heathervescent

3 years here

I never, ever, ever thought I would stay here blogging for 3 years. But it's true. I'm also coming up on the 1 year anniversary over at Daily Mantra.

Some light Sunday Reading

It's a gorgeous day today, and after Romeo and I sat at squirrel watch for hours on the patio I decided to pick up a couple books I am reading. I am usually a speed reader, but these two books are making me slow down, because in addition to making me think, they each deliver pallet after pallet of wood/explosive material to this bonfire from which a phoenix will one day emerge. For now, we're cooking with gas!

First off is Philosophical Explanations by Robert Nozick.
This book is absolutely amazing. It's exactly how I think about philosophy. Well, I'm not really sure yet, as I'm just into the introduction at the moment. But my current mental ponderings about skepticism are right in line with his thinking. I can't wait to wade in deeper.

Second off is Stanislav Grof's Psychology of the Future.
I saw/heard him speak yesterday and it was a lot of good food for thought. Most interesting is the redefinition of emergency to "emerge"-ncy. As in, spiritual emergency. Of course, I couldn't help thinking about the art of bleeding and true safety consciousness.

Mix these two books with my results from the perception of perceptions conference a few weeks ago, add a dash of quetzalcoatl and you might get a feel for what I've got brewing up in my brain.

Romeo on Squirrel Watch

Romeo on Squirrel Watch
Originally uploaded by heathervescent.

Romeo on SquirrelWatch 007! We had three out on the patio this morning and ran them all the way up the tree!

The Prankser "S"

I had dinner with my Dad on Friday. He was surprise in town for the weekend and so we went to his old haunt of 32 years ago - Taix. I'll dis on the Taix service in a moment, but for now, I want to reminiscence positive.

One of my Dad's biggest traits is his trickster, pranking nature. I hadn't realized this until Friday. My Dad was always joking around. To this day, he still calls me, disguising his voice. (Last time he called me, he was an Indian from a Dell call center.) This was a normal, everyday occurrence for me, and I braced myself every time he got started.  My brother quickly picked up his skill and the two of them would tease me incessantly. Trying to see how far they could get me to believe them. I hated this, for several reasons. Of course I didn't like being teased, but even more than that, I was appalled that they would "lie" and then deny the lie b/c it was a story/prank/trick. What happened to the truth uber alles? It was more like trickster uber alles. I couldn't believe/trust anyone to tell the truth. 

I always wondered why I didn't get the pranking skill. I am way too honest for my own good. Why couldn't I spin huge stories and trick my dad and brother? I thought, I'm just not a prankster. (Although I identify with many trickster archetypes.) Friday at dinner, I saw differently. Whereas my Dad and brother prank individuals, my pranks/tricks/mobius flips are on concepts, ideas. I like to prank societal norms. I prank to make people question, think - not to belittle or make fun of or take power from people. I stir the pot. My pranks don't leave pie on your face, but instead (I hope) twist from your brain, a small spark, that had been previously dark.

Melted Cheese

I sure do love me a fresh grilled cheese sandwich. And I'm not the only one!

Tuxedo Travels

Most of the time, you don't have a reason to wear a tux. And what a shame that is, because I am a fan of formal wear. And men look so hot in tuxes.

And then what happened to dressing your best for travel?

I once went on a trip to the south pacific donning a spanking new tropical weather khaki suit. I wore that suit from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Fiji arriving late at night to moist air. Our bus was waiting and we proceeded to ride another 6 hours into dawn, just in time to catch the 1 hour ferry ride out to the island. The island had no dock or landing area, so guess what? I rolled up those suit pants and took off my traveling shoes. It was wading time. That suit went on with me to Vanuatu and Australia. And after I returned to the states, I sold it on eBay to someone in Wisconsin.

I'd bet about anything that these tuxes are going to have similar adventures. You see they are being worn by my friend Dougie Fresh and his intrepid companion. Their quest: to travel from Asia to England wearing only what they have on in the picture. Introducing, the Tuxedo Travels!

Their site is a bit spare for now, but you can join their mailing list and soon you'll be able to read updates, see pictures and watch their overland route. They even have some videos of their adventures so far. They start their actual route on April 1st (April Fools Day?!). I can't wait to hear what adventures they have. I'm so excited for them, that I'm planning to meet up with them somewhere in Europe - wearing my own tux.

Yay for travel formal wear!

Birthday photos

Here are a couple pictures from my Naked Sushi Party, celebrating the 33rd year of Heather. It was a lot of fun. Thanks everyone! All photos by Kmo. More photos available on request.

Not so Immaterial

Suz and I are busting out the moves again next month. Just saying you might want to be at Bootie March 3rd, it you enjoyed the Zombie Cheerleaders.

Just sayin.

On Money

I ended up over at Caterina's blog while researching previous post entries belief set and came across this quote.

Evolutionary psychologist Nigel Barber cites a study where kids were given pens to play with. Surprisingly, those who were rewarded for doing so were less inclined to continue. "The underlying explanation for psychologists is that when you pay somebody to do something ... they get the feeling that they're not doing it because they enjoy it," Barber said.

I guess that explains why I enjoy working on the things that don't pay me more than the things that do pay me. Well, actually that ebbs and flows. But damn this american socialization. Some day, this american ideal will go away.

