Random crappy pictures:













A Susan Tedeschi guitar sticker on a bus sign?





A pink Rambler station wagon. Heh.













Another Susan Tedeschi sticker?

Hm.

And to break the monotony..



.. a sunrise.

--------------------------
Ive decided. Here is my legend, my cover story.

I have written a book, and Im putting it together to be published. (True.)

I am in the process of writing another. (Also true.)

I dont mention anything about the entreprenurial plans.

Ive been doing that lately.

Interesting the way people light up when you say it that way.

Hm.

Something .. out of the ordinary happened the other day.. made me think of the Cappy, and how it woulda been cool to have her around for it. :-)

So I called her.

After she died laffin, and verified what I thought, told me I was fulla shit.. and died laffin again.

Its always cool to call someone you havent talked to or seen in donkey years and theyre absolutely glad you called.

After they tell you yer fulla shit.

After which they tell you theyre glad you called. :-)
---------
Only in florida...

On the highway, the Broward County sherriff rolled by.. with a bicycle rack on the back of the Crown Vic.

I dunno why, but I laughed out loud at the sight of it.

Its just a different state of mind.

Anyone seen that in Cali?

*sigh*

I miss my little GTI's.

Fast. Zoom Zoom everywhere. Anywhere. Almost Anytime.

Make everything blurry. Athletic, supple moves. That metallic snarl. The shit-eatin' grin.

Whoo. :-)

Much fun.

I HIGHLY recommend 'em.

When I first got one, is when I really started wandering.

When I lost the last one, I stopped.

I first came to Florida in a GTI .

Would be nice to leave this place in another.
-------
Random pretty pictures:

Florida sunsets, have this certain something. I think Ive figured it out...

The color purple. A multi-layered purple haze mixed in with reds and blues and yellows - no sunset ever the same.















And to break the monotony, here's a sunrise.



It looks way better in person.

--------------
Mmm. Scented night air.

I stood by the canal shallows watching the fish..

Kinda lazing about, schools of brightly colored and dark colored specimens. All diffrent sizes and types. From tiny guppy's to 5 pounders to exotics. Some darting back and forth, some cruising, some as couples preparing nests in the silt.

And then *sploosh* *sploosh* *sploosh*

Fish were leaping out of the water toward the shallows en masse.

The multitudes of fish Id been watching scattered like it was a speak-easy raid...

And *swoosh*.. like a buncha ships coming out of warp, dozens of mahimahi appeared into the shallows.

They cruised around, herding the fish theyd been chasing.

And then there was another *sploosh*.. and the circus, just as quickly.. disappeared.

That last *sploosh* was from a homeowner who had seen the dolphinfish and was tossing a flygreen lure into the water.

Apparently, he had heard mahimahi were pretty good eating too. :-)

Clint and I were cubicle mates at AOL..

McClint: DUDE! I got the perfect job for you
JPennant: hm?
McClint: http://www.polar.org/apc/inc/desc.asp?job_id=153
McClint: the catch? It's in Antarctica
JPennant: Heh. Ive troubleshot connectivity in the arctic :-)
McClint: i've done that too but from the comfort of warm sunny Florida via telephone :-)
JPennant: heheh

Its true. We could tell a million stories.. but my favorite story about getting people connected online above the Arctic Circle..

A teacher, calling from Alaska was having trouble STAYING connected, because her satellite uplink was getting interference from the solar radiation of an Arctic summer...

So, as we talked on the scratchy satellite link, she was telling me the procedure on letting kids out for recess...

They sent out one kid to shoo the Polar Bears - so the rest of the kids could come out to the schoolyard and play.

My question was.. what if the bears went after the lead kid?

Shoot. I forget what she said.

I was back testing her connection through the radiation.

I got her connected and stable. The kids could get back online.

So, yeah - work in the Antarctic?

No problem. ;-)
-------

"Elliot?? Elliot is a kid who eats paste. How about a name like Nick. Nick's your buddy, Nick's your pal, Nick's the kinda guy that you drink beer with..."
- John Cusack
The Sure Thing

Heyyy, Nick in Mississippi has redesigned his site. Looks good.

Yes indeedy I read the site daily.

All the "Nick"s I know in real life are hella cool dudes. (The Nicki's tend to be psychos but thats other stories for other days.)

So yeah. Nick.

I got dive-bombed again...

As I walked past the jay's territory, I knew it was up to sumthin - making an angry, low pitched "kreeeeeeeeeee" sound.

