love from vescent

Westerns

I'm on a Westerns kick. Westerns are the samurai movies of North America. And there are the amazing Sergio Leone Italian westerns. I've watched the well known classics and I've been slowly watching some of the less known ones. 

Last night, I watched Wild Bunch. And Holy Crap! That movie was made in 1969! 1969! Through every shootout, all I could think was, Quentin Tarantino eat your bloody heart out. The violence! The tenderness. And it was made in 1969! The story line is fantastic! The twists and turns hold the action today. The characters are complex. And of course, there is the sparse dialog that I love. Communicating depth in a glance. It's a wonderful, beautiful movie. I can't believe it was made in 1969! Wow, what a time. 

Check out the final shoot out. Spoiler alert: everyone dies. Now that's entertainment!

 

Easy like Sunday Morning

A perfect Sunday morning. Window open. The cool breeze of California. The morning moist with a hidden silver lining of the desert heat. A steaming cup of coffee. Perfect temperature, perfect color. The capstone? The complex medieval-modern orchestral tapestry of Jeff Lynn's Electric Light Orchestra. Layers of color, emotion, complexity in his music. 

I feast my eyes on the wind in the leaves. Bitter-sweet milky robust explosion on my tongue. My skin open to the cool moistness. A symphonic expansion - silent upon view - in my mind.

A perfect morning.

Flute seven

This is just to say, that I love playing the flute. Here we are at 7 months, and I've got a good dozen songs down. To think my goal this year was to play 3 songs. The love affair recently has been the really high notes... C, D, E. Wow, a few months ago those seemed so so far away. Now the high A, B, C is no big deal. I'm sight reading most of the time. 

My favorite songs to play

• Over the Rainbow
• Brazil
• Ode to Joy 
• God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
• Eldorado

Others I play

• Minuet in G
• Silent Night
• My Country Tis of Thee
• Scarborough Fair
• Get Lucky
• Greensleeves
• Aura Lee

Working on

• Theme music to Tetris!
• Canon in D
• Garibaldi, Beginner practices

It's hard work, playing. I had not been practicing with accompaniment, so I'm going back and catching up on that skill. I'm also working on speed playing. Speedy fingers. Some days I can't hit any notes. My fingers want to do their own thing. I have to be really patient with myself. I have to be nice to myself. I'm far from perfect. But today, when I played a bunch of my favorite songs, it was as close to perfect I have gotten. 

I don't really like my flute. It was a cheap $100 from Amazon and sometimes it feels very dud and mechanic. Part of that is probably my tone, but it's really hard to hit the notes exactly. As soon as I can, I'm going to get a better flute. Maybe at my one year anniversary.

Flute timeline

In June last year, while attending a concert in Madrid, I decided to learn to play flute. It took me a few months to order a flute, then to squeeking out a few notes and finding a teacher. I decided to try online classes. It was when I returned from Burning Man that I really picked up the instrument to start learning in earnest. After a week or two learning only the most basic notes (B, A G, C) I attempted to learn one of my favorite pieces - Ode to Joy.

September 1: Learning flute in earnest

September 14: Attempt Ode to Joy

September 18: Attempt Get Lucky by Daft Punk

It was also in September that I composed my first little phrase. A little G sharp, F sharp, A thing.

In October, I got distracted with some new activities and didn't practice non-stop like in September. But I continued, learning more notes and fingerings. During all of this, I kept practicing Ode to Joy. I love Ode to Joy because of Clockwork Orange. I would practice this piece under my screenprint of Alex and think of the movie and Europe. This was a difficult piece because of the C to D fingerings. I hadn't officially learned these so I figured it out on my own. I also had to teach myself low D - which was very hard - I'm only now able to play well.

In November, I started to learn some Christmas Music and one of my second favorite tunes: the Theme to Brazil. It's used in the movie Brazil. This was a difficult piece because of the low D. But in one night the piece went from squeeking to recognizable. Then I started working on Minuet in G.

November 3: Theme to Brazil & Minuet in G

From here I went back to the main online lessons and practice. This included a lot of G and C scales. High note practice. At the end of 2014 I moved, and my practice decline although I continued working on Minuet in G.

Once settled into my new place in January, my ELO obsession expanded. I found sheet music to Eldorado and began on that. I did quite well with the first part of Minuet in G, and practiced low note scales, so Brazil and Ode to Joy sounded much better. Since the very beginning, I wanted to play the guitar intro to Laredo Tornado. It's one of my favorite ELO songs and I could really imagine it on flute. But I couldn't find any sheet music - only guitar chords - and nothing for the intro. I had no idea how to make sheet music for the flute from the guitar and I didn't yet have the ear to identify the notes.

