Nancy and Bill's house

As I roll up my sleeves, and think about the first night i've been alone in i don't know when.. and naturally when at last i'm a lone, everyone seemed busy, ah which gave Cassie and i time, much needed, as she's been writing a screen play fervently, and i so enjoyed hearing of her process, and her work, what an inspiration. and talk about the energy she puts out, wow.. at her frequency, u could light up the world.

As i sit in my dear friend Nancy's house 2 doors down from, my former residence, hahahha, the children safe and i pray sound, i sit and write, Oh thank you nancy, and bill, her solemn husband, i so adore anyway, they have been through so much, most prevalent the loss of their beloved, grandson, of brain cancer, cameron. (i wrote about this)

lets just talk about nancy a moment, she is a virgo, now i have never been one to be convinced about astrology, but in my experience, my mother a virgo, ok, when i got to my mom's apt, in west hollywood, she had notes, pasted everywhere, for room mates to close the door, the refridge, turn lights off, all in their appropriate places, by the door, over a light switch, right, so when i arrive, on my own last night, having gone through the run through with nancy,the night before, she already had notes, also taped, in yellow paper, and some white, just like my mom... and now there were a few others, which i saved to relish this morn over coffee, the dish from 2 or more years ago with the note, think this is yours, and the fish tank note, with the name of the fish, Hot Tamale, almost spit the coffee out.. when i read that.. then the note on the kitchen sponge that read... Water is very hot!!!.. you can't imagine how that makes me smile..

a few years back, Alfredo didn't want to travel with Bionca, my colossal, white kittie, photos to follow, i promise, for many understandable reasons, much less the hell i would go through if i brought her, so after desperately trying to find someone to care for her, for our long summer art tour, i came to find that a neighbor, Karen, loved cats and would feed Bionca while we were gone. theres more to that, later to come, in any event, she gladly accepted $200., a ridiculously small fee.. as it turns out, she is a spiritualist, like those in lily dale.. ok is that too much or what, for those that haven't read this all, go back.. ,anyway, i went over this morn to say hello.. what the heck, never over look a coincidence. Their aren't any..

and on to renting what is my 3rd vehicle in eight days, today, as clyde called me and offered his corporate enterprise discount, a huge savings for me, and yet another gift, without paper and bows, funny, maybe i over estimated the paper factor, or bow, for that matter, i am now driving a chevy without any electric windows, locks or mirrors, booo hooo... but it drives nice, has nice pick up but it's tank was empty, when i got it, so i had to not only fill the tank of the u haul to return it, at 50 bucks, but then went to another gas station and put $86. in the enterprise truck, shit..

got my nails done at sheri's solon Phonoma Nails, and to my aghast, she told that her air conditioners were stolen the night before, so what like the wall kind, no.. NO, the central air kind, holly shit they're stealing air conditioners from businesses for either copper or resale, now .. we are n trouble...this i'm sorry to say is not good, and evidently a lot of drug, mainly crack, or i don't know what, is driving crime upward, here in south florida, i've known about the gas stations, and how careful u should b, but now this, on a first hand basis, this situation is vastly concerning.. and dangerous.. and btw, not only hers for that strip mall but 3-4 others..

my nails, now new and nice regardless, like glass, like Cinderella's slipper, i hope not to loose one! as i did last week, and who would want to find one and see if it fit? hahaha.. working on my next story.. I swear, a modern day, cinderella story.. my favorite, was with leslie ann warren..1965. oh she was so beautiful, with her long neck.. like my moms, and i noticed, again mine.. huh..

sit up straight, an keep moving.. on ward..

and till 2morro, readers good night, or morn..

andrea, and the crew next door..

sweet dreams.. crew..

Hey just reading my stats, one of my favorite pages when i post, i check back frequently to see who's reading, and where the sources are coming from. Just love that kind of thing.. just so u know i have readers from everywhere, but today i can not tell u how many people from russia were reading.. what's up with that.. look it can not be that difficult to sign up and add a comment.. i love reading them so please do find a way to contribute, by adding ur self to the comment list and if u have something positive to say, say it.. there's no room for negativity just so u know!!!

having a great day, look forward to posting all about it later!!!

andrea, and my absent crew!!

and the journey continues

Here i sit in my former back yard, figuratively as well as literally, for the evening in my former home where nothing has been moved, I've started a fire, which warms my back, roaring behind me, the big tv, distracting me as i write, 2 girls from london, now in beverly hills, where my back yard is missing us all.. and yet the greetings of loved ones here has been so joyous.

christmas now past, and a new year approaching, i still take deep breaths. I have had the privlege of spending my nights at my dear friend sheri's god love her, in her tiny condo, in pompano, living with her 2 girls, 3 cats, and a wild pitbull, lab mix, who races through the room, at about 90 mph, as his uncut tail wipes out everything on the over crowded coffee table, i rest peacefully with the cats, the dog, and oh the fish tank, which has running water all night long, like the sound of a good pee, when u haven't gone all day and it seems to never end, i'm surprised i haven't wet the bed!!

and the crew, with their father, as i come and "baby sit" when alfredo is at work, valet parking cars.. I Made a turkey and some stuffing, along with sweet potatos, with apples, sliced and alturnating with cream, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, powdered ginger, and cloves, brown sugar, and baked, yum... left them all a nice dinner and departed christmas eve. and back to sheri's, where we visited, though she was not feeling well at all, nothing like this time of year where colds run rampant.. ugg i got to bed early, and was up early, for christmas day, while sipping coffee wrapped the few gifts, i had ordered on line for the crew, my beloved children, and arrived on time at 10am to wrap the last few, with alfredo, it was really fun, he's the wrapper of the year!! and always was.. we chatted pleasantly while waiting our sleepy children's appearance. it was a pleasant day, and i finished packing the U Haul van with my booth set up, so i could work the weekend in Delray.

I awoke at 5am, i set my phone 3 times so as not to over sleep, whether i got a space on stand by or not, i was on my way, to Delray, in of all things early morning rain, which fortunately didn't continue for my many friends setting up while i waited, my chance at a space, not to be.. I had the fun of visiting with friends predawn, in the early morning darkness i first ran into the these two brothers, the most extraordinary men, who's mother is a good friend, many years now, and surprisingly Adrian, much like a serious Knight, had a smile on his face, quite becoming, in the cold morn, as they were setting up, one can always count on a smile from the prince like Jordan, both delightful this fine day, and onto my dear friends Mike and Kira, who last year Mike and his father insisted on my immediate departure from my art tour to be with my mother, for her last days on earth, what a thrill to see, as we r in touch, often, but nothing like touching the ones who have made such an impact on my life, then on to find many other artists friends whom i've known so many years, and then, Gail and Greg, practically family, calling them friends would be a sin.

They all were routing for me to get a space, and some dear ones even tried to put in a good word, but Heleine from American Craft Endeavors has long for gotten i was the original Up Your Ear, and when the others came along, she let them in when i'd been a loyal, exhibitor for many years, booked all their shows, where ever they were, while living in a pop up camper with my ity bity baby, madeline, nursing her at the booth, even, that long ago, we lived where ever the next show was.. from camp ground to camp ground.. now when it was my turn to be the last to apply, left out in the cold, and i might add literally, as it was fucking freezing in delray sunday morn. By 8:30 the verdict was in miss Derujinsky, would not be working, fine then, more time to catch up with friends, drink tea, and as the sun shone warm upon my shoulders through the layers of clothes, i rejoiced..I was able to do something never before, have one on one time with friends i so care about. The morning chatting with Marcy, sharing all kinds of life stories hers and mine, we have a connection i can not explain, never have, just that when in her presence, the light is brighter, she is many rays of the sun, unlike those that might be considered A RAY, that would be selling her short. maybe it is that we have in common, if i give myself any credit, and if i don't, who will.. hahaha...

I had run into James who makes kettle corn, and the best anywhere, i swear, and had offered my services if he needed, and sometime late day i got a call to bag corn, and off i ran, now if this isn't funny enough, i was a fucking riot, the corn is sold in to sizes, $3 and $5 or rather small and large and as Luigi was cooking it and customers were standing there i'd ask, at first, 3 or 5? not long after i was saying so u want a big one or a small one, followed by.. oh no wait, hahaha so u want a big hot one or a small one? which was completely miss interpreted by the adults in the crowd.. and only encouraged my naughty side, I wonder if James will ever let me sell again!! of course i "up sold" everyone i could and probably sold 80 bags of kettle corn, in 2 hrs, and then was off and on my merry way to visit with yet another friend, an intimate private moment, no words, just love.. and my day concluded, and back to the "zoo" where i would rest my head, body and soul.

Monday just a better rendition to sunday, more moments with friends, more time with Marcy, her prince and Knight to learn of their other fantastic labor of LOVE.. their new non profit corporation...Human Spirit Foundation.org which through arts, of all sorts the re-awareness of injustices upon our fellow man, genocide throughout history, and how we can change the world we live in through art, and the love of people, and hopefully learn the only prejudice we should have, should be against prejudice itself.

my love and support, as i wish you copy and paste this web link and share it with others of like mind, we'll work on the others in this way...

I am blessed, as are we all, when we are able to look around us and find passion in what we do for the sake of doing.. for ourselves, others benefit.

Andrea and crew

I'm leaving on a jet Plane

It is at last I write, sitting in my perch, tonight, the window seat of my office/bedroom, gladly looking out my stationary window, the rain gently showering, the street below my window sill, for a city, surprisingly quiet, outside of the tinkle of steady drops of rain, glistening upon my window, floor to ceiling, and like stars, sparkling against the screen..

My antisapation of my up coming journey, the crew and i, to florida, by air.. departing early, too early for words, we three, packing mentally, as madeline has already, completely packed, like grandma root who packed and unpacked , for a month before this same trip, for a few great years, to ft.lauderdale..

My title of this, reminds me of when i was quiet small, we'd moved to the city, Manhattan, from Pound Ridge, and my sister and i made a little stage in our room and sang the song to my mom, who was leaving to go to Bequia, i believe, and it was a popular song on the radio. she was going to spend 2 weeks there, to recoup from major surgery, the loss of her ovaries, due to cancer.That crazy woman came back 2 weeks later and said to two little girls how would you like to move to the west indies, where the stars are so bright, you can reach up and touch them.. and we said gleefully, "Yes mommy, we'd love to!" we packed up, sold things and moved to Bequia, for 6 months, and stayed 3 years!!!

