh, sexy sexy, turn your radio up. I drive back to the hill