A few weeks ago I was on a website that I have followed for years, Beekman1802. They sell home products, goat milk cheeses, skincare and alike. And now they just started selling CBD products (with goat milk of course). I have always been intrigued by the concept. And of course who doesn't like to try new creams. So I bought some facial cream and soap (with goat milk of course) and loved it. I have been using if for almost a week and I can see and feel a difference. Now maybe thats just in my head. I have always been one who can easily be influenced by just a complement. I was once told I could sing like Elvis (thanks mom) so I bought a sequined cape. Thank God I'm gay so it hasn't gone to waste. 

My point is I'm not really a big pot user.

The last time I smoked a doobie ... well the fact that I said doobie should give you an idea, I wasn't a fan. It made me hungry(er) and stupid(er) and I don't need help in those areas. But I've always been one for pomp, circumstance and the anticipation of whats to come. 
Back in the 80's I was more into the cutting the blow into lines then actually snorting them. 

So walking into my first cannabis store today (reminiscent of an Apple Store) was sensory overload. Clean lines everywhere. Spotless maple floors. Tall ceilings. Perfect lighting. A quite sense of self came over me. Kind of like the feeling I get when I go to a bookstore. 

I was ushered over to my personal "bud tender" (love that title) who welcomed me with a huge smile. Well at least his eyes smiled from over his mask. He introduced himself as Todd and asked what I was looking for. I told him I was a virgin in the whole New Cannabis World and I really only wanted to get an oil or cream with CBD for my elbow. He walked me over to a beautiful wall covered with shelves with carefully placed jars and bottles of all sizes. But only one of each (just like Apple). They had the real stuff behind a wall with a little pass through cut out. Kind of like what I feel Fort Knox would look like if Fort Know dispensed cannabis. He pulled a jar down from the beautifully lit shelf and said this is what he would recommend for boney areas. 

Can I just stop here and say I have been referred to as a lot of body types but boney was never been one of them. I love Todd. 

He then took down another jar and said this this one was good for blah blah blah once a day blah blah blah. To be honest I didn't hear, boney was still ringing sweetly in my ears. 

Once I could focus on his words again it was like speaking to a sommelier. Oils for this. Creams for that. If you use the one that contains THC you might feel this way. I'll save the THC for another time.

All very scientific and thoughtful.

Anyway ... this is what I ended up with (pictured above). I'll be darned if it didn't work ... it totally did ! 

Rock on dude ! 

Conscious Awakening ... thats what is happening to humanity. We are seeing it everyday. People are looking out for their neighbors. People are looking out for our planet (whether on purpose or out of necessity). People are slowing down, spending more time with their family. People are giving of themselves. 

Is this all temporary? As soon as we are able to leave or homes will we be back to our old ways? 

Lets hope not. Lets try to keep it going. At least long enough for our children to learn how humanity should be.

Love 

Live

Laugh 

May 2018 ! Wow, almost 2 years since my last BLOG. And 6700 views. Nice ! It's Sunday and you know what they say ... it's a school night. 

Time to get bunny bun bun and hit the hay. But I'll be back ... soon 

Buddy can you spare a dime ? Or a jacket? Or a blanket?

I found this in my drafts ... from 2014 - 

I've always believed that true charity is anonymous. But I had to share this story. Hopefully my story will serve as a gentle reminder. 

On my way to work I see same the homeless person at Laurel and Sunset. Day in and day out. He stands on the northwest corner at the bus stop, dressed in dirty jeans, holey sneakers and a faded blue t-shirt. He looks about 50 but I think he's younger. Seeing him makes me incredibly sad. And yes, ashamed. Everyday I wonder what his story is. How? What? Why? And every time that I catch the red light, just a few feet from him, I look left. I look up. I look down. I fiddle with the radio, heater, air conditioner. Anywhere but at him. 

He stands there with a sign that says "Please help. God bless."

I've always been concerned for people less fortunate then me. I credit my parents for that. I was also a kid was was bullied everyday in school. I may not know what its like to go without shelter and food but I do know what its like to be different. 