Two little white girls, and what mom came to be know as, a bit later, the white Queen. We, at first, stayed at Friendship bay Inn, a most beautiful hotel, owned by stan young and his brother, they were from england, my mom had befriended or vis versa, stan during her honeymoon with Gleb, my father. My mother made friends, and developed friendships like none other. The hotel was massive, elegant, remote, hovering over the bay, and beach. I can remember many things about that first 6 months like it was yesterday, I was nearly 8, at the time, i remember our first christmas there, we'd moved from a hotel room to a cottage, style room, and i even think we had a tree, outside, the only gift i remember was a tiny radio, that had little ear buds, if u will, for those days. and ten days later i would turn 8. another birthday, i don't remember.

One morning, at breakfast in the sprawling dining room, the server, taking our order, and the wall of windows over looking the bay, sunny, an empty room but for us, and the bequian girl said after some incredibly long wait for OJ, after my mom inquired how long it would be, "Soon come" the standard answer for anything in Bequia, which basically meant, when ever its ready, or whenever period. another time at a luncheon in that same dining room, nearer to the floor to ceiling, wall of windows, a long set of tables, dining on turtle soup, a broth.

I remember one of many days on the beach that first six months, not long there, my mother had made many friends, Pam and Nick, Holly Ford, and Rusty Ford, and family, Tiare and Lee Austin, and their wild boys, about our ages, Winnie and Peter, the boys still friends of mine to this day, Jimmy Carvel and his lover Sandy Meisner.. a famed acting instructor, and booloo, and let me not for get christina miller, the young 20 yr old that arrived on her 100 foot black baltic trader from denmark, having captained the ship to Bequia with 2 young men, her crew. we had been embraced by all these people, and at 8 so impressionable, can remember all being so mad about Nick, I swore if i ever had a son, i'd name him nick, of course i had a son, but didn't name him nick after all.. but at that moment, walking along the shore, i knew i'd have a son one day..

Six months later, no way did my mother want to move back, state side, and so looked for a place to rent, found on the top of the center of the island, the Gap, where the road split in a "Y" left to friendship bay, and right to pageant farm. and we prepared for life as island girls, and registered for school, went to a seamstress to make our school uniforms, green skirts, and white shirts, and proper shoes, the private, one room (seventh day adventist) school, built of cinder blocks that didn't meet the galvanized roof, divided by two huge free standing black boards, 3 teachers, and grades, i was placed i believe in 5th grade, next to the first graders on my side of the black board, Miss Jarvis was the teacher, eugenia was on the other side. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.. their was an out house for a bathroom. we walked with the other island children to school down the winding narrow, one way often, road. On our walks back from school, we'd pick guavas or mangoes, and sometimes broke off these orange vines called love vines, and if we threw it over an un-strangled bush, and it grew, our love was true.. so sweet huh?

we spent endless time on the beach, princess Margret, beach comes to mind, named after some princess from Denmark, i believe, that had been there once, we went sailing, hanging out at the frangipani hotel, watching mom hang with her friends, we went to many a party, mom took us everywhere, maybe because she had too, i don't know, or maybe they all wanted us there.

there are so many vinyets to share about each of the above persons, i could write a story about each of them, and remember it well indeed i do.. and will tell you sometime down the road, about them..This comes to mind only as i brace for myself this trip to florida, as my mom continued to visit Bequia, over the last 10-15 years.. and when passing through, to there, would stay with us, in ft.lauderdale. on exactly this same flight hour, 7am, she'd have to get up at 4am, as we will be, and had a 12 hour day of travel, quiet something for a woman, who at this point, had a colostomy.. and it's mishaps, a burden to travel.. much less the long day, more difficult with out a ready bathroom.. she certainly had courage, no one can deny that.. one might have forgotten but not me.. i always knew..mom..

and i do wonder how this adventure will pan out, over the christmas break, new years, i have no plans for, or worse my dreaded birthday, and Madelines.. not that i dread my birthday, just, was never a day i wanted to remember, and often can not even recall, , it has always been a disappointment, I put too much hope into one pathetic day. anticipating something nice, that never happened. so this year, i plan on doing nothing and let what may be, be.

i've always made a fuss over Madeline's so she would not grow up as i had, with a b-day 9 days after christmas, with the one lone gift under a christmas tree, waiting, taunting me, for all those days to pass.

Off i go to the wild blue yonder, the sunshine state, where some shows are lined up, one pending confirmation, and many other business things to take care of, it will be productive.. and i'm praying for some creative time to write.. heck i'm just gonna make time..see friends. and embrace what will be..

And to Bequia, where i'd hoped to be this christmas, to take mom's ashes, i will not be .. in person, but promise, weather permitting, i might sit on a beach for new years and think of mom and Tereasa, another of moms friends from there, make a toast to the stars, that shown so brightly, i could touch..

with all my love, to my readers near and far

may this holiday season bring you great joy in simple things, like the stars and star like things..

expect a miracle.. i do.

Andrea and crew

here are a few links that will help to see Bequia, hear the song and inform u of sandy M

http://www.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=bequia+island&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=hkkOTaKkO5P2tgPx-pnSAg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CEEQsAQwAg&biw=1224&bih=631

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDV6x4nIEhw&NR=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meisner_technique

i'm sorry u will have to copy and past links.. well worth it though..

http://bequiablog.com/

ah some one looked from bequia, getting round the world!!

and btw, if you've been paying attention i've been changing the language, originally an accident, now intentional..

and what language is it? u ask..

IT'S GREEK TO ME!!

hahahahah

andrea

Good morning said the rose, as i saw her glowing, the sun warming her Petals, she greeted me.. a single beam of light shown upon her. The ends of her petals orange, like a peach, as the inside of her, exposed her inner beauty, yellow, bright cheery, like the sun that beamed in on her.. as if to hear her sing a song, good morning sunshine..like a microphone, blasting out her joy to be noticed, photographed like a starlet, here in the hills of hollywood this devine day.. and what shall it bring.. as passer bys, too, notice her loveliness… and she hoped they would.. Rose, just loves attention.. she beams brighter in the light of admirers, better then the sun alone..

i must write this morn to apologize.. i have not updated u all on my journey, seemingly distant from the actual road, yet i see it, stretching before me.. wide as the california freeway.. 7 lanes, beckoning to write of my most recent adventure..

i have signed up with a writing coach, which has been of the utmost inspiration.. writing away.. The things, that as always, come to my mind.. i love it.. and i know because of this blog, and my experience in writing it.. this was a destination to drive towards.. I had no idea i was a writer, really, maybe kept in the deepest parts of my soul waiting it's artistic turn .. behind photography, jewelry design, and art works created so many years ago.. which i certainly wanted to re-address, now that , put on hold, for this, that i can take anywhere. Write, I hear from the heavens..

once at the garlic festival in delray i was set up next to a psychic and she told me , unsolicited, as i rarely believe those charlatans, u r a writer, are u writing now.. i said no.. and here some years later, i am.. not because she said that but just because of a silly cruel email from a supposed friend.. I might, from afar, still regard him as a friend, only friends can bring out ur best, and worst!! better to channel the best, and use the energy u receive that is negative, and turn it into a positive.. it is the way to go.. i know for some it is a difficult place to go.. when the world is beating u up, the economy, our busy
schedules, the crap that happens.. well i'm here to tell you re-channel. should u be having trouble with that.. try try again..

make every effort to see the sun shinning.. the beams of light, as it peeps through the clouds, like god ascending there, and back again..

it is christmas, for some, i took a gander at a photo gallery on msn of the lights from around the world, in all their glory, what we do as humans, to appreciate, the loveliness of lights.. wonder what it is about that.. I once thought about why we r so entranced by sparkling gem stones and glittery things, both men and women..it is because we love to see the glistening light upon the water, and the tree leaves.. all around us the energy the plants put off when we take even a second to notice.. that's all it takes, to put the light in our steps as we go on our merry way towards the unknown day..

take a breath my dear readers, glory in the beauty of the sun, or absence of, that too lovely.. and embrace your loved ones, make time to see those u want to be with, as though the chance may never happen again..and enjoy being with yourself.. your best friend always.. and worst enemy, ur thoughts of doubt, be gone..

love andrea..

will start to add tid bits of writings and the joy it brings me, i wish will do the same for you..

Get the box of tissues, I sure needed them!!!

My dear friends, I never forward these kinds of things, frankly I never forward much of nothing these days..  simply, not only do I not have time to read them, at the moment, but, I don't like to burden friends with frivolous shit.. but yesterday.. I found out that one of my very best friend's son, whom I've know, since he was a boy of 9, will be sent to Afghanistan..in August.. I have had the privilege of thanking soldiers at airports, and fairs.. I once met a vet from pearl harbor, and my dad was in world war II.. at the young age of 17.. 

I am not for this war..  but I am for the men and women, who choose to go.. I'm behind them.. as they have our backs, or so we are all told, that's why they are there.. 

I could hardly breath to find this news out about Rick's son, Ricky, the little boy who once sang to me at my booth, one sunny morn, at Dick and Ellies flea market," I believe I can fly", and in that moment I held back tears, at his innocence and beauty, just a boy.. sweet.. I never ever forgot that moment, and had a chance to share that with he and his dad, last year when they, together, drove from mass to Phoenix last summer, while madeline and I texted them, for their entire 4 day trip, sending them music, and laughs, to keep them up and driving safely.. 

Ricky will be on tour, for 8 months.. in a foreign country, where no one really likes us, in an unending, war..

I LOVE U RICK, AND RICKY.. 
MY HEART, LOVE AND PRAYERS WILL BE ALWAYS ON THE TOP OF MY WISH LIST, TO GOD.. PLEASE BE SAFE.. OR BETTER YET MOVE TO CANADA!!!  HA HA HA

DAMB.. 

WITH ALL MY LOVE
ANDREA AND CREW.. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWW8Hexv-DQ i believe i can fly..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_P6yU_ymFM&feature=share:

check out these videos, they now have even more substance..