Sneaky mofo too. Wasnt gonna divebomb to my face as I approached. Nuh-uh.

Waited till my my back was turned, walking away.

But hey, I had my spidey sense (and common-sense) on, so I kept my head on a swivel and my ears open.

Sure enough, it banzai'd behind me at face level.
*pshaah* Im a Chicagah boy. I dont play that shytte.

I. Dont. Duck.

As it came, I swivelled, waited for it to complete its swoop toward my face .. and ..*SWIFF*

HOO HOO... boyoboy. I never seen such a frantic abort, wings and feathers akimbo, as a 50 lb backpack missed it by nanometers.
Damn. I forgot to swing from the hips.

It tried another half-hearted attack, but it veered off as it saw me cock the bag again. Coward.

Lemme make a contribution to the Sierra Fund now, cause Im on a jay hunt.

This.. is war.

These days, Im trying to remember the perspective Ive gained over the years.. which can be distilled thusly:

"There are times when you dont even realize youre happy."

Heh. Not the most elegant way to put it - but yeah.

Actually, Im just trying to be grateful for experiencing all this, while trying to shake off the negativity.

Mary Forrest actually spun a far more euridite (if wordy) essay on all this, starting with this quote..

"Happiness isn't something you experience; it's something you remember." - Oscar Levant

Now THAT'S true. I gotta remember that.

However, I also remember what a voice said in a dream of mine a decade ago when I asked "Am I Happy?"

The answer I was given?

"Happiness is not the point."

Heh. I guess Id better stop whining, not worry about the negative people, enjoy the challenge of the work, enjoy the area and continue taking the pretty pictures.

Cause soon, all this will pass.
-----------------
The original reason for the Canals of South Florida was flood control in what is essentially swampland and beach.

In Ft Lauderdale, enterprising developers repackaged it and said "WATERFRONT PROPERTY".

And watch the property values rise...















This area is apparently one of Fort Lauderdale's tonier areas, Las Olas Boulevard.

The houses and boats are indeed impressive, where even some of the *canals* are gated.

But, I didnt hang around tho..

I try not to ogle money.

*whawumpf*

THAT seemed to be an odd noise coming from above my head, as I walked down the street with my mugga coffee and newspapers in hand.

The kid standing outside his house said:

"The birds are dive bombing everybody. They were pecking on my head yesterday."

I looked up, and sure enough there was a jay on the wire above my head.

Okie. No wonder the doves have been in a tizzy the last coupla days, making that coo-cooing noise.

Spring. Mating seasons. The eggs musta been laid.

The mustang convertible-driving old lady exercising past me said.. "Ahh yeah, the birds are after you too eh."

She pointed to the cats walking closely, actually skulking behind her heels... "My cats are following me in... they dont wanna stay outside because of them."

Hmm.

As much as I like small animals, if they caused me to drop my 24 oz mugga Toasted Pecan coffee that I WALKED to the 7-11 to get.. I intended to whack them beyond senseless ... screw if they had offspring in the nest to take care of.

I dont give a damn.

Im cranky if I dont have my coffee, donuts and New York Post in the morn.

Wait. My SUNDAY coffee and my SUNDAY Post?? Whoo..

The birds musta sensed the evil intent. They didnt come close again.

----
South Florida news from the sunday papers:

Driver killed after hitting 11-foot alligator

*shrug* What? Havent seen any around here..

Diver's family sues over drowning in golf course lake.

Yes. Scuba-diving for golf balls.

Canals filled with junk. Also shopping carts and the occasional body.

The canals are a flood control measure. In the pricier neighborhoods.. theyre 'waterfront' property.

In my eyes.. 'waterfront' = 'flood zone'.

In Vote Fraud appeal, Court told defendant's wife was lawyer's prize if he lost

Vote fraud.. a tradition in Florida? Hmmmm.

The 'trophy' wife? This IS South Florida where the trophies are willing, sooo...


Elderly golfer gets stuck in swamp, takes a nap, then signals for help

No, really. I couldnt make that up.

Here is my life from the point of view of many folk:

"One lazy mofo who doesnt want to do a lick of work."
"His life is so sad, sometimes I really feel sorry for him and scared for him."
"His life is so depressing, sometimes - I feel weird talking to him. He's so out of touch."
"He needs to get a job."

And then, often from the same folk - the flip side of it:

"WOW. Where are you now??"
"Oh my god, I wish I could be doing what youre doing now."
"Looking at your pictures, I am SO jealous. I wish I could be doing/be where you are."

