Cheetah Velour

Byron Hot Springs

I recently took a trip to Byron, CA, home of the fancy Byron Hot Springs. Fancy back in the day, that is. Around the turn of the century or so, this was the place to be if you wanted to 'take the waters' to cure any number of things.

The original hotel opened in 1889 and burned down in 1901. This was followed by a second hotel, which burned down in 1912. A third hotel was built two years later and that's what you see today.

Allegedly, many famous movie stars came here. People like Mae West and Charlie Chaplin. Fatty Arbuckle before got himself in trouble.

During the 40's it was known as Camp Tracy, a not-so-secret "secret" POW interrogation camp. It was supposed to loosen tongues by wining, dining, and generally treating the German and Japanese POWs like guests. I read somewhere that the whole place was wired with microphones. They were in the false ceilings and the light fixtures, that sort of thing.

It's been a few other things since then, but nothing lasting.

I hear it's haunted now, but I don't know if I believe that. I don't think ghosts believe in me so they tend to stay away for the most part.

This crow isn't telling.

See I got 'em, see the size, stripped and cleaned before your eyes

One more thing about the Joe Strummer movie that won me over- the soundtrack has one of my very all time favorite Elvis songs. Craaaaaw-fee-ish! Cuh-raw-aw-aw-fi-i-ish!

You know I love me some Elvis !

The Future Is Unwritten

I'm going to go see this tomorrow. I think I've seen a movie in a theater twice in the last two years, but I'm not going to miss this one.

I miss Joe Strummer.

Dia de los Muertos

Here are a few photos from the celebration in Oakland.

If you are a Chivas fan and/or a fan of the BIMBO family of fine foods, then you will know what this is all about:

Maybe you knew that Topo Gigio made a comeback, but nobody told me. I feel so out of the loop on this one. These li'l fellers were EVERYWHERE. Every once in a while a vendor would pull several out of a cart, place them on the ground and push their little buttons. THEY WALK! Or more accurately, they SHAMBLE awkwardly towards you as if they were little zombies. One Topo Gigio is sort of ugly, but think of the possibilities. If I bought several then I could have minions. MINIONS!!!

Last but certainly not least, I got to spend part of the day with the lovely and talented Deborah of Chic Cosas & her (also) lovely and talented sister-in-law.

Let me tell you, Deborah creates some really beautiful one-of-a-kind jewelry, accessories and much, much more. I think I have already picked out my birthday present to myself, but you'll just have to wait and see!