Dana Law Archive

The last two weeks have been full. The hike went very well. Hard but well. I have a killer month ahead. Looks like June will be the biggest in a while. As important as magic shows are nothing brings up the rear like the psychic show. The big money is there.
Syka Pickerel just called to say Harold, my last uncle, passed away. He was a good guy: shy, hardworking and funny. The best I can say about my uncles and aunts is that they were unselfish, decent loving relatives. Syka is the last one. This morning in inimitable fashion when asked by my cousin Toni if she wanted to live with her she said, "I'd rather shit my pants." She was having a cup of coffee and a cigarette when she called.

Quiet week for shows but lots of new business booked ahead. Plenty of people called me out of the blue too. You can go through dry weeks but it you are stuffing things in the funnel you will get the business. It just goes in cycles. Brendan had a full day off today. No school until a test Saturday. He played video games all day since eleven. Donna is out of town and it is lonely around here.

That Palm Springs Gas picture is about a month old but I couldn't resist.
Janessa has to move from her apartment. She has only been there 15 months but they want to make them into condos. Moving is hell but they are already on the job looking at places. They have a lot of maturity for their age. I was a wandering generality at that age and for a lot longer.
I spent an hour in the DMV yesterday. We now own the Lexus.
Brendan's school year is almost over and he will be taking his finals next week.
I have only a few days until our big trip (up to 45 miles) up to the San Bernardinos on the PCT.
I got a slew of calls yesterday for shows. Customer calls come in cycles but you must call all the time.

Do not go to Palm Springs!

I now have a mobile blog which means simply that I can send a picture and some text from anywhere with my cell phone. Cool. The future is here. I have told my kids that these are the good old days. At least I told Brendan.
Not much happened yesterday. Painted a little. Went to a party at Laurette's. Friend of Donna from work. Cool downtown living. Small condo but well appointed. Right across from the Train Station. Good looking slim intelligent friend and one drunk annoying couple. Great fun.

Yesterday the neighborhood got together to talk about Home Depot again. There is a change by Monday they may appeal the decision against them to the city council. Good again to see people working together. Lots of good minds.
Got a good show yesterday. Honda of America. It probably doesn't matter but I am seduced by the big names I get when I perform. I might make a difference to future customers. I think you are judged by the company you keep. The status of having a guy perform for them who has been with some great clients. "Hey, he performed for the California Funeral Directors."
I painted some more of a door to our bedroom yesterday. It is a long boring process but it sure looks nice. Our new doors are much better.

I had one of those pig out days yesterday. Ate doughnuts and ice cream! Just felt like it. I have been so careful since I found out my cholesterol was up and found out I had arthritis in my right pinky. I am not worried about going off the healthy diet not and then. Consistency is the only important thing. What was interesting was that my little finger had a "episode." After eating all the bad stuff it was swollen overnight, painful and stiff. It had been much better after changing my diet and taking glucosamine. I hardly noticed it recently and then this. I don't know what makes it better or worse but I am going to continue eat right and take the supplement. It was a dramatic change from the day before and that is good enough for me.

Bought a pair of hiking boots yesterday. Really a pair of trail runners with a great soles. I have been slipping around for years whenever I get on rocks with my New Balance shoes. These should stop that. Brendan and I cleared out about 10 old doors from the Garage attic yesterday. They have been there over 12 years. Past our arrival. They are going out to the trash. Donna went to Curves again yesterday! Janessa got her started again on Saturday. Hope she keeps it up. Janessa is now a member and loving it. "I have noticed definition after 5 visits." Thinking and working on the next hike daily. Lot's of things to do. Lot's of decisions to make. What to eat? Will we have big problems with all the water and can we pass through the remaining snow when we get up to altitude? Can I fit all my stuff into my new lightweight pack? It is endless. Talked to the Wildlands Conservancy yesterday about passing through a corner of their new preserve. "No problem. Have fun. Visit the Stone House."

A bit tired. Met one of the outdoor section writers on the Union Tribune yesterday on Cowles Mountain. He is interested in our PCT trip and wants to cover it and possibly join us for a leg. Got a email from Cohost Todd Whithorn with Cooper Clinic. They are going to Podcast Dr. Coopers radio program soon thanks to my suggestion. Started up the Mitsubishi Lancer after a trickle charge. Woohoo! Cooked a trial run trail meal (Jambalaya rice with smoked salmon) last night in my Antigravitygear cook pot. Double Woohoo!

Belated birthday dinner last night. Went to Trattoria Antica in La Mesa. Had a wonderful, flavorful meal. The wine was very good. I got a first aid kit, new hiking shirt, convertable pants and get this a new lightweight 20 degree bag! I am the luckiest guy in the world. Janessa had the printout of the book I asked for but she hadn't received yet. Very nice party with homemade cake afterwords. Brendan ate cake too and told a funny story about bad cake that everyone had to pretend to enjoy at White Dragon. I told Janessa, who wants to specialize in Neurology, that she should use my past story of neurological symptoms as the basis of a thesis for her reason to study the subject or whatever works to get into medical school and get some money. She got excited about that and asked me 20 questions about what I went through in my early 20's. I felt like she was a doctor already. She even had opinions and recommendations. What a smart lady. Janessa took Donna to Curves yesterday and I asked her how it went and she said, "Ugh!" I have a couple of shows at a street fair today and it should be fun. What a life!