There's a strangeness in the air here in California these days. It's like some type of mild malaise. I've lived here for almost fourteen years now and the mood that has descended upon us is a wee bit surreal to say the least. I think it might be something to do with the fires we're currently enduring. Actually to say we're 'enduring' is somewhat disingenuous given that I have not seen any fire directly, but I have seen the side effects. In fact, I see the side effects daily and I'm sure I'm breathing those same side effects. This time of year one is accustomed to very hot days and clear skies but this time the hot weather is accompanied by this never ending haze whose only benefit is to enable the most magnificent sunsets. Other than that, it's a brownish murky cloud thin enough to seem normal, but thick enough to be noticed. It's all from the fires - all 1000 of them that have been burning for the past month or two throughout the state.
A drifting thunder storm about a month or so back set off most of them, and susequent dry weather, occasional winds and lack of any hint of moisture have contributed to the perfect firestorm. Last week I noticed a multitude of these tiny flicks of white dust on my car in the morning when going to work. It was ash from the burning wood. Ash, dust, smog, sunsets, dryness, stillness, etc. they're all contributing to this funky mood. Here's to it all passing and the sooner the better.
When I last posted, we were on our way to Mexico for our vacation. That was on May 7th and what a wonderful trip we had. We stayed in Playa Del Carmen with my good friend Rohan, his wife Monica - Adri's cousin - and their two little girls Emma and Mary. Their house was within walking distance of our condo and both within a two minute walk to the beach. Playa was hot and beautiful. It's on the East Coast of Mexico looking out on to the island of Cozumel and further on into the Carribean. Most days were spent unwinding on the white sand beach interspersed with cool-down dips in the wonderfully pleasant ocean. All in all, a well earned and enjoyed vacation.
Since returning, the key focus of life has been keeping the two boys busy during their summer vacation without driving Adri completely crazy in the close confines of our house. Both boys cross the road - literally - to attend their daily swim camp in the 'Cabana Club', and both have weekly sessions with Natalia their piano teacher. Neal has fixated on the theme music to Indiana Jones while Fionn has fixated on the opening bars of the Nutcracker - since Christmas! As for Adri, she's working hard on maintaining the complex, the house, the boys, her husband and on rare occasions herself. We're working on freeing her up more needless to say, and there's hope that she'll squeeze in some time to revert to her painting which has been largely neglected since she completed the cover to the Mission 101 CD.
Speaking of Mission 101, we're doing gigs! Yep, we've played in Satana Row in San Jose and we've played in the Bad Ass Cafe in Monterey with more gigs in both locations on the way. The CD 'Sky Blue' is continuing to sell both at the gigs and via iTunes and CD Baby. The next CD is currently being worked on and all songs are largely finished bar a few arrangement issues and lyric tweaks. Our hope is that we can finish it by Christmas.
Aside from Mission 101, the other main occupation of mine of course is SiRF Technology my home away from home. The roller coaster continues here and beyond that I cannot say a whole lot more given my position there. All in all, it's good.
So that's it folks, a quite update from this neck of the woods!
