Hey Marseilles

Last night I went out with the redhead. For pho. Nothing more.

Of course, with us, it can never be just that... which is why I love her so.

After our third bar, and that infamous switch from p.m. to a.m., we thought it wise to call it quits. On our walk back to my car we passed by the front of the Wild Buffalo, and the marquis read "Hey Marseilles." We had never heard of them, and didn't necessarily want to see a show that night, but the redhead looked at me with a mischievous look in her eye and asked me, "if we can get in for free, wanna dance?"

"Hell yes."

We eyeballed the doorman and apprehensively stalled... we didn't know him. Despite this minor setback, we bravely charged forward. We had just arrived at his stamping station, without much of a plan, when a local promoter friend, who shall remain nameless, spotted us and waved us in. We were stamped and drinking Jameson before we could even ask.

Our friend turned to us and said, "Alright you're in, but you have to take those drinks right to the very front, right now."

"Deal."

We charged onwards, got there, and actually had our minds blown wide open right there on the spot... even more than if we had seen a double rainbow all the way across the stage. Continually. Throughout the night. Hey Marseilles had us asking, "what does it all mean?"

If you are one of the five remaining people on earth that don't know what I'm referencing here... you should really watch this...

Bellingham has an amazing ability to bring in bands that, when you see them, you know you will be seeing them five years later in a huge venue with thousands of people for ten times the current ticket price, if there was a ticket price. (This band just graduated from playing free gigs in coffee houses not that long ago... not to mention a few members probably graduated from high school not that long ago.) It happened with the Black Keys (the first time I saw them I paid $5, that last time I saw them I paid $250), and I would put money on the fact that it will happen with this band too. (Speaking of money... if you ever get into a show for free and end up liking the band you are obligated to go to the merch table. You don't have to buy the whole table... which I guess I didn't realize until after I walked away last night with their cd, vinyl, t shirt, and coasters... that's right... coasters... but something is good. And speaking of the Black Keys... another band played here recently called Hillstomp... they were like watching the early Black Keys if the Black Keys had been scuzzy hillbillies... check them out too!)

See Hey Marseilles as soon as you can... before they blow up (literally any second now.) They're beyond lovely.

(shit... it's already happening...) !

P.S. You should really buy their entire album but you can get the Rio single for free right now at their website... http://www.heymarseilles.com/

My Favorite Paragraph - Forgiveness

I haven't finished this book yet but, so far, this is my favorite:

What characterises the human race more, Karla once asked me, cruelty, or the capacity to feel shame for it? I thought the question acutely clever then, when I first heard it, but I'm lonelier and wiser now, and I know it isn't cruelty or shame that characterises the human race. It's forgiveness that makes us what we are. Without forgiveness, our species would've annihilated itself in endless retributions. Without forgiveness, there would be no history. Without that hope, there would be no art, for every work of art is in some way an act of forgiveness. Without that dream, there would be no love, for every act of love is in some way a promise to forgive. We live on because we can love, and we love because we can forgive.

- Gregory David Roberts, Shantaram

I highly recommend this reading.

What happened?

Wow.

I just looked at this and realized that nearly two months has gone by since my last post. That's fairly shocking (to me at least...)

It feels like two weeks.

Then I take a moment, and reflect on everywhere I've been and everything I've done and everything that's happened in those two months...

Now it feels like two years.

The odd part is that I've spent no more than two days in any one place or bed. Alright... that's an exaggeration... maybe four days is more realistic... and somehow the odd part of that pattern is that it's just not that odd anymore... but it still seems funny somehow.

What's even stranger... I have only taken four photographs since that last post. Four.

Since there are so few... I will post them ALL... (in chronological order)...

I think I usually average about four per hour.

What's happened to me?

Well... a lot actually. "I've been busy" is kind of an understatement.

And, despite the fact that a picture says a thousand words, I don't really think those four photographs cover it. But since writing about all of it would probably fill a series of novels... hmmm...

A short synopsis of the past two months would go something like this (in no particular order)...

• I "lived" in a beautiful tower with pretty pretty princesses and magical animal friends.
• I discovered several new hotels with pretty good bathtubs (so long hotel Arcata) and a couple new glorious copper tubs that I hope to return to one day. Speaking of glorious discoveries...
• I chewed through and digested at least thirty new glorious albums and...
• Jameson comes in a 4.5 liter bottle. On a swivel mount stand for easy pouring. Yep.
• I put at least ten thousand more miles on my car.
• Ten. Thousand.
• I have covered the west coast... L.A. to Vancouver B.C... by car and by plane more than several times over and now (as of this moment) add Arizona. Speaking of cars and planes...
• A deer hit my car. Nobody got hurt.
• A small prop plane with me on it hit a large bird. Based on the damage to the wing, pretty sure the bird got hurt REAL bad.
• I finally got to be Rainbow Bright... (kind of a big deal... a lifelong dream come true)... even if it wasn't technically Halloween. Speaking of big deals...

