Lost Little Girl

Val Kilmer and Meg Ryan as Jim and Pam in The Doors

Indian Summer

"Summer's Almost Gone" and "Indian Summer"

are two of my favourite Doors songs and they depict this bittersweet time

when the leaves are changing and we are reflecting on the events of this past summer.

This summer treated me quite well. I was blessed to go on a 3 week vacation to Vancouver island, hang out at a few biker bars, frolic in the desert, start an online vintage store, and relocate back to one of my fav. cities.

This summer was majestic but I admit it could have been warmer.

September is flying by and I have had barely any time to enjoy the Indian summer sun.

Next week I officially make the move and hopefully then I will have more time for creative directives.

Otherside

Every summer I read the same four books. They are considered classics close to my heart. The summer doesn't feel quite complete without reading them. Since August is quickly soaking up the sun and time, it's about time that I've divulged about these reads:

1)I'm With the Band- Pamela DeBarres

This is a decadent look back to a young groupie coming of age in the late 60's and early 70's. Miss P knows how to kiss and tell and this book is full of honest recollections about rock stars sexual escapades. However, Miss P's sincerity shines though out the book and it is an excellent read for lying around the pool.

2) No One Here Gets Out Alive- Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugarman

The story of Jim Morrison's short but powerful life. It's a detailed account of the lizards king rise to fame and also his untimely demise. He really just wanted the world to admire his poetry and not try to grab at his crotch. I read this every summer which sends me deep into a Doors induced depression. At times I think that I am Jim Morrison frolicking in the desert with a Shaman. Other times, I think that Jim lead a fascinating life and we are lucky to have such a transparent account of his life.

3) Scar Tissue- Anthony Kiedis

One of my favourites. I usually read part of this during my annual trip to L.A. There is something about that city that is so fitting to read this post drug and sexual ride of the Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman's life. Kiedis tells it straight and at times he has you questioning whether if he is stretching the truth. Keidis has lived life in the fast lane on Sunset Blvd and Mullholland Dr. He is and LA vet and his autobiography is the perfect read to transport you to the land of Californication.

4) Catcher in the Rye- J.D. Salinger

I acquired this book last summer. Something about the title drew me in since last summer I was slaving away on a farm. Catcher in the Rye is a short read and kind of an easy one, but I think if you look under the layers, it is one of the most complex modern day novels. Reading about teenage anarchy is a perfect sun soaked read. Put on some Clash, lie down on a blanket and read to your hearts content.

Scattered Sun

Waiting for the sun, just like Jim Morrison

We at Sweethart of the rodeo went on a desert trip of sorts.

We were wandering the sandstone hills, quoting Doors lyrics

and out pops a snake, slithering and hissing.

(ride the snake man)

It was meant to be.

True paradise.

The Lone Ranger

"Time to live

Time to lie

Time to laugh

Time to die

Takes it easy, baby

Take it as it comes

Don't move too fast

And you want your love to last

Oh, you've been movin' much too fast

Time to walk

Time to run

Time to aim your arrows

At the sun

Takes it easy, baby

Take it as it comes

Don't move too fast

And you want your love to last

Oh, you've been movin' much too fast

Go real slow

You like it more and more

Take it as it comes

Specialize in havin' fun

Takes it easy, baby

Take it as it comes

Don't move too fast

And you want your love to last

Oh, you've been movin' much too fast

Movin' much too fast

Movin' much too fast"

Time seems to move too fast around me. Like sand it just slips out of my hands. I never seem to have enough time to savour those precious moments. People come and go and the good ones never seem to stay very long.

Feeling oddly nostalgic tonight, I was cruising facebook looking at old pictures of some great parties and performances from a few years back. They feel and look like the "good old days", but I know that better times are on the way. Tonight could be a great night. Tonight could become one of those great times that I like to reminisce about.

I believe we should not dwell on the past but reflect. Reflect on the good times, analyze the bad, but not dwell on it so much so that it consumes our lives. We should live in the present. After all tonight could be the night...

