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No Train. No Life!

Sunday, December 27, 2015

"...'got to get the fuck out of here!'"

Alexander Payne came to Ted and Wally's yesterday. I had several things going through my head at the time because I do not like talking to especially well-known people unless I have something of value to contribute. Which, at a superficial level, is why I want to have my zine. I would like to have it on-hand to give to people and ones of a certain social-caliber I can ask for a quick interview without being - seemingly - intrusive.

So I'm standing there wondering whether or not to talk about the Desendents (movie, not the band). He asks for a sample of grape sherbet and vanilla bean. I give it to him. Order goes through and on and on and on...("falling down..."). The order comes to $9 and he gives me a ten and tells me to put the change in the tip jar. Now, this is important. It does not matter whether its $.01 or $10 to put in or whether his attitude comes from Conor Oberst doing the musical score on his Warren Buffet movie, but the fact is based on our societal situation and what tips mean, he acknowledged this and that means more and gives him more cred, to me, than any other thing. Even though current cultural influences and the likes helped his decision...in my opinion.

His female companion was about to drop her trash in the rock-salt deal but he stopped her, explaining why and asked me, "Where are your trash cans for this since these aren't for those?" Now, should I go into depth about how...no, I told him where. Am I growing up?

So this is where my zine comes into play. I want to have some on hand to give to people and ask for an impromptu interview and not feel awkward.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

The other week two great things happened. First off, on our trip to Des Moines for our niece's recital/X-mas performance, we stayed at our in-laws' and found out there is a floatation tank center there. Really want to try and book a couple sessions while there during our X-mas break. Secondly, on the way back on the highest caloric intake of the year, we stopped at our go-to stop at Wings of America to eat at Taco John's (because it's cheap). As we took the off ramp, there was a huge stop sign which had two red flags to either side of it and a "Do Not Enter" sign behind it. Ayana said, "Wow. That's a really stop sign."

The other good thing is that this may be happening. If so, this could be a good thing. I would only accept this if this is done with the person's best interests in mind. If this is done for a "cult-of-personality" deal or for profit, this would be disastrous and not worth it. I did some research and found a Native American Church which one could become a member and thereby be protected via Constitutional rights and participate in peyote ceremonies. Want to do this once I get money and look also into the Santo Daime and Uniao Do Vegetal Church. It seems rather silly the extent one has to go to participate in psychedelic ceremonies for finding a way to better them.

Took a break from reading about the Aztecs to read Magicians of the Gods and am now reading The Shadow of the Sun. Super good book. Everyone should read this. This goes through a lot of the historical, hence cultural political and geographical reasons for everything that goes on now and he goes about them from country to country all during the time of the end of colonialization. He is also one to live amongst the natives rather than a hotel to get a real perspective. He mentions child soldiers - why they exist, the warlords - how they become and why the exist and their goals; how any why coups happens and the steps involved and why; and a huge chapter on the history of Liberia and what led to today (this book came out in 1998 and 2001 in the US).

Got tickets to see Donald Trump in Council Bluffs next Tuesday and it should be fun. I want to get a hat. I want to piss off the liberal hipster kids with no valid political viewpoint. Speaking of, after the weather we've been having, it snowed this morning - all morning...about six inches. Powdery snow so could shovel easily. Nothing to do other than watch Star Wars so we cancelled that. After breakfast and lunch and lounging, we went out and I shovelled and we sled and they built a snowman while I finished shovelling the driveway and our neighbors. Roger folks left somewhere so I did theirs. Parents left on Monday and left Denver for Vegas today so they missed all this winter weather.

I've been meaning to do this for a while but have put it off for nearly 20 years, but I finally will finish it tonight. That is the True Romance trilogy which is Streetfighter, Return of the Streetfighter, and tonight is Sister Streetfighter. I had not seen Return of the Streetfighter before and now know the reference to Quentin's flashback scenes from Kill Bill.