Milk Chocolate, Turned Pudding

So much has happened lately I'll try to condense it without sounding too much like an itinerary.

First things first; I bought a ticket to Maui to begin my WWOOFing journey. YES!! There's no turning back now. The ticket is activated September through February, but if need be I could arrange a different date, sans charge, as long as the flight parameters are the same. Maybe I'm taken by it's beauty and I don't come back for quite some time, or hate it altogether and come back immediately (doubtful, but you never know). This is a portion of the Greenleaf's property.

I used some frequent flyer miles from United, which totally cushioned the transaction considering my "un"employed situation, and while not the most environmentally conscious form of transportation, I was left with no alternative because my kayak is out of commission. I'm very happy with my choice of air travel provider. They even comp'd me drinks cause their video was out. I find that an adult beverage or two helps me get over the unease of flying.

Up until the moment I clicked "Submit" to purchasing the plane ticket, my plans had all been tentative. A passionate desire cooked in a half-baked plan tied to a nomad's bindle. But now its real. I have a solid date to base something (my life?!) around. What was once a liquid milk chocolatey plan is turning into a solid, rich and creamy layer of pudding that forms at the top of the pot, the kind that mom used to make... where was I, pudding? Oh right, solid plans. That's not to say some unforeseen event could occur to prevent me from getting on that plane and traveling to the pineapple state, but all efforts on my part are proceeding with vigor and zeal. Could really go for some organic pudding...is that an oxymoron?

Freelance is coming in with perfect timing, and some rather large clients, so I've stepped up my approach and reformulated my portfolio. Here it is if you'd like to view. Next is the website. Baby steps, but getting there.

I got a new bike! A Surly Long Haul Trucker which will carry me and all my gear wherever I need to go. It came with a Surly Nice Rack and I got two waterproof panniers, a waterproof pouch for the front, fenders, a new pump, and put my Brooks saddle and SPD pedals on it. I also outfitted it to hold my mini solar panel, so while I'm riding (and the sun is shining) I can power my iPhone for music and directions. I intend on riding it to Santa Cruz and/or San Diego, and I'll be shipping it to Maui when I go out there. Very excited to ride this more, but coming from a fixed gear, it's a huge mental hurdle to overcome not having to pedal and using multiple gears with brakes. I don't get to the destination as fast, but my body feels better after a ride, and I can carry everything I need. I've also discovered this is not a daily commuter, nor a bar bike. Far too much trouble to deal with locking it up. I'd just as soon scoop up my KHS and whip out the house.


I finally made it out to my uncle's property in Mississippi. A two hour drive north from New Orleans across Lake Ponchartrain, through vast countryside, and a political dispute later (my uncle, despite our similarities, is vehemently pro-corporation), we rolled up to a one room studio house aptly dubbed Ed's Shed–my other uncle was involved in building it. Anyway, I spent the next 4 days Huck-Finning it around the property and surrounding areas. It was a sweaty and thought provoking adventure of tossing around gnarled cut-outs on a 4WD ATV, shooting beer cans with a Daisy bb rifle I bought from Wal Mart, writing and thinking, basking in southern sunsets, wrasslin with a beagle puppy that showed up on the property, picking blueberries and blackberries, laying floorboard, meeting the local hospitality, smoking copious thai sticks, and concepting on The Shire. The freedom and lack of restriction is unparalleled to anywhere else I've been. Lots of property to pretty much do what you want with it. My uncle is in the midst of finishing a two bedroom house:

and without inspection or permit necessities, he can finish quicker and less expensively. I forgot to mention he's a licenced contractor, so it's not like shanty town status. He found a shack that had been on the property for over a hundred years, and we used it as floorboards for the upstairs landing. Really nice reclaimed wood.

And it dawned on me, that more than a human female companion, I want a dog. I had such an amazing time connecting with this puppy, "H" I called him, and I really felt sad leaving. With a little training, he'd be an amazing hunting dog. Very smart, this one. I'd really like a dog friend.

Adventure, a la Huckleberry Finn. My uncle and I would talk extensively into the night about possibilities for The Shire. Building technique, methods, time frames, costs...



