Battling Venezuelan Pirates
…Captain Hook has been glorified, but I can tell you from first hand experience that Venezuelan pirates are not cool, they are not fun, you do not want to run into them, and no one has a wooden leg or a hook for a hand…
Category: Writing
The Peruvian Ayahuasca Retreat – 12 Days of Healing and Hallucination
May 1, 2019 LIM Airport Lima, Peru, South America. At about 03:00, Not Larry and I went through security at the airport in Lima, Peru. If security asks if you have any liquids of over 100 ml in your bag, you can tell them no and then you can always get a 237 ml bottle of sunscreen and a 140 ml bottle of moisturizer through the scanner with no questions asked. I got the moisturizer through Edmonton, Calgary, San Jose,...
Album Review – Red Headed Stranger (1975) – Willie Nelson
A fun and entertaining overview of one fantastic Willie Nelson album. Get ready for a badass Red Headed Stranger!
The Re-Encounter, The Follow Up, and The Finale
Seoul, South Korea The Re-Encounter, The Follow Up, and The Finale – A Hook Up Tale. The Re-Encounter – Nov. 20/2005 Then the strangest thing happened to me just outside the stadium/flea market. Mark and I were walking down the street when a girl and I made eye contact. We both said, “No Way! What the hell? That is crazy!” Her name is J.B. I used to sit next to her in French 101 at the University of Regina and...
Thinking about Picking Mangoes in Australia? Don’t do it!
Thinking about Picking Mangoes in Australia? The season is on the way. Are you thinking of picking mangoes in Australia? Perhaps you should re-think that idea. I know, I know…you have red and green, juicy, oval-shaped stars in your eyes with just the right texture. You are thinking breakfast, lunch, and dinner of mango-surprise… Your favorite fruit is the mango… Mango fruit salad. Mango juice. Mangoes on your cereal. Mangoes on your hard-boiled eggs. Mangoes in your lasagna. Mango grilled-cheese...
Roger Waters Us + Them
Roger Waters. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 24 October 2017. For $167, my friend Christian and I found tickets 16 rows back of the stage for the Roger Waters Us + Them show at Rogers Place in Edmonton. It is about as close as a person can get to seeing a Pink Floyd show that includes Roger Waters post-1981. There were nosebleed tickets available for about half of the price so we went all in. The top four concerts...
Tragically Hip, Gord Downie, Amsterdam and Canada.
Tragically Hip, Gord Downie, Amsterdam and Canada. 18 October 2017. Time is really taking my rockstar heroes. It took Gord Downie today. Downie was from a Canadian band called The Tragically Hip. There is a small possibility that you have you have heard their name if you are from anywhere else, but if you are from Canada, and under 50, you grew up with them or you grew up listening to them. Gord Downie was a iconic legendary poetic rockstar. Brain cancer,...
The Situation of my Mother with Alzheimer and Dementia
The Situation of My Mother with Alzheimer and Dementia. Doug, my mom’s husband/my step-father, collected me from the mall. He told me that he barely recognized me when he first saw me because of my short hair. Doug then drove me to see my mother at the care-home where she stays. The home was having a hot dog and hamburger sale so entire families were there to be with their loves ones who have been institutionalised… I was not sure how...
A Conversation with a Transgender
A Conversation with a Transgender. I had been spending time in Manila, Philippines, with a lovely girl named Irene. We had spent the afternoon roaming the Manila North Cemetery, which was amazing as there are residents everywhere, living in the middle of the cemetery among the tombs. It was really incredible to see. On the way back to the center, Irene asked what I wanted to do for dinner. I told her that at the moment I was not hungry. ...
Learning Liquor
Learning Liquor. 6 October 2017 Sometimes I get called ‘Soft’ or get called a ‘Pussy’ because I rarely drink hard liquor. When I get called a ‘liquor pussy’ and I am never sure if that is an insult or a demand… It drives me a little bit crazy because most of the people who attempt to taunt me have never come close to partying to the degree that I have over the years since this journey began fresh to the...
The Synchronicity of Tom Petty and the Name, ‘Jen’
The Synchronicity of Tom Petty and the Name, ‘Jen’. 5 October 2017. Life is weird and has patterns. One could never understand how synchronicity seems to happen in the bizarre ways it does… Tom Petty’s death has hurt me. I loved his music and the way he carried himself as the coolest and most casual person one could ever wish to meet. He is one of my heroes. I have been listening to so much of his music again over the...
