" what am i going to be when i grow up . . . "

it's on now in case you are wondering . . . 7am, saturday morning. the moon just went down into the ocean ( i saw it from the bathroom window around 5am) and the sun is yet to rise high enough to see thru my front window. time for breakfast with Stuart.

breakfast with The Vinyl Cafe and the morning sun . . . a song on the show just mentioned the sunrise . . . 728am.

last weekend Stuart talked about splashing in the waves is as close as he will get to being a kid again. i took these photos later that same morning and felt his words... and then i too splashed in the waves. today he was talking about Planet Boy. it is available on his newest cd.

being a kid is that thrill, that joy you get from splashing in the waves

tsuyukusa ga tsuzukimasu . . . and so does my lazy day

you know what i was doing at 7am . . . The Vinyl Cafe . . . but what have i been doing since then? enjoying the passing of time. taking a few photos. watching the L & O: Criminal Intent Marathon. and very very slowly cleaning up my little apartment. i may have to take a break and lay out by the pool.

________________________5pm

i received a nice surprise in the mail today. the new Kobukuro cd and special Kobukuro towel from their latest concert tour, the Humbert Humbert cd i left and a nice happy Autumn postcard.

thank you, N.

7 ways on day 7

i found this this morning while trying to find information on the Japanese poet, Shinmin Sakumura.  somehow it is all connected.

Buddhism has a a teaching called "7 ways to give without having a fortune" which teaches everyone can give 7 things and plant seeds of happiness even without having a large sum of money.  these are the 7 ways from the Zohozokyo (a Buddhist scripture):

1. a kind look

2. deal with others with a loving smile

3. warm words

4. use your body to serve others

5. have a considerate heart

6. give your seat to others

7. let others stay at your home

at the market

and on the way back from my walk i found this

there was a new Vinyl Cafe this morning which featured a new Dave story.  Stuart also had two musical guests.  Jill Barber, i had never heard of but she is an excellent award-winning singer up in Canada. and the other was Dan Hill. not sure if i knew he was Canadian but i did learn some things about him after he sang his classic "sometimes when we touch" and before he sang a beautiful song about his Father. if you look at his webpage you can see him singing "My Father's son".   you can also see how his hairstyle has changed.  his voice is still the same.

the rain stopped

J o y . . . connected

another wonderful Vinyl Cafe to start this gray saturday.   highlights from today's show were stories about . . . gum balls, escaping from East and West Germany, a story and a couple of songs about/by Brian Wilson, and Joy t-shirts.  more about that when i return from my walk to the beach. and maybe another photo or two from today's walk and/or Japan and/or about all things connected.

 ________________________________

 hopefully you can see the dolphins jumping in this little video.  

 i really do need to get a zoom lens.

okaeri . . . おかえり。

more present

looks like a nice day for a long walk.  i will be taking some Hayden with me.  and some water and a couple of clementines.  Tony is waiting by the door.  i think i still have a Trader Joe's energy bar leftover from my last walk although i don't think i will be gone that long but one never knows. the first football game is on at 130p (i think) so i will be back by then (probably).  for sure i will have some photos and videos to share but until then check out Hayden.  his website's name is actually a title for how i spend my days :  )  he was on a wonderful Vinyl Cafe Show this morning and i can't stop thinking of his song about the Origami Security Guard.  of course the story about "birthdays" was heartwarming especially since i will be returning to my hometown on monday for my Mother's 70th birthday on tuesday. and the Dave story was even more special...since i will be returning to my hometown on monday. . . two and half (not men) years since i was last there.

______________ 6pm _____________

it was truly a beautiful day for a long walk to the beach.  and for a hour long dip in the ocean.  

here are a few photos from my walk . . . you never know what you might see if you take the time to be more present (Vinyl Cafe reference).

the beginning/the end of my walk

let my bar stools go

third (if you are counting)

rose highlights

i can't remember the name of this flower but i will never forget the color

this is where the orange flower begins

happy family of 4

the view looking east from waist-deep 

one of my recent (as of 1pm today) favorite images . . . a dolphin surfing . . . and that beautiful green color

Toshi from Kanagawa, Japan.  and from Australia.  now living in Redondo Beach.   はじめまちて。どうぞ　よろしく。Hey Toshi... send an email to get your photos and videos.