The Container House

I was never a fan of prefab housing, but this one made of 6 shipping containers looks pretty cool. My only question is, how cool will it be in the desert?

It's called a quik house and it's designed by Adam Kalkin, who appears to be obsessed with the container as a building material. The plans look fabulous and I 'm totally down with the style.

Then again, this house, which is a house inside a warehouse is pretty amazing.

the weekend

By Snake Jagger. More here. This one is my favorite.

 

I put this painting here, because I don't know what or how to write what happened this weekend. This is partly the sentiment and it is partly the opposite.

More 80s hair videos

Ok. I have totally gotten sucked into 80s rock videos. This one is for you Mom.

I have to also admit, that one of my current favorite songs is We're not going to take it. You can watch the video here:

OMG I am totally dying. I totally remember this.

What do you want to do with your life?!!!

80's Ballads good for karaoke

OMG - what a fabulous duet. I love my peoples. I never in a million years thought I would sing this, but it seemed like a good idea last night. And well, everyone was singing along to it as well, so I guess it was a good idea.

And while I'm posting cheezy videos I like to sing - here is a classic. Really, this blasting on the playa drowing out the technoelectronica blip blip was the best ever.

PnP: Napster's Free Service

Ok, so I am not going to get in the habit of pimping companies, but I have been listening to Napster's free service the past couple days and it is GREAT! I was wanting to find some new electronica music and check out some Orb and Orbital albums to see if I wanted to buy them and I can listen to entire albums all day long on the free service! Ok, yes, you're right, the quality is not so great, but I love being able to listen to the music. And I'm def hooked. I'm even thinking about getting the subscription service - hell, I probably will. It's just so weird not to own all my music. But whatever.

[Disclaimer: the boyfriend writes code for N. But he did not put me up to this post. Nor did/does he make me use it. And I can't even get a free girlfriend account. So much for corporate perks.]

Go check it out. Go here for the free service. Search on an artist. If you click the song, it will launch the external player (in a sep browser window), same thing if you click the album. I just wish I could rate the songs I am listening to and remember them. And add them to playlists that would play them when I subscribe. Oh and you do have to create an account - but it's not too bad. And good when you forget your password. Plus you can embed songs on your webpage/blog. Like this one I am listening to right now from the Orb.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Hi Mom,

Happy Birthday! I hope you have a great day today!

xxx

-Heather

Pimping and Promoting: Eric Dorkbakes

This is the announcement of a new heathervescent category called - Pimping and Promoting. If you are cool and/or a friend of mine doing something cool and you want me to tell the world how cool you are and the cool thing you are doing - then send me an email and preferably a cool photo and I will post it on mah blog. Note - I do have a pretty high bar for cool that tends towards the weird cacaphony unique strangeness side. And if I don't actually know you, I might not post it. But try me out.

Update: Please note: If I find out you are doing something cool, I may pimp it without your knowledge - as in this first one. No one puts heathervescent up to anything.

 

In the meantime here is my first pimp and promotion: Eric Grademan dorkbakes this weekend

Eric is a genius and is often found as easily showing off his geek tattoos at a geek dinner as shaking his flaming bootie on stage with Mutaytor. Eric won the geek award at the first Barcamp LA. He's married to a lovely petroleum engineer (whose name I'm sorry I forget). Way to go Eric! You kick ass!

I soooo wish I could watch you kick some cupcake ass this weekend, but I've promised the boyfriend a secret weekend in Palm Springs.

See a genius in action and be entertained in the process. Eric will be at dorkbake this Saturday, Feb 3. Take pictures for me.

Picture is of Eric (with spoons) @ Buca. To the left is Dan of NeoGlam

Will someone buy my house already?

What is wrong with you LA people? Do you not realize the freaking steal, not to mention gorgeous place to live if you buy my house? I guess not.

The house that is in the future. THE FUTURE. (Do you not see the ironic possibilities in living in the future?!!!) The magical place where I totally kicked ass and had an amazing time and saw a totally different side of Los Angeles. A house filled with gorgeous colors, tiled floors, outdoor patios, decks, terraced gardens. This is the most insanely beautiful place you will find for under 3/4 a million dollars. Everyone is impressed when they come visit. It is comfortable and beautiful, compact and spacious and owned by two famous bloggers. :)

Custom mosaic work done by reckless author Gloria Mattioni. It's a house for anyone who is passionate and wanting to TAKE OVER THE WORLD or minimally create their own kick ass world (and I'm not talking about Second Life.) It's secretly hidden and yet so obvious in the future.

It provides the quietude for introspection and uninterrupted work, while being a short drive from hipster Silverlake, developing hipsterness atwater village, the artist overloaded brewery to the south. It's nearby to beautiful wilderness areas with wildlife like the neighborhood raccoons, deer, a coyote or two and lots of hawks. It's great for dogs and friendly for cats. The yard is like a magical forest where you can get lost in levels of greenery.

I'm really disappointed in you LA. Really and in you home buyers too. I mean, how picky are you going to be? This house is gorgeous. There is plenty of room. It is easy to upkeep it (the yard and inside). It's going to look great with your furniture. And it's so fun to entertain in the black and red kitchen.

Oh, and here is a video I made of the interior. Yeah, it's a little shaky.

