I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse

During the third week of October, I drove 1/4 of a mile west from work during lunch to see if there were any houses for rent in Costa Serena, the 55 and over subdivision I drove by everyday on my way to work on Vista Way.  Surprisingly, there were 3 houses for rent, and in a blink of an eye, we now live in the best of the 3.

Yup!  On a whim in mid October, we manifested our new little home on North Way, hired a moving company to help us get our stuff over here, and now we have a garage, 1 and 1/2 baths, 2 bedrooms and a bonus room; and a nice backyard. Lola is so happy!

That first day, we called about this house, but then the next day, my tenants in Borrego gave us notice that they were moving. After tossing and turning overnight, I told Elley we should skip the viewing.

Then I rented my Borrego condo for one year and the next day, I went back to Costa Serena during my lunch break and found Anna's house in the cul-de-sac. We attempted to negotiate with her about the rent, and at first it went well. But we realized at the day of signing the lease that there were too many people advising her about the lease and terms, and we needed to back away.

So we called Dorene who still had not rented her house on the corner and made her an offer she couldn't refuse. (Who wouldn't want to rent to 2 of the superstar HD seniors!)  Then the ball started rolling down hill really fast, and the next thing we knew we were in our new home.

As soon as we finish unpacking, get the backyard set up and hang the art work, we will have a home warming.  I can't wait to see all my SoCal friends in one place!

The San Diego Zoo

During lunch at "Albert's" in the heart of the San Diego Zoo, Dana, Jud, and I conversed about a shared experience on the west coast. It is difficult to make new, meaningful connections with people when you take a new job and/or move to a new city out here. 

East Coast Folks (ECF) are more passionate about what they do. At work, ECF make a commitment and invest in their career and strive to advance in their company or industry. At play, or when pursuing a hobby, or cultivating an interest in wine, art, or books, ECF take a more intense approach to most things.

Its been my experience that West Coast Natives (WCN) have a single mindedness that is all about themselves. They won't miss their routines at the gym, because for many in the land of sunshine, it's all about the way you look. They'll spend hours in an aesthetician's studio getting waxed, hair colored, nails and toes beautified, and teeth whitened. But will they organize a company's after work happy hour to rub elbows with and get to know the people in the other cubicles? Not so much.


In the past couple of years, I have shared with you my journey to overcome this obstacle in my life in Oceanside. I have bonded with at least 7 people, making several new, "real" friends, since I first complained about this truth. It is interesting to note that 5 are also East Coast transplants, or have a significant east coast influence in their lives. (The other 2 will one day be part of a different Blog Post.)

Jud has traveled extensively, but has lived in NY throughout. He was very surprised to hear this about WCN. He had the impression that the laid back folks living near the Pacific were inclusive and easy to get a long with. 

No doubt, but those qualities are not the stuff of connecting and making new friendships. WCN generally live on the surf-ace of life (surf-ace is my own new creation for this piece; placing an emphasis on how riding waves, skimming the surface of life's experiences, is part of the "west coast condition.")

Hocus Pocus

On my final day before returning to work, I am thinking about the past 3 months. I had envisioned my 8 weeks at home going very slowly and thought I would get bored. But I found a good rhythm after awhile and it has turned out to be a very refreshing time of my life. 

I am here to report that I found lots of mental stimulation. The folks that dropped by were my intelligent, worldly, interesting friends: Cathy, Christian, Richard, Darlyn, Russell, Marvin, Dave, Jonathan and Carol. 

Elley and I discovered well written dramas and comedy entertainment in the evenings. We were able to watch the HBO series Bored to Death, Deadwood, and Carnivale, thanks to Tina's generosity. I also read six fun "vacation" books by the likes of McMurtry, Patterson, and Jance.

The absolute highlight of the summer is the ongoing lecture series I am watching, recommended to me by my friend David T. from New England, called "A Brief History of Humankind" available at Coursera.org.  

I could really go off about the truth I find in the content of this expose´ For now I will tell you that Professor Harari delivers the same sledge hammer that I have long believed to be the truth about homo sapiens. We are an intolerant and genocidal creature that has, and continues to destroy all living things, and we will ultimately destroy ourselves.