Or variations on these themes.

Disgust and jealousy. Aint that a bitch.

Most folk seem to be really missing the point..

I dont wish my life on anyone. Its hard and wearying.
But its the life path I picked. For good or bad.
For good AND bad, really.
I give thanks every day.

Sure, I wish I had more money to have more options to travel and be more comfortable, someone decent to share a life with and a cool truck/car to roll around in yadda yadda yadda.
Of course.
Im far from insane, regardless of appearances.

But, if I won money in the lottery - would I change my life substantially?

No. And if having money to waste would get me off track, then Id have to choose against it.

Oh, about missing the point...

Guys, Live the life path YOU choose. Live with the consequences. And if you dont like it.. Choose the life path youd like to live.
For good and bad.

Dont dump on me.

And if I cant talk and laugh and argue with you.. well, live your life elsewhere.

Stop stressing me out.
----------
My canuck pal Poo.. who has known me and shown me love during very "good times" and "bad".. I like the way she defines work:

"Work should be fun with a purpose."

Yar.

A great way to define the ideal life also.
--------------
Revisiting the scene of the crime.. or the Attack of the Mahi Mahi



This is the canal behind the office, and in the middle of the water was where all the ruckus started..



This is the shallows that the fish fled to to escape from the dolphinfish, coming around that curve...



and hiding underneath the mangrove almond tree

This is where the MahiMahi stopped



Here is the shallows where many of the small fish congregate



In fact, (if you stare closely) here are some silverfish, needlefish and bass congregating.

In taht group, I could see fresh scars on some of the fish escaping from predators.

Cut through the scales, skin, fat and flesh.

Not pretty.

But they escaped.

For now.

Normally tho, this little slice of manmade nature is this calm.



With the cycles of life and death underneath the placid surface...

I'd been driving people nuts yesterday cutting and pasting quotes from the Tick..

Actually, annoying people. Heheh. Much better.


JPennant: "Life is a big, wild, crazy tossed salad, but you don't eat it, no sir! You live it! Isn't it great?!"
JPennant: <-- TOTALLY amusing himself
yamB:groovy, man ;-)

JPennant: "I am mighty! I have a glow you cannot see. I have a heart as big as the moon! As warm as bathwater! We are superheroes, men, we don't have time to be charming! The boots of evil were made for walkin'! We're watching the big picture, friend! We know the score! We are a public service, not glamour boys! Not captains of industry! Keep your vulgar moneys! We are a justice sandwich. No toppings necessary. Living rooms of America, do you catch my drift? Do you dig?"

JPennant: <-- TOTALLY cracks up
yamB:i think you need some fresh Pacific ocean air to clear your mind ;-)
JPennant: heehee


JPennant: "I don't know the meaning of the word 'fear.'
Well, I mean, I know the meaning of it, I'm not *stooopid*..."
k a t e: what?
JPennant: heheh. A line from one of my favorite tv shows :-)
JPennant: A superhero's war cry...
JPennant: "NOT IN THE FACE! NOT IN THE FACE!"
JPennant: :-)
JPennant: *sigh*
k a t e: :-)


JPennant: ever watch the cartoon show The Tick?
tisha: nah
JPennant: been annoying people all day putting up quotes from the show
JPennant: heheheh
JPennant: "I don't know the meaning of the word 'surrender'!
I mean, I know it, I'm not dumb... just not in this context."
JPennant: "Yes, destiny has her hand on my back, and she's pushing!"
tisha: hahahah
tisha: that's funny as hell
JPennant: "The human mind is a dangerous plaything, boys. When it's used for evil, watch out! But when it's used for good, then things are much nicer."
tisha: :-)
tisha: -->wonders what drove joe pennant crazy today! :-P
JPennant: "Sanity! You're a madman!"
tisha: lolololol
JPennant: "And that's just it, Doc -- my mind has always been my Achilles' heel!"
tisha: joe pennant you are a madman! :-P
JPennant: keeps me sane :-D
tisha: :-) well good then
JPennant: "And isn't sanity really just a one-trick pony anyway? I mean all you get is one trick, rational thinking, but when you're good and crazy, oooh, oooh, oooh, the sky is the limit!"

JPennant: Heheh
tisha: damn. joe's a mental case now.. :-P
JPennant: Feels good :-)
JPennant: Who you callin crazy???? Oh. Thank you. :-)
tisha: lol
tisha: i'm so so glad to see you happy and smiling


Felt good. :-)

Today's horrorscope:

Deep down, you realize that what you're going through is necessary to your long-term interests, but why does it have to be so tough?