I know everyone wants a deal, and wants to pay as little as they possibly can to get the best deal every. But please, let's remember, we paid a lot of money for the house. We have to pay a realtor to sell it (cause again, you lame asses didn't take my offer when I tried selling it myself last year - I even gave you cash back and had a mortgage broker ready to pre-approve you.) so I'm sorry, it is a lot of money. But to own a house in LA, on Future street, in a house that is gorgeous, ready for your dreams to become reality, it's really not that much. The money will appear when the time is right.

Just like I wait here, for the magical person or couple who has the daring and delight to own the future.

Crtl-Alt-Reset

You know how sometimes you have to reboot your computer? Some program has been sucking your memory behind your back and you have no idea why everything is running slow? Well, I just identified a major memory leak. My system was running super suboptimal, so for the short-term, I've rebooted. But the long term is that the application has a huge memory leak - and I'm in no position to fix it. So I'm searching for a new program to replace the memory sucking bloat on my desktop. Maybe I'll bust out my programming skills and build the application I really want.

But for now, I'm running more efficiently.

Birf-day

It's mah birfday, it's mah birfday. Let's have a par-tay. A par-tay. Well... ok. Maybe not. We already celebrated. But I always like to take the day off and focus on myself and do what I want and not work. In the past I have spent the days with a friend or two, introspecting and planning the coming year. Maybe a motorcycle ride or several hours at the day spa. This year I spent it in my car with the boyfriend. I was showered with presents, but the best, was the present that has not appeared yet.

So the boyfriend jumps up early this morning and is getting ready to leave. I'm like, hey? where are you going? He has that glint in his eye, like he's up to something - and he is. I just don't know what yet. So he's out of the house and I'm hanging out, trying not to check my email, making coffee in the kitchen, reading in bed with a steamy cup o joe, when he arrives back.

I'm all ears. I'm wondering what is up. (But for once in my life, I'm not overly anxious to get showered with presents. I just want to see what's going to happen.) He has a not necessarily sad, but mixed look on his face. There were concerns because of the 80% chance of rain today that maybe I wouldn't want to do what he had planned. I was like - well, whatever. Then I found out what happened.

The boyfriend rented a Lotus (!!!!!) for the day and when he went in to pick it up there was bad news. Apparently, yesterday afternoon someone came in to rent the Lotus because he was considering buying one, and apparently dude considering the Lotus totaled it! And according to the rental guy, this is not an unusual experience, as this particular one had been crashed 3 times, although, he feared it was really totaled this time.

With a totaled Lotus and an 80% chance of rain the boyfriend gave me a rain check and we took Ingemar up to Mt Wilson to catch snowflakes on our tongues. (Oh and so I could make some phone calls too - because I have a fetish with the Mt. Wilson phone booth.)

Yay. Birthday H. Welcome to the Jesus year.

My kind of space cadet

I'm in line at Trader Joes a few hours ago when I realize I have totally spaced off. I'm in a totally different world and all of the sudden I'm supposed to be keying in my secret code. Whoa. Have I become totally acclimated to LA? Yes. I have. But I'm guessing I'm not your typical Hollywood airhead. I was seriously thinking about a method to discover the things that we believe today as true that will be proven as false in the future. Stuff as mundane as 80's fashion. Stuff as profound as the flat earth in the center of the universe. I was specifically thinking about the problem of missing things that are right in front of your eyes. Blinded by the obvious. So if you know you are blinded and it's probably obvious, how can you discern, discover what it is that is hidden - right in front of you? Yeah, that thing right there, that you can see just as plain as the sunshine, but it hidden from me by the light. The light that's blinding me, that I'm trying to see through. The light that has distracted me from my task of punching in my secret code. Right in front of my face.

Sushi Thanks

I celebrated my upcoming (tomorrow) birthday this past weekend. Last year I spent several weeks planning my karaoke party. This year I threw it all together in 8 hours including shopping trips across town in rainy LA/war protest traffic. For all the work, I was totally stressed when my guests arrived, but the sake flowed and I was wearing a jaunty Kimono and the tables looked great, and we were going to eat yummy sushi off naked flesh - how could bad could it get? Well, it didn't. If you're interested in photos, you'll just have to wait until the photographers get them posted. Thanks to Kevin for having the crazy idea to collaborate and opening his doors to all my crazy friends.Thanks Sam for running around with me. Thanks to Art for my most favorite stuffed being ever! (I love you Art!) Thanks to Elliot for the 3rd time's a charm beer run. Thanks to everyone who came and ate sushi and looked fabulous and came and celebrated with me. It was great to see everyone. xxx

Scrubbed Clean

I finished up with work blindingly fast yesterday (it's because I'm starting earlier and earlier in the morning) and found myself with a free afternoon. I thought, I could bang my head and figure out these three nebulous strategy concepts here in my office. Or I could percolate them at the Korean Spa. So I fiddled around procrastinating and then I gave in and drove to Korea Town.

The jacuzzi was uber hot and the steam room was extra steamy. I went between the hot and cold plunge, exercising my skin and transferring my brain into another dimension at the same time. Then my number was called and it was time to shed my skin. I opted for the scrub and massage. For one hour, time stood still. I was in the black hole of shedding dead skin, then having my body pushed and massaged, finished off with a hot head wash and cold cucumber on my face. My brain wandered. My body relaxed.

