Pre Christmas in Asbury park, NJ

I moved to Jersey City in April 2023, I had to find my own apartment, I can not live with roommates but of course the prices of apartments in NYC are difficult to meet with a small salary. I knew though that JC was still affordable and indeed found a very affordable 1 bedroom near Journal square.

Being in NYC, east coast, NYC area is always a paradox to me, I have connections, dreams waiting but I dislike at this point the crowds, the clones, the garbage, the lack of nature and serenity. I do have a job teaching though since September 2022, I made the commitment to stick to it for 2 scholar years to get myself a little more under control and stabilized somehow in my head. I also play music, act, etc, bla and was drawn to discover this little famous music town that is Asbury Park. I planned to go this last summer as it was the right season but could never get myself to take the train and try the beach. It’s about 1.5 hours on the NJ Transit. Short yet, I am so bad at getting up early and head to the beach for the whole day.

No I need to be by the beach for a week, because day one I will get into the water for a minute, day 2 a little longer and if I have a place right there, I’ll go there on a whim at 10pm. So I knew that appropriately I needed to afford a hotel room.

Finally, I was on holiday December 15th, worked the weekend at Bistro La Source in JC, on Monday I was off for 2 days. Had reserved a room at the Empress Hotel, I was ready for nobody. Meaning I was ready to see, meet no-one, deal with no-one, leave the people and how much they stress me out, no matter what and embrace the solitude, silence, emptiness.

Well the Empress Hotel was easy to find, the train station is a straight walking shot to it, direction the ocean, got to see on the way the 50 miles that separate Newark to that mileage stone right after an intense storm raising quite some of the waters. The wind were still strong and the waves impressing. Do I like to see these big waves, the power of the ocean…

Came just with a bag, checked in to an empty hotel, host was super nice, my room lovely, I was so looking forward to take a few hot baths a day as my hot water in my apartment is dysfunctional. I had a TV, I rarely watch TV, loved it, watched UCLA chicks college basketball beat Ohio State, Go LA! Took walks, walks, and walks daytime, night time. My first stop was a delicious Japanese restaurant, Taka. Big, decently priced, millions of Japanese whiskeys and Sakes, lovely menu, got the cheapest, a burger! boooooooooo! Nice place, not much was open, it was pre Christmas, some Antique shops, markets, and for sure kickass music shop.

At night I meandered on the boardwalk to check out the music venues, Monster Bar, Stone Pony, the Bowling Alley

The Stone Pony by the way is moving to the Carousel, still in the works. In the morning, the sun was shining, the frog men, surfers braving no matter what the water were on their surf, how I admire them, I call them , Hommes Grenouille, heart to them as they used to identify me as a mermaid in Santa Cruz back in the day!

Now was the time to find a nice coffee shop for Breakfast. I took off south toward Ocean Grove, which is right there, oh that wind, oh those joggers, dog owners walking their happy dogs. I was astounded by the ginger bread Victorian houses, what architecture!

So many houses, so cute, so empty. I heard it’s a dry town!!!

Nevermind, I found this cookie bakery, had a good coffee and a bagel with cream cheese, served by a round curly blondie middle age women, lovely as fuck, who was chatting with the local fireman and the local policeman. Ah how I love to be surrounded by the locals. Then I definitely wanted to find a good thrift shop, cuz new clothing is always on my list. Oh yeah , Pioneer Thrift down by the railroad track will have your dream shoes, top, pants, pot, dish, bag. Not far is some stipend original Irish hole. They have rules in the window about facts on Men and Women political dance. Have a drink!

So my exploration was about to expire, had to get another diner and went to the Robinson Ale House, and that place is fulfilling, comforting, it spirals.

Will I go back to Asbury Park, when It’s warmer, when there is music? It sure is growing, just like everywhere else.

happy new locations

And like all Amphibians we are, loving the water, all types of water * By Les Bicyclettes Blanches

New York, New York

For someone who has never been to NYC, there are millions of things to discover for sure, to do, consume, visit. I don’t find it being a city that is more expensive than other major city in the world, on the contrary, you can still find good deals here, cheap rentals, food, restaurants, free concerts, classes, events. If you know how to find it. Paris is similar. It has the reputation for being expensive but truly it does not have to be.