Ah, again i write, what must be the 10th version of this blog.. never so far have i had so much trouble telling a story.. it's not that i didn't write but every time i read what i wrote it was negative..

when in fact, everything is good, it is truly unbelievable.... we r blessed..

spaghetti fest was a huge success.. the company was un matched!!! Leslie came with her husband Jiro and kai their son, it was an immense pleasure to see them again, after all these months... Bill was of coarse the reason for such a success, as he did all the errand running i could not, with house straightening, and cooking, no different than any ordinary thanksgiving, out side of the fact that it was the day before, nov 24th, the one year anniversary of my mothers rebirth!!in any event it was an event, maybe something to build upon here.. Lisa aka miss Armani, nicknamed that by Jeff, a no show, and who missed him!!! who's name was brought up more, than anyone else's, if we should all admit !! Jeff is a story onto itself, maybe one day i can go into it, in more detail.. walter, Lisa's son, whom i've know a life time or so..

Cassie, right on time, in a panic to be here at 6:09 pm as i was thinking of that moment as, significant frankly it is, ying and yang.. the hour my mother departed.. if u remove the hug in between the 6 and the 9 ... 69. i suppose their could be another significance but i doubt it!!!

Roseanne, oh yes she too a former roommate, one who lived Roots way, once upon a time.. and a friend indeed, so funny, just love her company.. insisted we watch jeopardy, as Root had with her, and so we did, and Cassie, Bill, Roseanne, and myself, madeline on the outskirts, watched .. as Roseanne chimed out nearly every answer correctly, and Cassie too, Bill got a several, even madeline got some, and myself, nothing!! hahahaha.. i was so mesmerized by them i could hardly catch the question.. just goes to show what a real education can do for u.. Just gives me more incentive to learn, more..

Hikeim came, and when he walked in the door, the man i describe as his feet don't touch the ground.. don't ask me why.. i felt my mother enter my body just to hug him, in a way i can not explain, and i swear he knew it to..

Interesting, Elliot showed up, now i've known elliot since i once lived in connecticut.. when i was 18-19.. after high school graduation, i moved to conn where my mom was at that time, .. a long story to come for sure.. elliot reminded me of things, i could hardly believed he remembered, about my boyfriend at the time, what the fuck was his name? shit, oh now theres a meaning full relationship..and so many other details.. what a treasure to have had this group to share thanksgiving with.. in a whole new way..

now for one other observation, i invited a huge amount of people, and i certainly wasn't expecting everyone.. funny in my mind as i thought of the eve my mom departure, when it was time to take her down stairs to her white limo, fitting, we were a total of 13 emotional Mafia, including her, our great leader!!! ha ha ha when u include the crew and i, it was 13 again.. a bakers dozen!!

Well it is my honor to have spent this wonderful day with u all and all those that from afar.. were here in spirit, i have received many emails from far and near with my mother, in their thoughts, and in turn us.. it is something one can never say thank u enough for ..

Andrea and Crew

Roots Place Nov 24th 2010

well readers, what is going on.... well there are so many potholes.. it's like crossing the George Washing Bridge, just before u hit it, going north from New Jersey.. the blind know where they are!! well .. i've suddenly discovered i'm driving over the cross bronx expressway.... nothing but potholes, huge trucks, on narrow lanes.. as i try and remember which exit to take, to go over the Throgs neck bridge, after spending $30. to cross the GW and $8. at least to get over the Throgsneck, to the island.. so that once on the LIE their'd be bumper to bumper traffic.. till exit 36 before it might be smooth cruising .. . at the moment i'm in Los Angeles, a long way from exit 36.. if u will..

and yet .. it is thanksgiving.. and i am ever so grateful.. to so many .. all beyond my wildest dreams. i would so much like to mention everyone who has contributed to my positive mental attitude, but if i did.. like the oscars list, certainly someone would be left out.. and that would never do.. let me say though, my many secretive readers.. how much love i return, need i ever know..to whom exactly..

It has been a tough year, 2moro, the one year of my mothers passing.. i should really mention that.. the many guests coming by far more than i expected.. oh my..!! and maybe a mystery guest or 2.. i hope..

The way i look at it.. shortly i will be there.. smooth sailing.. to the Hamptons and beyond.. preferably Bequia.. and beyond.. worlds end reef or something.. nothing like real life!! hahahaha..

i couldn't finish this last night, an over whelming tired came over me.. as though i was on east coast time.. 11pm feeling much more like 1am.. i drifted into a slumber in my california king.. forgetting my worries so great..the IRS, the repo on the former motor home the endless calls form bill collectors as i try to figure out what the fuck to do.. stay in L.A, go back to florida..

I feel i'd be cutting myself short either way.. some how lacking faith, this is where i am supposed to be.. or is it..

And as for today.. i wrote a friend.. a year ago.. the sunlight much brighter, i remember going to the closet, behind my chair i'm perched in now.. my legs crossed, as i gaze out my window.. the sun peeking out between clouds, today, my moms voice in my head, asking me to pick out cloths, as she readied herself for her final journey, here on earth, a warm thought, on this chilly morn..

Preparing mentally for the enormous crowd expected.. her huge followers about to descend upon the apt known as Roots Place, now how could i give this up.. The onions, and garlic to chop, the cans of tomatoes to puree, the spices to add, and let simmer with love on the stove as i finish straightening up.. and deciding ... WHAT TO WEAR!!!

I just wrote to one of the hospice nurses with whom i've been in contact with the year long, as i remember her tender touch, as she washed my mom, one afternoon, clearly in my minds eye.. In that moment, a year or more now ago, i so wanted to get up and help, but by some force unbeknownst to me, I was paralyzed, dumb founded as Argin, washed my mother from foot to head.. as the sun shown in, like a beam of light upon both their skins.. one of the most extraordinary sights i've ever witnessed.. and will a life time remember deeply, touched still in the memory.. bless Argin and all the nurses that shared this time, a year now behind me..

Oh gotta run, get the candles out, and do some dusting, My smile big.. as i ready myself for this great day.. And the blessings, we receive, grateful, on this thanksgiving, for my friends.. far and near.. i embrace u all, as i feel ur embrace..the warmth of your love.. hugs and kisses..

Yours truly

andrea and crew..
SEE U TONIGHT!!!

the grove

Well to up date u friends, this was a joke.. and i stood in the cold and wind to watch an unorganized mess go nearly no where, and wait till i post the photos of the models.. wholy shit.. these have to be the ugliest girls i've ever seen and let me briefly say, i wouldn't put earrings on this girls if they were the last girls on the planet.. so fair to say.. it was a learning experience.. but not a money making prospect.. that's ok .. i did meet some people and know that i have to follow up.. meet a great girl in victoria secrets that is a make-up artist, and another couple of girls in David Kors store.. evidently i was looking somewhat outstanding and got a lot of attention and my jewelry too.. so that was good and the grove is a good place to hang out and meet people, when i'm not doing other things.. so i will find another way to promote Up Your Ear..


NEXT!!!!

andrea and of all things, of course the crew.. who again, where good sports, as they came along..

as gray clouds part to open blue skies i write

As i sit on this quiet sunday morn, a city sound asleep, apparently, i gaze outside my bedroom window, now my office, cool damp, cloudy skies, the tree leaves, greener, against the sky, dancing singing finches, fly from branch to branch, as doves search for worms, below, and as i stretch my eyes to the horizon, the flat gray rooftops, bougainvillaea, fushia pink, wash over, as if a wave onto sand, on a lovely beach.. A hint of sun struggles to find it's way to beam down on this city of angels,
beckoning a new day, filled with wonder..... what should i wear to the fashion show!!! No proper clothing for this weather here i find myself out and about wearing sweaters left by my mom.. my only warm clothing, not appropriate for this event, out doors at the grove.. where i will put earrings on the models.. and pass out cards.. meet people, and continue my dream.. Up Your Ear.... a house hold name!!

For those out of the loop, the grove is a very
sophisticated venue of upscale shops, to say the least, where anyone in hollywood, plain, tourist or celeb can be found.. right next to CBS studies where american idol is filmed the majority of the time till they move the finals to the Kodac on Hollywood bl..

So look forward to sharing my days adventures, somewhat more exciting than the mundane of laundry, i must fold, 2 flights down, less enticing a thought, but a must none the less.. ugg.

So off i go.. the crew and i .. will joyfully let u in on the adventure later today.. or morn tomorrow..

be well, and let the sun shine in.. may u find the beauty outside your window.. as i do mine..

andrea and.. crew

It is midnight soon on the east coast, i sit and imagine only three weeks ago, i was there, now on PST time..

my feet hit the ground on monday, i started to work, what for weeks, seeming like months, i couldn't focus 'till i worked a plan.. A & B for my mom's sake.. still working on B!!

onto my website, it's being completed in days, as if we have what it costs to do so.. what a bitch to struggle as an artist, where are those supporters!! like so many other got.. i've been blessed in many ways to countable to mention.. It is up to me to make Up Your Ear the success i want, and as well carry on my other artistic endeavors.. i eat, drink, and sleep this.. i may have a thousand other distractions, relationships, and goings on, but this is my one main goal.. i must do art, in it's many aspects, the writing, the painting.. and photography.. sometimes i feel like taking pictures, other times, i want to write.. Right now, i want my website in order, before i lose the christmas orders, this has been in the works since january.. really.. when u fund everything ur self and just make ends meet.. it gets tuffer.. it's the way it is..

you know if i could make a wish, as far as business is concerned,, I wish someone could see the potential i see in this earring biz of mine.. i know, with the right help, i could take this to the top.. happily sell it, run the co.. designs and so forth, and move on.. but without that realization, it's just another show, I love the travel, but it seems a waste of time, just a means to an end, if this is not the international earring co. it should be.. with true capital, and good guidance.... this really could be huge, no better than now, with this pathetic economy, how do u think the Vanderbelts made it, right.. shit.. during the depression.. and if ur buying this recession story think again.. well i'm Cranking none the less, and i worked a little carnival here in town, put on by the L.A P.D. on Pico, and La Cieniga, went for the connections and got a little more than groceries for the week.. but the connections, which is why i went, came strolling in, working some fashion show.. hum at the grove, for breast cancer awareness, 2pm sunday nov 21st Walk for Breast Cancer III, Johnny Rockets and after party, i will not, sadly attend, i have the crew, at the Sofiel Hotel, hosted by David Harrison Levi, some guru of the stars.. Known as the Star Maker..looks more like he attracts stars rather than make them.. whatever this is hollywood..

and as for my other endeavors.. keep posted.. i shall let u in.. lots to do..

and the love u make,
thinking of a beatle's song.. i'll post

be it well i find u

andrea and crew..