I was also in New Orleans to attend my cousin's wedding, which was lovely. Great selection of catered food, open bar, and one of those photo booths.
Family, the blood, my tribe. Never before have I felt such a kinship with my heritage. Not just the relations I'm developing with my immediate family, but the historical and cultural significance I've concluded of the south in a grander scale. It feels old. Heavy French influences wet my palate in art, food, and drink. The century-old oaks with hanging moss in City Park, the countryside and open pastures, the slavery. My dad did some family tree research, and apparently my lineage will trail back to reveal I'm a descendant of an enslaved southern plantation worker seduced by her master.

This may or may not be completely accurate based on spotty records, but even the idea of it makes me understand a bit of the enslavement myself. I just made a connection to something I wrote while in New Orleans:

The "civilized" world has taken us away from true harmony. It is a facade. A game set up with the sole purpose of self perpetuation through slavery for financial gain. The free world we call America was built on slave hands; from the plantation south, to the trains out west, and the rape of native lands at it's not so humble beginnings. "Slavery" has been re-interpreted for our contemporary consumption. We are slaves to industry. Livelihood, food, education, spirituality, ethics, and entertainment. Its even harder to get out of slavery now. Historically, a slave master was an actual person - you could see them, running away from a physical human. Now, the slave master is a shadowy thought. An unquantifiable, omni-connected bureaucratic web. You can't run away from this slave master, because it is everywhere, all the time.

So that is the system. Pretty shitty when I think about it. But its presented with a sugar coating for easy swallow. I taste the kool-aid every now and then, but the more I realize what it truly is by peeling back the veils of deception, the more I find solace in the fresh-squeezed OJ.

What is beyond the facade of tangible acquisition? I intend to get closer to it.

For me its not about battling the system, but more focused on not engaging in a broken system at all. I want to opt out. I'm not interested. I'm just gunna do my own thing over here.

Organic pudding and Fresh Squeezed OJ.

I'm in a hammock right now.

mike came over and we set up the geodome today. we're measuring to sew a cap that will slip over the whole thing. Five polygons (pentagon with an extra triangle on the side bottom) attached by velcro and snaps. possibly a sky light hemmed in one (deflated plastic balloon), and a mesh netted section for breeze action.


Also, Senor Rowlett brought over an alcohol stove he'd created out of a soda can.

and a fabulous reward of beer and hammocking.

Kill Radio

Some friends of mine host a free radio program called the Reverend's Show on Kill Radio. I'll be a guest talking about sustainability, traveling, and other conscious ideas. I'll also be talking about my upcoming journey to Maui and my goals for liberation. Music, lively discussion, and no commercials. Tune in.

Friday, May 21st, 2-4pm

http://killradio.org/

In a similar vein, I just watched the movie Food Inc., (10 part youtube upload - watch it) and while most of it was similar to The Omnivore's Dilemma, it's even more real and appalling to watch it on screen, and realize people still subscribe to the agribusiness system so heartily. I'm a victim of it myself. I love frozen tater-tots.

Untethered & Oppor-tuned

Five days ago I was laid off. Not fired. Laid off. A very important distinction.

May 7th, 2010 was the greatest day ever. A thrust in the right direction. A defining decision handed to me. The catalyst to my upcoming adventure which was already taking shape in planning and research. I can't help but give thanks to the alignment of space-time. Is there a reason? Am I fulfilling my destiny? Is this all meant to happen? This, I certainly know not... and from a philosophical standpoint, interesting to ponder, but ultimately I conclude, questions can be asked all day. I must act and walk my path with intention rather than question.

I am completely untethered in an endless sea of liberation and opportunity. Life opens itself to me like a lotus blossom, and I remind myself of Kerouac in some ways.