As summer turned into "winter" (thats how it works here in LA … Summer followed by less Summer) it was getting cooler, especially in the morning and after the sun went down. One morning as I was stopped at the stoplight I noticed he was wearing a t-shirt and a ratty light jacket. That night when I got home

I looked through my closet to find a jacket for him. Needless to say I found a few (some still with tags on …ouch). 

The next morning as I approached his corner I pulled over to a near-by parking lot. As I walked along busy Sunset Blvd carrying the jackets, cars rushing by me, people walking past me on their way to work he must of seen me with the jackets because as I approached him he started to smile. Not a smile you get when you see dogs playing. Not a smile you see as you sit down with friends for dinner. But more of a smile of relief. A smile that says "I'll be warm tonight." 

He was incredibly appreciative. I told him I hoped the jackets helped at night. He smiled. I wanted to ask him so many questions. Maybe out of curiosity. What happened? Don't you have family? Maybe out of fear. How do I avoid this fate? 

I just turned and walked back to my car and drove off. Thankful for my clothes. Thankful for my friends and family. Thankful for life. 
As I drove I started to tear. I vowed to be thankful for at least the rest of the day. I was ... until I forgot about the man on the corner. The man who I never even bothered to ask for his name. 

We need reminders of how lucky we are. 

Happy whatever

Happy ... holidays? Merry ... Christmas? Happy ... Hanukkah? I'm not sure why people get so upset when they are greeted with Happy Holidays. How can you be mad when someone wishes you well? 

I'm over it. If I know you celebrate Christmas your going to get a Merry Christmas from me. If you are a stranger I'll say Happy Holidays ... to cover all my bases. So many people are saying we are losing the Christmas spirit. Really? I even had a friend ask me in a huff "Why aren't we allowed to say Merry Christmas anymore?" 

I guess I didn't get that memo.

Here's where I stand ... if somebody wishes me a happy anything these days I'm ahead of the game. 

Peace 

We had to say goodbye to our beautiful Maxwell Brown. 

My heart is heavy. 

My eyes are wet. 

But my head is full of wonderful memories. 

   We had the honor of being his family for 15 years. An honor that we did not take lightly. He came to us as a 12 week old bundle of fur. Ready for what life had to bring him. 

   Bruce, our first basset was ready to take on the responsibilities of the older brother. He showed him how to use the doggie door. Where to poop and pee. And most importantly how to use those special Bassett eyes to look at us adoringly when he wanted a treat. And it worked every time.

   Max was our moody child. Not everyone he met got to bathe in his love. But if he did befriend you, you were his for life.

   I thank God for allowing me to be a part of his journey here on earth. 

   I know Bruce was waiting for him at the bridge. Waiting to show him the ropes. And most importantly ... how to look at God with those brown eyes when it's treat time. 

   Because yes ... dogs do go to heaven. 

💔

  Until we meet again my love

Starting all over again ...

Starting all over again is going to be rough
For us, but we're going to make it
Starting all over as friends is going to be tough
On us, but we gotta face it

We lost what we had, that what hurt us so bad
Set us back a thousand years
But we're going to make it up though I know it's gonna be tough
To erase the hurt and fears

Oh, starting all over again is going to be hard
But I pray to the Lord to help us make it
Starting all over again is going to slow
But we both know, we gonna make it

We gotta take life as it comes
Never fuss about it, what's right or wrong
It's an uphill climb, to the finish line
We gonna try, we gonna try, just one more time

Starting all over again is going to be hard
On us, but we can make it
Starting all over as friends is going be tough
We both know, but we gonna make it

We gotta take life as it comes
Don't make any fuss about it, what's right or wrong
We're gonna make it up, though I know it's gonna be rough
To erase the hurt and fears

Oh, starting all over again is going to be rough
For us, but we're going to make it
Starting all over as friends is going to be tough
On us, but we got to face it

- Israel (Iz) Kamakawiwo'ole