LAX

Visiting Tina, Jim and their new son the cutie patootie Micah in LA this week. He's under that blanket!

Awesome coffee shop. It was so good, when Jim suggested a second round I was in. I had two large lattes and then shook all night. It was worth it.

Micah and Jim chillin'.

Cool Mod lamp find after Paco's Tacos. So good, Tina carried it home.

Marcel the Shell

Marcel made me laugh so hard I cried. Thanks Tina and Jim!

STL

You know what's cool?

Missouri wine country.

You know what's not cool???

Walking into Missouri wine country and watching a lady yell at a little blind girl about not using her seeing eye cane properly. Seriously. What the fuck?

After that disturbing image I needed a drink. Grabbed a glass of "vintage" Missouri wine and headed to the bluffs. On the way I started to notice a lot of tie-dye, a familiar smell, and heard some jammin'. Yes, it's another blend moment.

Missouri wine country, Grateful Dead Heads, and Harley Davidson bikers. It's the place to be and beautiful country out there.

STL

Art show at Schlafly brewery.

Midwesterners really love their meat.

Cool printmaker.

Lots o bluegrass country, y'all.

STL

The start - in good ole STL.

The last few days have been a "When in Rome..." approach to re-entry in the Midwest. It's been a while but safe to say, I've consumed more meat, doughnuts and beer than I care to admit. Top that off with an extremely shocking racist comedy show at the Pagent and it's "Helloooooo St. Louis!".

Just getting off the plane, I immediately smelled barbecue sauce and the comedian was shocked how no one got too offended at her jokes.

Lots of good things here since the last time I came home. Tons of microbreweries, art festivals, and music. It's Indian summer which is the best time to visit in my opinion. My friend Martha who I've known since I was 5 hosted the best Columbian party ever. Her fiance Basillio is from Columbia so it was a mix of Midwesterners and South Americans which blended very nicely.

Martha is an amazing cook. She made Arepas, a traditional dish that consists of a corn bread type bottom topped off with what else... meat. Oh my God, delicious. And a bar food specialty of unripened mango with salt - probably the best thing I've eaten and so damn simple.

Add a Winking Owl wine from Aldi's the St. Louis ghetto grocery store at $2.50 a bottle. Really good, who knew?! After this fiesta, Martha suggested we go take a trip to Columbia. I'm in.

Got to also catch up with my friend and second mom Jan. Swapped some good ghost stories over martinis and Mich ultra.

Ecuadorian Images

I "heart" los burros...

Starting to play around with images from the Ecuador trip.

Los fishermen.

Do you need some glue?

Been playing around with oils and just returned to something I started a while ago. I love me some bugs plus it's fun to try out different mediums.

Went back to Home Depot for some new wood to paint on and the guy cutting it for me asked what I was doing. When I told him it was to paint on, he asked me if I needed some glue to piece back together the wood which was an awesome answer.

I tried to explain a new piece that I'm about to start and in return I got the coolest most confused look ever. That alone lets me know I'm on the right track.

STL - LAX - ORD - WAS

Ready to go...

Just gotta figure out how to pack a carry-on bag with a month's worth of clothes.