Without sounding entirely hedonistic, I do what I want, when I want. For me. I dance when and where I please, drink in the middle of the day, smoke reefer, garden, write, read, take naps, go swimming or ride to the beach, take care of stuff around the house and have no bedtime, nor a time to be up unless I give myself one. Which lends itself to an interesting phenomena... I actually like being up in the morning! I like the freshness of the air, the opportunity of the whole day in store, and the clarity of mind to enjoy it. The necessity of going to work is really a bummer on one's psyche. The chaotic rush of the morning commute, stressful workload and consistently late nights, all but shy of impossible deadlines and a lingering fear of getting canned at any moment, "which makes someone work just hard enough to not get fired." (Peter Gibbons, Office Space) It's no wonder how easy it is to keep the people fixed like sheep - apathetic, ignorant, and numb. But it's not their fault. A bit from the ole sketch:

The system, at large, exploits the earth, and in turn, exploits humanity. Controlling natural resources, and creating fake worth. In the end, what purpose does this hoarding serve? Respect for the Earth and harmony are more important than this. We are connected to growth of the planet, and it to the solar system, and beyond, which is infinitely more connected and closer to a "reality" of the cosmos than our human and temporal monetary woes. This incredible dance of cosmic wonder and arrangement is mind boggling. Perhaps the pursuit of tangible acquisition and wealth only serves to blind us from stretching to spiritually heightened kinetic possibilities.

But money is not the root of all evil. It is merely a physical incarnation of our finite comprehension of the concept of true evil. Which by all accounts, isn't really inherent evil at all, so much as it is the antithesis of everything... the yin and yang, if you will. So in the end, I question, is oppression and exploitation hand in hand with harmony and love in the grander picture? If I quell oppression in one area will love be extinguished elsewhere?

After copious research, and deciding whether to go vintage or recent (relatively), I was set to buy a 1984 Westfalia, but pulled back, deciding it would not serve my purposes right now, rather sustaining myself longer with fiduciary reserves than blow it all on the Westy. Perhaps I was living too far into the future and not being fully within the present. This blog inspired me and I had found an amazing deal on a restored Westy in Colorado. While the bus will eventually serve me very well, my imminent (and thusly larger) focus, I had almost forgotten, is going off the grid to work on the Greenleaf's farm on Maui. Some friends who are there now (and coincidentally enough stopped by the farm to talk to Bill Greenleaf and drop a good word for me) sent me a care package with "Things to Do While on Maui" magazines and pamphlets. I'm considering seeking part time work as a zip line adventure tour guide - cash of course.

I'll be purchasing a one way ticket next week, with indefinite return plans.

Based in full reality, I have stepped up my edible garden. Three different tomato varieties, a bell pepper (red/green), 6 yellow onions, strawberry (which are already showing cute red lil treats), cilantro, and basil. The apple, peach and grapefruit trees are blooming, and I've been using oranges and lemons for a couple weeks now. Having the leisure to be home during the day time is absolutely wholesome. Each decision and move I make gets me a step closer to sustainability.






Here in LA, full freedom can be dangerous, but I'm focusing and have set goals. Unless I give myself something to do, I have nothing to do, which is not saying much, because I'm always doing something! haha. Some project, art piece, freelance design, idea, destination, social event or adventure being planned, and most of them in many stages. Some half finished in production, some flushed out in concept, and others on the back burner until there's time. Nevertheless, I find that I absolutely love keeping myself busy, and without a job to enslave my time, I have plenty of energy and resource to devote to true passions - being close to the earth through gardening and appreciation of nature, researching consciously alternative lifestyle methods, riding my bike, traveling, and art direction. Currently in the queue:

1. San Francisco 5/15 - 5/18 for Bay to Breakers and visit with some good friends. Bringing my bike and will have to assemble it at the airport when I land to get into SF from the airport. I love adventure.
2. Buy a new inverter - I blew the last one I had by accidentally attaching the wrong ends to the battery. Luckily it didn't damage the battery, but I definitely learned my lesson. Plus to plus, minus to minus.
3. New Orleans 6/3 - 6/12 - a cousin's wedding, but my ulterior motive to go will be to check out the property my uncle has in Mississippi and look at topo maps. 200 acres of tree farm that I'll get to live on in complete solitude, hunt for my own food, channel a river, build a greenhouse, plan out The Shire... a modern Thoreau, I like to think. Next spring I'll be there for numerous weeks.
   