But one day, in two hour impromptu practice session, I transcribed the notes for that guitar intro by ear. And that was a magical day. It was the day I transcribed my first notes by ear, and it was a phrase I wanted to play for years: Laredo Tornado's guitar intro. 

Feb 4: Guitar Intro to Laredo Tornado on Flute

Five months after I started playing, I'm able to play two of my favorite pieces (Ode to Joy and Brazil) and I've transcribed by ear the Laredo Tornado guitar intro for flute. In doing that, I learned so much about music. I can't wait to transcribe for flute my other favorite pieces.

I'd also like to note that I'm currently attempting Canon in D. My sight reading is not too bad. My fingers can't keep up right now, but for easier pieces (like not Canon in D) I look at the music and then start playing.

I'm getting quite well with the low notes, and with Minuet in G, I am getting better with the high notes. Canon in D though, well, I know it's going to be challenging. But I like challenging. It makes practice fun.

I'm really amazed by myself. I have always loved music, but never thought I could compose or create it myself. I still have a clear picture of myself in that Madrid concert hall - watching the orchestra and picking out the flutist. And thinking, when I get back to the states, I think I'll start learning flute. Eldorado indeed!

Carbonara

Italy was always an important influence growing up. My parents met in Italy and both loved their time there. A lot of furniture from Italy was in the house when I was a child - especially the two with their smell of ancient wood and scotch spice.

Until I was 7, the only spaghetti I knew was Carbonara. This was a family recipe. I still remember as a small child, being flabbergasted when a restaurant brought me spaghetti with red sauce. Adults looked on confused as I swore it was not spaghetti - only for it to dawn on them I had never experience the traditional spaghetti being served. To this day, Carbonara is the original spaghetti. Recently for Xmas, I made it for dinner. Despite the plethora of recipes online, none were our recipe. So, for my own posterity and memory, here is our recipe for Schlegel Carbonara.

Schlegel Carbonara

• 1 lb of spaghetti
• 1/2 stick butter
• 1 lb bacon cooked crisp (or you can use pancetta)
• 1 cup Parmesan (+ more for the top)
• 4 eggs, separated 
• Salt and Pepper

This is a multi-step process, requiring you to have all ingredients prepared and ready before you take the hot pasta out of the water.

1. Start the water boiling, but don't put in the spaghetti until later.
2. Cook the bacon. (I like to bake the bacon in the oven.) Cut into crumbles.
3. Melt the butter.
4. Separate the eggs. Set the yokes aside.
5. Whip the egg whites until soft tufts. Set aside.
6. Measure out a cup or so of parmesam.

With all the ingredients ready (or almost ready), put the spaghetti into boil. When done, drain the spaghetti. Put in a large bowl with the melted butter. Toss lightly. Then put the eggs whites on the top of the spaghetti. Make a little hole - like a nest in the center of the whites - and put the yokes in it. Toss completely into the spaghetti. The hot pasta will cook the eggs - the whites being very fluffy flecks. Add the bacon, parmesan, salt and pepper and toss again until all ingredients are mixed well.

Serve it up, eat it up, YUM!

I've seen some recipes add peas (fresh please) and some add garlic and italian spices. But the above is the traditional recipe I grew up with and love.  

Hipster Champurrado

I just made something wonderful and I'm calling it Hipster Champurrado - or you can call it Vescent Champurrado. I was making homemade Almond Milk and it was really thick and creamy. I've been on a hot chocolate kick recently. I've also gotten into ordering coffee drinks with a combination of Almond and Whole Milk (it's delicious!).

So as I was blending away at this latest batch of home made almond milk, I thought, why don't I try making an almond milk version of Champurrado. Champurrado is a hot chocolate drink made with Masa. Here's a my recipe

Vescent Champurrado + Fresh Almond Milk

• 1 1/4 cup almonds (soaked for 2 days)
• 5 Dates
• 1/2 a whole vanilla bean
• 2ish cups water
•  1 1/2 tsp Dutch Cocoa
• Sprinkle of Cinnamon

Making the Almond Milk

• Soak the Almonds overnight - or 2 nights
• Put in Blender
• Add 2ish cups of water
• Add 5 dates (remove the pits)
• Add 1/2 vanilla bean
• Blend, blend, blend, liquify, liquify, liquify. The liquid should be thick and soupy

Take 2/3 of the blended almond mixture and pour into a nut bag/cheese cloth/strain through a sieve. Squeeze the liquid out of this mixture. You should get about a cup or so of fresh, delicious almond milk. Set aside and drink later.

You can save the almond meal for more Vescent Champurrado later.