I started to write the other day.. thought i share some thoughts on veterans day..i couldn't.. then i thought what could i write about and these thoughts just started streaming through my head.. as i sent to many, my invite, to my thanksgiving... this year, i will celebrate in the most unusual way.. as i will be working thanksgiving.. it dawned on me.. november 24th, the day before, will be a year since my mothers passing...so i'm inviting moms nearest and dearest to visit at their leisure, that day.. i will cook up some of that famous spaghetti sauce, leave it in the pot, on the stove, for all to serve them selves, hell someone might even have to finish cooking the pasta, some one always had to finish whatever meal she started.. and then serve themselves as they are hungry..

i will be lighting the candles, as i do regularly, but not regularly enough.. i should light them every day.. i forget sometimes.. life..
The pretty glasses will be spotted, and maybe someone will get lucky and still find i didn't wash one well enough that her lipstick is still on one!!!! The invited guests will provide the cheep wine and vodka, neither of which i drink..

i will put out the dishes, the paper napkins, and the mismatched "silverware" aka utensils.. and the music, a little Marvin anyone? "Let's get it on" Engima.. i'm not sure i get.. maybe someone can explain it to me..Rod stuart seems to be missing, that album he made with all the love songs, Louis Migel.. besame mucho... can't get better than that!!!I might put that one on the top of my list..

There's a video i'm looking for but don't know what it's called, Miss Root insisted we watch shortly after we got her home,That was some day, with the hospice counciler insisting she was manipulating me into doing what she wanted and that wasn't a good thing.. i finally cut him off.. like i didn't know that? dummy who fucking cares.. she's dieing and anything she wants, she gets, she won't get it much longer.. idiot!!!... with life streaming by from the beginning of man kind.. into modern times and into the future.. just music no words, would love to find it.. it's here, maybe miss Cassie can help me find it.. There's also the video from when she was in N.Y. at the gallery opening to Gleb's one man show of photography, where the majority of the photos are of her.. and she was so funny flirting with both Gleb (http://www.glebderujinsky.com/) and Mel.. Oh how I'd Love Mel to come.. Mel Sokolski (http://www.sokolsky.com/)

Regardless who come to the day of remembrance, I will be here with the crew, and That is what counts..

when i was 9 i wrote:

Love is funny,
love is hard,
and sometimes...
I just don't understand it.

Has anything changed? HUM... I think not

Andrea and crew

R.S.V.P.

Hollywood, da da da da da da da da HOLLYWOOD .....

well lets just start with it is hot as hell, indian summer, 97 degrees, I don't like to be cold, but this is not warm, it's hellatious. Root's Place, my apt.. is about 10 degrees hotter.. if one more person askes, "What u don't have an air conditioner?" well if i had an air conditioner i wouldn't be sitting here at 6:30 am still perspiring from the heat.. it never even cooled off last night, yesterday my only relief from the heat was my trip to pick up The crew from school, in the little red car, Little Red Riding Root.
AIRCONDITIONING!!!! and that was short lived.. before returning..

There's a breeze, i see it out side my window facing east, the trees blow, not an incling of one passes through this apt..I now can not just open the front door as my mom has as i might distrub the nieghor, who's made such a fuss, now there are signsdown stairs informing me spacifically that no children under 8 can be in the pool and children between 8-14 the ages of Madeline and MJ, must not only be accompanied by adult supervision, must have a certificate for swimming.. ARE THEY KIDDING!! will post photo.

I say me because, if u really want to have a laugh, the signs were posted up with tape above the mail boxes a few days ago then they were Framed and placed above my mail box, #4.. as a reward for doing all his home work i promised I'd take andres to the pool, break the rules, as he is 7.. and a half.. without a swimming certificate, will make one up and print it out on the computer later, as there is no such certificate available in the state of california.. i wonder why as i write this i feel tears in my eyes.. They have it in for me.. let's face it and i can't imagine anyone could be like this.. And people watch soap operas Isn't that why i have the readership i have... whats the next sagga!!

As my day was scheduled with hair repair, I found The academy for goldwell, ellumine hair color here in Santa Monica so u might say i was on a short road trip, as santa monica according to map quest is about 12.5 miles from here and will only take 39 mins to get there.. so west i headed, found it with no trouble, and immediately had a connection with the parking attendant, camella, from brazil, she was surprised at how clearly i spoke, and how easy it was to understand me.. we talked about language and how people do not annucate words properly and that makes learning english so much more difficult, i used examples like thirty, which is usually pronounced thirdy, or how about fordy or fithdy.. she had trouble with the word culture, and i showed her where to put her tongue to say it. Most of us wouldn't even think about that but i've spent a lot of time teaching english having spent 17 yrs with a peruvian..i learned a lot about how we speak where we put our tongue to anounciate a word..

and that was just the garage where i parked!!! As i walked around the block already the air quite warm just a half block from the sea, i thought to myself, how on earth can anyone ever be bored, only if u have absolutley nothing going on in ur head .. that is certainly not my case..

ah so onto finding the academy, i was actually early and if u are not early YOU ARE LATE.. and being i'd left at around 9am i was sure to make it on time, when i drove down La Cieniga, there was so much traffic i could hardly believe that there is 14% unemployment here.. where on earth are all these unemployed people going anyway!! bumper to bumper on I-10 west also.. and who works down there, they certainly couldn't be on there way to the beach that early, could they.. anyone with intelligence should have been.. so fucking hot.. anyway.. I was greated by nicole, who was a very informed, educated girl of 30.. we got on immediately.. i was the only one there and they unlocked the door to let me in, just think they weren't sitting there making me wait till exactly 10am to let me in..I always find that so annoying.. we talked about color, what would work and what wouldn't ultimately we came up with a color palet that would work for both me, and her creative juices. i brought my computer assuming i would have ample time to write, as this was going to be a long task.. as it turned out we never stopped talking about the product, how it works, which i am very informed, she was quiet surprised and then started teaching me even more.. i was engrossed.. i had said i could sell this, i can't understand why more solons don't use it.. i personally found it intriguing, and my sales brain was at work.. can't sell something u know nothing about, and i am in the academy, where THE top hair colorists from a round the world come for seminars, hair designs for 2010, 2011, are already in the bag and they are now shooting 2012.. right.. wow.. they work with a sister co. KMS which really handle the Hair styists.. and new hair cut designs.. this was truly fascinating.. The entire process.. these huge photos hung as a divider, with some of the most beautiful photographed girls faces, should have taken my camera, who knew.. they were imposed onto clear, light wieght plastic , that would remind u of frosted glass, dangeling from stainless steal cable.. Nicole showed me all around, surprisingly, we were still just us, and the receptionist, free to speak.. then we went out for a smoke in the alley, a huge pho pa in santa monica!! They're so over the top, green doesn't get greener!!! shit while these assholes are jogging down sunset bl. in extreme heat, at rush hour am, breathing carbon monoxide is good for u... shit

where was i? oh oh, our conversation continued as she showed me all around the empty facility, where they give their lectures, kitchen, where they use caters, for special events, the bathroom with special frosted glass stalls, And their main office of operations, and open door set up so everyone can chime in if they choose.

During our long conversation, we brought up the value of the shower and it's many benefits, as it turns out, this is her special place to escape, as it turns out her mom is not well, and when i asked what was wrong with her mom, she said Pancreatic cancer.., she could find her self in the bathroom, take a shower, cry her eyes out where no one could hear her there...for the mystery readers that are from nations around the world, may i mention it will be a year november 24th that my mom died of this same hideous disease, I knew in a moment exactly how she felt, as i had found myself many a times reeling on the kitchen floor, or bathroom or car, or anywhere no one was, to just cry..It brought back a flood of memories, of a year ago.. she lives with her folks, and so she , like i was, has her hands full, and is there for each moment, and all it is to take care of a sick parent, Her Mother, the meds, the vomiting, the works.. I so know..

With all of that there's still more, as it turns out they will be gathering local artists for a show case event, there at the academy and i do hope i will be one of those selected.. i would really enjoy the experience, and the opportunity to explore other avenues for my business, Up Your Ear .. as well as be a part of their event.. and contribute to the events success.

ah what a day brings when i step out my door, just goes to show anything is possible and opportunies are around every bend, lets just see where this leads.. down the road!!

to be con't

andrea and crew

Last year at this time i was here with mom, Madeline wanted to have a party and miss Root went balistic!!! so miss partier of all time decided dieing was of her top priority, and Bill stayed with mom while i went out to trick or treat with the crew.. it was a great night actually, and the homes here on the streets, we were on, were all decorated, to the 9's and everyone on the streets were all dressed up in costume. Kinda reminded me of east stroudsberg pa, so many years ago.. for about 3 years we spent halloween there, and thousands of residents came out in full costume, with their kids, and went from house to house.. the year of 9/11 i dressed as a patriot, in a heavy ecridorian wool itchy sweater, and jeans and carried a flag!!! a BIG flag.. that year madeline was a cat, and she was about 3, and everytime we went to the door she'd hiss at the person who was handing out the candy, it was hillarious.. in her black alfit and make shift tail, she had to carry!!

back to Hollywood.. i dressed up friday for the carnival at school and evidently i looked like a gypsy from another planet.. that's original!!! hahahaha.. look i had to wing it with what i had.. madeline was a hippy, and andres a cowboy.. all make shift.. but we pulled it off.. quite well i might add.. Saturday Madeline had a party with a few of her closest friends.. 22 of them, 4 or so showed up early around 3:30, and the kids went down to the pool, i said they could sit there but not to go in the pool..of course that was an opportunity for the first infraction.. right as i still had a few things to put together .. snacks and things.. by 5-5:30 the rest of the unexpected guests, on my part anyway.. arrived and the Wild Things began to party!!! consitering their were ultimately 22 12-14yr olds i think the party turned out ok, kids in costume, all laughing and acting their ages, but relatively good.. had to rhien them in a few times, the party was quite the hit.. glad it was because were not doing that again, ever.. too bad but it was too much evidently on the neighbor who has been busily complaining at just about everything.. and we surely wouldn't want to disturb him, god forbid.. the party was finished by 9pm and all the kids went home..

and if that were not enough, there was sunday, actual halloween, where tricker treating was on the agenda.. what, i have to dress up again.. oh no.. i decided to pull out another alfit in my closet and turned my self into a magicians assistant!! red top hat, long midnight blue gown and a cape in burgandy.. and hideous silver sparkly wedge shoes!!! and off the cowboy and the hippy, we went to madeline's friend house where we'd been the year before, sadly the adults evidently had plans and i was not invited with madeline's friends so.. there i was like a little kid left out, just Andres and i to fend for ourselves.. it's just more fun when ur in a group, walking down the street all together laughing .. well that was not to be, we also, andres and i, had been invited to stop at someones house that was having a little kid party but i had all these things to do sunday like laundry, that we ran a little late.. and didn't hit the party early enough.. so that was disappointment 2.. walked around the nieghborhood and at 7:30 called it quits.. time to go home.. pooped.. and my phone battery was dieing.. ugg..so home we went 2 disgruntled children and myself.. to tired to care.. off with the top hat, off with the cape, my magic has expired!!!