4. Danny Dichotomy - finish a blog website for a good friend and musician
5. My own website - I just have to do it... I seem to shelve this item frequently with bits of progress here and there. I need to complete this before I go to Hawaii if I want to take in new design clientele and therefore more savings.
   
6. AdLadco.com - a web design company I'm working on building with a Mr. Ladny.
7. Who Rulez - the golf start-up that my friend Joel and I began working on multiple years ago is starting to gather steam. He, as a pro tour golfer, is approaching some big name golf companies for advertising, and schools and universities want our services integrated into their curriculum. This is my golden goose. I must treat it will time and love.
8. Get my fuckin solar guy to come to the house. I just need to know what kind of readings I'm looking at. The numbers are all over the place, and I have no reference to anything. I have power, and it's all good, but I want to know my limits and how to make it more efficient.
   
9. CLEAN THE HOUSE - my parents will be back in mid August and it needs to be immaculate. I've taken to living here over the last 6 months, and have gotten to be comfortable with the way that I live in it. My shit is sprawled, and its my home. Needless to say, my generous and loving parents don't live the same way I do.
   
10. Yard Sale: "I'M GOING OFF THE GRID; come buy my shit, & YARD SALE/BBQ/PARTY" - I need to get rid of things, sell things, and go through things to minimize my necessities. Fortunately, I don't have much, and my bro will be taking most of my furniture up to SJSU for next semester.
11. Buy a new bike. While my fixed gear has provided me with countless hours of enjoyment and adventure, my knees are starting to talk to me, and I'm interested in doing lengthier cycling journeys. With all the hills in Hawaii, I'll be glad I got a geared bike. I'm looking for a Surly Long Haul Trucker for its durability and trustworthiness of craftsmanship. It's reported as being a little heavy, but for the money, its worth it, and reviewed highly in every other department.
    
12. Work on my geodome and solar box - my friend Mike and I are quilting a cap to go over the 8.5ft metal structure to resist rain and dust storms. I also need to stain and coat my wood solar box.
    
13. Drive to New Orleans, stopping in Austin? Work in the restaurant in Covington? Since I'm not working, this seems like a good option for some extra cash under the table, but I'm wondering if it will wear me out driving so much in a short period of time. Tentatively July-Early August.
    
14. Trimming ganja for a friend in LA for another revenue stream
    
15. Drive up north to the Lost Coast for some coastal backpacking and sea foraging. August 10th-15th
16. BURNING MAN 2010! Preparations are already in play, and this year I will not be staying with Midnight Ridazz camp, but just doing my own thing in the first come first serve section. We'll probably get there early to set up the dome, so we'll have first pick. It will be a nice departure from ordinarily being involved in a theme camp.
    

Each situation that I navigate through continues to point me in the right direction, and I'm very excited to see what is next. I don't think I've quite realized exactly how free I am yet. It will be interesting to review the progression with retrospect in a few months.

Until that time, FUNemployment serves me well. I think I could get used to not working in a cube. Furthermore, I'm beginning to see I should be viewing this time off as an early installment of retirement. I'm young, have money saved away, fully capable faculties and the energy and zest to enjoy it all.

Advancing Life Off the Grid

Solar = electricity
Macbook Pro = design & income
Geodome+hammock = more than temporary comfortable homestead (land ownership is another story)
Bicycle = short distance mobility
Books & the internet = entertainment and knowledge

All of the above are currently in my arsenal. In fact I'm using solar energy to power my laptop right now. I'm gradually unplugging from the matrix.

