<3 <3 <3

[turnip]

I've wanted to see Madre Grande (a monastery 30 minutes away from SD) ever since Holly recommended it, but apparently it burned to the ground during the last big fire. So now I REALLY want to see it, but I wasn't sure about driving half an hour to a site that may be off limits. Somehow I've developed a respect for private property. So I wrote a...

Comments

sweetie pie monks is the name of our new band

[salome_st_john]

I love this story. Also I love you for being clever because that is the best answer ever. I will now steal that answer and use it myself.

The other day I took a photo of a sign at a roadside bar (AND SEE THIS IS LIKE A BURNED DOWN MONASTERY IN THAT) and these very large individuals came out - the owner's niece and some burly patrons. They inquired, somewhat menacingly (one held a pool cue), why I was taking a Polaroid of their bar sign. Which, by the way, reads MY OFFICE. And had atop it an unlit outline of a martini glass, filled with blue sky. I sort of stammered, "I love photography and this makes an incredible shot. Also your bar is called MY OFFICE. How can I not shoot this." And suddenly everyone was friendly and telling me the only catch was I had to come in for drinks and guys were inside calling out we're in here working on paperwork, that's what we do here. The owner's niece told me there was another bar elsewhere called THE OFFICE, which I now want to find, but I told her MY OFFICE was of course much better and she smiled

Re: sweetie pie monks is the name of our new band

[snmnstrz21]

There are two bars in my hometown called The Office. Well, technically one of them is called The Office II, but still.

Re: sweetie pie monks is the name of our new band

[salome_st_john]

Thank you!

And see, this is why I think MY OFFICE had to be photographed. Because I know I'd seen The Office before but I hadn't seen My. Also it was so road side. This looks respectable. Ish.

Re: sweetie pie monks is the name of our new band

[turnip]

people get really defensive if you bust out the camera! It's great that The Office people relaxed, though, and invited you in.

The one time a "portfolio" defense wouldn't have worked was when I visited SD for the first time and immediately found myself in a ghetto. I was happy to be an area that wasn't painted salmon pink, so I started taking pictures, and a woman approached me asking if I was a cop. Then she wanted to know if I wanted to get a drink. Then, asked if I was a cop again. I think I came within an inch of getting my ass kicked that day.

[potatohead]

this seriously melted my heart. I love the monks! bring them... cookies or something. do monks eat cookies? I mean, they must if they have a WEBSITE.

[potatohead]

I take it back. Cookies aren't on their "wish list", so maybe a "composting toilet" (wtf?) is a better choice.

[turnip]

I know, right? All I could say was "AW" for 10 minutes.
I can't take it. It's too sweet.

I kind of want to bring /something/ but I'm not sure what. I'll look at their wish list and see what I can bring. It couldn't hurt to make some kind of contribution.

[trisloth]

This is seriously awesome.

[turnip]

I know! I'm so glad I wrote them ahead of time.

[dosboof]

Clearly you need to visit them all the time now. And, I dunno. Make balloon animals or something. Monks like balloon animals, right?

[turnip]

I have no idea what monks like, other than solitude and prayer and robes and junk, but this is California so maybe they like MARIJUANA, TOO.

[dosboof]

Only if their chants are prone to containing 17-minute guitar solos.

[turnip]

that... might be the case.

[door]

You have the gate code?!? MONK PARTYYYYY!!!

[turnip]

[dosboof]

[door]

You see? This, THIS is why I love and adore you.