Adventures make one late for dinner (Long)
I have a lot to share.
I have been back from Palm Springs since the 15th but have been so busy. I've been visiting and working and I went to hempfest.
I've been thinking about education and revolution and social reform and the balance of power...
Let me start with my trip to Palm Springs.
The day before my trip, some yahoos in England came through security with Liquid Bombs.
We had to leave all liquids and creams behind. No lotion, no toothpaste, no aftershave, no lipstick.
We were lucky. Because we were there 5:30 AM (an hour and a half before dawn) we only had to wait in line for security for two hours.
When it was around eight, nine oclock, people were in line for five or six hours. People lined out the door into the parking lot.
Crazy.
We missed our appointed flight. We being Niall, Zac, Noah, Ash, Liz, Josh, Bliss, and Amy. And me of course.
Niall Bliss and Josh took another flight.
The rest of us made it to Salt Lake City around two oclock our time, three oclock theirs.
This was my first ride in an airplane.
First, they move into position on the airstrip, then they go really really fast. Zoom!
Then suddenly, the grinding of gravel under the wheels stops and the ground drops away. In a minute, buildings look like legos and cars become hotwheels.
A couple minutes later, we are above the cloud canopy that likes to hover over washington skies. Above us is perfect brilliant blue sky, beneath us, a fluffy white landscape of puffy mountains and valleys.
I like the feeling of landing when my internal organs kind of levitate in my body.
I hate the feeling like my head is imploding from the cabin pressure but that's my only complaint. I like flying.
SLC was unremarkable. Outside was dry and desolate.
The airport had a Quiznos, magazine shops, a starbucks. The people were as varied as they were in Seattles airport. I didn't expect to see so many tank tops. I thought Utah was more conservative.
Noah and Zac curled up on the floor like kittens and slept. It was already a very long day.
Ash and Liz got us some nachos from a nearby bar called Finnegans.
Around seven oclock their time we made it to our plane to Palm Springs, arriving around ten.
When we stepped out of the plane it was HOT. 100 degrees and the stars were out. There were palm trees all around. Ahh... California.
We hopped aboard a cab and reached the Desert Shadows resort in half an hour. There we met Richard, our host and new friend, then stripped and found a pool.
Niall was there already and joined us.
We floated and splashed each other, careful not to be too loud.
I slept easily that night.
__
Day 1
__
I woke up at 7am exactly. Nobody else was awake.
There were three pools and three hot tubs. All around us, we could see mountains. Smaller than our mountains, and no snow.
When people woke up, we started some Pool Volleyball. This was to become our favorite recreation.
There were these strange exoskeltons on the trees. They were actually discarded by cicadas.
At night, we soaked in the hot tub and talked philosophy.
__
Day 2
__
Lunch and dinner were always buffets.
We'd have Hamburgers and Veggie burgers, Pasta, Salmon, Jalapeno Poppers, Wraps (with and without meat) and various desserts like cheesecake, chocolate german cake, puddings...
And there was a bar so we had smoothies and mudslides and b52's and so on to go with our meals.
A well fed Chad is a Happy Chad indeed.
There was a Canadian film crew who was filming the Naturalist in his and her natural environment.
There was a model hired to be among us for a little added sex appeal. I think there were enough hotties among us to satisfy the casual observer but hey, the more the merrier.
We were interviewed.
Canadian TV:Were you uncomfortable being nude around strangers?
Us: Only for the first ten minutes. Then you see everyone is naked and you feel more comfortable nude. The will to conform soothes any awkwardness.
CTV:Are people here open and receptive or do you cluster into cliques?
Us: We feel so accepted and open. We can talk to anyone.
Theres no sexual vibe. It's just automatic friendship.
Every day, new people showed up and other people were leaving. Most people were around for the Dance Karyoke party which happened on
__
Day 3
__
After Dinner, we marched across a bridge which passed over a street. It is the only Naked Bridge in America.
As we were passing the bridge, seeing California stretch into infinity on either side, Noah commented that it was like reverse Voyerism, us nudes looking at the clothed world around us.
I was the first to begin dancing. Zac and Noah quickly followed and soon all were dancing.
Later, the Mayor, Ron Pearlman came and judged a twist off.
It was a fun filled event where people really showed off their talents.
__
Day 4
__
By this time, I've become very sunburned. At volleyball, they called me Pinkboy.
People were spending more time indoors having had enough volleyball and enough sunshine. Us Washingtonians aren't used to that much direct solar radiation.
It was a day of extra relaxation, soaking in the slow pace and easy life before returning to the bustle and jolt of everyday existence.
--
Day 5
--
Group pictures, hugs, and fond farewells to true friends.
We took a cab to the Sonny Bono Concord an awaited our flight back.
There were these cool Rams with landscaped painted on them.
From there, to SLC again, this time Noah and I got the Nachos. Then back to beloved Seattle around 10 at night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I also wante to talk a little about Hempfest.
This was a record breaking turnout.
They want legalization of marijuana. They want an end to the drug war. They want people who need medical marijuana to be protected and for doctors who proscribe it to be protected.
They want it to be accessable and usable to the people, the way alcohol is. They want to fight for your right to party.
It's more than a place to get high. If you get high, you don't need a massive political rally to do so.
It's not anti-cop. They always praise the law enforcement at these functions, even allowing former Chief of Police to speak on stage.
It's about Uniting our voices and being seen. It's about getting together and sharing. I felt the love.
I felt the bond with thousands of nameless friends.
I felt the power of numbers.
I will be there next year to and will donate again.