photo by marin at http://thisismarinoncedaily.blogspot.com/

• I got my first new phone in nearly ten years. (Now when I text "I love you" it no longer reads "I mud you." Big deal.) Speaking of love...
• I fell in love probably a dozen times in varying degrees. Some new, some remembered, some easy, some hard (and then... all at once effortless), and one... frightening and totally out of my comfort zone and totally wonderful. All of them really, really good. (When is falling in love not?) Thanks to all of you who helped with that.
• I forsake and forgave, fought and won, surrendered and won, threw up my hands, put my hands on the steering wheel, threw up my hands again, opened my eyes, closed my eyes, stopped thinking so I could really think, started feeling so I could really feel, bit my tongue and howled at the moon, acted on immense impulse and strong intuition and some integrity and was rewarded for it.
• I read a good book.
• I started to really apply one principle that I've always wanted to act on:

When in doubt... give, let them have it, surrender, make peace.

When there's no doubt... give, let them have it, surrender, make peace.

It's working out.

• I started constantly catching myself in the act, and repeating this sentence to myself as necessary:

"I will not think up problems that haven't happened so I can 'solve' situations that don't exist."

It's working.

• I checked out for a bit.

Now...

I'm checking back into reality folks. At least I think I am.

For now.

Can't wait to see you there.

xxxx

p.s. (Right now reality is in Bellingham for me... well... starting Dec. 1)

And just because I love it...

Feels Like Falling

Part I

Some things...

you just know.

You know that unknown swim holes are good for more than just skinny dipping.

You know that the best art galleries don't really have white walls.

You know that the Black Keys are epic live.

You know that tattoos can't be rushed but that little black dress shopping in San Francisco can be.

You know that Jimmy Choo's 'Private' Cuff Black Patent Leather Sandals could stop a train dead in its tracks.

You know that Gary Danko's the man.

You know that when you're dealing with dishes ranging from "Glazed Oysters with Osetra Caviar, Zucchini Pearls, and Lettuce Cream" to "Quail Stuffed with Foie Gras, Mushrooms and Quinoa, Cornbread Pudding, Beans, Bacon and Tomato-Corn Relish" you should let the waiter pair the wine.

You know that it's a good dinner when smiling ceases to express your overwhelming happiness and you're both forced into involuntary, irrepressible laughter to relieve the excess elation.

You know that you're falling when it feels like you're floating.

You know that good times get better.

_____________________________

(You know good music when you hear it... play on good speakers or headphones if possible and pair with the photos to follow...)

_____________________________

Part II

When Good Times Get Better... San Francisco Shenanigans Stylee

After a wonderful "weekend" (wed - fri) full of totally classy moments (I swear...) that just happened to not get photographed...

I finally decided to get out the camera.

Interesting timing.

2 am...

Union Square...

Let the games begin.

Actually... let the mission commence.

We rode on the coattails of the wizard's beard... with no idea where it would lead us.

We decided a chariot would get us there faster.

How many downhill blocks can three people ride on a stolen hotel baggage cart going the wrong way down a one way street by Union Square?

(Some things you don't know till you try.)

Naturally then... Choo Choo trains quickly became involved.

Then good times got better.

And betterer.

For a split second good times went bad.

Gremlin stylee. (Sorry about the mess kids.)

But then they promptly got betterest.

And we marched on.

To China town?

Did we really walk that far?

"This trip was either the best idea or the worst idea we ever had."

"Probably both."

Perfect trouble.

We finally found the wizard's tower... in North Whore? I think he meant North Beach? But the camera went dead... obviously time for a cab.

When good times go weird.

"These robes came with the room?"

And just in case I could ever forget this "weekend" (totally not possible)... I picked up a little reminder...

Don't ever forget... "This too shall pass."

xxxx

_____________________________

Because this woman was a big part of my last San Francisco show trip (what up UBC!) I couldn't resist adding this new, instant personal theme song on here...

Serendipitous Circumstances Abound

I have been wondering for a very, very long time when those numbers would show up there. Not so much when I guess, but where. I never would have guessed the answer, but now that it's happened it somehow makes more than perfect sense. As I pulled into the driveway I had to laugh. I do realize that all ODO's reach that mileage at some point... but this happened as I stopped at my destination... on an extremely serendipitous day that was saturated with the 4's... Every. Step. Of. The. Way. I gave up on any control or confirmed communications and followed them like a bread crumb trail. I'm not going to delve into the details of where I was going or who I was seeing, but I will say the timing was perfect. And so was the reminder:

You are exactly where you're supposed to be. You put yourself here.

Listen to your instincts. Take that chance.

Leap blindly into the great technicolor yonder.

I can't urge you enough.

