Sprung!

Spring! It's here! I think the whole country is rejoicing as evidence of a new season surrounds us. After some morning showers here in Venice, the day emerged bright, blue skied and all around town windows have been thrown open to let in the sunshine and the scent of the jasmine busting out all over.

The morning beach walk revealed the unobstructed view of the ocean, as all of the winter sand dunes have been bulldozed down, another annual harbinger of spring. Soon the lifeguards will return to their posts and the tourist traffic will join them ... and that will be awesome too, but right now is that feeling of freshness, clean, and the opportunity for NEW that we look forward to all winter ... and here come the Spring Breakers!

My family and friends in Minnesota have been suffering through a brutal winter, and as it all melts and little green leaves begin to emerge, it's so dramatic that it tends to make winter worth it. Though more subtle here, the signs of change are still present, and after all that rain this year, we too are grateful. Tonight is also the Super Worm Equinox Moon, a great time to reflect on that gratitude and make plans for the months ahead (I'm told. I'm hardly an expert on all that biz, but I believe). It's called the Worm Moon because this is when the worms begin to poke their heads out of the ground for the returning birds to grab 'em - especially if they arrive early. It's also the last Supermoon of the year, so be sure to look up!

Times have been pretty tough for everyone, it seems, so this time to begin anew feels even more real - and necessary. So set your intentions and get after them! The Supermoon is smiling on that.

"On soft spring nights I'll stand in the yard under the stars 

Something good will come out of all things yet 

And it will be golden and eternal just like that 

There's no need to say another word."

- Jack Kerouac

Big Sur

 

You're Not Beer

I've been pretty busy this week with deadlines for stuff I'm working on, and didn't get much of a chance to be out and about as much in Venice (plus it's freezing!) to have its stories to tell, but this morning I had at least two things make me smile, so thought I'd share with you to wish you a happy weekend. I needed a breakfast burrito from Hinano, so cruised over there to procure it. The sign outside cracked me up:

"Stop trying to make everybody happy ... you're not beer!" Excellent (but you can still try!). Then I headed over to the Venice Farmer's Market after scarfing my burrito on the sand, and just look at these blue orchids the orchid guy had!

Impressive. Stunning. Beautiful. That, along with my favorite beverage in the world - Polito Farms blood orange juice - pretty much made my day. And I haven't even been to the first Art Crawl of the year yet! That's tonight, mostly on Abbot Kinney (try to ignore First Friday stuff), and I hope to see all of you lovely people there.

Cheers to beers!

Wish!

I'm leaving bright and early tomorrow morning for the North Country, and so had to go greet the ocean this morning as I'll miss it while I'm home for Christmas. The waves are huge and it's like fireworks watching them, oohing and aahing at the majesty. I do the same thing when it's snowing, so I'm good most anywhere, but they're both their own kind of special. On the way back to get packing, I cut through the canals and crossed the "Wish" bridge, as it had been too dark to really read the wishes on the night of the canal parade.

The idea of putting your best wishes out there to flutter in the wind, in the hopes of them being granted ... I find it lovely. The majority of the hand written wishes were big ideas, like for the world, not the individual and that was nice to see. I'm a big fan of adventures and memories over stuff, so wishing for material things hasn't been my thing for a long time - not when we live in the world we do. Wishes need to be bigger and better ... for the whole humanity picture at this point.

That's why I zeroed in on the wish below ... that "Humanity would realize the beauty they are ... to truly be in their full potential ...  to love freely ... to find the warrior of light within." Man. I couldn't have wished any better myself. Times have gotten so mean and snarky and selfish and greedy ... that it brings you to tears when someone posts a video of someone else doing some sweet, little thing that should just be automatic. We all have it in us to be kind, to be humane ... to be giving of ourselves. There's no material thing out there that can give you the same feeling of kindness without expectation, and knowing that you made someone else feel happier, even if just for a moment. To me, that's what this season is all about. I bet if we all wish for these things together, it will just BE.

I read a great quote from Paul Klee this morning on my word a day page, and it said, "Art should be like a holiday: something to give a (wo)man the opportunity to see things differently, and to change (her) his point of view." Yes. Let us take this opportunity of this beautiful holiday to see things in a new, more humane way, not to just change our point of view, but to change this world. It can be done. With love.

