Happy Thanksgiving

When's Last Call? asks these Bourbon Red Turkeys.

Happy Fourth

Happy Fourth!!

Memorial Day

Holidays in the states have increasingly become excuses to take time off if you have a more traditional job and if you don't and work for yourself, it tends to be a quiet day where you can get a lot done.

Memorial Day formerly known as Decoration Day commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country, with its birth early on to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. Or for short according to wikipedia - honors war dead. It's interesting how easy it is to forget the holiday meaning. For nearly every holiday, I have to make a conscious effort to remember its meaning.

As for me this year, I'm heading into the woods and mountains for some hiking, biking and touring. Perhaps even the ocean at the end of it all. Travel safe all.

Easter and Glide

Happy Easter a day late for those who celebrate and for those who don't, enjoy the rabbit. How can you not enjoy a visual of a rabbit regardless of your celebrations or beliefs?

Along the same thread, I checked out Glide for the first time since arriving in San Francisco yesterday. Most locals know what Glide, the 'church,' the spiritual center, 'the national institution, a place of global worship regardless of your belief system located in The Tenderloin, one of the tougher neighborhoods of San Francisco.

It is bound to be a spiritual experience regardless of your belief system. Glide attracts hippies, addicts, the homeless, gays, the poor, the marginalized and more recently yuppies from Marin and beyond. The congregation is a true melting pot of colors, ideas, thoughts, belief systems and generations.

Founder Cecil Williams and the extremely large Glide community feed thousands of poor and homeless as well as lead political demonstrations. Over the years, Glide has offered a safe space to groups ranging from the Hookers Convention to the American Indian Movement and the Black Panthers.

My favorite part of the morning was the musical celebration and talent. The passion of those on and off stage and the diverse colors and shapes of people on every side of me. Designed to accept everyone regardless of belief system, it felt like less of a church service and more like a community to promote a sense of community, change and integration.

Their party line statement if there is one? "Glide is a place where names are named and love is celebrated and a simple call goes out to all races, classes, genders, ages, and sexual orientations: It's recovery time. It's time to love unconditionally."

On Presidents

Small businesses tend to forget about national holidays. Tuesdays become Saturdays and Saturdays become Tuesdays. I realized by noon. Happy Presidents Day All!

Taken at Rushmore on my trip across country in 2004

On Kissing

Here's some fun kissing trivia, interesting even if you don't spend a lot of time kissing. One source suggests that we spend two weeks over the course of a lifetime kissing. I certainly hope its longer than that.

Did you know that the practice of a man kissing his wife at the end of the day started with the ancient Romans? Those gladiators wanted to taste their ladies lips to make sure they hadn’t been drinking that homemade wine all day!

Did you know that the average woman will kiss 79 guys before she's married?

Did you know watching chick flicks boosts your hormones in a way that leaves you feeling frisky for kissing?

Did you know a man who kisses his lady goodbye when he leaves for work every morning averages a higher income than a guy who doesn't?

Apparently the term French kiss came into use in America in 1923 as a slur on French culture, which was thought to be shockingly oversexed. On the other hand, in France, they don’t call it a French kiss. The proper term: a tongue or a soul kiss.

Who thinks of this stuff anyway?

Happy Valentines Day

Happiest of Valentines Day All!!!!

The Commercial Luau

I had a spontaneous opportunity to spend a little time in Hawaii over the holidays, so how could I refuse? Alas, with CES around the corner, my laptop went with me -- no real peace and quiet around the holidays between CES in early January and the numerous events and holiday activities.

Although I had to work, I did manage to sneak in a few fabulous hikes, and a luau: odd that I've never been to one given how much travel I've done. Of course, I can't forget to mention wildly singing to holiday tunes with the top down.

Largely, the luau has become tacky and commercialized -- for $100, you don't even get a lei or a photo thrown in and with the exception of "the pig," the food is often marginal. Below: the pig being hoisted from the pit. I have to admit, it was delicious.

Dancing will always draw me in, regardless of the event and to add to the drama, they use fire. How could you not?

A Shagadellic New Years

Celebrated New Years Eve 1970s style this year. It was shagadellic and rockin' baaabbeeeey. Check out the chocolate bottle of champagne -- worth celebrating alone. Here's to a joyous, prosperous, peaceful and healthy 2007!! More fun photos here.

On Remembering Time

New Years Day: take time to reflect on time. The meaning of time. The footprints of time.

"Time is a companion that goes with us on the journey, reminding us to treasure the moments for they may never come again." --Jean Luc Picard, Star Trek Generations (the sexiest of the captains by far)