I have a few favorite neighborhoods I end up strolling around. The east Village still to this day loyal to its rock’n’roll reputation, Tompkins Square park, The Russian Baths on east 10th street, east 9th is great for all its little boutiques. The Bowery for Howl on first, and nearby galleries.

Williamsburg, though it is amped with a similar commerciality than Soho, you can still find some places that will make you feel you are in a warehouse district. Skinny Dennis fab for americana music every night, Rough Trade is near, Main drag music shop, pot shops, the gutter bowling alley, the river.

Harlem is another for its architecture, river park, you can still get down to pick some drift wood and maybe go for a swim. Tempt it!. The cloisters, all museums, taking any ferry is a total treat. Far Rockaway for its beaches and surfers, not such big waves but very good for any beginner. It goes on of course. Once you know People here you can build an array of things to do and places to go to. An ever endless process just like any big city.

Sadly the world has become gentrified, commercialized, a copy of itself, a repeat of itself with less and less soul. Growing up in Paris, studying Philosophy and literature, we laughed so hard at any Bourgeois wearing an ugly Louis Vuitton Bag, or any brand like Chanel and such which was for the wealthy the bleak, the bastard; and it was extremely tacky. Now the brands have managed to convince everyone in Society that having their brand is a mark of social position and success. Mark of the Beast. So now on the street of NY, in the suburbs and sad subways, you can see the popular culture wear their TOTE Balenciaga, Christian Diors and fake Vuitton morons, or moutons? Make sure you have your Apple Watch, phone and tablet in case you missed an outside notification. Hopefully you will drink enough and through them in the East river.

Remember the USA is not NYC. It has nothing to do with it. the next stop is….?

SACRED TEACHINGS OF MAYAN ASTROLOGY: Secrets of Tzolkin: Comprehensive Guide to Mayan Astrology and Divination Practices, by Fatih Kecelioglu

I started following Fatih Kecelioglu’s newsletter a couple years ago, when recently he reached out to his readers to review his new book. I offered to mention it on my blog.

Below is the link on amazon where you can purchase it. I highly recommend it and you can read my feedback at the bottom of this page .

I dived right into this
marvelous book opening my head
to a fascinating understanding
of our existence. Mayan
astrology has also drawn me for
a long time as well as western
astrology, mysticism of all
kinds but the Mayans have always
been in my memory.

This is not only a guide to make
you understand Mayan astrology
but also how to become an
astrologer, a map on how to
integrate the first steps of
Mayan astrology into your being
and consciousness. On how to
start thinking in an
energetically way.

As Mayans did not think in a
timely matter based on the

movement of the planets but in
an energetically way. Just like
alchemy. We go through
transformation being alive, it's
the purpose of being alive, to
evolve our souls. And so much
nowadays in modern society keeps
us from evolving. EM waves,
ancient culture depravation ...
thus the extinction of the wild,
authentic, ancient indigenous
wisdom/alignment.

As well as Fatih, I was early on
into western astrology and
understanding the energies in my
being according to my western
chart but I could not notice or
understand any cycle of
evolution according to the
position of the planets or the
phase of the moon. Now more
familiar with Mayan astrology

and its cycles I see clearly and
feel clearly the changes and
those cycles in my life. Looking
at my Mayan Chart all the signs
make sense thus I can use them
by following their data and give
myself the tools to get what I
need and want.

I strongly urge you to discover
and understand this simple yet
mathematical mind expanding
system as it will help you heal
and apply yourself to a powerful
sense of direction, of intuition
sourced and rooted in a science
that transcends western
definition of science and
reason. It shows you the way to
integrate your power and be your
unique self in this stupendous
creation of life in the
universe.

Summer 2022 in Woodstock, NY

I was in New York City till June looking for work, trying this, trying that till I was hired as a bilingual pre-school teacher’s assistant starting in September. I was a bit reluctant, not feeling it 100%, not feeling ready but my life had such little meaning that I figured I would get some equilibrium accepting the offer. Plus it was something I had wanted to do for years but it never came about. So I went for it, signed a contract but wanted to enjoy a nice summer vacation somewhere different in the world, which was absolutely out of my means, sniff!

Therefore I headed upstate to at least not be in the heat and grease of the city and found a job pretty rapidly working at a hip deli in Bearsville, the Cub Market.

The cub has the best coffee in town and the best prices. When they opened 15 years ago or so, they had the most expensive drinks, veggies, sandwiches, but they never raised their price so today they are the cheapest deal in town. The owners, Alison and Frederic are super lovely locals, in touch with all affairs in the hood, super accommodating in helping anyone with anything.

I was still doing little jobs on the side, landscaping or painting houses.

I have been going to Woodstock for so many years, having a mix of delectable times and flat unbearably boring head banging stays, especially when you live there full time, the winters can be quite lonely and cold, long, pointless.

There is always the lovely creeks to take a dip, except that this summer there was a drought and the streams were well pretty much empty. A fun friend had a pool and she would invite a party quite often for food, drinks and laughs. I had no car, only a bike so I was limited in my travels. But my mind was not to run away but to simplify my life and prepare for the full scholar year ahead. Heal in other words!

My favorite bar there is The Station Bar and curio, all others are just a tourist draw from all the new comers, or crowd from Jersey. They have music most of the week, pool tables, chess games, card games, dogs, children, vagabonds, millionnaires, wanna bees, and yellow jackets mostly committing harakiri in your beer.

In addition to all this mayhem, I picked a spot on the cable TV station to have a space where I could invite musicians and play/practice. It was Dog on Patrol, part deux, la suite…

What is always a pros there is that you will meet interesting characters, make friends, gather around fire pits, encounter bears, and it was a fantastic season for bears as they were spotted everywhere with cubs, terrifying some but above all keeping the hearsay alive.

It’s also a great place to camp out, escape the 4 walls and expensive rent…haha if you only knew where I slept. No-one does but me. Success and prosperity is only a matter of perspective.

Now I am back in NYC, enjoying teaching, but yes longing to travel again anywhere, everywhere!

Till then…

A little Vaca in Miami FL

Hi there. 2022, January; I was in NYC pretty much from august 2020 to December 2021. Long months in the city, pros and cons, of course as everywhere. Unless I end up finding a place with just cons or pros. I will keep you posted and you can do the same in the comments. Always curious!

I had a good start in august 2020, I had been living off the pandemic unemployment and even if at the time we were not aware, we would get it for another year. So I was able to get a place in Harlem, then the east village, with a February 2021 month stop in LA in between places, I was focused enough and ready to get back to my acting, music career. Of course I ran into some bumps mostly people, relationships, so called friends, roomies related that threw me off as usual, I get very touchy when my life and stability are jeopardize by selfish, clueless pointless freaks. Is there so much jealousy and vindication in the world? I was not aware, i thought it was just my fault.

By summer 2021, i was a mess, because not being vaccinated my relentless goals in the creative industry got put to rest, on top of that I was sort of seeing a guy who was fucking right and left, a coke head, dealer I learned later, with an immaturity on an emotional level out of my world. The worse was to have no work/activity outlets that excited me and promised me with some new meetings or interest. By the end of the summer, I managed to find work, and renewed my being. But by the end of the fall I had fallen back into a boredom and a wounded heart. Enough was enough, NYC was not giving me anything, so I decided to go to Miami and it filled me with new inspiration, a rediscovery of my past, way past, as I had come here back 1992 and had set foot for the first time in America in 1986, when a kid.

I took a plane for new years eve, no desire to go to another celebration I could not celebrate, plus I tend to celebrate every other day, so what is it to me? My plane was delayed, it made me doubt of my choice for a minute but there I was in the airport with no desire to go back, very broke, only a couple hundred dollars to my name. But I liked the challenge, the emergency challenge is the one that I manage to handle best and manifest what I need in a flash. So I spent my night at the airport emailing restaurants in Miami and was called a few hours later by a French restaurant. I interviewed that day and was hired that day. I worked with them a couple weeks no more, the money was pretty good but the staff was so competitive, cruel and argumentative. I quit and got fired simultaneously.