Guns ‘N Roses Concert – Edmonton, Alberta.
Guns ‘N Roses Concert – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 30 August 2017. I was up at 09:00 and my 17-year-old cousin Trevor was up and at it by 10:00 so that we could get on the road. He and I got into his car and headed 5.5 hours north to Edmonton, Alberta… …Guns ‘N Roses. On the drive on the way there, I bought tickets on Stubhub for $145 ($183 CDN) for seats on the bottom of the Commonwealth Stadium, 36...
The Crotch Rocket at 212 km/h.
The Crotch Rocket at 212 km/h. 28 August 2017. I met up with Trevor, my 17 year old cousin, after lunch. Trevor asked if I wanted to go biking. “Heck Yeah!” That sounded like a blast! Trevor has a 2012 KTM SX-7, 250cc, four stroke dirt motorcycle with a lot of bottom end power. He also has a 2004 Suzuki GSXR, 600cc, crotch rocket. I would soon learn how accurate the nickname crotch rocket is for one of those motorcycles…not...
Forgetting How Old I am
Forgetting How Old I am. 31 May 2017. Some days crazy things just happen. Today was one of those. I went to a fantastic man-made archway over the ocean today that is a little terrifying to climb up, but I wanted a photo from the top of it. I was by myself and there was no one to take my photo, so I waited around knowing someone would show up. Two local boys, 13 years of age came along. I...
Signs in Life and The Jacket
Signs in Life and the Jacket. Life has a crazy flow and vibe, and things happen that are incomprehensible to us humans. But there is certainly an underlying layer the threads the eyes of the needles of life. There is just no other way to explain why and how things happen that are just too much of a coincidence to be just that. I call them the ‘Signs in Life.’ Actually, Bob Dylan called them the signs in life and...
Mexican Monarch Metal Brothers in Mexico City
The Mexican Monarch Metal Brothers in Mexico City. Jan 13. At 21:00 I went to meet Sara at a metal bar in Mexico City called Metal Brothers. The website said there was no cover charge and stated that live bands play every night. I was worried that it was going to be some lame ‘Cruise Ship’ band covering a version of ‘Hotel California’ for the eight-kajillianth time and fill me with regret. Nope! None of that at all… Metal Brothers was...
“The Bloodhound Gang are Wankers!”
Anyone ever heard of a band called Electric Eel Shock? There is a reason why you haven’t. The reason why you haven’t heard of Electric Eel Shock is because I managed them. And I may have held them back. But they are a fantastic band, from Japan. I toured with them from 2003, and I’m still a little bit involved. I fired myself. They are too nice to fire me. And I fired myself ’cause I thought I was holding them back.
Santuario Nacional del Angel de la Santa Muerte: Mexico City
Santuario Nacional del Angel de la Santa Muerte: Mexico City. December 15. It took us a while to get out of the house. Everyone is exhausted. We have been hitting Mexico City hard for about two weeks now. Eventually all three of us were ready. My date from last night had asked me what I was planning to do today. I told her that my friends and I were going to visit Santuario Nacional del Angel de la Santa Muerte,...
Teotihuacan: Pyramids Close to Mexico City
Teotihuacan: Pyramids Close to Mexico City. Dec 13. The house got moving around 10:00. I thought Irmante, Clint and I would tackle the day earlier, but everyone was tired. Irmante made breakfast and we headed for the Teotihuacan pyramids close to Mexico City. Teotihuacan was an ancient Mesoamerican city which was the largest city in the Americas…pre-Columbus. The city is thought to have been of 125,000 inhabitants and was built from 100 to 250 CE. To get to the pyramids...
Mexican Bullfight in Mexico City
Mexican Bullfight in Mexico City. Dec 11 At 17:30 we headed to Plaza de Toros in Mexico City for the bullfight. Plaza de Toros is the world’s largest bullring with seating for 41,262 gore fanatics. I had been to a Mexican bullfight (‘Corridas de Toros’ in Spanish) once before in Mazatlan when I flew in for the millennium. I said I would never attend one again, but it has been nearly 17 years and my friends Clint and Irmante have...