If you're feeling restless... if your gut says go... GO. Don't wait for your mind to catch up with the exact plan. There's no time for that. And besides, you can't plan these things. The universe will though. It's got your back. And it's super creative. Your planning will only limit your possibilities... just have trust. Focus on your end goal... not the path to get there.

Eyes on the prize.

Focus on what you want and just do SOMETHING... anything.

You have to try.

There is enough abundance for everybody.

The universe will provide. But it wont bring it to you on a silver platter.

Speaking of which, I just got this email from the universe this morning, just in case I wasn't getting it:

I told you, Jessi, there'd be days, even weeks, like this...

Absolutely perfect in every single way, with all things as they should be, where they should be, enfolding you in love.

I just didn't tell you they'd all be like this, Jessi, because some things you just have to experience to believe.

Whoop!
The Universe

I also didn't tell you, Jessi, that in this life alone, you'd cover more territory than most do in 1,000 lifetimes. But I bet you'd believe me now... "Secretariat."

Off I go again.

Yesterday Seattle. Today San Francisco. Tomorrow... see you in NYC? (Dates approximate.)

Tis the Season

I have never had a blog during this time of year... this is the time of year that I hardly even use a phone, let alone internet. I'm out of service the majority of my time now... phone service... internet service... delivery service... pretty much any type of service.

The short of the long is that postings may dwindle to a bit of a trickle for a while.

Marin has been much better about keeping up... and you can see a glimpse of what we've been up to together at her blog:

http://thisismarinoncedaily.blogspot.com/

Last weekend I was in WA:

One million congratulations to my dear Brandy.

This week I was instantly a world away in Butte County...

where I found living proof that distance has nothing to do with closeness:

In my rush to leave town again... (I am off to yet another county)... I must leave you with a must see (probably in full screen and buffered completely):

Enjoy.

(Life, that is.)

xxxx

"Resting"

Well... let's see. In my last post I had come back to WA to "rest." My body was shutting down after way way way too much exertion. Mentally, physically, emotionally... the whole shebang. So a dearest drives me to WA from CA and drops me off. I gave myself the most "down time" I've had in ages. I waited seven whole days to drive back to CA and get back to work. Then, six days later, I drive back to WA for a wedding this weekend. Another wedding. (Although, this weekend's wedding is dry, which will make it significantly different than the one I went to last weekend.) This time I'm in WA for three days. On monday I drive back to California. I'll be there at least two days. I have at least one month after that of total uncertainty, constant change, and rapid movement. I may not stay anywhere longer than a few days. But I'm not really sure until I get there.

I'm tired.

Right this minute I'm fairly convinced that, by this winter, I may actually be ready to stop and sit a while. I want to nest. Big time.

Will this be the year that I finally chill out?

Whoa.

Big tings a gwan.

(We'll see...)

My love... and my peace bank.

Time Out

So, after much anticipation, I finally made it to California. Then, quite unexpectedly, I had to return to Washington this week. I'm on time out.

As much as I evidently needed the relaxation, I miss California, and the whole batch of crazy that goes along with it, already.

A glimpse from Jazmine's camera from my two weeks down south (thanks for the pics Jaz):

I love my life and I miss all of you terribly, again.

But I'll be back soon.

Until then I'm entertaining myself... these videos make me happy and I hope they make you happy too:

xx

Today...

"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars..."

- Jack Kerouac (On the Road)

(Soooo glad to be back on the West Coast.)

Today... playing in my car:

(Good speakers/headphones really recommended for this one if possible...)

One Last Nod to Dreams...

I just wanted to post this photo because, as it turns out, I'm not the only one that's had a dream vision come true this last week.

Before I was born, my dearest mom (who I'm with in NYC now!) had a dream that I came to her as a twenty something year old... her words, "as a twenty something adult looking as you do now"... to tell her some interesting things about myself. (This is where I leave out those things just a bit too personal to share for now.) I told her, among other things, my name (which she didn't end up keeping because her mother thought the name was far to unusual... but she kept the "J" beginning.)

In the dream I was wearing beige and standing in front of Big Ben. So this picture struck her as eerily familiar:

Coincidence? She and I both had these dreams come into physical reality the same week... the week of my Saturn return. (27th birthday astrologically signifies the beginning of your "adult" life.... Saturn returns to the same position it was in the sky when you were born and begins it's next 27 year cycle.)

What was going on outside Big Ben that day also kind of ties in... as the theme of the week was walls, jails, and finding peace... so of course I should stumble upon a peace rally with some signs literally written out in huge bold letters just in case I hadn't already gotten the clue:

(Sign below reads: Change your mind... then change the world.)

Alrighty then.

I loved London.

I heart NY.

(Did you know it's 5544 km from Heathrow to JFK? Or 3445 miles... my mom's number is 55...)

LOVE my momma.