So, I WISH you all a wonderful holiday! I'm going on hiatus for Christmas break back home, but I can't wait to share all of the good stories that are coming in our new year ... in our new world that we wished for. Christmas love to all!

Your Christmas Carol , CJG

Two Sides Of Venice

There are a lot more than two sides to Venice, really, but when I was out walking to my friend's house yesterday, I saw two examples of some stark differences right by each other. The first was natural beauty that was so stunning, you simply had to stop and stare. I love a hibiscus, and this one was among the top ones I've ever seen. Pink and orange and perfect there in the sunshine, it made you think about how almost heartbreakingly beautiful Venice can be.

Then, right around the corner I saw a trash can out for pick up, and the people had written on its side just exactly how they feel: We do what we want. We don't care ... Fuck the System. It's hard to disagree with ... and kind of how I've always thought of Venice. We do what we want ... we don't care what others think ... and most of us moved here because we don't agree with the system everywhere else. Only now it's starting to BE like everywhere else here a bit ... and that's why I think people get so upset, and so protective, and so argumentative ... because you're either feeling the uniqueness of Venice slipping away - or among the ones making that happen. Both are at odds. And the new ones that are trying to make Venice like everywhere else just don't get it. There's a long history of beauty, and art, and rebels, and music makers ... and the dreamers of dreams who want to live somewhere special, like nowhere else. In our Venice. In our COMMUNITY of like-minded friends and neighbors.

Beauty. Rebellion. That's my Venice. For as long as we can make it so.

Beauty And Hope

There has been so much sadness, anger, and ugliness in the world these days that it's pretty easy to forget how beautiful things are too. I was walking over to my friend's house yesterday, and this stunning rose on Superba stopped me in my tracks. I could smell its heady fragrance before I even saw it, but then, WOW.

Tie-dyed with red and white, it seemed like a perfect symbol of this moment in time. Blood red for all the blood spilled in Florida last Saturday, and white for the hope that I feel that something good can come out of all of this. Like some sanity. We all called Senators and signed petitions and all that yesterday, and it seems like they're finally listening. Senator Chris Murphy stood up for 14 hours yesterday in a filibuster to get the ridiculous Congress to finally have a vote regarding gun control and SOME semblance of sanity in this country. His fortitude is so appreciated, and the result is that there will finally be at least a vote to finally, FINALLY do something about assault weapons in civilian hands. No one is trying to take away all guns - though I wish they were - just to have a sliver of precaution when selling guns. It's ENOUGH already.

I'm so happy that I had this rose come along to force me to remember that no matter how bad things get, there is still beauty, there is still compassion, and there are still some people fighting for what's right. Thank goodness.

A Living Wall

This weekend was so gorgeous, it was pretty unbelievable. Everything felt Summery and festive, the beaches were packed, and the winds were tropical. I felt happy just looking out the window. On the way to the beach, I took a new route just for fun, and passed by this incredible living wall surrounding a home on Olive Street.

What a great idea, to cover your walls with living plants! The house it surrounds is actually pretty dark and severe looking (and big), but this wall livens up the whole thing, with the added bonus of being natural! I think it's great.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, wherever you are, and that this new week shows you something surprising and beautiful and inspiring as well. Or even a few somethings! Good luck!

A Fogtown Morning

I think I walked on the beach this morning, but I can't really be sure. It was so foggy you literally could not see a person walking toward you until they were right there. I almost walked into the pier. It was mysterious and awesome, and felt kind of special, since almost no one was out there.

On the return trip, I saw hardy and determined Spring Breaker families out there with their towels and beach umbrellas ... hoping for the best. I had headphones in, and though it was a perfect morning for Radiohead, the soundtrack was made even better by the fog horns punctuating the beats.

Venice is beautiful in the sunshine, and beautiful in the rain. The fog brings out something else though, both softening its edges, and making you aware of them - when you smack right into them. As I type, the sun is poking through, and the folks on holiday will be rewarded for their patience ... but I'll bet they remember the fog more. They were all in it together, and it was all theirs. Special.

After The Rain ...

Los Angeles is finally FINALLY getting some so badly needed rain, and it's great. People don't really know how to handle it that well, but I think we can all agree it's great. It's even kind of great when you're sick, because it makes you feel like you're really not missing anything out there. Except you are. Look at the beauty captured by my brilliant friend, Mike Ozier!