That's all for now.
-Chad
I have been back from Palm Springs since the 15th but have been so busy. I've been visiting and working and I went to hempfest.
I've been thinking about education and revolution and social reform and the balance of power...
Let me start with my trip to Palm Springs.
The day before my trip, some yahoos in England came through security with Liquid Bombs.
We had to leave all liquids and creams behind. No lotion, no toothpaste, no aftershave, no lipstick.
We were lucky. Because we were there 5:30 AM (an hour and a half before dawn) we only had to wait in line for security for two hours.
When it was around eight, nine oclock, people were in line for five or six hours. People lined out the door into the parking lot.
Crazy.
We missed our appointed flight. We being Niall, Zac, Noah, Ash, Liz, Josh, Bliss, and Amy. And me of course.
Niall Bliss and Josh took another flight.
The rest of us made it to Salt Lake City around two oclock our time, three oclock theirs.
This was my first ride in an airplane.
First, they move into position on the airstrip, then they go really really fast. Zoom!
Then suddenly, the grinding of gravel under the wheels stops and the ground drops away. In a minute, buildings look like legos and cars become hotwheels.
A couple minutes later, we are above the cloud canopy that likes to hover over washington skies. Above us is perfect brilliant blue sky, beneath us, a fluffy white landscape of puffy mountains and valleys.
I like the feeling of landing when my internal organs kind of levitate in my body.
I hate the feeling like my head is imploding from the cabin pressure but that's my only complaint. I like flying.
SLC was unremarkable. Outside was dry and desolate.
The airport had a Quiznos, magazine shops, a starbucks. The people were as varied as they were in Seattles airport. I didn't expect to see so many tank tops. I thought Utah was more conservative.
Noah and Zac curled up on the floor like kittens and slept. It was already a very long day.
Ash and Liz got us some nachos from a nearby bar called Finnegans.
Around seven oclock their time we made it to our plane to Palm Springs, arriving around ten.
When we stepped out of the plane it was HOT. 100 degrees and the stars were out. There were palm trees all around. Ahh... California.
We hopped aboard a cab and reached the Desert Shadows resort in half an hour. There we met Richard, our host and new friend, then stripped and found a pool.
Niall was there already and joined us.
We floated and splashed each other, careful not to be too loud.
I slept easily that night.
__
Day 1
__
I woke up at 7am exactly. Nobody else was awake.
There were three pools and three hot tubs. All around us, we could see mountains. Smaller than our mountains, and no snow.
When people woke up, we started some Pool Volleyball. This was to become our favorite recreation.
There were these strange exoskeltons on the trees. They were actually discarded by cicadas.
At night, we soaked in the hot tub and talked philosophy.
__
Day 2
__
Lunch and dinner were always buffets.
We'd have Hamburgers and Veggie burgers, Pasta, Salmon, Jalapeno Poppers, Wraps (with and without meat) and various desserts like cheesecake, chocolate german cake, puddings...
And there was a bar so we had smoothies and mudslides and b52's and so on to go with our meals.
A well fed Chad is a Happy Chad indeed.
There was a Canadian film crew who was filming the Naturalist in his and her natural environment.
There was a model hired to be among us for a little added sex appeal. I think there were enough hotties among us to satisfy the casual observer but hey, the more the merrier.
We were interviewed.
Canadian TV:Were you uncomfortable being nude around strangers?
Us: Only for the first ten minutes. Then you see everyone is naked and you feel more comfortable nude. The will to conform soothes any awkwardness.
CTV:Are people here open and receptive or do you cluster into cliques?
Us: We feel so accepted and open. We can talk to anyone.
Theres no sexual vibe. It's just automatic friendship.
Every day, new people showed up and other people were leaving. Most people were around for the Dance Karyoke party which happened on
__
Day 3
__
After Dinner, we marched across a bridge which passed over a street. It is the only Naked Bridge in America.
As we were passing the bridge, seeing California stretch into infinity on either side, Noah commented that it was like reverse Voyerism, us nudes looking at the clothed world around us.
I was the first to begin dancing. Zac and Noah quickly followed and soon all were dancing.
Later, the Mayor, Ron Pearlman came and judged a twist off.
It was a fun filled event where people really showed off their talents.
__
Day 4
__
By this time, I've become very sunburned. At volleyball, they called me Pinkboy.
People were spending more time indoors having had enough volleyball and enough sunshine. Us Washingtonians aren't used to that much direct solar radiation.
It was a day of extra relaxation, soaking in the slow pace and easy life before returning to the bustle and jolt of everyday existence.
--
Day 5
--
Group pictures, hugs, and fond farewells to true friends.
We took a cab to the Sonny Bono Concord an awaited our flight back.
There were these cool Rams with landscaped painted on them.
From there, to SLC again, this time Noah and I got the Nachos. Then back to beloved Seattle around 10 at night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I also wante to talk a little about Hempfest.
This was a record breaking turnout.
They want legalization of marijuana. They want an end to the drug war. They want people who need medical marijuana to be protected and for doctors who proscribe it to be protected.
They want it to be accessable and usable to the people, the way alcohol is. They want to fight for your right to party.
It's more than a place to get high. If you get high, you don't need a massive political rally to do so.
It's not anti-cop. They always praise the law enforcement at these functions, even allowing former Chief of Police to speak on stage.
It's about Uniting our voices and being seen. It's about getting together and sharing. I felt the love.
I felt the bond with thousands of nameless friends.
I felt the power of numbers.
I will be there next year to and will donate again.
That's all for now.
-Chad