It was exactly the relaxation I needed.

Some thoughts

For the past several days I've had a strange concoction bubbling in my brain. On Friday I went to The Perception of perception conference, which was good fodder. The first panel was amazing and asked some interesting questions, like

• Have we always perceived the same way? (Which made me remember about a neglected book on my shelf. (The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind)
• When Margaret Wertheim (who runs the Institute for Figuring) lead us through her images showing the impact space and perception had in medieval times, I was reminded of the idea/concept of a theme of our times. Culture has changed and with that culture, the worldview of the world. We assume we are related to the people in our past histories, but perhaps only biologically. Who is to say that we perceive, and think the same as our ancestors. We are evolving.

And then there are the skeptic books I've started reading. They frustrate the hell out of me. Not because I necessarily disagree with the content (because I actually agree with the 6 points on the cover of Don't Believe Everything you Think) but because they are argument books. Granted I haven't finished them yet, but so far the books are filled with fact after rebuttal after logical explanation after derogatory attitude. It's tiring. I'm not looking for someone to argue with. In fact, I don't want to argue - facts, experiences, stories, logic, anything. I'm not trying to prove anything. I'm trying to understand. Yeah a lot of things are possible, a lot of the possibilities are not possible now, but may/will be some day. A lot of those possibilities may never be able. But who has the last word? Who can say for certain? Scientists?

We used to think the world was flat. Then we thought we were the center of the universe. The fallacies we believe in today will be proven as wrong by our future ancestors. Or else the knowledge will disappear. What are the things we believe as truth today that will be shown, proved as false? So why bother spending a lot of energy proving these things as false. When it's all falsity anyway. It's all layers of the onion. Broken clockworks in a huge melting snowball.

The point I try to keep in my mind is that. If it's all false and there are more things in heaven and earth than Shakespeare can possibly imagine, how do you live? You live in the mutually described/defined reality - the collective worldview we humans hold in our minds. To us, it's true. Which means we live in a shadow world of sparking images we have created in our minds. And since we are such good dreamers, it's a fine world and a hell on earth at the same time.

Postscript: This reminds me of some paintings I saw at the Magritte show. I was walking around looking at his stuff and thinking, this is all just fire and images in a cave and then I came upon the image of the image of the fire canvas in the cave. And I meta-cized it. They show could have really hit this point home on 2 more meta levels. First off, there is Magritte's painting of the cave with a fire and outside on the ledge is a canvas with a painting of the nearby mountains. Meta1: Paint the wall on which this painting is hung with the images of a cave wall. You could include a painting of the fire as well. Meta2: About 6 feet out and 3 feet over from the wall painted as a cave with Magritte's painting on it, build a representation of a fire. Have a spotlight from the fire pointing to the canvas in Magritte's painting. You could even have the couches and sofas sitting around the fire.

You can continue to meta-on out, but these two metaviews drive home Magritte's point - and one I seem to go back to over and over without realizing it. And it's a point that was reminded me by Donald Hoffman on Friday, when he showed us optical illusions and walked us through our visual interpretation of the image we saw.

Planning Squared

And here I thought my personal yearly planning was descriptive and anal. The Daniel has really impressed me with his Project Plan for 2007. Check it out! Fortunately for me, I still have a few days until the gun goes off, as I start my year on my birthday, which is in about a week.

New moon

New moon
Originally uploaded by PJr..

Ready, Set, Go

So, yeah, I wasn't going to do this today, but why not. I'm in line and there are more than 5,000 people ahead of me. Woo. I guess this means I'm going.

g33k d1nner 007

It's time again for the Los Angeles geek dinner /mini-bar / g33k d1nn3r. First one of the year baby. Get out from behind your computer screen and eat some matza-ball soup! We're back at Canters!

Come along!

• Date: January 16th, 8pm dinner
• Location: Return to Canters! 419 North Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90036, (323) 651-2030 --> 2 hours free parking
• Question: When and where are we doing Karaoke?
• Regifting white elephant game. Bring a reject gift (or swag or something no more than $15) to have fun with.

RSVP here.

post facto pimping

I meant to post this earlier, but I was so busy I forgot. This morning daily mantra was on Internet Radio Station, Karma Air. We were on Carol Allen's show Enlightening Relationships. The show focuses on relationships and product and practices that help you have an enlightening relationship. Carol and I had been talking about coming on the show for a few months, but I'm not necessarily focused on relationships. Fast forward a few months after adding several new authors to the site and voila - I've got two fabulous relationship and sex authors to bring along with me.

So this morning after breakfast the daily mantra triumvirate arrived to the Karma Air studios. Carol was a great host and her sidekick was a surprising lot of fun. (The surprise was that I already knew him - in fact all of us did.) I'll be posting the podcast of the show as soon as I get a copy. Woo - post facto pimping!

"Free Potassium Nitrate"

How can a subject line like that NOT catch you? Well it sure caught my eye. (You may ask, why and how did I get an email with that subject line... I'm on a direct mail fireworks list.) Anyway, one thing led to another and I stumbled upon "Confessions of a Fireworks Man." The blog currently covers Harry Gilliam, Chief Cook & Bottle Washer on his trip to China to buy fireworks. It's a fascinating read.