Pouring rainy day ... but with light at the end of it. Like I was feeling extra sick ... but now am starting to feel better. And just when I was feeling like a corner has been turned with my health, my brother Paul texted me a photo of a massive double rainbow. A sign!

It's all going to be fine. Sometimes we just need reminders to slow down. To look at the bigger picture. To value what we have when we have it ... our health, and our sunshine. And that we can all be rainbows.

Love, your hippie friend CJ


*Pier photo by Michael Ozier
*Rainbow photo by Paul Gronner Photography

Face It

It's always a nice shot in the arm to be cruising along and run into one of Wrdsmth's messages to humanity along the way.

It's also nice to know that other people in this town - and in this world - believe that the beauty of someone really does have almost nothing to do with what's going on externally. We learn that lesson more and more every day, but it never hurts to be reminded.

Word, Wrdsmth!

May Peace Prevail On Earth

Now this is more like it. I was taking my shortcut through the canals to get to the beach and was greeted by this lovely welcome.

The canals are one of the most special places in Venice, simply a treasure, with beauty everywhere you look. The houses are all different, the flowers are bursting out everywhere, and all of it is reflected in the moats of water surrounding it.

When you're here, it really does seem as if peace just may prevail.

Peace! Have a happy weekend.

stop - GO!

I was walking around this morning, thinking about stuff, as one does. As I crossed the street, I looked down at the sidewalk to see that above the big STOP sign, someone had come along and written a little "Go".

I love it. The bit of rebellion, the simple message as we start a new week to just Go. GO!

I needed to hear that this morning as I just found out that one of my family's dearest friends, Pearl Kusunoki, had passed away. She was my next door neighbor back home since birth. She and her husband, Kiyoshi (Jim, but I always call him by his beautiful Japanese name) were always there for my family, in the best and worst of times. She was the originator of my cherry chip cookies. She was the one who told me when I moved far away for the first time, looking deeply into my eyes, that "Everything will always be alright, as long as you stay Carol." I knew what she meant. She was a special one, one who it was written in her obituary, "had a love for beauty in all things."

I was very sad as I walked along in the fog, the weather fitting my mood. But then I saw the little, tiny "Go" right above the Stop sign, and thought of little, tiny Pearl ... who would most certainly be telling me to go ... but to stay myself.

What a gift to have known her, and to be able to celebrate her memory by finding, seeing, and loving the beauty in all things.

GO!


Love to all the dear Kusunoki family, now and always.

See The Beauty

I don't really have to tell you this, and it's not at all hard to do ...

... but it sure makes it easier to return from a magical Summer trip, to a place that is so extra full of beauty everywhere you look. Take it all in, wherever you are, and have a beauty FULL weekend!

It's hard not to.

Moonrise Kingdom Venice

It was so beautiful last night at the beach, you hardly knew where to look. We took a walk down to get some fresh air, vent a little about life stuff, and perhaps howl at the full moon a little.

The sand was full of people with the same idea, as the 80 degree in January days have spoiled us into a constant endless summer vibe. The colors at this time of day are my favorite, and I love to see the people and birds silhouetted against the setting sun (the bad fires nearby give it all a smoky mystery too). It's all very o.g. O.p. looking.

Our heads were swiveling back and forth between the gigantic moon rising and the spectacular sun setting, book-ending Venice in jaw-dropping beauty. It truly never gets old.

I heard a guy in the park say to his wife, "OK, Sunset, accomplished.", like he was just checking stuff off his list. The wife and I shared an eye roll.

It was so pretty out, there wasn't any need for words. Pictures are never as good as the real thing, but I hope you are here sometime to sit under the full moon rise extravaganza. The colors will stay with you a lifetime. Gratefully.

Journal On A Dress

Today is the kind of day that just makes you want to YELL all day long about how beautiful it is outside. My friend Jenny said, "Venice is in HD today", and she is correct. The rain during the nights this weekend made the days so crisp and clear, it actually kind of hurts to look at. The jasmine is bursting out and each deep breath inward is rewarded with a perfumed sigh back out. It makes you want to just write your feelings down the front of yourself ... with a Sharpie.


I had taken this photo a while back in the window of the thrifty shop on Abbot Kinney that is sometimes open and sometimes not. I want to know the person that wrote about myth and love and art down the front of their pink satin dress. And then I want to create my own journal dress. Inspiration is everywhere ... and inspiration MEANS "breathing in". What will you come up with today when breathing it all in?