Vescent Champurrado

• Take the remaining almond milk mixture (almonds blended with water, dates and vanilla bean)
• Add 1 1/2 tsp of cocoa powder to the blender
• Blend, blend blend again, until it's all chocolately yum.
• Pour into a glass, top with a sprinkling of cinnamon

If I had a microwave I'd have warmed it up. But I drank it cold and it was delicious.

You can likely take the entire Almond Milk Recipe above, add 5 tsp of cocoa, blend it, then heat it on the stove for some amazing Vescent Champurrado. I think I'll try that next time.

Tags: Almond Milk Champurrado, Vegan Champurrado

A Walk at Dusk

Earlier today, we took Mr. Dog on a walk. It was a walk I've done many times this past year. His harness strapped on. The desert crunching below our feet. The sky turning peach, pink, fuscha to navy. The air was cooler than the July temps. But we walked the same path. To the rocks behind the water tank. We sat on the rocks and watched the sky become darker. The moon - hidden behind a mist. It will rain tomorrow. 

Walking back, my fingers reached for yours, intertwined. Mr D, prancing his prance on the crunching rocksand, stopping to sniff or leave his mark. The moon cast our shadows in the road. All year I dreamed for someone to share the awesome adventures that are my life. 

And here you are. Walking back to the dome, along the desert road, as natural as can be.

Waterfall

My new favorite song is Waterfall by ELO. I finally cracked the Face the Music album and this is a beautiful ballad. Fire on High isn't bad either. 

So now it's getting late, for thse who hesitate, got no one,
But they don't understand and no one hears the sound,
It's like a waterfall, it's an illusion.

[CHORUS]
Love is all, waterfall, love is what you are,
Pulls you in, takes you down, it's a sad affair,
But you know as you hold back the power there 
Without the friends and lovers you could never go on living.

Across the waterfall that's falling evermore down on you,
Cascading through the days, and flowing on it's way,
That's how it has to be, just an illusion.

Unconditionally Angelino

Dear Los Angeles,

Your cool moist morning air fills my nostrils. Caresses my neck, shoulders. I have missed you. The desert sucked my sweet moisture - teeth on an orange slice. Tested me with rain and dust storms and peeled back the layers of my hurt. Coaxed my pores to open and sweat. And then kissed that salty water away with sunset winds. 

Always though, I return to your tarmac. Those black ribbons I drive on. Blue morning sky. Spring green in September. Grey pavement under my feet. I've missed all the neighbors I hello on the dog walk. Never mind that they don't speak a word of English.

Back in my pod. In my nest. In your beloved metaphorical arms. A tiny human amongst your 4 million. You won't miss me when I'm gone. But that's ok. My love depends not on you - whether you know I exist - or feel the unconditional passion of my heart. My love is for me. Something to love - unconditionally.  A love that forms the well for all others to be ladled. My destiny braided through your streets and freeways in a mobius cat's cradle extending deep into the unknown.

When I leave this earth, I will take a piece of you. And I will leave a piece of myself. Perhaps there will be little difference. 

Until that moment, I will dance in this caldron of human experience.

xxx

Your forever Angelino

 

The Arms of Two Lovers

I awoke in my delicious bed this morning. Cool air curling into my nostrils - body warmly snuggled under the comforter. Pitter pat of the dog walking his lazy paws to my face and then the lick lick lick of it's time to get up. Throwing back the covers, my body shivers with the delicious cool. My skin shows color from its week long relationship with the Mojave. I'm not sure how I feel about the golden hue. 

The morning coffee ritual. I open the silverware drawer, pausing, to recognize the design of the setting. I admire the pleasing swoop as I pull out a small spoon. This design is my favorite. I think of my favorite coffee mug - it's different at each house. Green here, graduated turquoise there. Bonding with objects. Pleasure of the familiar.

The Mojave is changing me. Or perhaps, I am allowing myself to be changed by her - constant wind, extremes of heat, expansive views, gorgeous sunsets, work, dreams and possibilities. Past and future melt into present moment, where I am weightless, cool water, floating in a cholla hidden oasis.

See, she pulled me back there even now, as I drink my Hollywood coffee. You didn't even need to send the Santa Anas.

To love one, does not detract my love from the other. Both directions lead home.

You could call it a first world problem. Splitting time between two homes. Driving two cars. Can I not be satisfied with one? Is one not enough? 

Yes, I would have thought that. My Brooklyn bi-coastal apartment taught me much. The shift of mindset that comes with sharing. Deep bonding, love, connection, openness, trust, vulnerability, requiring to learn detachment, flow, equanimity. Expanding consciousness and awareness, enjoyment, living this life.

I can love one when I am in the arms of the other. And I do.