Yeah!!!

The good news is that tomorrow's aspects will bring matters to a head and after that there won't be quite so many setbacks and misfortunes.
The even better news is that a week or so from now, there won't be any.

Jeez, I hope so.

With the annual removal of DayLight Savings Time, the mornings dont feel so weird down here.. where the sun is high in the sky at 6am.

Up north, it may be a different story.. but *cough* who cares? :-)

Random sunrises



I dunno what the deal is with Krispy Kremes. To me theyre just crappy, overly sweet doughnuts I avoided for years when I lived in Jacksonville.

Whats changed?

I actually preferred the donuts from WinDixie.

Surprised me too.







Yeah, and this is what it looks like pretty much every morn out my bedroom window...





Pretty much like this every morn.

So to break the monotony..

Heres a sunset:



----
You know youve lived in New York too long when:

A nosh attack hits.

You raid the kitchen for a midnight nosh..

You put together a nosh package of bagels, cream cheese and salty smoked salmon.

At midnight.

And you dont think thats weird.

Hm.

Oh yeah, and you use the word 'nosh' in casual conversation...

Not something I'd share normally, but its still puzzling me...

There was someone I used to work with, and had a falling out with, with that popped up in a dream. In the dream I bumped into her as if we were in the same neighborhood.

I normally dont even dream of people that are in my life now, much less those who are out of it.

What is even odder, is that I wasnt the only one who did. So did a few other folk who knew her.

LORAIN: i know...Joe, when I dreamed of her believe ME, i said the same thing to myself
LORAIN: i said, "gee, i do not dream often, and I do not like dreaming, so when i have this dream, why the heck is SHE in it??"
JPennant: i KNOW

Weird.

Whats even weirder, is that she now lives in San Francisco, where Im headed.

It shook me up so much, that I hadda call Kate long distance to tell her about it.

Heheh. Oops. Kate apparently doesnt wake up before 10am on weekends.... :-)

*ducks*

Oh, yeah..

Sometime this month.. mebbe its today... could be later.. DEFINITELY sometime in April...

Is this woman's birthday.

Go show her some love.

Several days ago...

JPennant: as ferris beuhler sez
JPennant: Life moves pretty fast...
tisha: lol yeah that i agree
JPennant: Look up that quote for me?
tisha: um.. in a bit?
JPennant: hehe. you type faster than I

LITERALLY three seconds later..

tisha: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look
around once in awhile, you might miss it.".
JPennant: there ya go :-)
tisha: heheheh

Virga drops on my face as I watch the storm clouds get tossed by on the winds.
Making wind-like rain patterns on the water.
Suddenly, dark windy and chilly in the evenings.
The chimes outside my window are tinkling.
Getting emotional and stressed out. I blame it on the moon.
High tides the past week. Also blame it on the moon.
The Lil Red Truck was sold. Was fun while it lasted.


All stuff I was gonna talk about for today and yesterday, but it kinda got swept along by events.

Life has a way of doing that.

As the man said.. life moves pretty fast.
--------------------
Apart from wanting enough money to be able to exercise my options, Im trying to quell the things that I want.

There is something that I truly miss.

Cooking.

Being itinerant means you have no clue if you'll be somewhere from one day to the next, and youre living from a backpack and a few suitcases - so it makes no sense to buy pots and pans and foodstuff that has to be made from scratch.

I miss cooking.

Im not fancy. A little herb and garlic flavored rice, put with some ground beef or fish.

Thats all I crave.

Would save money too.
---------------
Man.

Right now no one trusts what I say as to when I'll be where.

Cali folk have given up on me.
Lunch dates in NY have evaporated.

Lily in Jacksonville is trying to arrange a condo for me to stay in while Im in Jax.

And I'll be there...

Umm. Not sure. Either next week or next month.

Could be either or neither.

Aiyah.
--------

Browsing on a Sunday morn...

Itinerant Images (used without permission) that I dig, and not just because these folk check out my pics occasionally.

Judy. Vancouver.






copyright Judy Tso

Damn, thas beautiful. Big Sky and mountains.

Vancouver is def on my West Coast itinerary.
----------------
Manuel. Seattle.








copyright Manuel Wanskasmith

Yeah, now I rilly wanna check out the Great Northwest. :-)