Puerto Vallarta

So I recently took an early trip to Puerto Vallarta. I say early because the quarter was not over and I missed two classes. Don't worry, they were not vital nor were they exam days. I made sure of that.

The good news is this was my first international trip, so I had to get my passport. The flight was fine and on time. Landing in PV was odd, there was no special things about arrival in PV. A long walk to customs, a fast moving line, and then you get bombarded by the time share guys who own the last 50 yards of real estate at the airport before you can get outside to get a taxi. (As opposed to leaving PV, you literally walk through a duty free mall the entire way with lights, music, it was all a little overwhelming).

Speaking of taxi's, all the drivers are crazy, they drive way too fast. Well, they did not wreck so that is good, but the narrow streets seem to call for much lower speeds. These guys are like ex World Class Rally champs or something. Or they play way to much Grand Turismo in their spare time. I can understand the need for speed as they make money off of the number of trips they can fit into a day. But seriously, slow the f down. Can't take the peso with you amigo.

The ride from the airport to the resort was... interesting. PV is a relatively poor town, and being exposed to that was really eye opening for me. The resort was some sort of sanctuary, cordoned off in a different district with a security gate. No poverty at the resort. But a short walk down the beach to the fishing village reveals more of the same as downtown PV. An odd experience, one that I am still trying to decipher as to what it all means. At the time I was uneasy at the spectrum of differences between the two areas. To be honest, I was a little sickened. Still am. But I readily admit that I have no idea as to the circumstances, the politics, the economic past or outlook, and my first blush impression that I have has no real meaning as far as judgments go.

At least it was warm and for a little while sunny. Summer has yet to hit here in Bellingham, even though the sun tricked us a few times this past month by making an appearance. However, as I write this, cold cloudy rain, or should I say, the usual, weather is occurring.

Speaking of Bellingham, I am on break! The quarter has ended and I get a whole week and a half off. Oh what to do with myself. Hopefully I can work lots so I can to get some dollars in my account.

So my major plans have been shaping up nicely. Urban Planning and perhaps some regional planning in the future. It is such a fascinating area, and so relevant to my personal interests. I have yet to be exposed to all that it has to offer, but I am currently enthralled with New Urbanism and what it has to offer and say. Check out these two planned communities, and truly they are communities. The Kentlands and Seaside, FL.

While these are great, I think they make a strong case for proper urban infill development rather than expanding growth out into new green areas.

I am looking forward to doing some leisure reading over the break, and have currently in my possession Hamlet's Mill, which I have wanted to read for some time. But I also have found out that a book I read for my English class two quarters ago, Ready Player One has a easter egg hidden in the book. Literally, it is a book about easter eggs in games, and then it is revealed there is an easter egg in the book itself. The prize is a Delorean. I also have another book, that I probably won't get to over break, called Deep Green Resistance.

Last but not least in this post, is that I miss music and cooking so much it hurts. I long for the days of brunches, mimosas and band practice on Sundays. My summer goal is to meet some musicians and form a little band up here, because it is much needed in my life. My blood is beginning to revolt in my veins, I can't hold out much longer. Must play drums!

As far as cooking goes, well, as long as I live in a house with a tiny impotent kitchen with 3 other college students, I might as well start a cooking blog about how to make ramen over a fire in the woods. It would be great to find a new place with a better kitchen, but the price of this place is hard to beat. So until I win the lottery, this will have to do for now. I have been eating lots of brown rice, peas and carrots. With a dollop of miso. Peanut butter and honey sandwiches also. Both have been surprisingly good.

I have found that the Kulshan brewery here in Bellingham is great for beer, and they have a food truck parked out front permanently that makes some killer fries. Have I mentioned this already?

I also recently discovered a beer called Churchkey Can Co. beer, which makes and sells their beer in a flat top steel can. Their six packs comes with a church key to open the beers with. Super cool experience to open a steel can and drink the insides. Just like some old school tough guy. Or trendy hipster. Whatever, it is a great idea and a damn good beer, so try some.

Also, this drink here will be made this summer one way or another. Love that green juice.

Apparently Jurassic park is really going to happen. But in zombie form, or at least that is how it will start. I remember reading some time ago some zoologists were thinking of trying to implant Mammoth DNA into a Elephant egg and then have it carried to full term to bring back the mammoth. My only thought about that was, they must know that a pole shift and ice age are imminent and want to populate the world with a hardy species they can hunt to live off of. That is smart thinking there, superb planning.