Monday.. an all new day, new week and the routine is getting to be one, in just a weeks time.. seems like i have been here a month.. It is truly amazing my mother lived with so many people.. i honestly do not know how she did it... I had a change of heart the other night and thought it might be ok with Mable and her daughter mj..staying on as i will be traveling to florida and wont be here mid dec-mid jan.. over the winter break.. so we only have to manage at the moment 6 weeks.. and i could use the $$ what can i say.. ah but no, more chaos would prevail..issues with Madeline came up which needed to be addressed then Mable had issues with MJ and on the day went.. not work wise productive.. but personally i think i have all my complaints and problems in order now and can address each one.. it is hard to solve problems u cant put ur finger on but the straight forward in ur face ones can be addressed!! is all i can conclude.. so i will write a list and see how each thing can be addressed, as their are too many people in a space to handle things as they r.. HOW DID MY MOTHER DO THIS.. well for one she didn't have kids .. and she loved many times the company.. i personally could do with out.. i have absolutely no problem being alone. in fact crave it..unlike last year when i really did need company after mom had passed.. Bill was kind enough to come by a few nights a week, and give me some adult time.. having been on the road for so many months in such a small space my only escape was the texting of friends, a great relief...The writing of this blog..another room to go to if u will, both by far better than the tv with ridiculous programing i could no more pay attention to than the man in the moon.. and i had the kids to take out when we got a chance.. That feels like plenty.. Now all this.. interruption after interruption.. complaints from neighbor(s) and a threat from the "manager" of the building.. just great.. A why did i move here? oh yeah mom was sick .. why did i stay? well, where else was i to go? back to florida? might be an option though i hate to say it, i wouldn't have a clue where there i'd like to live.. i just don't love it there.. and i don't want to be where it is cold, which begins to knock this state out as it has been chilly here, until today.. i'm at last in shorts and a t-shirt..sandals, This has reminded me over these last few days like the ride at the carnival that u stand against the wall, in a circle and the thing starts going round and round, and u get pushed up against the walls the floor drops out and centrifugal< (love the definition of this word) force holds u there, then when the friggin thing stops and the floor meets back up with ur feet, ur expected to get off and walk away, and ur so dizzy, and light headed u can't stand, much less walk..

but somehow not to long a stretch later, u gather urself up and the dizziness goes away and u find ur self like an ass standing in yet another line for another ride.. life goes on...

andrea d. and crew

just a quick tid bit of information as i look a a mediocre rendition of statics, about my blog.. evidently i am being read here... in total since i began writing.. 1515, people from the u.s.a have viewed pages from the blog.. can u believe 33 page views came from the united kingdom, so who's reading there? and canada, 22 pg views.. hum.... now get this 11 page views are from denmark, incredible and oh this ones fascinating.. united arab emirates..7 seriously ..and 6 pages were viewed by someone in singapore & s. africa, 4 from russia, and even 3 page views were from france....

It would make it so much more interesting to find out who these readers were and how did they find me, not only that but it maybe that not only friends are reading.. now i admit to being counted as a reader but once i post i really don't look back at it.. i figure i read it 10 times before what more can i read.. as a non editing type, who cant type!! much less spell!! oh yes i have heard of spell check i just don't know how it is used in my circumstances, using this blog spot.. i just use the mac book dictionary.. which is a task in correction when 20 words are misspelled and or typed..

in any event i found this info very interesting.. and thought id share.. and would love my readers to try and find a way to show u r following as it helps me to know..

i also would like to share .. i love this.. though days pass when i don't write i find that after a few, i need to write, not like i just want to, which i do... but this feeling i can't breath.. that something is amiss if i haven't made a contribution to my blog.. like i get paid for this or something.. i wonder when i will know my readers, i'm good about not telling, ask anyone ..

so figure out how to become a follower and help me make this a real successful blog, that one day soon i will be recognized for.. may be just a dream.. but with any effort and luck, who knows where this will lead.. dreams do come true, and i do believe in fairies..

andrea and of course . . . crew

It has been a week since i woke up, in a campground, wondering where the hell i was, each time almost, as i traveled through the summer and into the fall.. spent the week getting it all together, not missing a step, school, unpacking finally a bit yesterday, hanging up cloths now not so squished in such a small closet.. spending my day filling out applications for shows to work this coming winter, on my short visit, if u will, down or over in florida. While the crew visits their father, and i try and fill in 29 days, working and sleeping on the couches of friends state wide..please report back if u have a vacancy!!!I will be Travelin' Light....(BH)

At last I am completely alone, for the first time since i returned home, the crew at school, my roomies to work and school and Cassie out on a business run for some production or another, a cool breeze blowing gently through my kitchen window, the smell of the air, it's own distinct aroma of hollywood.. Having been up unusually late since i returned or is that so? Chatting with Cassie, listening to music, such a Root thing to do, here, and yet so different, but still the same, so hard to explain, i can not..

The memories of Summertime, seemingly far now in the past, as i look towards my winter ahead.. How 7 days can be so defining..

I made major decisions this week, as i realized i couldn't live with any more than the crew, at least not for a while, this is my work space, my office during the day, and i just couldn't have the distraction of the comings and goings of yet more people so sadly had to give notice to Mabel and her lovely daughter, MJ.. Then the discussion came up at my neighbor apt, Sherees and then Matt across the hall, the perils of having a room mate, and the risks one takes when taking a stranger,essentially in.. when i heard the stories, it reminded me much of my mothers story, (title withheld) The battle of staying a float , the sacrifices we have to make to pay the bills, but at what cost, i ask.. at the risk of my children's best interest? or safety,... seems now hard to even consider that.. and i had..

my only alternative is to work as much is as possible, find more good shows and spend as little as possible, on anything else ..but the rent.. food, transportation..

and keeping the lights and phone on, another few things we can not live without..

better safe than sorry, cheep once pay twice, all come to mind, as i make this choice.. the only one that makes any sense to me at all.. terrifying though.. faithful yet resident.. The first i've had to actually deal with in all these months it seems so much easier to just drive around ,place to place with out a care, i allowed myself.. no longer an option as i forge forward on this L.a adventure..

As I washed the dishes yesterday, I let the water run, seems such a normal thing to do.. as I Always shut the water off while soaping up dishes or self.. the day before was watching Maddie do dishes and with out even a thought watched her soaping up all the dishes the tap off, then turning the tap on to rinse, not even she realized she'd done that.. living on weekends with a water capacity of 50 gallons, learning the value of water, like the value of money.. spend thriftily.. the water, or the money..

and last nights consult with miss madeline, her tired tears over the long week a new school, classes, that make her run the gamut of a campus made for high schoolers, we toured yesterday, carrying a book bag filled with so many books, she claimed it wasn't as heavy as the Easy Up, the tent we use to set up our booth.. The over whelming work and the catch up.. the math that is now over my head.. and the letter requesting she be excused from a field trip to the museum of ART as she said, "I've just spent 16 weeks on a bus, going to art shows" !!!!!!... I wrote it..

and now the weekend ahead.. Halloween, Maddie as a hippy girl and mr Andres the cowboy, i myself the gypsy, hear the song gypsy by Stevie Nicks.. in the back ground, or how about gypsies tramps and thieves.. Cher..

i have music running through my mind ..

"As" was on the radio, by Stevie Wonder, from the album: Songs in the Key of life.. how fitting.. the album title.. as i found myself driving through hollywood this morn on our way to school..to its rhythm

and life goes on.. The streets of hollywood, our new road.. What a trip

Andrea and crew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7ENPQzlUpY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L97pXkcMEds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOSZwEwl_1Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dX0pdsLVb0

food for thought... now that'd be nice huh?

All i can say about sunday is .. i didn't drive.. i just couldn't.. i spent my day at home in some strange way trying to believe this is where i'm living.. for now.. i couldn't even so much as drive to the store for my coffee mate i would so love to have had in the morning.. powder will just have to do..

as today i rise and shine before the sun, i haven't seen yet, sat or sunday. off to school one, elementary, for Andres 2nd grade and the alfit is all picked out.. fill out forms and hopefully he's done.. correction.. finished .. oh let's just hope, as i would then have the chance with Madeline to enroll her which may be a little more challenging along with uniform shopping .. ugg..could be worse than swim suit shopping!!! could anything be worse, think not.. could be a close second thou..

and that was sunday and my prediction of monday so right on.. after filling out forms..redundantly repeating my name, their name, their grade, what level of school i completed.. like who cares, if i have a phd.. in driving...

so onto 5 stores for very unappealing kaki pants and no white polo type shirts to be found.. $50. for 2 pants, and paper and and and $145 later ..

i actually looked like i knew what i was doing today.. now all i have to do is get the rhythm of the routine .. up at 0600.. have coffee then wake madeline and then Andres..staggered is better.. for me anyway.. then off we go for our first day of school.. and at last some time to work.. peace.. put things away.. make a list, and check it twice..

will be on the road over thanksgiving.. not my favorite choice but what must be.. just last year at that time mom had just died, i'd cooked as she wanted.. and i always cook thanksgiving.. it is my most sacred of holidays..many events have taken place during that time.. not to be mentioned, and my mothers passing.. and my reverence in the pilgrims celebrating with the indians the value of the harvest.. much like i feel, at the end of these road trips each year.. and wondering will what i reaped be enough and grateful , like jarring fruits as jam, for the toast later in the winter.... with some frugality and wise choices i believe we will be just fine..

