Now I'm in Mexico

Now I'm in Mexico and it's the fifth vacation this year.....yeah I know, how many more could i take before new years? just one, another 11 days in Montana. Life is rough sometimes and we all need a break, I know I do. It just seems like life has snuck by, though it seems long while you're living it. I sure do hope that i don't miss out on anything, which is why i take so many vacations. this could be the last year and i really do hope that Christmas is good like i know it will be. I got a new camera so there's no more excuses for not posting pictures. I'll keep in touch, if anyone is reading this. A comment or two if you are would be appreciated, reach out right. Next year is a whole new ball of wax, withit moving on and more bills, my indepence and the ultimate choice is mine...but where will it lead me. forever and a day, Joran

If anyone was reading, I'm NOT still in Hawaii

Ah, If only that post back on the fifth of September was me escaping the clutches of bills, bosses, and bullshit to live a life of luxury on the beaches of Maui. But no, I have to much responsibility back on the mainland, not to mention there's no antiextradition from a state in the us. Even if it is two thousand miles away from california. So I had a simply smashing trip in Hawaii, and I've pretty much told those who care what I did. I will include some more pictures this time and here's one now.

This pic was from the Luau on Kawai and it was awesome. The fire dancer was the best, but pictures just couldn't capture the majesty. Wish i had a digital camcorder. Ahhh, next trip.

I'll talk more about hawaii later, but I've been working and swamped since I came back and haven't had time to do this. I feel you Matt. I'm out.

Day 2 in Maui...Day 1 was awesome

Aloha! To begin with, I had so much fun yesterday and the night before that I didn't really have time or energy to get on this laptop, which is my work life as you'll understand. But now that I've had an opportunity to relax I would like to share some of the goings on over here on the island.

First of all, everyone who told me that the food was really pricey over here was right. To say the least it's expensive at the hotels. But of course it would be, if you can afford the hotel you have to afford the food if you want to eat. We keep saying that we're going to buy some food at Safeway, but we love it here so much we don't really feel like going into town.

The ocean is practically a stone's throw away and the resort itself is beautiful. Yesterday we got up early and went to the Sunday brunch. It was fabulous and the ocean and pools down below looked so inviting that I could hardly contain myself. So we finished breakfast and it was on to the water. The ocean was cool but inviting. And the waves, though small were still powerful and could take you down if you weren't watching. We hung out there for an hour or so, then back up to the pools.

This resort has something like seven swimming pools, some of which are stand-alone and the rest are all connected by these little water slides. There are also two large slides and I biffed it (almost) yesterday and cut my left big toe trying to be too anxious on the slippery walkways. So that hurt and still does today. So we did the slides and the activity pools were a blast. There is the world's only water elevator here, so we tried that as well. Inside of an enclosure they force water under this circular seat and we go up up up to about twenty feet then we're at the top of this mountain (fake) and then proceed down the big slide back to the pool below. All in all we spent about five hours between the ocean and the pools and Tom and me got cooked pretty good. What a drag to get sun burned so bad on the first full day of vacation, but it just means we'll have to be more careful as the days progress.

Here now to day 2, we intend to explore the island and go shopping for small gifts for back home. Perhaps we'll go to this world famous (or at least island famous) Luau tonite and then still get back for a night swim and an ocean dip (at least for me, I like the ocean at night).

Two nights down so far and five more to go. Boy what a blessing this trip is going to be and has been. I've had a chance to relax and I'm still in the process of winding down. Happy Labor day to you all, and know that I'm not really laboring at all this week, but next week it's back to the grindstone. Hopefully though, I'll be more centered, more carefree and really try to tackle this big scary world with a little peace in my heart and love on my face. Peace for now!

Aloha from Maui! Mahalo for reading.

Two big issues we must discuss....

Wow folks! It's a scary time in the US of A and the biggest thing is Hurricane Katrina. Man what a horrible disaster. Not only are these people without homes or power or food, but they have to put up with riots, looters, people gone gun crazy and marshal law to boot. They keep telling us on the news that the death count will probably reach through the roof, not to mention what this devestation to oil production will do to the economy. It isn't bad enough that so many are homeless and hopeless, that those of us who are "okay" in the west and north are going to be paying through the nose now thanks to the unknown condition of the oil wells in the Gulf. That brings me to my next thought, which is the rising cost of gas.