And you cannot imagine the work that goes into making just one kind of firework thing, one fountain, for instance, and getting it all the way to you, safely and legally.  It is amazing.  And what’s more amazing to me is that they are so cheap, even after we mark them up 600 times.

If you're interested in the potassium nitrate, go here.

and the moral of the story is...

  and the moral of the story is... 
  Originally uploaded by Splat Worldwide.

David Lynch all the way.

If you think this picture is strange and wonderful. I suggest you check out the entire set.

Respond-Ability

"Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
- Stolen from the Internet

The Rick in my Name

My father's name is Rick. He's named after my grandfather and my younger brother also holds the same name. I wasn't given the traditional family name to pass on, although I do hold true to keeping the rick close at hand. It's because I'm a maverick.

Maverick: a lone dissenter, as an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates.

This suits me. Or as the boyfriend told me at lunch today: "They pay me to disagree with them." Now that's a great attitude. The point is not to disagree to disagree, but to disagree because that's what's the right thing to do.

Passion Pancakes

I'm passionate to a fault. I care too much about things I shouldn't. And this is both my best and worst trait. Because of my passion, I have energy to spend on things I think are worth wile and should be done. I meet other people who are passionate and the energy increases and something amazing gets done. My passion plus your passion equals explosion. But what about when my passion doesn't match yours? (metaphorical yours). This is the problem. You see, passion doesn't have a graduated switch. You can't turn on a little. It's there or it's not. And if the passion is there and handcuffed, that passion turns to anger, rage. That's the dark side. And it's a very very dark side.

So what to do?

The logical and Buddha view is to detach. But that doesn't work. What to do with all this passion a blazing and rearing to go? You can't shut down a forest fire in 1 minute. But you can redirect. De-attach the passion from the rage and apply it to something that really matters. Take the bubbling mess of a stew and put it outside on the doorstep to cool. Use the hot burning to make something more appealing - like pancakes.

So that's what I'm doing with my passion this morning. I'm making pancakes. Would you like some?

Rant.

More has happened in the past 4 days than all of December. 2007 has gone off like a pack of machine guns that I want to smash into the ground, or aim at each other. I really just feel like ranting, but how can you do that when the people you want to rant about probably read your blog? When and where can you be free and personal? That's the problem with blogging as memory, therapy and processing. I can't always be free. Or I could be free with repercussions. It wouldn't be the first time a shitstorm blew up here. And it's one of the main reasons I don't blog about work.

O Universe. For 2007 can I work with super smart on the ball intelligent people who respond in a timely manner are respectful and inclusive? People who bring out the best in me. People I learn new things from while using my best skills? People I can be happy and proud of working for and pimping and promoting? People who push me and support me and don't act like frat boy assholes? (opps, did I write that?)

I know I can take this "opportunity" to learn how to work with difficult people (or try on being difficult and offended in return), but frankly I am tired of playing games. I'm tired of focusing on the learning or practicing. I am an expert in so many things. Just to prove it, I kicked ass all last year. I don't want to be micromanaged on every step. I don't want an email message to be edited 6 times. I want to GSD (get shit done). I don't want to contribute to the bottom line, I want to contribute to the mutual arising.

I had a conversation with someone last year. He wanted to get to the top of the pyramid (although you could say he was already sitting on the top of it) so he could make it bigger. I said, I wasn't interested in getting to the top of the pyramid. I was more interested in raising the pyramid. That seems a much more worth challenge. You can use and scam and lie and fuck everyone to get to the top. But it takes a different strategy to move it from the bottom. And that starts with impeccable direction from the top.

So what to do when there is some dude sitting on the top of the pyramid holding it down? Maybe time to water the plum tree....

Oh, and DJ John is good mashup music to rant out too! Woohoo!

It's a ticket party!

Ok. This is the only photo I have seen so far from the first bathroom party. Thanks for the fast post Tawny. This photo only shows about 5 or 6 of us. I'm saying, nothing but room!

December 31st, 2006

Remember how I said I wanted to kick ass in 2006? I thought I had that goal slapped down back in May. And then just a few days ago I enumerated a whole lotta ass kicking. But it really came down to the last day of the year. If 2006 before December 31 was ass kicking, then December 31st blew the paradigm out of this world.

It all started on Friday, when I joined a bunch of my friends at a summer camp near Cambria. We moved into our shared cabins, decorated them and headed to the lodge. Someone broke out a keg of Cider (my favorite) and the party started. Food poured forth from the kitchen. Pork Curry was bubbling on the stove, cakes, lasagna, three coffee makers, a tray of baklava, chili, sandwiches, cakes, chocolate brownies and mini carrot cakes. The day was gorgeous, sun setting on twinkling ocean. The moon rising into a clear blue sky. Wedding vows that made me cry. Being at a party of over 100 people where I knew almost everyone. Feeling just as comfortable in a black velvet suit, a banana suit or pajamas. I have never experienced anything like this before. I don't even know how to describe it in words, only the activities.

Sometime after midnight I learned a new meditation technique from Isa, that completely blew my mind. A couple hours later I dragged myself off to bed. Hours later I awakened and headed down to the lodge. About 3pm I teamed up with Zarka and Jane for the annual Gigsville Iron Chef competition. We were given the secret ingredient, but not told what it was. It was a small dried flower - a spice - related to the pepper plant. So Zarka, Jane and I got down to work! I got to work on a spice cake. Jane worked on polenta sausage spiced cornbread. Zarka got down on the quail deviled eggs. We also had spicy filet mignon, amaretto spiced milk and bechamel fennel spiced pasta.