Next on the itinerary: I intend to sell my car to buy a VW Westfalia. Totally 60s hippie style (I feel it in my soul!), and ideally, it would be a diesel engine, so I can run veggie oil, but I think I will be happy either way. I have roughly 2 months to sell my car and find the right one. I've been searching craigslist, ebay, thesamba.com, and today I'll be heading to a Westy Restoration shop in Van Nuys to check out what I'm working with and gather some knowledge. Thanks to some excellent insights from Mr. Kuhn (cheers), I think I have what it takes to work on and ultimately, if the need should arise (and that's what I'm hearing will happen), fix anything that could go wrong with a bus. I don't know much about them, but I gotta start somewhere. With the exception of my laptop, everything I intend to bring with me, I could fix with tools I have or could get easily, and I feel like the Westfalia would fit well in that realm of sustainability. I will conceivably be traveling and farming for the next 2 years, so my "home" situation will be less than stable. I like having my own space, a comfy place to rest my head, gather my thoughts, and keep my possessions. While I consider myself somewhat of a minimalist, I do definitely have a few valued possessions like the solar setup, bicycles, computer shit, clothing, personal affects, and a record player that i want to bring. So a mobile home seems like the best option for my situation, because my car just won't accommodate. For the right price I would settle for anything from 1969-1985, but I think I'm narrowing my search to a 69 Westy, depending on options, and how well it was kept up - because come on, how cool is this:

(click to make larger)

I am a vessel of love, and my path is to inspire and enlighten people.

I'd like an atomBus for transportation.

Concepting on The Shire

a little more on AtomFarm.com ...
and a little concepting on "The Shire" to be built in Mississippi on Paul's property. He's hiring some bulldozers to scoop out areas to get things started. The sketches may look like chicken scratch, but the gist of it would be one main kitchen welcome room where there would be a stone hearth about waist high. when occupied, there would be a constant fire and would direct the passage of heat out of the interior up through a vent. would also be used for hot water, baking, food, and warmth. this is the heart, the hearth, of the home. coves would branch out to individual living quarters or other rooms like an entertainment/media room or bathroom.

Just ideas on paper now.

A Loose Timeline, seen for the Future, from the Now.

Plans progress everyday. Gradually bits and pieces fill themselves into the larger plan. I just recently received word from an off the grid farm in Hawaii that I am their first consideration for the upcoming fall season, and I've started making my time line loosely based around that.

It goes something like this:

May 2010:
May 28th last day of work. Liberation in my step and a goal in my path.

June:
A few backpacking expeditions for my birthday. Halfdome, Zion, & others. Finish projects, tie off all the loose ends

July:
Work at LOLA restaurant in Louisiana, possibly Habitat for Humanity a few days a week in New Orleans. I'll be able to visit and live with family there as well. My folks will be back in the house at this point.

August:
Three weeks in Peru/South America

September:
Burning Man, prep for departure, sell/get rid of furniture and stuff

October - January 2011:
Rainforest Glenn in Hawaii - In an email exchange: "You do sound like a very good match for us... Stay in touch and we can make a plan for fall...We have had 2 guys leave 2 weeks early which disappointingly leaves us shorthanded and extra busy...Our biggest problem however is with commitment. We want to be clear beforehand. Judging by your letter we expect you do understand...You are the first person we are considering for fall."

February & March 2011:
Begin construction of The Shire in Mississippi

April - June 2011: Odiyan Tibetan Buddhist Retreat Center building temples, maintaining gardens, learning of Buddhism.

July 2011 & on: WWOOFing on other farms in Montana, Colorado, Oregon, and eventually back to California.

So that's what it's kind of looking like. As the days go on, things become more solid, and other opportunities present themselves, but this is my projection of the next year, right now.

Who knows what will happen.

developments and progress

Things have been shifting into an interesting position as of late. The path of farming seems to be forming directly before me. My folks might be moving to New Orleans to work on the film Green Lantern, and they offered me their house, rent free, in Van Nuys. This will be a huge leap in the right direction to save up money, pay off bills, and begin WWOOF. While the $$ will be saved, it will put my living situation on hiatus for roughly 8 months. and I think i can stand to live with that for an extra $6000 (Nov-July x $750) in my pocket. I'll have to actually save it, instead of buying new bikes, eating out all the time, drinks, and generally throwing it down the drain. This will also give me the opportunity to find a great studio or, preferably, a garage conversion or back-house for the following year before eventually, taking off to go farming. I like my own space, and have really been enjoying my personal space living in Koreatown. While I thoroughly like my apartment and its proximity to everything, the noisy Wilshire & Vermont I have not been enjoying.

