MemorialDay03

I'm somewhere near passing the first 80 hours of work, and it's Friday afternoon, May 20-something - Memorial Day weekend is just about here. Of course, holiday weekends start the day before the day before these days. I get off around midday every other Friday, something like that, and today was one of those days.

I was thinking I'd sneak on down and get a couple of hours in the water, but what I found was a freaking stink parade of humanity clogging the freeway. I live about a 20 minute drive from my regular beaches, and it was bump and go at 1 p.m., making that 20 minutes more likely an hour or better. The fog is in, the surf small, and in the 9 minutes it took me between the onramp and the next offramp I saw two trucks with longboards push their way over and exit, with their only option being my optional beaches in the "other direction".

Screw this, I thought. There isn't the surfboard created or wave available within driving distance worth hassling this bullshit. I hit the exit too.

Back home and pondering the early afternoon and all the things I could have done and should be doing, it became a good idea to break out a new cd I'd just got. It's some form of Best of the Flying Burrito Brothers, 21 songs all featuring Gram Parsons. I'd heard some of them before, but not for decades. I cranked the stereo to teeth-powdering decibels and sat back for a good long while and just listened to some old music recorded when these men were absolutely years beyond the cutting edge of what they were doing. It's an amazing experience, reminiscent of the times when new musical things came out and everyone could sit back with amazement. I don't know if the masses today get the same buzz out of Brittany Spears or whatever mass-marketed flavor of the month gets packaged and pushed out into the stores. Could it still be happening? Or does everybody wait for the Grammy awards to validate the sales statistics?

Screw all that. Leave it as me saying this particular experience was invigorating for me. Maybe it works for you, maybe it doesn't, and maybe something else will. I guess what's important is that we keep listening.

Summer is here in North America. At the moment we have a holiday weekend, and it's certainly a holiday weekend here since I had a shot of Sauza tequila before starting the Burrito Brothers on a second journey through their greatest hits. I have a hot tub to run maintinence on, a barbeque to clean and tune up, a yard full of dog crap to pick up, and some 60 hours of living to kick into gear. I'd spell check this little message if I cared, but I have a bit of an attitude going right at the moment, so if you find any errors and feel like you should point them out please address your email to Mr. Sauza.

You're gol danged right this is copyrighted. 2003.

Don't mess with it or I'll come to your house and stomp your

That's all.

vagabondsurf.com
It's about life - not "lifestyle". Anybody who tells you different is after your money.