as with anything, change is inevitable.. and now home 4 days i see again change, uncomfortable at first, as we re-sculpt our routines, make time for all that needs to be done in a day, new schools new, friends, old friends.. i thought how could i justify continuing this blog as A Diary of a Road Trip if my road trip was threw, though the road trip diary was inspired by the actual road, and a rude comment from a so called friend, it has come to my attention, with out intent, that what i have been sharing is the journey we r all on.. and the road is of course just a metaphor for that.. and how we go about dealing with our lives as it is, how we handle the circumstances as they arrive, coming to our own conclusions and making our own decisions based on our own opinions, not those of others.. not to say one doesn't ask for guidance from a good friend, with the wear all to provide good advice but in the end it is up to us each to find ourselves.. our independence from parents, friends, co-workers or whom ever else blesses us with their love.. and those that truly love us will happily share their thoughts, but never judge u for choosing only half their advice.. and using ur own self confidence in choosing ur own path.. be it flawed.. still ur own to live with.. and with that, the self respect u can only give ur self.. I DID IT MY WAY .. knowing full well u will be ok.. and that all that is needed will be provided for as long as ur intentions are good, with love.. kindness to ones self, makes us that much more capable to be kind to others.. and to raise hell when necessary. to those who need a little pointer!! but always with love.. as i know how sensitive i am.. i could be crushed in a moment.. look how i got this started.. guess even that isn't all that bad!! hahaha.. so with that my few days home written over these same days.. look forward to continuing my blog.. as it is now, and the readers so reading ,, i thank u too.. and do hope u will keep in touch , write me, e-mail me call me text me.. but do keep in touch and keep reading i so look forward to the vinuet (sp) of the the L.A Report!! and all that this has to offer as i go through learning a new place.. finding the grocery store, and the laundry mat 2 flights down ugg..

so today, be well as i wish u all that everyday..
Andrea and crew.. we r a team.. i am blessed.. and greatful beyond words ..

although seemly untrue!!blah, blah, blah!!

and a smile.. the sun is shining this tuesday at long last..

I have a lot to say.. now that's novel isn't.. it! so funny i spend so much time texting when i sit to write on the computer keys i can't find the exclamation key.. it's to the right in the phone, and top left here on the computer..

I awaken to soft clean sheets, some of my mom's old sheets, soft firm.. not those mushy 1000 thread count ones they claim r so wonderful.. with a million pillows.. a hole in the sheets, and a few ink spots.. for those that new my mother u would only get how funny that is, in my inheirited california king.. the size of my entire coach..

like waking up in a five star hotel..everything.. so beautiful, clean.. neat too.. of course i had to make my own coffee, as usual, but it still feels like, a self service, 5 star hotel.....

I pulled it out over 600 miles.. when i awoke yesterday having written here, i then went to check the van for what might be the last time upon this road trip.. dam.. the battery was dead!! no battery, no auxiliary breaks, and then the hood wouldn't open.. i tried desperately to get it to unlatch but.. i'd take a fair guess the cable that pulls the latch is broken.. i got out my awning rod, and started to fool around with the latch, and finally got it to unhook so as to get to the battery, i'd jumped a few times before.. to say the least.. of course the battery was so dead the quick jump wouldn't cut it.. so out i took the slow charger, plugged it into the motorhome and attached the clamps positive and neg.... and now sit and wait.. i had gotten up so early i should have been able to get a going much earlier.. now a slight delay.. had a chat with a fellow rv'er, heads up on my journey west, the the long hill as i'd leave willcox.. reaching the top to find fuel..to keep my eyes open for some amazing rock formations, best in this part of the country, john insisted.. and with our chat short and sweet my battery charged, we took off for the days drive not knowing whether we'd make it all the way to L.A today.. along the road, the billboards, one advertising "The Thing", what could it be? for what seemed like a hundred miles, every 10 or twenty, another with some intriguing comment about this mysterious THING found in the desert... as i pulled off for diesel again, it was there we found our selves where of all things was the place the THING COULD BE FOUND.. What could it be, the card reader was down on the pump so i was forced to go inside the place.. smooth move.. not like any gas station store i'd seen anywhere along the trip, in 16 weeks.. lots of odds and ends souvenir.. type items of every kind indian, mexican, western.. u name it.. and the huge sign inviting us to view the THING .. ok i asked, so what is the thing.. right.. oh u must see it one woman behind the counter insisted, and for $1. for adults and $.75 for kids who could resist.. i filled the tank, parked the coach, put some nice shoes on and in we went to find this out.. pictures to follow.. a collection of antiques that would blow ur mind, a museum of their personal collection of cars, phonogragh, items of torture, a car said to been driven by hitler.. fuck.. this home schooling thing a wondrous THING indeed.. Then a stroll through the gift styled store, found a pistol for andres cowboy costume.. a buck and a half.. who can resist that.. and a fab pair of indian style boots for madeline..

If i have complained my name has been called way to often, only madeline would know how it feels... we spoke in unison many a times yesterday, YES ANDRES multitudes of times.. till we were hysterical with laughter, Madeline, mom, madeline mom.. madeline mom.. yes Andres!!!!

and more miles, the road streaming under the tires, many blindly passing.. my mind in thought.. my summer, Madelines excitement in getting home.. my feeling i was not going home, my home.. where i'd hardly acclimated before i'd left for this long trip.. finding this all a bit hard to believe.. calls coming in where are u, how much further.. what time might u make it.. will u make it..figuring at an average speed of 70 mph.. that should put me in town about 8:30pm.. in the parking lot where i can park my coach 2 miles from the apt.. my apt.. huh.. my apt..

arizona, and finally the boarder.. California.. crossing the colorado river, and the fruit inspection place, so this is an agricultural inspection, so we'd already gathered up our few fruits, 7 bananas, 3 peaches and an apple, we claimed .. and where r u driving from, florida , he looked at us like we had 2 heads!!!! seriously... and laughed when we gave him our inventory list of fruits!!are u sure it's 7 bananas, and where would those peaches be from, he took one look and said, oh those are california peaches.. figures i'd buy peaches in the south east, from california.. glad to return them and after 5 days still uneaten.. why do i bother..

several stops for fuel.. quick, short, stops .. like driving in the indi 500, 5minutes fill and go.. fill and go.. chasing the sun as it set.. into the mountains ahead, driving through indio, where i'd sold at an art show months ago.. till i reached the metropolis of the city limits, at 70.. just want to get there, now.. when of all things shit there are flashing lights behind me, oh no .. shit fuck.. i'm getting pulled over for the first time in twenty years and i have no idea where to pull this rig over.. and i know for a fact that i can not find my registration as i'd looked for it some days earlier, when in maryland.. and wheres my drivers license oh and proof or insurance shit.. i pulled over where it seemed relatively safe, and a nice officer explains to me that i should drive to the next exit, and pull into a shopping center, requests my drivers license which he holds onto.. i'm thinking should i be driving without it? and i proceed.. knowing i was speeding through, as the speed limit for towing are 55mph.. when i get to the shopping center the lot is completely full and i have no idea in the dark of night now where to stop.. anywhere lets get this over, and he comes to my window, madeline in the front seat, explains to me my wrong doing and askes for the registration, and proof of insurance which madeline has the folder out.. nothing i need in it.. and i tell him to be perfectly honest i have no idea where the registration is.. and heres my last years insurance. and with a big smile as i explain i've been driving since 10:30 this morning and have been driving for days, in fact.. antsy to just get there, L.A. he returns my out of date insurance paper, with my drivers license, and with a smile no ticket!!! yes oh thank u god.. no ticket.. no grief, and as we were about to part i asked so what is ur name, officer williams, and btw where r u from.. New Jersey!! oh sir one more thing.. how do i get back to I-10? follow me i'll get u there safely, and going in the west direction.. he was so nice.. and it was a brief stop, no long delay.. he could have been so awful, guess he couldn't resist my enthusiastic, honesty.. my smile even under the circumstances.. what else could i do..

and back down the road, an hour away.. eachminutes closer.. madeline had been packing periodically all day long, and there it was the skyline of the city buildings glowing in the night.. so stunning.. and the 101.. beckoning us towards hollywood.. exit highland blvd.. unload, throw everything in the van, unconnected from it's towing place for so many days as i ran through my head my procedure, unhook, re-engage rear shaft disconnect, and race through the back streets of Franklyn blvd, then down to hollywood blvd, to fairfax, over a little street to put me on Hayworth, a brief light and cross over sunset, my apt building, just to the right.. and park.. for the night at last..

my welcoming committee, my tenants and my beloved Cassie.. beer in hand as i walk into my home.. lights so pretty, my furniture, pretty floors, clean and nice.. one trip up the stairs with all the extra hands to help.. so nice.. oh a bathroom. when i went the first time, i went to press the pedal.. not there.. a full length mirror that spans the 16 feet of closet doors, to glance at my self for the first time, like looking at an old friend i hadn't seen in months fully.. my slim figure, from head to toe..

back to the kitchen counter to have another beer and conversation, till the wee hours, and finally this over whelming need to put my head down upon my pillow..

awoke at 8:45 PST.. adjusting to my new time zone by far easier than when i went east, which seemed to take months.. to adjust to..

a gray over cast day, just right for some home cooking.. roast chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy.. and peas.. lots of butter on mine plz.. i'm going to go over the motor home pick up some more things, then Ralphs for the dinner, milk.. just a quick stop.. for the days needs, have to make a big run.. but not today.. 600 plus miles.. wow..

i am sure u are all wondering what now.. what will she have to write about if now no longer driving. there are a few more thoughts which this week i will continue to add to this running story.. so stay tuned.. i'm not quite finished!!!..

with all our thanks , the friendship, the calls, and inquiries of our where abouts daily, and those that stayed up late awaiting my notice of our arrival safe, and sound.. finally.. and for those who just so happened to be up..

and for the rest i must start calling to let them too know, we are home.. and the journey continues..

