mandia and the pips

no, i was not high.

Gray Eagle

gave me this -- he's a Vietnam Vet.

'gives you peace,' he said.

'thank you,' i replied.

an old city

it's an old city, la crosse.

old and cold. dive bars line the strip and the road is brick; cracked and gummy.

but it's a nice place.
above the bars are large rooms.
some for rent. others abandoned.
red lights under red umbrellas.
and when people look @ you, they aren't scowling.
mostly smiles, mostly.
i walked around a bit -- it was night, checked my 'six.'
ALL CLEAR
kept plodding on brick.
passing bar after bar -- watching the people inside.
and in the bars, these old gin joints, there were...Women.
few blokes.
but Women.
odd because in San Pedro (that's where i'm from) the dive bars are mostly filled with men.
mostly.
on occasion a black transexual.
she goes by 'tina-for-free-ah.'
she hasn't been seen since 2003.
-- just before the war.
nevertheless, downtown La Crosse seems like my kinda haunt.
five bucks gets you a never-ending mug of frosty booze.
pabst blue ribbon.
don't knock it, especially in Wisconsin.
but it's been a long day.
a long back-breaking day.
discs definitely distressed.
jacuzzi a must. twenty minutes max.
then rest.
good rest in an old city named La Crosse.

WI, 2010

off to Wisconsin under gray sky.

an echo chamber.

tankers slow today, but you can hear them, still.

when the car stereos aren't vibrating my windows.

the VA Creative Arts Fest 2010. hosted in La Crosse, WI.
friend of mine; Mike McCann, collaborated on a short film -- we won the gold.

drama writing...or something like that.
should prove interesting.
lots of Vets.
lots of stories.

mostly true.

from California

just a normal day

@ the compound.

the black and white ones are called, barred rock.

and the big tan thing, that's a tortoise.

too short

but i had to come back.

here's some pix...enjoy with a fine pinot noir.

update soon.