Scenes on Sunday ~ Memories
Life is full of moments you can’t put into words.
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Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
often, people just get in the way
Road Trip Arizona
Arizona is arid and mostly empty.
I’ve only been in the Copper State for a few days, but it will leave some lasting impressions on my memory. And, not just the obvious ~ that it’s big, empty, and fucking very hot.
This is a place of contrasts; from the red desert to the high pines, and from downtown anywhere Phoenix to utterly crazy, totally living in the past, Flagstaff, Arizona continually surprised me.
Red Rock Country around Sedona reminded me of John Wayne western movies, and the high pines on the road to Flagstaff reminded me of innumerable Jimmy Stewart westerns. Funny how one’s impressions of a place can be coloured by the film’s one watched as a boy.
But, mostly what I’ll remember about this place is that, on average, it’s empty. There’s a lot of space with bugger all in it except rocks and heat.
I like Arizona, but the whole world is a big place, so I don’t think I’ll ever get back here.
Some say that Arizonians know what’s best for Arizona. And, that there’s more to the Grand Canyon State than heat. All I know is that this state is extreme.
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Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Meteor Crater has no visual references to tell your mind just how damn huge it is
Monochrome Monday ~ America
They’ve all come to look for America
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Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Pictures by the girl riding shotgun
Embracing Bliss
follow your bliss and the cosmos will open doors where there were only walls
The view from my hotel balcony
Over the weekend, and for the next few days I will be attending a conference ~ retreat called Embracing Bliss in Sedona AZ. It’s spiritual / self-improvement, and I’m expecting great things as far as balancing my life is concerned.
Sadly this means that I won’t be online as much as usual. But normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.
Take care in the meantime.
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Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Sedona is a beautiful town, and this is a cool hotel
A Mustang in Arizona
No matter what life throws at me, at least I have a cool car.
In Arizona my rental is a Mustang.
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Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
now all I need is a cool girl riding shotgun
A Californian I Am Not
California is a nice place to live, if you happen to be a hippie.
Orange County in Southern California is a very beautiful place to spend early summer ~ the great weather, fabulous beaches, and fascinating countryside….. But any Englishman thinking of coming here for the very first time needs to know that SoCal is as different from the Shires as Wensleydale cheese is from the muck known as American cheese.
George Bernard Shaw once said that England and America are two countries separated by a common language. This is manifestly true. Californians do not know how to speak or understand English, even if Spanish is not their first language. Certainly no Californian will ever understand English humour, irony, sarcasm, or know what real honesty is about. Also Californians have a language of their own; WTF does ‘Jonesing’ mean?
There is popular movement that calls on us all to walk 10,000 steps a day. Californians do not walk anywhere, unless they are a penniless bum. A Californian will drive to the gym and then spend some time on the treadmill while listening to mindless music.
And, Californians are among the very worst drivers I have ever come across, possibly barring the French. The two real downsides are #1 all Americans think they are good drivers, #2 in California the standard of driving worsens by age, sex, and ethnicity, (not how you’d think).
Californians even drive to and from what they are pleased to call a pub. I’ve been in several pubs / sports bars here, and to any decent Englishman they are universally appalling. Do Not think you will get a decent pint of beer here, they serve dross such as pineapple flavoured beer. Americans are also pleased to sit at the bar and watch sports TV all night. Do Not eat the food in any American pub / sports bar.
Some Californian food is fabulous, you can get a wonderful steak and salad here. On the other hand sushi is popular here, and so is serving nasty cheese with everything. Do not try ‘Mexican’ food, it’s greasy muck with jalapeno.
Some say that California is the Golden State. And that saying ‘have a nice day’ isn’t actually an insult. All I know is that bikers, drop-outs, hippies, stoners, and surf bums do well here.
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Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
The beach bars are cool in California,
and some serve good food,
Scenes on Sunday ~ Rental Cars
The fastest car in the world is whatever rental I’m driving.
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Not a car, but a fun rental.
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Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
first rental this road trip
Mitsubishi Outlander
Travelling Music ~ Barbados
Beaches, Surf, Sun, and Fabulous Food, make a great vacation!
This Friday I head off for the USA on an extended vacation ~ two of the most important things for me to take on vacation are a great book, and some cool recorded music. I have the book; Isaac Asimov’s Extraterrestrial Civilizations, and this is one of my favourite holiday songs.
Some say the West Indies are all about Cricket, Rum, and Sun. And that Bridgetown is full of older American women. All I know is that you don’t go there in July, August, or September.
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Marijuana is popular in the Windies,
and in California.
Scenes on Sunday ~ Beaches
The sea rewards those men who have love in their heart.
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Marmaduke likes the beach too