Toshi shreds

Toshi and Tony

i just heard (email) from a old friend.  actually, it was my second "old friend" that i heard from today.  the first was a phone call was from Mike out in Tampa and now from and even older

(but not in age) friend Katsu.  i think there is a young Katsu and a young me in a photo back in an early december blog posting.  Katsu and his wife and son are doing well up in Canada.  it would be nice to see them again.  and his Father.  maybe this will be the year of "reunions"

and speaking of Canada, here is Canadian singer/songwriter Hayden.  this song was one that Hayden sang on today's CBC Radio 2 (internet version) Vinyl Cafe and is called Weight Of The World.

Music Connects Us/26,463 steps

10 years of listening to the Vinyl Cafe on the CBC on saturday and/or sunday mornings when i am home.  it was 10 years ago in September when i wanted to see and photograph the Big Sky of Montana.  i took the long way from Seattle to Bainbridge Island to Orcos Island to Vancouver to Banff and Lake Louise to Calgary to Montana. it was somewhere in British Columbia where i first heard The Vinyl Cafe on my rental car's radio.  i still remember the first "Dave Story" that hooked me.  it was about Galway the Cat. i have had the good fortune of going to two Vinyl Cafe Christmas Shows and getting to meet Stuart McLean, the show's host and storyteller. and as coincidence would have Stuart and i have the same birthday. more about that possibly but for sure i will add some photos from my long walk as i wander up and down a few hills, along the coast back to the beach and then home again.  i was listening to another program on the CBC as i was eating a little breakfast.  i am not sure of the program but it had something to do with music and spirituality.  i heard "music connects us". i liked that idea. perhaps a new blog title would be "musiconnects".

i was recently asked the meaning of my first blog's title, So Far.  i think the explanation is on my other webpage that i have failed to visit and update in a quite a long time. So Far means this my life so far.  and this is my life with so far to go. and now my backpacked is packed (Tony is inside, and a peach, apple and banana) my walking shoes are waiting by the door.

and i have so far to go today . . .

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home again.  26,463 steps later.  about 12 and half miles later. here are some moments from today.  it was an amazing day for clouds, flowers, peacocks, cats, mailboxes, trees, rattlesnakes, pelicans, rocks, sunshine, shadows, and more and less. 

thinking of Jade Mountains

" . . . below the horizon of my memory . . . "

how does a person from south Texas who has lived for almost 20 years in the south bay of Los Angeles fall in love with . . .  a radio show from Canada?  that was what i was thinking about this morning listening to Stuart McLean on his Vinyl Cafe radio show as he spoke of Dave and Morley's 20th anniversary canoe trip in Algonquin Provincial Park somewhere in Ontario, Canada.  it all started almost exactly 10 years ago. . .

more later.  time to get ready to get ready for my bus adventure to San Pedro for an arts and music festival.  before i go i will say "congratulations" to the Blue Dolphins.  by chance, if there is such a thing in my life, i happened across several soccer games this morning on my walk. i had been watching some mentally/physically challenged youth seemingly enjoying kicking a soccer ball up and down and  around the soccer field.  some seem to enjoy just standing in the center of the field.  the goalie for the purple team let a few goals get by but i don't think he noticed. he keep smiling. i think the team in green had a ringer or two. when they took their half-time break i continued on my walk. it was then that i noticed my friend Steve's wife holding a a video camera which was pointed to the field of girls in blue and red uniforms.

and then i saw their 5 year old daughter Taylor ( wearing #2 in blue if you are keeping score).  and just after i started filming some of the action, Taylor took charge of the ball and kicked one into the back of the net. . . GOAL.  i think the Blue Dolphins scored twice more while i watched from a distance.  i stayed for the "good game" handshake and the running thru the "tunnel" of parents outstretched hands.  and then the photo op with the team's sign.  apparently Steve was on the field next to his daughter's field helping coach the Blue Dolphins 2.  it looked like everyone was having fun.

i continued on my walk which i was cutting short so i could stop by the market before getting ready to go to San Pedro for more music.

when i got on the bus today for my little adventure to San Pedro for the Tri-Arts Festival, i did not think i would see something like this:

Disco-go Pinto

'37 hot rod (actually i think that is what i heard someone say)

Sacred Grounds for coffee and music

i did think i would see and hear something like this:

Visa Versa

Jill Sharpe Band

these photos were from down at the Ports O' Call:

mariachi and seafood

don't try this at home

San Pedro's famous Red Car