Andrea and Crew

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/balmorhea/

This is where i woke up this morning..after a long day of driving.. sometimes u can't possibly comprehend u r in paradise.. thought it was clearly nicer than the parking lot, in Louisiana, where we'd stayed just shy of baton rogue.. a few days earlier

i went into the office to pay for my space, Joanne greeted me.. i gave all my personal info, my name, address and phone # why i don't know, like we're kept track of.. horrid thought

she says so did u see the pool.. i'm like no, like i give a shit about a pool.. she says well u absolutely should.. why must i, again i'm starting late, but earlier compared to days past.. so feeling like a bungie cord has a hold of me, not letting me leave to the west, just getting taunter..

so about this pool.. which u can read about, feed by hot springs, so we ventured over to see this magnificent pool.. oh and it was.. oh my,, truly so fantastic, i'd always wanted to see a spring feed pool, i'd like to sit in a jacuzzi like feed spring pool.. with no one there.. no crowds, just the moon, the stars.. the cool breeze , ok back to my story.. ha ha ha hahhaahaha


i took lots of pix.. but shortly after i was shooting my camera battery died, then i used my phone, and it's battery died, shit fuck.
so i decided we should run back, put on our suits, forget we were on a schedule, and take a dip, as well as there was this high dive i really wanted to dive off of.. there were these boys jumping off it and i so wanted to do the same.

and so i did, dive off the high dive, my legs shaking, oh no what have i done, and i wasn't going to just climb down those stairs so i did, and i never just dive into water, i go slowly, just an inch at a time, not today.. i just dove in.. and u know, that's what life is all about.. just diving in..

then i threw Andres in, in the much shallower end in a life vest.. no i'm no worried.. all by myself here, save a life, his and mine.. he struggled at first then i threw him in.. and he swam quite a way to the stairs.. slippery from the moss.. hold on tight!! as we strolled back to the deep end Andres wanted to go back in, so i said ok.. and started to lower him in.. he was resident, and i was struggling, when madeline pushed us both in, it was so great, we laughed , and swam, together.. to the next latter up.. he so wanted to go again.. like a ride no amusement park could ever provide..

i practiced a few dives on the low board before hitting the scary high dive again, but put myself back up there, better with practice, i was 15 again, when i was in Durango, with Kimberly Waldon, a girl i'd meet at the local pool in Durango, summer baby sitting.. for parents.. what i learned.. i became a great diver, because of her. i had dove off off of bowsprits 20 some feet off the sea in the islands so this should be nothing.. this is where diving began.. for me.. i didn't like the water up my nose so i decided diving was better, into the sea with out a thought, and so diving is very important, at least every so often.. I am achey all over. but it is a reminder, how great that was..then and now.. wait till u see the pix i did get..

by the way, i was 50 miles west of Marfa, a sign along the road said, and i flashed on myself maybe 10 yrs old sitting in a catilac,(the spelling is so off i can't find this one in the dictionary!!!!!) the window open, feeling the hot air blow, on my face, in the back seat, remembering my dad, gliding.. in some soaring contest.. some summer, a million years ago, seemingly.. he was gliding, we were chasing him in the car, for any chance he would land in some field or another.. who knows what the task was that day, in my long ago memory.. but i was back there just for a moment..

and onward we drove, passing over the boarder of mexico.. and a sign that said, mountain standard time.. and i knew in that instant, i was farther west, the ache of my summer travels, yet closer to an end.. a quick stop in el paso, the call of cowboy boots, with my name on it.. and a really cool cowboy hat for Andres, and a lasso, as he will be a cowboy for halloween this year.. wearing those cowboy boots i'd found at stormville a month or so ago.. which by the way he wears everyday, the ones he so loved that day, when i bought them for him he wanted to sleep in.. sure why not.. don't cowboys always sleep in their boots..

and new mexico, seemed short and sweet, before u know it we were in.. Arizonia, drove through miles of vistas, stunning.. the distant mountains, as i carved out a few more miles to land in Willcox.. safe and sound for the eve.. having driven into yet another time zone, drove late by my stands, of EST.. putting 3 hours between me now.. my friends east.. so far away...

my friends, west, waiting in anticipation for my arrival, either late today, or early tomorrow.. maybe it would be nice to be in my bed tonight.. as i sit here so incredibly early looking out my window from my coach maybe the last time, to see the neon colored pink morning sky the sun rising now, a gray bunny with a cotton tail, crossing the pebble paved parking lot, some call camping!!
and the birds again, chatting in the background.. the roar of the highway.. as early truckers get a move on.. They look so huge as i see them driving by, when on the road they, seem so comparable, my comrades.. driving in and out around them passing them to maintain momentum.. flashing them in when they pass me or visa vera. the hazard lights a flash to say thank you.. i love driving..

I loved my summer, be it not that, profitable in dollars, the profit of our experiences, trying not to miss an opportunity, to see something, go somewhere, lillydale, or my dive off the high dive, all so fantastic, a swim in the sea.. my son on a kayak.. a sandy road.. fried clams, lobster, the cornfields on my way east, the desert on my journey west.. i think u might even say i fell in love... the love of freedom, to be happy.. unlike ever before, no one to give me grief, finding, each day a joy, and for the few, not so great ones, so forgotten....

i wish this feeling for anyone.. and everyone.. no matter how one finds it.. FIND IT .. stop whining, get up and do something.. the only whine i want should come in a bottle.. already uncorked.. ready to be consumed.. like life..

be well, as i drive further towards where the sun truly sets.. west.... my crew still sleeping it is time i made coffee..

and to all a great day

Andrea and Crew

I was so determined to write everyday on my way home.. or on my west.. does anyone know where home is.. i've been so displaced for so long now.. i wonder as i struggle to find the coffee maker under 9000 things, no time to play house, i'm driving, writing, on the frigging phone.. checking e-mails.. pressing ignore on my phone to the umteen bill collectors, and listening to the crew fight over who's half hour its is for the tv.. they haven't watched all summer long, at last a signal on dish network that i won't have once back at the apt..

oh and on that subject, of the crew.. hahaha.... stop that, he threw the foam arrow at my head, poor boy bored out of his mind, and spit balls, mom may i have a few napkins.. i might need to blow my nose at some point during the day.. right andres. no... then from the rear.. mom, mom mom... yes andres.. mom mom mom.. yes andres, i cant hear u im driving, speak up MOM, MOM, MOM.. yes andres.. ......im hungry.. well we have roast beef, ham , or pastrami.. i don't feel like that .. we have ham, pastrami , or roast beef.. .. rrrrrrr... then Madeline.. andres says.. can u get me something.. music blasting.. singing away.. turn volume down yes andres.. i'm thirsty.. well drink the water.. i dont feel like the water, well we don't have anything else.. we drank mom's vitimin water,... all.. of it.. did i get any.. no.. yesterday.

.... and so goes the long journey home, as i awake to the phone alarm, the dark sky out side, the sun rising, from behind distant mountains.. grayish silowets.. in the background the biegish tundra my foreground.. the birds a just starting their early morning banter.. all quite on the western front..

Andres my dear boy got me out of the camper.. to look at the wetlands area last eve, we saw a craw fish or two.. a turtle.. swimming in the clear stream just steps away from my campsite for the night.. as we'd ventured earlier yesterday with sharyn to a lovely park also close to yesterdays morning camp in the heart of austin.. and what a lovely walk it was, she showed us ll the beauty, right there.. the clear water river, evidently feed from the colorado.. a swimming hole.. a bridge we crossed over to a huge field where a music fest is held, and all the little paths along the slow moving river, or lake as she said.. clear.. u could see to the bottom.. as she held both andres' and madelines hand.. just like her father.. so kind sincere.. warm.. without an effort.. just naturally beautiful.. who could say i'm not blessed.. with the company of such great people.. who r so giving of them selves.. not even thinking that they r.. just r..

i have a lot to ponder today as i continue down this lonesome highway, berely a trucker to wave to.. as though no one takes this route.. to finally leave tex ass.. and into new mexico.. a new sight as this road is quite different than I-40. flatish, rolling hills where hitting 80 was the speed limit, and i was on it.. my late start yet again.. but for such a good reason, my lovely visit..some brief knowledge of Austin.. capital of texas, nothing like the rest of the state.. artsy.. hip.. would like to know it better..

someday..for now the state i most need to learn is my mind.. my heart.. and whats yet to come.. as i took that short bit of time last night.. so wanting to write so un able to..

my friends now scattered over the usa.. i feel the call of the road.. the cool morning air lightly touching my skin as i write so long and hello again and again.. wonder if their might be some souveneer to be had.. like the mocosins on my way here.. hum.. wonder where the hell i put another thing.. it will take a month to unload this coach with the shit we have collected.. andres wanted batteries, for a light up sword someone had given him.. like i d have to take everything out of the basement just to find them!!!! ok for get the suveneer.. dont stop.. just geter there... L.A here we come...

most lovingly andrea, and crew!!!

and p.s im not fixing spelling today whos got the time.. it takes me more time to correct spelling tyos than it does put forth my thoughts.. xoxoxo

This morning i woke up to the cement parking lot like campground very clean,,to the sound of a mower.. way to close around 0800...actually i was up earlier.. after coffee and blogging.. e-mail and junk like that.. i went to put the car in order to tow.. make sure the brakes were in order put the van back into nutrel.. re-hook up the signal cord.. .. now so second nature.. i realize i never mentioned all the goes with the driving.. checking everything to make sure its working.. linesr good, nothing drags, which could b a compete disater.. looking for a replacement cord.. oh in the middle of no where.. oh one does not want this.. at alll!!!!!.. so in any event, had a chance to say good morning to the camper nieghbors, in a pretty nice rig.. shamfully at this instant i can not recall their names, but our conversation was extremely interesting.. she was a teacher in alaska.. and as she'd paid into her pension as well as social security.. she was not able to receive her social security because some jack asses n the 80's voted that was double dipping .. according to her. so now she can bearly afford health insurance if not for her husbands social security.. dam is this fucked up? i ask.. now wait there's more i asked them where they were coming from of course and where they were headed..u r not going to friggin believe this.. they were just in the pan handle of texas headed to the pan handle of florida.. no wait wait.. u r not going to believe,, i said oh im just coming from there, figuring they would never in a million years know.. where id really been i said well i'm just coming from dustine.. which was actually true.. she said, oh we're on our way home to ........NICEVILLE can u believe that.. i almost died.. then of course the conversation about the Mullet festival.. which they had sadly missed this year.. i dared give the info on my blog.. i liked them and found our conversation very enlightning.

and that was just this morning!!.. crossed the missisippi via the Wilkinson-Horace bridge .. followed by airline highway.. huh

my goal was san antonio.. but took a little detour to visit a new friend.. sharyn.. we met when andres just wondered off at sweet water camp to make friends with a dog named Charlotte if u recall i do believe i've mentioned this at some point but don't make me look.. as it turns out she's just an hour north so thought with a little planing last Minuit and all .. as she just landed a job here, as of today, it was excellent timing.. now get this.. madeline read the three choices of campgrounds and we decided on this one.. in the heart of Austin.. in the city.. this is a really cool place.. at first i was like i don't know, then.. i was like.. ok.. sharyn was right here on time.. and we had a chance to chat.. then went around the block in the city .. and got the cheapest burgers ever and it was great.. these blue painted picnic tables.. and if i haven't mentioned i really have a thing for the picnic tables.. it was rather charming.. and then sharyn showed us where she was starting tomorrow.. right next store to this campground.. seriously.. do the coincidences ever end..? we'll have a coffee in the am and a nice visit i'm sure before the crew and I, head again west..

and the adventure continues just a little longer..

