Know/Don't Know

Things I Already Know:
I am a happy person.
I am confident in myself and the abilities I already possess.
I tend to like people quickly.
I put the needs of others before my own.
I am a loyal friend.
I need the sun to stay positive.
I am mindful.
I believe the connection between all living things and what evokes emotion to rise up in is all is the only divine thing and to understand it is to understand the Truth.

Things I Don't Know:
Why I am who I am; or how my childhood has affected how I live my life.
Why I disliked Wisconsin.
Why I liked California.
Why I think my family is insane.
Where I'm going in life.
What I need to be happy for the rest of my life.
Where I will end up.


I was feeling introspective and curious about myself so I compiled a list of things that I know, don't know about myself. There is a certain level of conceit in being introspective that I tried very hard not to cross. I believe that if you know me as a person, you will see that I haven't crossed that line. Also, this list will always be changing. I am certain that I will discover, and question, more things about myself throughout my life and to suggest otherwise would be ludicrous.

Seven Cities; Five Days

San Francisco, CA to

Minneapolis, MN to

La Crosse, WI to

Trempealeau, WI to

Milwaukee, WI to

Madison, WI to

Marshfield, WI to

Trempealeau, WI to

La Crosse, WI to

Minneapolis, MN to

San Franscisco, CA.

Seven Cities; Five Days

San Francisco, CA to

Minneapolis, MN to

La Crosse, WI to

Trempealeau, WI to

Milwaukee, WI to

Madison, WI to

Marshfield, WI to

Trempealeau, WI to

La Crosse, WI to

Minneapolis, MN to

San Franscisco, CA.

Seven Cities; Five Days

San Francisco, CA to

Minneapolis, MN to

La Crosse, WI to

Trempealeau, WI to

Milwaukee, WI to

Madison, WI to

Marshfield, WI to

Trempealeau, WI to

La Crosse, WI to

Minneapolis, MN to

San Franscisco, CA.

MOVING

I've moved to Wordpress.com. They offer better templates. Sorry, blogspot!

Here's the link: http://kailosunshine.wordpress.com

No More Road To Walk

The other night, the housemates and I went to Ocean Beach (above). We had nothing else to do; this was also the best suggestion put forward. I could hear the ocean howl in the distance the moment I stepped out of the car, a strong wind coming from her dark waters. We crossed The Great Highway and walked on the beach. I walked towards the water, a fairly decent trek from TGH. When I finally got there I took a moment to take it all in. It was overpowering! I turned to the City and smiled. America. Fucked up America. All her problems right in front of me, behind me cold dark ocean. I was on the edge of the world with no more west to travel by foot. I wondered, "Now where?"

Conversations

In the past few days I've overheard various (slightly hilarious) conversations on the bus, street, and other venues. One instance, a bus driver and passenger were arguing over whether or not she, the passenger, would cook supper for him, the bus driver. He contested that he "was easy," only needing "some lettuce, tomatoes, and some ice tea or water." I laughed when I heard this, standing between the two on a crowded bus. She argued that if that's all he wanted he could cook himself supper instead. She was also insistent that her "kitchen was closed" and that she cooked enough for, I'm assuming, the driver's brother.

Another conversation was overheard at the bus stop. Two older women were commenting on the neccesity of a ticket for the driver of a car who passed a fire truck on the left while it was backing up (and coming into the left-hand lane of traffic). They were adement that this is what he needed and continued to comment on it before switching topics to the lateness of the bus. After a few minutes into that conversation, I silently agreed with them and started walking. I heard them say to each other "Oh, that man is gonna walk. He knows it ain't coming." I turned and gave a friendly "Yep" and a wave before catching the bus at the next stop. Conversations like these lighten my day and show me the city is much more than people running to wherever they have to go.

Brown-baggin' It

Lost. Adrift. Next to the sea. Surrounded by sea, really. I'm here and enjoying myself, very much so in fact. The City is NOW. There is no sitting still. Maybe laying back, but no sitting still. I like the busyness of the city, its car horns and tire squeals, sirens and car stereos, buses and bikes. But I feel I'm missing something. From the Midwest, California had it all. Sun, beaches, ocean, babes. Now I'm here. There is usually only fog which usually hides the sun and the ocean. And the babe count at CC is low. Aside from going to class each day and working toward an impractical college degree, which, in itself and as of now, doesn't mean anything to me, there is little in my life right now that puts me to sleep with the feeling that I did something with my day. I jam often with my new friends but that brown-bag funk that Sack Lunch had isn't there, which is something I surely miss. I've lived here for a month, and am having a great time, really, but California looked a bit more lustrous with the sun at her back. Now that I don't have to squint to see her, I could really use that brown-bag.

Update

Hey everyone. I've been so preoccupied with school and friends and the City that I haven't taken the time to sit down the and write. I'm not sure how dedicated I am at this particular moment either, but I'll try and let you guys know what's been going on...

School is going well. I'm enrolled at City College taking all music classes (this was not my intention but perhaps a blessing in disguise). I've met a number of people in my classes who are competent musicians as well. I've jammed with a few; the prospect of starting up a "band" is there but I question my drive and the drive of my new friends to make something happen. But I'm ok with that for the moment. My sister and her friends have moved in. Living with them has been a lot of fun so far. I'm anxious to see what else we do together this coming year. I've visited various parts of the City and am slowly figuring out where things are in relation to the house, campus, BART stations, etc. The city really isn't that big, roughly the size of Brooklyn, NY. And its mass transit system makes getting anywhere easier than you think. I took a nap this afternoon but the night is catching up to me. Gotta save some energy for tomorrow.

The Infamously Unfamous John Stevens

Before I explain why John Stevens is important, I must first explain his birth: When people are drunk, they can't pronounce Guthrie. I thought it'd be in their best interest, and in mine, if people simply called me John. Easy to remember. Easy to pronounce. Can't go wrong with that. The last name Stevens came about at 10,000 Lakes Festival during some rant with Jenn. It was soon decided that I was John Stevens. John Stevens is now a famous man, well, a famous name. I introduced myself, last night, to a number of individuals at various points of sobriety as John Stevens. One particular individual was blown away by my presence. The very fact that my name was John Stevens threw off his groove. He asked what I did with a name like that. I said "I don't know man, I play the guitar a bit." He became thoroughly convinced that John Stevens would be incredibly famous, if he wasn't already, and that his meeting with John Stevens was a astrological anomaly and that it would forever be remembered as historic. When other people would walk by, he would introduce me to them as John Stevens. I was very much amused by these ravings, so much so that I had to remove myself from the room. It's hard to keep a straight face while being infamously unfamous.