There were two other teams and I admit, I was worried. All the teams were running around in the kitchen furiously for two hours. And then it was judging time. We ended up going last and we blew away the judges taking first place. Thanks to my two kick ass team mates!

Then I immediately rushed off to the fireplace chill area where I was doing my heart's desire workshop. I was frazzled and high from Iron Chef and hot from the fire. But there were 20 people waiting for me and as I started more people showed up. The class was great. I had great questions, everyone got the 6 steps and I was rejuvenated refreshing my mind.  Wow. Mind blowing.

Yet the night was not yet over. I hurriedly  changed into my evening attire (flannel pajamas) and hurried back in time to get slot #4 in the  no-talent contest. I had only a faint inking of what I would do. You see, I had this roll of yellow tickets left over from Barcamp earlier this year, and I wanted to do something with it. So I handed out the tickets, making sure that everyone got one and that it was very important for them to have them for later. Then I enjoyed the festivities. What fun.

At some point, Tawney and Mercury and I ended up with the roll of tickets in the bathroom and that was when the insanity began. What happened next just happened. By the end of the night we had crammed 20 people into the tiny bathroom with us - one came in through the window (that delighted me the most!). There was a footprint on the ceiling. It was the clown car of bathrooms.

I don't remember when that day ended and the new year began, but I do know, that is the most fun I have had in my entire life.

And although that was the end of 2006 - it was also the beginning of 2007 - already well on it's way in it's own direction.

* photo by Wicked Elmo of me icing one of 4 cakes I made last weekend

Welcome to 2007

Hi Blog.

Sorry I've been away again. I hope you enjoyed ringing in the new year in West Hollywood without me. I had a great time and I can't wait to tell you about it. Right now though, I just want to let you know I'm home and except for a couple scrapes and bruises (those darn stairs at night) I am totally unscathed. I have a lot of great stories to tell you. And pictures to prove it too.

I'm ready for 2007. I hope you are too!

xxx

-Heather

All quiet in Blogoland

I've been really quiet the past couple weeks of the year. Quiet on my blog and quiet with my voice. I've been thinking, percolating, melting, blending, coaxing, planning, discovering, meditating on the unknown. And to do that, you have to be quiet.

I don't have any great revelations to share at the moment. The cake is in the oven baking (no - no buns in the oven over here). And that is all I will say at the moment. Remember how mom used to make you be quiet while the cake was baking? Well that's the way it is over here.

And I do love a good cake!

Updated: Saying goodbye to 2006

It's this time of year when I revisit my 2006 goal and see how I did. And more importantly, decide my goals for 2007. I'll say it up front - 2006 is a hard year to follow. My goal was to kick ass in 2006. It was a vague goal on purpose. And Here's my list of ass kicking items.

1. I threw a kick ass birthday party.
2. I did some tagging.
3. I launched the Daily Mantra blog (and added 5 authors)
4. I moved in with the boyfriend, and moved out of the future.
5. I brought Streetwars to LA.
6. I made a bunch of custom cowbells for my friends.
7. I did lots of desert camping (Joshua Tree, Death Valley and my old friend the Mojave)
8. I attended Barcamp LA in March, and then coordinated the one in November.
9. I launched the LA Geek dinners and continue to coordinate them.
10. I learned to pole dance, and I won second place in a competition.
11. I got to wield a flamethrower and play with a brick of magnesium.
12. I presented a workshop on blogging at BlogHer.
13. I kept making my living working on cool projects with good people.
14. I kept my blogging up at blogging.la.
15. I choreographed and performed a club dance show @ BootieLA.
16. I started The Purple Tornado.
17. I sold my car, my bike, my truck and got Ingemar.
18. Having the most kick ass 3 day party with so many of my friends the last 3 days of the year. Baking 4 cakes. Winning Iron Chef. Giving my heart's desire workshop. Spending time watching the gorgeous ocean and watching the moon.

I've met lots of amazing people. I've been able to collaborate with many of them on projects. Yes, 2006 was the year of kicking ass. I can look back and see everything I've done. That's a long list. That's a lot of ass kicking. So how do I expect 2007 to even compete? Easy. 2007 not about kicking ass. 2007 is the Jesus Year, double triangle, whatever I make that mean. And that is the final item to kick ass on this year.

I hate snow (and skiing)

So I am here in Mammoth for a few days of vacation. So far, it has been horrible. Why?

1. I hate the cold.
I spent way too much of my life in cold freezing places. I have an ongoing argument with a friend of mine on which would be worse - to be too hot or too cold. I would rather be too hot. My argument is that you can always take clothes off. His argument is that you can always put more clothes on. We each have our own positions, and being up here where my car temperature gauge read 6 degrees last night (and I had my headed seat blasting) just reminds me how much I hate the cold.

2. I hate snow.
I love water. I think water is the drug of humans. But I prefer it in its liquid form. I love swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling. Jumping and splashing and playing in major surf. I love rain and thunderstorms and rivers and streams and agua de beber. Give me water, but do not give me snow.