Save Me

Teaparty- "Save me"

For some unexplained reason, I have been really digging the Tea Party and other late 90's rock. In this track/video in particular you can tell the film The Doors just came out, almost as if this is homage to the film. It has Jim Morrison's shamaness along with some of Jimmy Page's bowing of a guitar and lots of owls and native art imagery. So fucking epic, I'm in love. The lead singer even has Jim's sultry voice and diction.

Funeral at 4 a.m.

So far life in Crystal Cave has been quite lonely. I have the TV on constantly to fill the space with white noise. I had a sleepover with my friend two nights ago and we were blasting the Arcade Fire's "Funeral" at 4 a.m. I hope the neighbours don't hate me too much.

I have also managed to christen the bathroom with a "Doors sound bath." and the kitchen with burnt offerings of rice. The Crystal Cave is sure full of wonders. Photographic tour to come...

Bat Country

The desert is my home

I dream of driving the American Dream trail paged out by Hunter S. Thompson.

The land of cacti, big skies, cowboy boots, turquoise, and head dresses.

I want to go to Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Tennessee.

I want to drive from L.A. to Las Vegas, Fear and Loathing style.

Enter bat country

I want to go to Joshua Tree and live like Keith and Gram with my bestie.

I want to go out in the desert and take peyote like Jim Morrison and The Doors.

I love the desert. It's my next stop.

The Crystal Cave

I move in to my new apartment today, hopefully. There are a few things I'm going to do to christen the place which I will call affectionately from here on "The Crystal Cave", which is, for now, a working title.

1)Christen it with some wine, preferably white this time, and blast Led Zeppelin as loud as I can just so the neighbours know there is a new person in the suite.

2)Take a Jim Morrison and The Doors bath. Light some candles. Think "I'm a lost little girl" and drift, drift away...

(See post titled: I am the lizard king, I can do anything)

3)Smoke a cigarette on my leather couch and watch Factory Girl. Channel Edie Sedwick and Warhol all at once.

4)Cook the deluxe vietnamese meal. Or order in the deluxe meal. I can't decide. A food coma is sure to be enduced.

Doc Holiday the Straight Shooter

Val Kilmer is yet again gracing the silver screen in McGruber, the SNL spin off film featuring Will Forte.

Kilmer in his prime, in films like The Doors and Tombstone, was a suave sexy gentleman. Now, taking into consideration time and age, Kilmer is a shadow of his old looking self, but I'm still digging him. He will never reach the status of Robert Downey Jr., but he is on the tops, well above Tom Cruise.

As Doc Holiday, I'm down.

As Jim Morrison, I'm in.

As Gay Perry in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, I'm slightly turned off.

In McGruber, we'll see...

Connections

Day 15:

Here is a connection.

Back in the 60's, Andy Warhol at one point requested to meet Jim Morrison from the Doors. As history has it, Warhol gave Morrison a telephone as a present that night.

I am the lizard king, I can do anything

Every once and a while I have the urge to bust out The Doors and take what I call a Jim Morrison bath.

Directions:

Turn off the lights in the washroom and light some candles and incence. Let the smoke fill up the room while the tub fills up with frothy bubbles. Cue the Doors, probably "The Crystal Ship" or "Lost Little Girl." Now that the ambience has been created, you can now emerse yourself and drift away listening to Mr. Mojo Rising while you soak.

It's quite magical really. Try it sometime when you feel mystical or are in the mood for a "sound bath."

Hop aboard the Crystal Ship...

#9- The Doors

Gateway Song: "Light My Fire"- classic

Love Affair: "Spanish Caravan", "You're a Lost Little Girl", "Waiting For the Sun", and "Love Street"

Fav. Album- Waiting For the Sun

Read:

No One Here Gets Out Alive- The Biography of Jim Morrison.

Watch: The Doors (1991)- Val Kilmer plays Jim.

Random fact: The name the Doors comes from the Book- The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley.