Senses working overtime #525

1 The feeling this week

Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash

Jacky was unwell and even needed some brief hospitalisation, so this was a testing week. Everything took on a slightly surreal tinge.

2 Reading: Iron John - Robert Bly

Iron John is caged

I took Iron John with me to Palmerston North hospital and it was pretty fitting. Sitting in a sort of daze reading the Iron John fairytale and Robert Bly's reading of the story was somehow spot on for the circumstances.

3 Listening: Van Dyke Parks - Discover America

4 Watching: A Man On The Inside (Netflix)

I needed something gentle and undemanding to watch this week. Jacky didn't like it, but I found it soothing.

5 Listening: Pearl Jam - Vs

I also needed something loud and anthemic. I love this album!

Overtime: 

If you're not sure where you're going, you'll probably end up somewhere else.

Peter Laurence

Senses working overtime #524

1 Frosty feeling this week:

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

2 Reading: Iron John (A Book About Men) - Robert Bly

Re-reading this about 35 years after I read it for the first time. I found a copy while shopping with Chris and Asher in Denver. It was in a secondhand tool shop of all places.

In the meantime I lost my own father (2009) and have watched my children (including two sons) grow up and out into the world. 

All along the way I've continued to teach, currently I'm in an all boys' school again, so reading Iron John again is fascinating on whole other levels. More in Wozza's Place and Baggy Trousers in due course.

3 Listening: Ozric Tentacles - Strangeitude

4 Watching: Shutter Island

Watching this as part of my Year 13 class programme. What is sane? What is insane? What is real? What is not real? What is normal? What is abnormal? Who do you trust? Who don't you trust?

5 Reading: Penelope Fitzgerald - Human Voices

Overtime: Jeanette Winterson (author)

I have noticed that doing the sensible thing is only a good idea when the decision is quite small. For the life-changing things, you must risk it.

Senses working overtime #523

1 Autumn at Maple Grove

Seasons seem to be speeding up. Feels like, just the other day, I was doing a post on autumn.

Above picture was the view from my music room when I got home from school last night.

2 Reading: Earth To Moon - Moon Unit Zappa

3 Watching: Andor (Season 2)

I'll need to rewatch this season - I was a little lost in the early episodes but it has steadily got better and better. The attention to detail is superb (even if the AI generated sets look a little obvious at times).

4 Reading: Lost Pueblo - Zane Grey

5 Listening: Jean-Luc Ponty - Imaginary Voyage

Overtime: James Clear

"Worrying about the future is like watching a leaf fall and trying to predict where it will land. Stop trying to guess where the wind will blow and get to work."

Senses working overtime #522

1 The Kalicki-Purdy wedding (May 2, 2025)

These two wonderful people took centre stage and dominated the last few weeks. No official photos as yet, so this week's Jewels For The Thirsty includes some approved for publication un-official snaps.

2 Supporting Cast: Rachel and Jade; best man and beer boys

3 The G-K's almost stole the show: Poppy and Asher

4 Family:  

5 Rehearsals on Asher's birthday (May 1)

Overtime: Couples of yester-year were honoured

Senses working overtime #521

1 Experiencing: Denver

Highlights so far (or scheduled before the wedding) include a BBQ at Samantha and Andrew's place; babysitting Asher and Poppy; walk around the botanical garden; visiting the mind-blowing Bass Pro Outdoor store; a ball game at Coors Field (the NZ and New York presence inspired the Rockies to a win); Asher's birthday trip to the zoo; purchases at Wax Trax Records; Union Station and a variety of eateries and coffee outlets. The photos will come from the funnest wedding of all time - once I get home.

2 Bass Pro Shop

3 Squirrels

Park in Arapahoe Stret

4 Coffee

5 Culinary delights: IHOP

Overtime: Botanical gardens

Senses working overtime #520

1 Experiencing: The second week in California

Jade, Chris and Asher joined us for the second week and we have had lashings of ripper adventures at places like Universal Studios and Disneyland. We have certainly seen some sights - including Jesus and Spiderman teaming up to (I think) entertain tourists on Hollywood Boulevard.

2 Universal Studios and Disneyland

Farewell to Universal Studios

Y'all come back now ya hear!

Hello from the happiest place on Earth!

3 Browsing: Record shops

I've been cruising into record stores along the way. Amoeba Music (on Hollywood Boulevard) is the star turn but the ambience in this store in San Luis Obispo was superb.

4 Dining: Saddle Ranch Chop House on Sunset Boulevard

A great experience, even if we couldn't persuade Chris to ride the mechanical bull. We did indulge in toasted marshmallow and chocolate sandwiches though.

5 Dining: Mel's Drive-in diner in Santa Monica

Framed poster in Mel's.

If it's good enough for Lana Del Rey, it's good enough for me!

Overtime: Watching and listening: Whales and seals at Big Sur

I looooove the Big Sur coastline so much. This shot includes two whales frolicking around with some noisy seals providing the soundtrack on the shoreline. The slaps by the whales echoed all around us.

Senses working overtime #519

1 Experiencing: The first week in California

Fisherman's Wharf SF. Jacky loves fish, right?

I thought I'd provide 5 images, plus an overtime, from our first week in California. We went north then south (San Francisco > Santa Rosa > Mill Valley > Capitola).

2 Driverless taxi

Embarcadero, San Francisco

We had no idea what this was until we looked inside and there wasn't anyone sitting in the front seats! Freaky, but normal in places like San Francisco, I guess.

3 Nibblin' on sponge cake/Watchin' the sun bake/All of those tourists covered with oil

It's in Capitola

Jimmy Buffett was right. Margaritaville is anywhere you want it to be!

4 Viewing: American supermarkets

No Weetbix, but I did find a wide variety of
Snapples - Kiwi Strawberry is a fav!

I love looking around food markets and especially the cereal aisles.

5 Walking: Armstrong Woods

We always do a lot of walking on vacations. The redwood forests in California are beautiful. This one had obviously lived through some wildfires - the charring went a long way up the trunks.

Overtime:

Garcia by Grace.

Visiting the San Francisco branch of the Hard Rock Cafe (for food and pictures of the displays) is another labour of love.