What about Miami? Well when it is 20F in NYC in January it is 75 in Miami. It is the tropics. Plants are fantastic, palm trees, avocado trees, coconut trees, lizards, iguanas, I had never seen one, they are like 5 feet long, vultures, ???, makes senses, doves, doves, doves, roosters at every corner street, just wild, chickens, ducks, baby ducks, cats, perokeet… the beach in Miami beach has a perfect temperature, the water is turquoise, sun shines, architecture is a mix of modern and art nouveau in some neighborhood and Spanish colonial in others. Neighborhood are very distinctive. Little Haiti, just like being in Haiti, Little Havana, just like being in Cuba, Coconut grove just like being in NY, well in any white wealthy mall. Same as Coral Gables. Miami Beach was most certainly fun until the 90’s, now it is a pig show.

Wynwood, another fake artsy scene catered to the lost not so creative but craving for creativity types, among a very poor African American part of town, whom are the coolest if you ask me. I managed to have some spontaneous friendly conversations with random folks, a Lyft driver that was from here, he took a break and we shared a glass of wine, some pot, a nice talk in the middle of the night. A grill man on his grill truck, sharing our thoughts on human rights and exploitation. Found a cool clothing donation and a fantastic goodwill.

Pot is not legal, they sale Delta 8, must have to do with the delta variant. Not so great, doesn’t really get you fully high, and the point of weed has been removed.

I got a bike not long after I got here, from craigslist, the tire busted 2 days later, I should have known. Met a nice young guy from Barcelona, extremely cute but he stopped getting in touch, nothing more on his part, he must have thought I wanted to fuck him but not really I just wanted to gather and meet the world with a pal. I hopped from airbnb from the start, not a bad way to explore hoods. The first one was near the airport in Brownsville, a bit of a sketchy neighborhood but not so bad, it was fun, I enjoyed talking to all the mates. Then was in a pretty much all Spanish men one in little Haiti, my roommate complained right away about my snoring and I felt I was going to be thrown out for that reason. Then was suspected of being a whore by some who couldn’t figure out who what or how the heck was I there for? I like adventure you all, that’s all. I’m eclectic. Period, I like getting out of the box. Then inhabited little Havana, it’s safe but family, dog, car orientated.

I still have a bunch of bars to explore, it’s better to have a car, Ubers are decent, biking is cool, buses are horrific, metro is small but fine.

Wynwood Winner Dog

what is happening to my privacy want it to be public

i can’t find the button

Cloy

Disgust from too much excess of sentiment. I eat my Saturn thumbs.The only nails I eat. And ravish, why oh why this acharnement. I really get a kick out of it all. The effect of pot, mushrooms, LSD, alcohol, tobacco over the years. Nothing better than a deep sense of humor. Eating my own skin means that I am looking for something I can’t grasp or get. Wondering. Or is it the sensation of the nail cutting the skin that helps finding the answer, the within. It’s the lack of a lover. I know it is. Melodrama. An exaggerated piece. But it is Christmas and I love Jesus’s dick. The best, the ultimate profanity. Balls are great too, greater than great and ballsy. Round, egg shaped, it’s an egg, it’s easter on the point. Amen. Alleluia, the christ is reborn. Puff!

Snow

It’s white, it’s cold, it’s water, frozen in the atmosphere, just like when you take a plane and up in the air where you’re flying its minus something. If you popped out of the plane you’d be frozen unless you have some kind of a suit. MMMMmmmh… snowboard, skis, slides, sleds. Get dogs, big dogs, there a lot of dogs, in texas. Huskies, love huskies. They love the snow. We need the animals and they need us. To keep them alive. Let us not kill them. Let’s stop killing. Let’s stop the trash, any kind of trash. How about we all become indigenous again? It’d be fun.

snow

animals

Maybe it’s been a game all along…hasn’t it been?

Hide and seek. Believe in whatever you feel like, or can. You to dare. What is the truth?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

nyc december 2020

end of a phenomenon, beginning of another. branches. trees then. octopus, membranes, brains. B, birch. B, like Beauty.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•