German Scientist have discovered that condoms might cause cancer. Can I stop wearing them now? Thanks.

Until next blogging happens, stay safe my friends.

Urban Planning, ABCrepes, and biking

Hello again,

I wanted to tell you what in the world I have been up to, because I feel like I have not done that in some time.

Well, I am still in school (huzzah!) and closer to realizing my dream (huzzah!). What is that you ask? I am on goal to get my degree in Urban Planning with minors in Comm and Econ. My plan is then to apply to Grad school and either get my Sustainable MBA or a Masters in Urban Planning.

Planning is so frigging cool, and to think I would have never found out about it had I not enrolled in school again after all this time. With any luck, I will be able to help plan cities! I can't even begin to tell you how cool that sounds to me. Even if I just get to work on some important part of city planning, like sustainable planning, or transportation issues, that would be so cool. Can you imagine that? Design a sustainable business and utilities part of the city. Or, build a mass transit system that will decrease costs and increase revenue in the downtown area. My brain is weeping with joy at these concepts.

AB Crepes

So one thing that is readily needed and abundant in college towns is affordable tasty noshes, and Bellingham is a little light in that area which I am surprise at. Mostly pizza and beer joints, a few fast food places, and then
some late night places like long time champ of late night food. Pel' Meni. Pel' Meni is a small place with a limited menu. You can get either potato dumplings or beef dumplings, or a half and half combo. It comes with some olive oil, paprika, cilantro, a half slice of rye bread and a small serving of sour cream. All for only $6. One of the best things about this place is they have a record player and I would guess over 100 records to choose from that anyone can put on and play.

But a new place has opened up, and is open late, and offers the same price point. Variety is the spice of life, and AB Crepes is that place. Opened up just recently in downtown (which needs some help here) by a couple of WWU students, AB Crepes is a crepe joint. They offer the traditional nutella variety but also some others, like a Mediterranean vegetarian and breakfast ones with eggs and whatnot on them. They even have a gluten free crepe batter you can ask for. And they are open late with a walk up window, so you can just swing by on the way home and get one to go.

I had to try it, so I went there and got the gluten free Mediterranean one. It took awhile as they did not have any gluten free batter prepped, but it was well worth it. The gluten free crepe held together! That itself was a complete shock. The fact that it tasted great and was moist as well, just outstanding. The fillings were plenty and tasty. Overall the crepe was huge! Lucky for me I was pretty famished that day and ate the whole thing, telling myself it was okay, I earned it. Plus I had to walk home so that would help with the digestion of it all anyways, right? (Kidding, of course I am right).

I recently became some what employed again, which is great. As a starving student I needed that. Other than the fact that I now have some pay coming in and some benefits, it also allowed me to finally tune up my bike. It needed it very badly and now, now it rides so smooth that I want to ride it everywhere. I realized as well, that it is like my horse and I have been neglecting it. I will forgo the logic I used to come to the horse comparison, least I sound crazy and scare you off. Never the less, biking is great. Check out this video about biking in Portland.



Polar bears are epic indeed.

It would be great if every city could achieve this sort of rider friendly space. I can't recommend to you highly enough, if you don't bike, start doing so now. It is so much fun.

Anyway, I need to get back to studying for finals. Yes I will be publishing more. Yes I will be taking Summer classes. Yes I will try my best to eat more food and take some pics (although were I live now has a terrible kitchen that is overused and messy all the time. Really makes it hard for me to get motivated to cook in it). I will also get some batteries and take some pics again. I miss posting my OG shots.

Also, I just realized that I have some people (you all) that read this blog from all over the place! Leave a comment!

Also have to give a shout out to Good Capital, a socially responsible investment firm. Check them out.

Until next time...

Cafe Rumba and Canon

It has been awhile, faithful blog readers. To be honest, I have not found anything super exciting to be blogging about, but I recently was able to get out and about and had some divine encounters with awesome cocktails and food.

I visited Seattle a couple weeks ago and met up with a dear old friend of mine. With him, my girlfriend and I went to Canon bar and drank some concoctions of amazingness.

