Changes...

Summer slipped by without much of a sunburn for me...not many boating trips, no Grover's Hole (yet?), only one good day of blueberry picking....what the funk has gotten into me? Am I turning into the workaholic that is my father? No....I don't work like he does...likely never will. But I do feel like I have prioritized making money over making merry, ha, to some degree, I guess.

I've been running in high gear for some time and I feel the change in seasons, and the amount of tourist traffic, as a welcome breather to prep for the soon-to-come barrage of frozen water crystals. I really cannot wait for snow. This feeling has come on earlier than it ever has. Hope it's a good winter!

Clowns and Cellos...Do Not Mix!

Ivonne, who has recently so graciously offered the Mtn. Top Library as a meeting place for the new A Course in Miracles weekly study group on Sunday at 5, brought some more books to sell at Hypnocoffee, for donations. Senor Jefe Tony-boney thought that I should read The Man Who Loved Clowns, by June Rae Wood. Upon reading a review from Booklist that the book was "A gentle yet strong story," I knew that such ambiguity would only lead to heartbreak from over-attachment to meaningless characters whose lives outside of the book are free-wheeling figments in my imagine nation. Needless....I won't read it.

While El Jefe made fun of the "creepy" cover, I read further and discovered that the clown-lover has down-syndrome (due to lack of coffee, perhaps?) and that the lovely little lady does all she can to avoid people and friendships b/c she doesn't want people to make fun of her Uncle Punky (that's really his name...). El Jefe didn't think that was a good enough reason to not make fun of him....what would constitute a valid reason???

Last weekend another great band made it out to Thomas for a Purple Fiddle show. This group, Cellofourte, while one member was missing (Cello____?), totally rocked our socks off with energized cello rock, basically....surely a band to not miss if you see them nearby!

In other news, the whatever annual Old Timer's Reunion is coimng up fast! This weekend grottoes from all around this God-blessed country will convene on Back Road near Beverley, WV, to share lots of things and get down to the nitty-gritty at sweaty sauna-world. If you can get in, do it.

Emergence from the Exo-Body

While in Motown to see some Girl Talk and other performing artists (it rocked, really, it did) the Bells put us up for the night. The following day we were greeted by a cicada freshly bursting from his old appearance. A good omen for we shedders of old habits and now-useless thoughts.

Won't be needing that anymore....

Word has it that this guy was drying his fresh wings before the first flight...

Blackwater Bliss...by a good swimmin' hole.

One morning while waiting for the Hypno Vessel to come ashore...

Blueberries are free....but don't believe the forest when he tells you...

Progress is slow but the rewards are sweet...and antioxidant rich!

The camera case was made by local Handmade Madness artist Kaitlin J. Check her out at The White Room! Best darn Monster-Maker in the region!

Back to School You Silly Fool!

Zen Koan for the lifetime:

Returning to the Ordinary World

A monk asked Kegon, "How does an enligthtened one return to the ordinary world?" Kegon replied, "A broken mirror never reflects again; fallen flowers never go back to the old branches."

PARTY: A duo-B'day party for Moriah M. and Kurt J. is in order...Sat. Aug. 29th, Potluck Sleepover @ Camp 70, Dinner @ 7pm...look for balloons...and tons of fun-loving people....

BEEP BEEEEEEP BEEP BEEEEEEP BEEP! WAKEY WAKEY! It's Monday....and you know what that means! Back 2 School! Outta bed you lazy fool; time to getcha edge you cade dead.

I helped Lil' bro Mo get a new wireless comm. device yesterday, lending to his developing life in MOtown (glad yer going back fo' mo' dude), the day before the legendary start of former #1 (one) Party School: WVU! Alas, these days WVU has sadly slipped from #1 (one) to #4 (four), behind Penn State! What balderdash is this!? Nonetheless, I will follow Mo up to M-town after Hypnoduties today....but for no such things as books, scantrons, scientific anti-realism, and nerve-wracking presentations...no, for much more news-worthy things do I go to my nourishing mother (alma mater): FallFesteroo to watch fresh Freshman get piled into the Univ. Police van (the perfect end to any first day in college), to get some recycling done, pick up a crock-pot for making some serious salves, and chill with Motown's most dangerous long-boarding duo (trio now with Mo), the Bell Boys.