3. I hate ski boots.
As far as I'm concerned, wearing ski boots is about as comfortable as having my feet amputated. Well maybe not really, because I've never had my feet amputated, but I wanted to nuclear bomb all snow areas and all skiiers while I was wearing them. And then I wanted to build a huge bonfire with sticks of dynamite inside ski boots covered with kerosine, gasoline and other liquid flammables. And then warm myself by it's exploding brightness. Ski boots are the devil.

I could go on about how I hate people and being places where there are many of them. And how I can barely stand or walk in the torture device ski boots, but it's all just venom. I would consider snow shoeing or snowmobiling or even cross-country skiing (although that's low on the list). But never, never, never again am I going to attempt to ski. Or snowboard. I've tried them both. I'm not impressed.

I should have known. As someone who is passionate about the desert and hot climates, why would I remotely enjoy a snowy mountain village? But I thought maybe I'd change my mind. Skiing sounded kind of fun. Maybe I could try it again and like it this time. But no.

I'm just fine if I never see snow ever again or put on another ski boot. I do know, that as soon as I get back to LA, I'm starting my search for a new motorcycle, with some hard luggage. Because I hear the call of the desert and the wide open road. Fuck this snow bullshit.

Lady Knight Loaded Up

Goodbye. We had some seriously good times together.

Why big companies suck

So I'm reformatting my thinkpad hard drive because it's been bluescreen crashing about twice a day for the past week. When I bought it from IBM several years ago it was preinstalled with XP and Office. They didn't send any discs along with it, but I have the license keys. So now that I am reformatting I need the discs to reinstall. But the thing is, IBM refuses to send me the discs and is telling me I have to buy the software all over again - and they don't care that I paid for it.

Needless to say I am livid. WTF, IBM? I guess it doesn't matter that I was a customer and paid for software. And here I have two totally worthless MS access keys, and no one willing to send me the disks of software I paid for. Fuck you IBM and Microsoft. I've got a brand new Mac sitting right here....

Gone in 6 hours

It's been a sad state for Lady Night (my nighthawk 750) the past year. I honestly haven't spent much time with her. Then I brought her over to Sam's place and thought I'd get to sprucing her up and then start riding again. But that never happened. I just looked at her every time I went outside and felt bad that I wasn't paying her any attention.

Then my plan was to clean her up and sell her. Hell, I wasn't getting any use out of her, so someone else should. So I finally decided I would post it to Craigslist. First attempt was foiled due to my system crashes. A few days later I was like, I am finally going to do this so I can check it off my GTD project list. Honestly, I just wanted the project closed. The recurring reminder took up valuable head space that I could be using for something else.

So I posted it yesterday and then promptly left the house for an appointment. Several hours later, when I returned to my computer the messages were pouring in. Wow, I really didn't expect to get such a response. I had plans for the night, and so pushed off everyone until tomorrow (today). But one guy wanted to drive up and look at it, even though I wasn't here. I was like, OK. Fine.

I got a late start to the evening and was walking out just as he was arriving. And after conversing and talking about the bike, he bought it, then and there. Just like that.

It was gone in 6 hours. And had been on my project list for more than a year. It just goes to show me, that with a little effort, a project that has been put off for a year, can be completed in a relative instant.

MiniBar/Geek Dinner was a success

The Table Shot
Originally uploaded by heathervescent.

We had a great time at Barney's. We played some pool, some air hockey and I tried to play the Playboy pinball machine but it kind of sucked really bad. Good food and great conversation. Be sure to check out the photos. We've got some fun plans for 2007.

In Remembrance

Today I found out that one of my friends took her life jumping off the Golden Gate bridge this past weekend.

I am stunned. I don't know what to think.

Lori was one of the first faces I saw on the playa and she was a phenomenal leader for Tazii - the group I camped with my first 1 1/2 years. I am sad to hear of her departure, but I hope she has found peace.

Much love to you Lori, to your memory, to my memory of your strength.

5 Things

Well, I got tagged. Thanks Micki! ;)

I'll try to think of things that you won't find blogstocking me. But I guess after I write them, they'll be blogstalkable.

1. I am an introvert. Most people see me out and about with my people face on. But if given the choice of partying with John Perry Barlow or hanging out at home, I'll probably be at home. (Sorry John, you know I still dig ya!)

2. I was obsessed with Robyn Hitchcock in my teenage years. He probably influenced me more than any other musician with his florid lyrics and well florid lyrics. I started losing interest in Robyn in the last years of my marriage. And then they were both done.

3. I went to modeling school and won several "beauty" contests. Once as Miss Spring Beauty. I was also a baton twirler and competed in that. I had a lot of trophies, banners and plaques stacked up for a while, but then I threw a bunch out. I still have my baton and sometime pull it out and practice a bit. I love twirling.

4. I went to college with Chris Pirillo. He was the lockergnome then, I wasn't heathervescent yet. He actually admits that he's from Iowa. I don't. I haven't seen him since then, but we have exchanged email.

5. My favorite word is Jacare (accent on the e) and I've studied 6 or more languages academically.

Now I have to tag 5 people... that will have to wait until later.

Update: Tagged so far: Carmen, Pinky,

Annoucing G**k Dinner #8

Last month's geek dinner at uWink (I still have to write up the review) was a fabulously great time. The LA Futurists are headed there this Sunday. So if you are interested to meet them, be sure to show up between 1 and 4 on Sunday.