Canon is nothing short of genius as far as bars go. Seattle, this is a shining star you have. With some of the best bartenders in Seattle (if not the country) tending there, mixed the ambiance of an era gone by, and stiff drinks to help ease the pain of living in these woeful modern times, Canon is by far one of the best things to ever happen to any drinking scene anywhere, period.

Located at 928 12th Ave in Seattle, WA, the unassuming store front hides well the powerhouse that it really is. I really don't feel like going into detail here about the great bar tenders, there are tons of articles on them already, but I will say that Jamie Boudreau owns it and Murray Stenson is employed there. There are other capable tenders as well but I am unacquainted with their names.

Their drinks are many, and the mixing is great if not perfect. The bathroom is the best in all of Seattle. Seriously, I could spend hours in that thing.

I had a Canon Cocktail, of which it was made of I can't recall but I assure you it was splendid. Sitting on the corner of the bar are old drink/cocktail books. I am always interested in new drinks and lately have tried a Boss Tweed and a Rapscallion; both are strong and taste good.

I picked up the top book and flipped though it to see if there was anything in there that I might want to order, and I ran across this number, the Bennett Cocktail.

So of course I had to have one. I asked the purveyor of drinks working behind the wood bar top if he could make one of these, and he casually glanced at the page and said "Yeah, no problem."

A few minutes later and I had it in my hand. It was either the two drinks prior to this one, or the fact that I may have drank it too fast that led to me not capturing it in a photograph, but who am I kidding, it was both those things.

A great evening all in all, and a place I would visit again on my next Seattle visit.

Cafe Rumba

I was wandering around Bellingham a couple weeks ago and ran across this new Peruvian deli in town called Cafe Rumba. It was closed when I walked by, but mentally noted their business hours to make a visit when they were open.

I do not regret this in any way shape or form. Antonio and Marco are great hosts and the food they prepare is outstanding. It reminds me of Paseo, but Peruvian instead of Caribbean. Whatever, they both serve delicious pork with a sauce on amazing bread.

I am in love with their chicha morada, a purple corn drink that is out of this world and from what I can tell healthy for one as well. I asked Antonio and Marco if I could buy it by the gallon, and they said yes which made me extremely happy. They also imparted to me that they get the ingredients for their chicha back from Peru as they can't find ingredients here to make satisfactory chicha. I didn't ask to see their invoices as I took them at their word about this, and why shouldn't I. A new business in town could hardly lie to a loyal customer who buys in bulk from them, could they?

As far as music goes, I have not been out much these days. Between the study load and the lack of funds being a student, it is prohibitive. Besides, this is Bellingham, and I am not sure how often well known bands get up here. But I guess that is the thing about this smallish, sorta quaint liberal hippy town; there are new bands every week here, home grown, and one of them might turn out to be the next Death Cab for Cutie or Posies.

Oh well, I guess I can start seeing shows once I get a little more free time (Summer, I'm looking at you) and have some more resources available to me.

Until next time, keep your chin up.

Pickwick, Hot Bodies In Motion, & Reva Devito

So I broke my musical Bellingham virginity by going to see a show at The Wild Buffalo. I wanted to get out, do something, all this studying and being a shut in only doing chores and homework was wearing away on me.  Not that I want to be a complainer and bitcher, but it is kinda lonely up here in the ham. My friends Peter and Jessica did make a stop up here one Sunday to say hello, and I appreciate it. It's just different now, and I'm still working out if it is a good thing or not.

Okay, The Wilde Buffalo is a little bar venue downtown that had $5 pints on tap, or Rainier tall boys for $3. Guess which one I went for.

I showed up early to case the joint, see if there was some advantage to certain areas. It was only about half full so I had room to move about and see what was what. The place is really short on chairs and stools, standing room only for certain. Or dancing room only if you prefer.



Reva DeVito = hot funk soul goddess from Portland, totally stole the show. Even though they opened they just laid it down in such a way it was going to be hard for anyone to top them. The keyboardist played some sort of tube thing that I think is a talk box.

Hot Bodies in Motion was great as well. A bunch of funky white boys from Seattle and they are pretty dang good. Especially their song "Old Habits", check it out.

Pickwick, a bunch of white boys from Seattle who sing soul, was just okay. Personally I did not see what the hype was about, I mean apparently they were well reviewed in the KEXP countdown last year, but I don't get it.
Something was missing, and I am not sure what it was.