Lucha Libre Mexican Wrestling: Mexico City
Lucha Libre Mexican Wrestling: Mexico City. Dec 9 (cont’d) After the scorpion eating, Irmante, Clint and I stopped for some wine and cheese in the market, but my stomach was pretty wonky. We dropped into Mercado de Artesanias La Ciudadela and by the time we had dinner in a local traditional dive restaurant, I was in tip-top shape again. [su_note note_color=”#b0b1b6″ text_color=”#030303″ radius=”6″]Note: Running the jukebox in a local restaurant and playing Rammstein will not win over the entire Mexican...
Scorpion Eating in Mexico City
Scorpion Eating in Mexico City. Dec 9 Clint showed up just after Irmante and I had breakfast at out AirBNB and we all headed to Insurgentes, an area of Mexico City, to change our American dollars into pesos. It is a good time to be in Mexico as $1 is worth 20 pesos. When I was here in 2010 it was about 12 pesos for $1. Get to Mexico right now people! Irmante was in charge and she lead us...
13 Unusual Jobs
13 Unusual Jobs [su_dropcap]W[/su_dropcap]here I went to school in a small town, a class called Career Education was offered to those of us morons who did not want to take a second language (a clever career orientated maneuver). However, ideas for the future seemed to be limited to a career as a farmer, rancher, grain elevator agent, teacher or banker. With no outside-the-box-thinking teachers, our impressionable young minds maintained their path. However, it is time to grow a better garden! For the...
They Charged Me with Murder
“They Charged me with Murder” -Live transcript of my friend Mr. P. [su_dropcap]A[/su_dropcap]s a kid I was quite into boxing, trying to pursue that and fitness…constantly going to the gym. But it didn’t really tweak with me that I’d never really have the dedication. But I knew what I was doing. I went to the gym and I’d been training for a long time. I went on a night out with me friends. It got to the point where we’re...
Lonely Planet Guide Soul Devourer
Lonely Planet Guide Soul Devourer – Pros and Cons The Lonely Planet guide-books are your primary travel safety net. That safety net is also a devil that devours travel souls. The Lonely Plant is the most powerful source in the world for completely sucking and absorbing real life out of anything it features, be it a village, a hostel, a restaurant…or by directing travelers to an ex-pat owned bar in town. But, Lonely Planet (or a similar guide from one...
Rock and Roll to the Rescue
Rock and Roll to the Rescue -The Rocco Valentino Live Transcript: [su_dropcap]A[/su_dropcap] friend and I were driving out in the bush one day and we decided we wanted to leave South Africa to go and see the world. Both 21, listening to The Doors and doing a few other things. Driving out there and we were deciding, “Well, where should we go? Should we go to the States? Should we go got Australia?” and we thought, “Australia is like South...
I Fought a Dirty Cop for my Life in Tanzania
I Fought a Dirty Cop for my Life in Tanzania -Live transcript of my friend Mr. P. [su_dropcap]I[/su_dropcap] was in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and wanted to do the Kilimanjaro climb. Really looking forward to it, and then I saw how much money they want for it, fees and park fees and all that guide shit. I would’ve done it on me own, cause it’s only a hike, and I’m that type of person. I would’ve just walked it myself. ...
Iron Maiden, Download Festival – Day 3
Iron Maiden, Download – Day 3. June 12 It was pouring rain when we left Dan and Emma’s house in Nottingham. Sunshine would be unreasonable at Downland Festival anyhow… Whatever… We were ready to get into it again! We had garbage bags in our pockets for extra-dryness covering. Dan and I jumped on the bus to take us to the festival. To say traffic was backed up would be an understatement. A thirty minute bus ride from Nottingham became two...
Black Sabbath, Download Festival – Day 2
Black Sabbath, Download – Day 2. June 11 Dan made breakfast for Emma and I and then Dan’s contact came through with two weekend passes for Download Festival that we could have for a £60 donation. I sure wish that had happened yesterday before I blew £190 on my pass. Then once Dan and I made it to the festival a girl was standing beside the box office to give away an extra weekend pass she had for free…. [su_note...
Rammstein, Download Festival – Day 1
Day One – Rammstein, Download Festival. June 10 I was up at 06:35 to get ready for the day. It has been over a month since I was near a time like that. I caught my 08:30 bus to Nottingham to meet my friend Dan. Download Festival. I have wanted this festival for five years now… [su_quote]‘How Cool Nottingham is’, seemed to have slipped my mind in the past 14 months. It is a great little town.[/su_quote] Nottingham is...
