Machine Elf

It must be all the good vibes, but the travel part went really well, aside from the fact that I had a great time.

I hadn't been on a plane in over 5 years, so I was really nervous during take off from Albuquerque, which is my least favorite part anyway.  After that though I was totally fine for the rest of the flights to and from.  Even the TSA screeners were totally nice and even chatty. 

Being in Ventura also made me realize how much more energy I have at a lower altitude.  I think I am at around 8000 feet here where I live and to be at sea level (or whatever Ventura is) is like having some sort of energy boost.  It made me wonder if I would be more productive at a lower altitude or that after I became used to it, it would no longer provide that extra energy.   It isn't something I hadn't noticed before.  I notice it every time I visit a lower altitude.  I am pretty sure that observation is rooted in science and that it takes more energy for your body to keep going at a higher altitude.  

I had a truly fun time!  I really love central Cal and I am already hoping for a trip to Santa Barbara during the winter sometime.

As we drove 101 back to Burbank we noticed that 101 going north around LA was backed up for miles.  I am serious about miles, at least 10 miles and it was NOT moving at all.  Even 101 south that we were driving was only moving at about 6 miles per hour.  I don't think I will complain so much about Albuquerque traffic anymore.  :-)

Yep, I leave Tuesday for Ventura, California. 

It occurred to me that it has been several years since I have been on a plane.  I had to check the TSA list of banned items.  Last time I flew was before the ban on "liquids."  It isn't exactly a ban, you can bring liquids in bottles of 3 oz or less.  Try finding a 3 oz bottle of hair mousse, it doesn't exist.  I must have mousse so I will be checking the airport gift shop upon landing. 

Another thing that irritated me is that there are no longer direct flights to or from Burbank.  I have to switch planes in Phoenix and since take off is my least favorite part of the flight that didn't make me at all happy to have to do it twice each way.  I would have gladly paid a lot extra to have a non-stop flight. 

Aside from the hassle and the fact that I hate airports and planes -- I know that I will enjoy myself once I am there.  Sure, it is a business trip, but I will still make it to the beach (which is only a block away from the hotel) and have a good time.  Although, it is also true that if travel were not such a hassle, I would do a lot more of it. 

American airports are horrible!  I remember coming home from France a few years ago.  The airport there was totally laid back and polite.  Yes, they had lots of security watching and doing random searches.  I was one of the random searches and they were soooooooo polite about it, to the point of apologizing that they had to do it.  They didn't at all make me feel like a criminal.  I land in Atlanta, where I have to change planes and I am literally herded through this security check point where security people are practically yelling for everyone to remove their shoes and going through carry on bags.   The people in security there were as rude as they come and I thought -- so this is how we welcome people to America?  Not to mention that when you have to go through that before getting on a flight it kind of shatters your sense of well being.  

OK, so wish me luck with the actual travel part. 

I will have my macbook and internet access and if I have anything to report or photos to post while I am gone I will be posting  at TDF. 

Is anyone else having problems with Facebook since they changed the look? 

Often when I click on facebook to go to my page it won't load and it causes my modem to go offline.  It also fucks up my browser and I have to shut it down and restart it.  I thought this was only happening on the Mac, but just now I had it happen on my PC.  It didn't make my modem go offline, but it did freeze my browser.

8/10/08 Update - Whatever the problem was seems to have been fixed and I am no longer having problems.

Found this old clip from Mysterious Universe.  I had totally forgot about it.  I am posting it here for now because I am doing some audio experimenting. 

Mysterious Universe

That is the new driveway gate that Britton and I put up.  We did a pretty awesome job or so I think.

Gates are weird things though.  They are almost always build to restrict something, either people coming in or getting out.  In our case it is to restrict the dog from getting out.  

I particularly liked that gate because it reminds me a something that would be at the entrance to an old haunted house of some sort.  Of course, the one in my image of that would be grown over with vines and there isn't much chance of that here.  Probably I have seen one too many gothic horror movies that had big black gates. 

I have never thought of a big black iron gate without also thinking of some haunted house or a cemetery.  The cemetery thought is more reality.  I have been to many cemeteries that have big black gates.  I have never been to a supposed haunted house that has one.  I am sure there are some, but the only ones I have seen are in the movies or described in books.  

I have to admit that my gate does not have the haunting effect I had hoped for in the bright sunny day. :-)  It does look nice though and you can even see Manzano Mountain in the background.