Old soul seem to have that certain drive to it. Like a big block V8 rolling down the highway you can't help but go 85mh. Pickwick, while very talented, occurs to me to be more like a 4 cylinder that struggles to merge into  I-5 traffic. It works, but something leaves you wanting.

And just cuz I have them, two more pics of Reva DeVito. I thought that they turned out bad when I took them, that is why I stopped taking photos at the show, but not that I look at them again, they are pretty sweet.

Forever a student

So I moved to Bellingham WA and transferred into WWU to complete my Bachelors degree. It was an exciting and stressful move, but I am no longer living out of a motel and pretty much have the campus and the town figured out...for now.

January 1st is when I made the move, and the weather was great. I took that as a good sign.Then for the next 4 days it was rainy and windy, which was okay I guess. I was surprised to find that it did not put a damper on my joy of being at a new campus. It is pretty spectacular here. Old buildings, great trees, and it is just the right size I think.

Undoubtedly and to not much of anyone's surprise, the library is my favorite building on campus. It has a great study room in it with old, weathered desks that just scream "many smart people have studied here". But I am sure other, more notorious things have gone on in the library as well. I mean, that's what libraries are all about, right?

This is my view of where I study at on campus. I guess it goes by the name of the "Harry Potter" room.

The town seems reasonable as well, despite what appears to be a rather large number of drifters and vagabonds. There are a number of reasonable eateries and pubs, and most of everything is within walking distance. At least from where I live. Which is about half way between downtown and campus.

I was out on Saturday with some friends we ended up going to a little Irish pub called Uisce. Nothing but pretzels are offered to munch on, so I ate before hand. It was packed with some swanky dressed college aged people and older people were there also. It was rather crowded and my party could only find a small table by the dart boards. Some people, who were playing at said dart boards, asked if they could use our table to rest their beverages upon while they played, to which I agreed only if they agreed that every time they lifted their drink after having set it down they owed us a round of drinks. I was of course joking, and they knew it and we became fast friends. They actually did buy us a round of drinks and invited us to play a round of darts with them. It was very jovial and splendid.

That wasn't even the best part of the night. I ran into two friends of mine that I used to work with at PCC some five years ago, in an Irish pub, in Bellingham WA, on a Saturday night. It was great to see them and catch up. An amazing coincident to say the least and, again, I took it as a sign from the Universe that I as in the right place doing the thing I was supposed to be doing.

A short time later we wandered over to The Copper Hog, of which I had heard of and was keenly interested in. It was great, the kitchen is open late, and best of all they have bone marrow on the menu for only $8. Bone Marrow! The best stuff on the planet! It was just amazing. I mean, the only way it could be better is if the animals the bones came from were grass fed and raised local, and they could have been for all I know.

The rich, buttery marrow was warm, easy to spread on the small bread that came with it, and oh so satisfying after a night of drinking and playing darts. The best bits were two slices of bread the bones were resting on, just catching all the goodness that seeped out of the bones, soaking up all that nutritious good stuff. Man, what a treat.

I have a good class load this quarter, taking 4 classes at 15 credits. They are fairly standard so far, with lots of good reading assigned. My English 202 class, Writing about Literature, is great. We are reading these books:

The Hobbit
The Annotated H.P. Lovecraft
Pontypool
Habibi (a graphic novel)
Threshold
Ready Player One

I did not buy a copy of the Hobbit as the library had a really neat old 1966 edition that I just had to read. I have already read Habibi over break by a shear stroke of luck. It is another graphic novel from Craig Thompson who also penned Blankets. I highly recommend both of these works as they are amazing.

Then, we write about the books we have read. Seriously, it is a fun class. The prof is a little wacky, a self confessed gamer (one of the first things he said to the class was that he was addicted to playing Skyrim) and internet junkie, and very much into teaching about literature.

Okay, I am off to study, but here is a little something has been inspiring, funny, and stuck in my head for you all. Enjoy.

I'm on the path, chopping up bodies, hacking, and slicing, and look at me now.
With loyal friends, joining my party, each step I take I'm fulfilling my vow:
Crush your enemies
See them driven before you
and hear the lamentation of the women

ps. Ready Player One is a very good read, especially if you are all into 80's culture. You know who you are.