Based on the average here in arizona, on http://www.phoenixgasprices.com we've gained a whole dollor more a gallan average since this time last year. As you can see, gas is still cheapest at Costco and Sam's Club, but with so few people with cards their compared to the population, it's not going to make much of a difference. For example, I dropped Tina (my girlfriend) off at the gas station she works at, QuikTrip, and gas was $2.63 a gallon for regular gas, and the next day at the same time, it was up to $2.79! 16 cents in less than 24 hours! And who stands to make all the profit on this cash cow? Check out these pictures of the gas barons of Saudi Arabia:

This isn't a palace or a city (through it really is both) but a private residence.

How about a fleet of luxury vehicles to top it off, and don't forget....

Here's the inside, you get the point. Here's your $3 a gallon, you f***ing bastards!

According to the news just now, gas has hit $5.57 a gallon for regular gas in Atlanta, GA. This sounds like the worst kind of price gouging, but then they show another station just up the street that's charging $3.87 or another at $2.89. They say that the price hike over $5 is to actually keep people from buying gas at stations to prevent running out, and that the price will come back down when they are stocked again. Of course, with the price of deisel so high, how many trucks are going to be running around delivering gas? Well, another day and another dollar or three. Get rid of your SUV's and big trucks, carpool and take the bus for crying out loud!!! Love and peace.

On the eve of recording

Just 20 more hours til we're in the studio and I am very excited. This preliminary meeting will in all likelihood include meeting the producer, the sound board guys and testing out the equipment. I'm sure we'll do some sample recordings and perhaps even play our first song, Second-hand Lover to a click track as our drummer is in Minnesota right now. Over the next six months we hope to make some serious progress towards completion with the agreed upon notion that nobody gets to attached to their "take" or track and will be willing to rerecord if everyone isn't copesetic. I know that this won't be easy as we are fairly used to playing live and all at once, but that's part of the fun. We don't have to commit to anything we don't like, and Jon of course will have the final word on everything as he's the song writer and ultimately has the say on what is good, though we all add in our own unique ways and our instrumentation beyond his singing and piano playing is totally unique and up to us (me and Kuba, and whoever else joins the fun) Well, got a long day of work ahead of me in the morning and a long night of fun and new discoveries. So be well, peace, and good night.

Another day, another song

Only five more days til my first session at the recording studio with the band. We still don't have a name, but we have lots of time to think up something incredible. And a mere ten days til I' m basking in the sun in beautiful Hawaii. Yeah, you hear me right, I'll be flying away to eight days of blissful sunsets and a well deserved rest. Thank you Tom for being the best friend I could have in the world. Peace and good night.

Fwd: A new Day Cometh

Ah, a long day finally over and new one just beginning. This is my beta test of blog by email. This will be crucial if I'm to stay up to date on my trip, so I'll be writing remote from the hotels. Look forward to many picture posts and up to the minute comentary on all the great sites. Until...well...later today for sure. Peace.

The Amazing Joran Show Welcomes You

It never ceases to amaze that we have so much technology at our disposal, yet many people are so computer illiterate that they can't even turn the thing on, much less worry about if it's plugged into the outlet controlled by the light switch. So let's turn on the light and get this bloggin' started!

Welcome! It's early morning here in Peoria and I have a million things I'd rather be doing right now that would conceivably give me no pleasure what so ever, but all of which include going back to sleep and dreaming about not working. Not that I mind driving 100 miles a day with gas up to $2.60 a gallon (I know California, quit whining right?) but that's kind of my job, you know, field technician. Mobile unit Joran Show...

Work aside, the talk of the town today is the upcoming recording contract me and my two buddies got to lay down a funky folkcore album. It's gonna be a jazz, folk, rock, goth fusion with some minor blues thrown in for good measure. Hope you like, you can check it out without my sultry sax on myspace.com, by way of the singer/song writer/piano play Jonathan Standifird, our mighty leader, wending his way through the desert coffee shops of the Phoenix valley. Me and Kuba (the darn tootin' drummer from Poland) are rockin' the air waves a few times a month, and studio time begins next Monday. I'll keep you posted cause hey! This is a blog! I'm outie,

The Amazing Joran Show ladies and gentlemen! Good Morning!