I concept on Atom Farm frequently in my own time whether riding my bike, laying in bed, at work while designing, etc. Additionally, I love talking about the possibilities of what it could be with friends who have similar ideas of a sustainable lifestyle. How amazing it will be. Like a hippy commune, but fused with technology, showers, and most importantly, and real future. Sometimes it dawns on me that this is no small undertaking, and that I have so much to learn and prepare to make this dream a reality. But Rome wasn't built in a day, so I figure I have some time to get it all gelled together. Slowly, but surely.

I need a new hobby, or some new inspiration for design and bikes. Recently returning from travel makes me restless and want to travel more. But I must be patient. Rock climbing seems like a possibility, but it's expensive indoors. I want to start painting with this new technique I'm working on. Since my creativity is stronger in design and digital image manipulation, I want to design a scene, print it in sections, and paint over that on canvas. Sort of a mixed media, I guess. I used to frequent the art scene in Culver City quite a bit, but for some reason stopped going (a girl no doubt). Very much like to get back into that.

Sometimes I feel like there are so many events and parties out there all happening at once, its hard to choose, or to choose to go out at all. I find myself busy almost every night of the week, and while I love hanging out with friends, riding bikes, and socializing, there is a part of me that really desires to just stay in and read, design, paint, and just enjoy myself in my apartment. I would like to be home more often. Routine and I never got along though.

I have actually been focusing alot more at work. Putting in the time and effort and seeing some decent results. Not even remotely close to the skill level I would like to be at, but growing in that general direction nonetheless. I have the feeling I'm that weird, fun guy who rides a bike to work. I get the impression there is an aura of mystery surrounding me and what I do on the weekends given that people are so inquisitive about my bike and lifestyle - even bosses have a tendency to be a little more open to me and talkative in a respectably similar fashion as they would someone on their... level; for lack of a better word. For what it's worth, I love my job. We have happy hour on the 12th floor every Wednesday, and catered lunch everyday, which i might add is phenomenal, considering it only costs $5 for the quality of food that is prepared. I eat better at work than I do at home.

In a more personal vein, my adventures with the opposite gender seem to be at a seasonal river's flow. That is to say there is nothing significant in my life right now. Things are casual, long distance, or sporadic, and while that's fine for now, and because I quite frankly don't have the time, I long for something a little more sentimentally steady.

atom really just wants a girl bear to share special things with.

Life happens, but I digress... there are Goals.

I have been blinded by obstacles and allowed myself to become daunted by self-doubt. But I have revived a goal that has laid dormant and now i am able to look past the veils of deception to the light. Two years from now I will be debt free. This will give me the opportunity to make progress with Atom Farm. At the very premise of the idea is the desire to cultivate creativity and harness my sustainability. I have wanted to join and participate in Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms to learn the basics of land management and actual farming.

I am interested in Serra Leone, Brazil, and Switzerland. This is an excerpt from the WWOOF Switzerland home page:

What can you expect from «wwoofing»

• You will get first hand experience of organic farming and growing by giving a hand wherever it is needed.
• In the country you are staying , you will get ito know the people, the way of live, and the culture.
• You will meet other people from the organic movement and make friends.

And you will help the organic movement, which is often labour-intensive and does not rely on artificial fertilizers or persistent poisons.

WWOOF is not...

... a way to earn money during your holidays, though some farms do pay some pocket money, depending on your capabilities and dedication. We think that 4 - 6 hours help per day on average should do if no money will be paid, and that no pocket money should be given during the first week. Don't forget to come to an agreement regarding pocket money before arriving at the farm, if payment is important for you. Do not rely on any expected earnings. Make sure you have a valid return ticket and enough money to stay elsewhere as a normal tourist in case you have to leave your volunteer job for whatever reasons.

It is important for me to stay with focus in mind. But let it not blind me to the present moment. Just as a reminder of what I really want in life. Sustainability and love.

weird

not sure what to say about this one. interesting verbiage & experimentation.

Other Earth