Virtual Sound Bloggyesy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday - 3/20/06
9:12 pm
Santa Monica, CA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The
Bike Path

I started the day out by changing the strings on my guitar, which
badly needed to be changed. I'm not sure the last time I changed them.

I gave the neck a good cleaning too which it needed as well.

After that I took the bicycle out again to go
exploring. This famed bicycle is pictured below.

I had to buy a new inner tube and air pump to fill it
but it is still by far the best way to get around.

I left the house my usual route, west, toward the beach.

What other direction is there?

I headed down Pearl street

and took a few more pictures
of the nice houses in the area

The houses are small, or "cozy" may be a better word

Actually that one isn't as cozy but for the most part...

This one is somewhat huge for the area too

These below are a better representation

I wondered what it would be like to
go to Santa Monica Middle School

I then headed up the familiar hill towards the ocean

Smelling the ocean air soon after cresting the hill

(This is my new favorite part of the day)

Seeing the Pacific ocean emerge over the
trees, with a rush of sea air following suit

The dwellings closer to the beach are really nice

I finally made it to the beach and took a left instead of a right toward the pier for some reason. I'm glad I did because the bike path I had been riding on simply to get to the Promenade and Pier is a lot longer and more enjoyable than I thought.

I went at least a few miles down
the path, enjoying the scenery.

The path wound around the beach which was
pretty well populated for a mid-march day

The path took me down to Venice beach which
was crowded with all kinds of people despite the
semi-chilly breeze rushing steadily off the ocean

There were folks walking around outdoor shops

Renting bikes, and enjoying the sun

Get out of my way!!!!

I stopped at this bend in the path for a few minutes...

...taking pictures of the variety of people all meandering down the path.
There was an incredibly diverse array of bikers, rollerbladers, walkers
and runners of all speeds and intensities racing together down the path.

I tried to capture the diversity of people in these pictures

but of course there was practically no-one in this one

I thought it was intriguing that my camera skills would be so bad after all this, but more so how we all seemed to coexist in harmony traveling down a bike path, but more profoundly have trouble getting along together in the real world. Since arriving in LA I have noticed a definite distance between people. Not the selfish, busy, and arrogant attitude so commonly found in the northeast, but almost a suspicion towards other people. I found the best way to break through this is just to smile. Nine times out of ten I am met with a broad smile instead of a hurried glance down toward the ground or cellphone. The other ten percent of the time I am savagely beaten. I think everyone here wants to have a good time but because of the immense diversity it is sometimes tough to break through. Or maybe I'm just light-headed from too much biking. Whatever the case I then found a tunnel on the bike path.

I love tunnels.

This was the outside of the tunnel

This was the inside

After the mind-blowing tunnel, which went under
the Pier, I saw some really nice beach houses.

the spiral stairs were key

I guess at this point I should
switch to my ranting yellow text

These places must cost a fortune

"Just $2,500 a month for a square inch in the basement behind the heater,
to the left of the oil tank, and only 4 inches high off the ground."

Air will cost you extra.

we have it piped in from Peri-air

Total Spaceballs ripoff

Hey it's a great deal for somewhere to store one of your flip flops.

- Back to the tunnel -

I then went up on the Pier to check out the street performers again

or "Pier-formers" if I could be so rudimentary

There was a stage set up but they were
just milling around onstage so I moved on

Then I got yelled at by this freakazoid
who was doing paintings in the street

I didn't get a photo because he was one scary dude. Only 5 feet tall at best but he was dressed in the most Gothic getup imaginable. He was outfitted in black leather from head to toe, and had black face paint with a big star over one eye like the band Kiss, pictured below

Oh wait those are pandas.

Anyway you get the idea.

I was taking a picture of his cutesy sign

I didn't want to take pictures of his artwork as I know some people don't like that. He came running over when he saw me taking pictures waving his arms and screaming something I couldn't hear because I had my earphones in. When I pulled them out he said "Hey man, don't take pictures of my art, man", and I replied "It's cool man, I just wanted a picture of your sign man". He looked at me as if I were deranged and said..."Man, that's weird". Now it didn't hit me until a couple miles down the bike path that this freak of nature had called me weird. I had to pull over to the side of the path I was laughing so hard. He was right you know. I wanted a picture of the sign because of my Prior adventure with Richard the finger painter. For some reason it struck me as funny. His name wasn't Richard Prior, it was Deaba, or Beada, or some other Mexi-combination of those letters which I forgot. He assured me he'd forget my name as well so I didn't feel as bad about it.

Moving on

I saw this guy on the end of the Pier
doing a comedic juggling act for a few

until he relentlessly started seeking coinage from the non-locals

Then I saw Zam-Pier and his magic flute

This guy was pretty good actually, His haunting sound reverberating
around the Pier. He had backing accompaniment to keep him company,
which I thought was totally cheating, but he was good just the same

Then I looked around for my new friend the finger painter. I wanted to buy Teresa
a finger painted gift for letting me stay here for a spell until I quite literally get my act to
(and don't tell T I'm getting her a gift)

I thought I saw him but it was another finger painter

I liked the guy I met the other day so I moved on

to this guy, was it him?

No, after lifting his head I saw it wasn't

Where is he? What did he call in sick today?

Ah, there he is

This guy is really cool. Not out to raid your pockets like all the rest. he really seems to enjoy talking to people and had some great advice for my street / Pier-forming venture. He said he'd give me some pointers on good locations when I bring VSO back to perform. He was anxious to hear my performance which I was hoping wasn't just Pier pressure. I wonder if he thinks I'm just another flute-tooter or if he has any idea what's coming down the pike, or in this case; Pier. I'm sure I'll do well performing here to this multi-faceted crowd. I'd like to think I can entertain all of them with my irreverent omnidirectional diversity.

If all else fails I can do bike tours like this guy