Andrea and Crew

an early morn, readying myself to hit the road.. wonder how i write and do this.. me too!!i combine coffee, with writing.. in Louisiana, where of all things, when i checked into this campground just outside baton rouge.. they asked me , as i'm from west hollywood, if i were an actress!!! right.. as it turns out.. they r filming the 4th Twilight, and another movie, battleship.. i must be on my way home.. who knew i'd call west hollywood home.. or anyone would.. but there u have it... some crew fellow, was checking in as i was leaving.. and i said oh so ur from hollywood.. me too.. he seemed so typically hollywood removed and stuck the fuck up.. like i was interested in whether he was a film guy.. like i'd just gush all over, thrilled to be anywhere near the glamour of his job.. who gives a hoot.. went to my coach and drove to my site.... not another thought..

He should have known who i was!!! the writer, of this fantastic blog!!!! hahahahaha.. reporting upon the many events and places i've been and sharing my thoughts, of life, a journey having little to do with the roads which i have traveled this long 16 weeks.. and yet short, as i start my way back, chiseling away at the miles ahead.. and the life lessons, learned.. or acquired , that i will continue to learn from.. this is what this has been all about.. and sharing my thoughts, as many have shared theirs with me.. guiding me to realize who i am.. who i am not!! and like u all, my readers.. on that search... or not.. just the being aware.. of how we can effect one another, by our words, or lack of.. sticks and stones..huh i think we can much more move each other in one direction or another by words, by no means, mere.. we can melt a heart or simply destroy it, all if we let either in.. i wonder should we allow both in, in order to do so be filled with the love we deserve, can we shut one out and still allow the other in.. or must we be able to allow the hurt in, as well .. if a door is open it's open to all , theirs no half open half closed..

open.. id say is the way i am.. this way the kindness, giving, receiving, loving and being loved has the room it needs to get in and when that occasional spear .. to the heart passes too, through that door, like a rainy day.. a reminder of how much is better, than it is worse..

so to gleb and wally who, so, without a thought would open an old, thought healed wound.... if i were to allow that i would be allowing for anyone to come along and miss treat me.. as i had so many times, the old familiar.. not so familiar any more..

i have allowed love and kindness into my life.. people who genuinely care.. we must all realize parents are not always the ones who show u love, though we expect that's where we are to learn it.. maybe we learn lack of love.. the long monsoon of childhood, to grow up .. and learn that that is not it, at all.. that a sunny day isn't merely a sunny day but how it makes u feel through and through.. deep inside.. i have felt all this and now know..

The loving friends who have helped me see this.. are with out a doubt my guidance.. thank u all so much.. this list is long if i were name off all those that have been kind and good.. i am truly blessed and those blessings transfer to my children.. and i see them by far happier than i ever was as a child.. not that i thought i was unhappy.. didn't know the difference then..

what a trip.. hop on board as i roll down the road another day to see states, texas soon oh dear.. having traveled through florida, alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.. be with us in spirit.. good spirits!!

love to u all, and may ur day be a joy ..

love always ..
Andrea and Crew

Tonight is my last night after my last show.. The Mullet Festival.. well if u new what a Mullet was .. it is likely u wouldn't come here to the town of niceville..
i found out as i arrived monday, a week ago late day.. set up the motorhome in a distant rv space, quiet.. . by wednesday my friend Joe was to arrive, here in Niceville.. we all went to the little airport here to see his smiling face in his pilot attire, looking so dashing.. hat and all.. after a long day of flying.. we ran errands.. a tent needed.. as he would be here a few days as it turned out i would be moving yet again as mr mason had some issue with 4 people on the camp site on the fair grounds.. not wanting to make a fuss over his ridiculousness.. i decided to find another place to camp and we packed up everything and found a campsite in Destin, far away from the show.. but lovely in it''s own way.. nothing like it's internet ad though, which made this place look like a paradise, near the water. as it turned out just a lot large enough for a house, instead a few motorhomes and trailers.. Kent the manager greeted us joyfully.. the last spot in the area as the Mullet festival had filled all the hotels and campsites months ago.. Now one would think this is going to be truly the big weekend..

and so i set up early friday morning.. excited with anticipation.. 40,000.. when i met Silvia.. the art and craft.. coordinator.. i asked about Mullet.. was it any good.. she was a riot.. she's from New York, Syracruse, and i chatted about the summer , and my short stay a few times at the camping world where the mosquitoes that wouldn't bother me, and actually want nothing to do with me, dive bombed me, relentlessly.. like i'd never experienced, some very special mosquitoes.. she said she wouldn't touch a Mullet.. they're bottom feeders.. who would have known this would become a theme of the weekend... i thought , thats ok, i like lobster.. their bottom feeders, guess theres a difference in the sophisticated maine lobster and just a river fish.. who fucking knew!!! ahhh

Set up ready for my friday.. and that hurry up and wait theme becomes again a reality.. i swear if 200 people arrived friday.. i pulled a zero.. yes u read correctly ZERO .. i called it a day.. at 6 or so.. had my friend Joe, and my crew, whom he was with.. found himself busy fixing all those pesky things i never could get to, the bathroom door that wasn't working the electric cord box i'd broken a year ago.. the cable.. oh and the short list goes on.. so kind and helpful..

Glad to be with Joe.. and the crew.. rather spend that time with them than sit it out till 10 pm.. wishing.. That is no way to make money sso thought i'd better profit from great company.. burgers beer, and rest for the busy saturday surely to come...

Oh this was something.. hot humid.. searing in fact.. as my space was positioned to receive sun both from the front, and side where my cases are set up.. no where to go but hot sun, burning my skin..and not a shadow, from a customer .. a standing on the other side.. my friend Clyde was be side himself!! kept calling me.. so how much have u sold.. he usually kicks my butt.. as his dresses seem usually more popular and he'd stuck it out friday night.. for a mear $200. i was already creaping up on his totals from his night and day.. and before u knew it had upped him by a hundred!! and the competition was on.. we both like to sell and as it was an empty show.. during the day.. it was the only thing keeping us both on our task.. make that money.. what ever it shall be.. by the eve i had a few more dollars.. nothing i should write about.. at 9 i called it quits.. rather the company of Joe, who'd spent the day with the crew.. and of course the crew..

and as for sunday.. oh i take a deep breath, as we collected ourselves packed up Joes tent, now an empty space outside my coach window.. and off to the airport, he in uniform.. looking ever so captain like.. ever so different from the shorts and "T" from the weeks camping wear.. a saddened kiss .. unlike the one just days before, upon his arrival.. not much to say.. in fact .. as we know my traveling starts, monday, a trek back to L.A. further apart.. and a weeks worth of memories, and some time to mull the whole week over..

off the crew and i went to the booth, family day, not much hope to make up financially for the lack of sales friday, certainly much less the saturday.. bottom feeders.. and so i discovered how nice people r here in Niceville.. not very.. as i set up and proceeded to show my first pair of earrings to my first fish on the line.. no mirrors, what i put them under the counter the night before.. dam.. where could they b? shit.. by the time i would now look through everything, my first fish got away.. and still no mirrors.. stolen, worthless to anyone else, but me those that i was down to, as mirrors break all the time my old back ups gone not another mirror now for my day of sales.. borrowed 2 from Clyde.. now my rod caught another .. and as i was closing the deal, my calculator, for me to total the sale and add in florida sales tax, what where the heck is it.. no not that too.. really NOT NICE.. $30. calculator, 2 years maybe 3 years old.. like new.. gone too.. oh shit.. what kind of people come to this place, to go into my completely closed booth and take what doesn't belong to u just for the sake of taking something.. i truly don't get it.. so like the fish here.. the people shall follow.... bottom feeders.. I'll stick with shrimp and lobster festivals, or better yet straight art shows, crafts shows where the people don't think of u as carnival people and look down upon u while being lower than low, as they march by.. thinking themselves better, while not any more nickels in their own pockets..

one customer early on in the day stopped.. "How much" i said do u know what it is.. she said no.. HOW MUCH.. well whats the difference how much it is if u don't know what it is.. she was irate.. who cares.. it doesn't matter if it's one dollar or a thousand if u don't know what the hell it is.. have a nice day.. in NOT SO NICEVILLE..

Their must be a word, for something that claims one thing when it is completely the opposite..

I packed up dollied everything to my van with darling Andres pushing.. as it was very heavy.. through the trodden grass down to dust and sand.. even the harder to pull, happy to get it all in 3 trips, loaded and out of there a sweet so long to clyde and on my way back to camp where i started to write to find my head on my pillow.. the thoughts of the week a running through my head.. my summer.. my near ending journey, and this blog too.. another to follow, THE L.A REPORT.. has a ring to it.. what u all think.. written for my dears on the east as i share my winter, with those i will so miss, though in touch.. the time difference, huge.. yet accommodating.. as it will be earlier for me.. and i might find my head a rest before midnight likely..

I am ready.. the drive to come today, started out just write!!

with all my deepest thoughts, plz say a prayer.. our safe journey thank u god.. 2110m .. L.A. here we come!!!

Andrea and Crew