It's time to do it again - this time we're converging in West Hollywood at Barney's Beanery.

I'll have some cool Stormhoek Lithos and I'm definitely planning to play some air hockey. Who's game?

Details:

• Date: December 12th, 7:30pm drinks, 8pm dinner
• Location: Barney's Beanery, 8447 Santa Monica Blvd (at La Cienga) West Hollywood, CA 90069 - 323-654-2287

RSVP on the wiki. Or check out the blog.

Second Place, Head wound

Sometimes life happens so perfectly you couldn't script it better.

It started out as a normal Saturday night. The calendar was triple booked with party possibilities. A few hour before party time and my phone rang. It was my pole dancing partner telling me that there was a pole dancing contest at the upcoming party. Was I planning to enter?

This was the first I had heard of the contest and it was 4 hours prior to the party. I hadn't practiced in months, but it was a chance to show my skills and first, second and third place prizes included my own pole. That was very tempting, but not worth the anxiety of performance. For about $100 I could go out and buy one. Was the competition worth that anxiety? Enter the start of my waffling.

I thought about the probability of entering and then decided it was pretty slim. Like I said, for $100 I could buy my own pole without the embarrassment of performance. Regardless I agreed to help my friend practice before the party. I brought a change of clothes and my shoes in case I changed my mind or was heavily coerced.

Practice went well. We even had a few minutes on the pole. I remembered how much I loved spinning around that thing, hooking my heel or calf on the pole and blasting off into the spin. It was at practice that I decided I would enter. I decided to perform first because I didn't want to get nervous or change my mind - and also so I could get it over with and enjoy the rest of the party/performances.

The moment finally arrived. The DJ knew my music and I was back stage psyching myself up. Three minutes on the platform, just me, the pole and Journey. The song started slow and I looked out into the audience of awaiting faces. I wondered if anyone would get my little joke with Journey. I picked "Don't Stop Believing" because it's become a recent community favorite. I wondered if anyone would hold up a lighter. Then it was off to the pole. No one outside of my pole class had seen my moves - not even my boyfriend. And now was the time to show off.

Walking and falling and catching in the spin. Hooking and falling and spinning and falling again. Strutting and circling and arching and spin. I was flying. It was fun! I was just starting to wonder how much time I had left when it happened. I was mid spin when something fell from the top of the pole and hit me on my head. It bounced off my shoulder and down my right side as I landed my technique at the front of the stage.

What had happened?

The pole was standing, but something wasn't right about it. My first thought was, could I still dance around it. I stopped for a confused moment, unsure what to do, and that's when I raised my hand to my forehead. It hurt a little bit. And when I looked at my hand, it had blood on it. My blood. I was thinking "that's not supposed to be like that. It's just a little blood though, I wonder if I can finish the song. But what happened to the pole, is it ok to use anymore."

Believe it or not, that's exactly what went through my head, before my friends in the front row jumped up and helped me off stage. It was a good thing, because almost immediately blood was gushing down my face.

I was stunned. A piece supporting the top part of the pole had become unattached and fallen on me mid spin. I didn't know if I if I was injured, and if so how bad. I sat in shock as my friends stopped the bleeding, gave me ice and painkillers.

- cut to later -

The pole was fixed and the competition went on. I recovered although I was still stunned at what had happened. I had been more concerned about slipping in my shoes and twisting my ankle.

- cut to even later -

The pain killers kicked in. The bleeding stopped and I had been examined by various medical professionals at the party - my head was barely scratched. No need even for stitches. And even more important. I was one of three finalists.

The idea was that the three finalists take a final round and the audience judges the best. There were prize packages for all finalists - so I was definitely going to get some good swag regardless. No one asked me to perform again. But I was feeling good and I had an idea up my sleeve.

They started my song and I stepped on the platform again - this time donning a motorcycle helmet for protection. As my song spun up (Journey again!), I inspected the security of the new rig. I took some test spins around the pole - with the helmet on. And then I went to the front of the stage. I opened the vision and looked out at the crowd. They were wide eyed with anticipation. Watching my every move. I snapped the visor shut and started to take the helmet off. The crowd went wild. This was the biggest shock of all. Only I of all the finalists could make this joke. Taking off the helmet would make me more vulnerable than taking off my clothes (which I had no intention of doing). And the crowd loved every moment.

Bareheaded, I proceeded to rip up the pole. Well not literally rip it up. But I had so much fun doing the tricks and techniques I had learned. I love the feel of the wind on my face. Falling and being caught by gravity and my locked arms. I forgot there was an audience. It was me and the wind and my blood soaked hair. I stopped for a moment and looked into the crowd. Lighters were a flame and a few cell phones were raised in reverence. I nodded. The song faded out. I saw it in their eyes. I was remembering that feeling.

That anything is possible in this twisted fractaled world.

Oh, and I won second place.

Where's the blogging?

Readers, you may ask, where have I been? For some reason, I've been blogging up a storm over at blogging.la. Missing me? Check out my posts over there. I've recently seen a coyote and waxed all over the place about cars and LA Freeways.

xx,

-Heather

Not a Silent Morning

Whew, where did my inspiration go? It's right here! Wheeee!