Summer 2012
Sierra Mountains
I danced the Ghost Dance last night at sunset - it had been a long time. The moon was large and just visible thru the pine trees and I am feeling a little better, finally getting rested. The water from this remote hot springs seems to help my knees and it certainly helps my soul.
I drove to the closest small town with a grocery store yesterday afternoon and bought 3 fried chicken breasts, 2 small watermelons, a jug of diet cranberry juice and $40.00 in lottery tickets. I try to never forget what the old woman said about buying the lottery – but, as of this reporting, not much happening on the hillbilly-retirement- fund scene.
Soaking in the hot springs on a near perfect night high in the mountains with the owls and bats all diving about is a fine way to clear your head. And mine has been awfully thick lately. Sometimes I sleep too long, sometimes not long enough - too many thoughts and too many flashbacks.
I decided to drive back to the city at 1:30 Am, wasting the rent on the cabin, just to sleep in my own bed.
I have a date with The Lady today at 4:00 and not a hell of a lot other commitments pending. We will probably drive up to the Lake and have supper, seems like it’s going to be a great afternoon.
Not too sure why I find myself writing, but it just feels right. Perhaps the wheels of change are in motion...
When I spoke to The Lady she was all geared up for a nice night away from town. So I retooled and found a lake view suite available at Harveys on the South Shore.
We met at the townhouse and I added my luggage to hers in her Lexus. As much as I love my big truck it is not fair to ask her to climb in and out when we are dressed up. And she was dressed up in a grand way. There was no question that I had made the right decision when I saw her sparkling blue outfit. Complete with red white and blue accessories.
Sometimes the cowboy in me fails to rise to the appropriate social level when dealing with The Lady and her friends - but not tonight.
We arrived at valet checked in and set up house in a lovely suite overlooking Lake Tahoe. These are very nice digs.
I brought a bottle of champagne, a bottle of Baileys and bottle of vanilla flavored cognac and some unsalted nuts - she brought her MacBook Air.
We dashed down to the hot tube to soak a little and settled into the elevated hot tub with a view of the lake and I, being a bit thirsty, went to the poolside bar.
There to my surprise the bartender was closing down shop. I asked if we could still get a couple of Mai Tais and he was nice enough to say yes. Evaluating the early evening I put two fives on the bar and asked if he would make us four and charge them to our room. Being the enterprising young man you would expect to find in his position, he said yes.
And so it went, we soaked in the sun and drank. As is our nature, after a bit of play and some showers we called for reservations at the Sage.
The Sage is a very nice steakhouse from top to bottom. Decorated with old Native American lamps and a staff of what seemed like dozens. We settled in with an Absolute Martini, one olive, and glass of St. Michelle’s Riesling for her.
While we waited on the Halibut and steak, we talked about New Orleans, our common attraction to that wonderful city, fishing in the Keys and her brother in Alaska.
Not a bad night – A beautiful woman, excellent food and a warm summer evening at the Lake.
The Bananas Foster was prepared at the table, keeping with the NO theme, and the waiter, after seeing my name on the guest book, brought the Maitre D over to chat with us for awhile. Nice folks.
We played three card poker, roulette and video poker before pocketing our $98 win and heading upstairs.
We both had glasses of room temperature Baileys and she curled up on the couch. I fired up her MacBook but had to pay $10 for wireless service because I forgot to bring my Sprint wireless thingy that plugs into the computer and gives me access anywhere.
And now I am here with her crashed in the bed. It has been a great day and the past has remained quiet and orderly - in the past.
Did you intend this for “Dear Diary”?
Bob Dylan told me to tell you to not steal his song titles.
I’m finding this strangely interesting.
July 2012
As you can imagine we have been absorbed in the British Open for the last four days.
We decided to come into town Saturday night so that we could have room service this morning. It was a very wise move. We were up at 5am and enjoyed the luxury of having breakfast delivered without missing any of the golf.
She drove her car so she hurried off to church while I headed to the mountains in my truck.
There is a watermelon on ice in the bed and I intend to soak until late tonight. The hot water is great for my legs.
I danced the ghost dance in the warm pool. The buoyancy of the water relieves the pressure and pain from my knees, allowing me to move gracefully and laterally.
It reminds me of who I once was, and what my body did. When my mind clears, I reflect on the fact that not far from here on the side of a lake they danced the first ghost dance - in a time now gone.
It is quiet in the mountains with the occasional hawk leisurely patrolling his realm. I drift off to thoughts about her yard.
I have been working hard to repair the damage done to The Lady’s lawn. The irrigation system had been chewed in a bunch of places and as a result I have had to resod large portions of the lawn.
It is not that hard to understand, with it being so dry all the animals can smell the water, so I built them a little ground level drinking fountain with stone and a two foot bowl.
Hopefully they will drink here and not chew my repaired 5/8” plastic water feed line. Already we have seen a family of quail with the little fuzzballs swimming in the fountain while the male watched for hawks. There are tons of rabbits around her property but I have yet to see them drink.
Last week we heard the coyotes playing near our window in the night and we found a disemboweled rabbit in the back yard one morning as a little gift.
She borders the BLM land and it is beautiful up on the hillside overlooking the world with all the high desert wildlife and the city lights.
It has become a bit of a habit of mine to drive back early in the morning with a cup of 7-11 coffee and a nice Maduro to enjoy the trip.
Summer is moving along and I continue to jam all the life possible into each day. I hate everything about winter and dread the thought of the coming darkness.