In other exciting happenings, there was a lot of fog in Davis this morning. A lot.

One last thing: Is "brainal" a word?

E wants to GO

Andreas W. and his Porsche Posse loitered at the HypnoLot last weekend and drew some oooohs and aaahs...but they really don't compare to those two less shiny Subarus in the back.....they couldn't keep up with Cade and I as we raced to Lindy Point and back...Asian Auto Strikes Again!!!

Some philosophy has been seeping into my day-to-day:

• Honest Tea bottle cap:
  
  If you don't change the direction you are going, you will end up where you are headed. - Chinese Proverb
  
• Rob Brezney Astrology:
  
  "The privilege of a lifetime is to be who you are."- Joseph Campbell
  
• Edgar Cayce, Mr. Holistic:
  
  "Actually, we have no problems -we have opportunities for which we should give thanks... An error we refuse to correct has many lives. It takes courage to face one's own shortcomings and wisdom to do something about them."


• Abraham...teacher:
  
  "If you intend to be of assistance, your eye is not upon the trouble but upon the assistance, and that is quite different. When you are looking for a solution, you are feeling positive emotion— but when you are looking at a problem, you are feeling negative emotion.--- Abraham"
  
• A Course In Miracles:
  
  IV. The Escape from Darkness
  
  "The escape from darkness involves two stages: First, the recognition that darkness cannot hide. This step usually entails fear. Second, the recognition that there is nothing you want to hide even if you could. This step brings escape from fear. When you have become willing to hide nothing, you will not only be willing to enter into communion but will also understand peace and joy."

Ahhhh, it is nice to know that different ways of thinking, of experiencing, of being, exist other than the pre-fab, mis-educated, ill-logic of many a good chap. As Frank Z. put it:

"Without deviation from the norm PROGRESS IS NOT POSSIBLE." On we deviate!

And looking back at former victory reminds me, Ultimate Frisbee occurs every Monday, even if has rained that day, at the Davis-Thomas Elementary Middle School field at 5pm. The first season's pick-up soccer started last Tuesday, I think that we had some serious 6 on 6 going! Great for a first shot. Come on out....we played at the Canaan Valley State Park Nature Center field....but may move to DTEMS...if you care to play, play.

Marriage, Mushrooms and Merrymaking

1. Wedlocked into forever
2. Mushteriousroom
3. Life with and without Hypnocoffee

1. Congrats on the wedlock of my favorite little lovers around. Brent and Megan pulled off a good gig in the Valley last weekend....minus Brent trying to act like our Leader/Savior/Messiah/Gooooood Obama. Brent has a good excuse...Barack ain't buzzin'!!! In the background stands the cake-maker: Mike "The Spike" G.

Good Luck Legal Lovers!

2. Sir Robert H., mycological mystery man, brought boatloads of knowledge about our friendly fungi that so rampantly cover much of this earth.

The Chiptser informed much of the group while Robert was buried in his lens. A few edible specimens were taken to the fry pan and a nice luncheon was had after the mush-hike.

These are just a few of the fun guys found around Freeland Run. That white guy is the notorious Death Angel, or its the Destroying Angel...either way they are to be avoided....meaning don't eat it, silly.

Corey B. is off to make some tea! Looks like the mycelium has already reached into his braaaaain!

This little guy ain't so little compared to his other salamander folk...he eats the others. Nice guy. Chip "Slackburn" B., (is he a herpatologist?) found many varieties of these creek-dwelling dudes. That man knows some things....soak it up people.

The Sallyman himself in Freeland Run...and the group looking for the last remnants of some shiitakes....buena suerte!

3. Below is a picture of what our three (3) most common patronizers at Hypnocoffee look like pre- and post-Hypno...

Mopey, dopey, and gritty...

but then...after Cade A. whips up some steamed leche and a

barely-containable-in-any-vessel Mac Daddy Red Chai...

....life returns to "normal."