Why does Robby find this so refreshing?  

For 55 years, starting in the 2nd grade when I ran away from school, I have believed that what is being taught at school, at church/temple, and by our parents, is bullshit. Humans manipulate everything so that they do not have to look in the mirror at their true reflection. We have created economies, foods, drugs, religions, laws, and commit unspeakable atrocities, all the while being blind to the very nature of our evilness. 

Maybe there is an outside chance that humans will wake up in the face of the kind of new information in this free online lecture series. Somehow there might be an explosion of awareness and a shift in our course of destruction. 

If enough people hear my Professor'a lecture, weaving the current science, DNA research, and anthropological findings into the new truths about our origins and our nature, could things change? Will 10% of us become informed enough to stop the other 90% from falling over the cliff we have been marching toward since leaving East Africa a million years ago? 

I end my summer at least knowing that I am not alone in my observation about what has really been happening on Earth the past 70,000 years. I go back to work tomorrow being reassured that I have great friends with whom I share the ongoing ride into the unknown. 

You are invited to join us; there is lots of room on the awareness bus.

Summer Pops

With less than one week to go before returning to work, I dedicate these summer images to my wonderful girlfriend Elley. She reminded me daily that I should follow Dr.'s orders. But more importantly, she continued to share her love, smile, and The Dawgy Lama with me. 

Here is my summer in pictures:

The Girls

Scribbs Memorial 

Macaroni Grill

Backyard Fountain

Old Towne by Train

The Answers

Funny

Southwest Air

Austin

PeeDee

Casey and Zoe 

Dave and Toys

Now on Christmas Circle

5 Palms

The Tabacks in OB

15 Minutes of Fame

The image of this toilet is from a video I uploaded to YouTube. Click on the play button in the middle of the image to watch this short out-take from one of our recording sessions.

Who/What/Why Flapper©™?*

I have been working in a home improvement store for 10 years. I have answered thousands of questions ranging from "where is the bathroom?" to "how do I build a deck?" Every now and again, I get a question that stimulates my brain beyond the immediate answer. One day, about 8 months ago a woman walked by me using hand gestures, wondering where to find the replacement for the leaking "thing-y" in the back of her toilet. As I walked her to our plumbing department, I immediately imagined this "flapper" talking about his experiences living in a toilet tank.

This idea would not leave my brain. I shared a description of this image with friends at work and with family. I thought about things my character Flapper might say and asked others to brainstorm with me quips that might come from Flapper.

I imagined how Flapper and friends could share his adventures with the world if the front of the toilet tank was cutaway and he could talk. So I bought a toilet and cut out the front of the tank and set it up in my backyard.

Elley and I have played around with some video, voices and jokes with Flapper, his mute pal Wilson the float ball, and we even have put faces on the toilet seat "Seat" and the toilet paper "TP." We have discovered me are not comedy writers. We can handle the video and the technology around making Flapper and his friends' mouths move, but although we have some funny ideas about what they would say, we struggle with the dialogue.

If you, or anybody you know is a comedian or comedy writer, please have him/her get in touch with me. We all need more laughter and you have to agree that Flapper has an opportunity to be very funny because of his unique view of humans and the human condition.

*Flapper©™, with a capital F, is a character created by Robert "Robby" Hoffman in 2012.  Extensive research on Google and YouTube cannot uncover any previous use of a toilet flapper as a character. I have let it be known that I have a Trademark on Flapper as my character's name and have an exclusive Copyright to use Flapper in video or animated clips, in or outside his natural environment the toilet tank.

NFL

Today is 4 weeks since my operation. I am walking everyday, having fun designing a backyard water feature, and working on dialogue for some Flapper©™video shorts. I can feel my ribs and cartilage knitting together along my sternum. NFL = Nap-Friends-Laughter

My days now have a rhythm, including my nap at around 2 pm. I am watching some pre-season football, anticipating another solid year for the 49'ers, Seahawks, Falcons and Saints. These are my favorite teams for a variety of reasons and it is interesting to note that the former and latter pair up as huge rivals.

I have found a couple of new blogs from the recent Time Top 25 list. Tynan and News From ME are well written, stimulating and thought provoking. My idea of interesting "newsie" items includes the success at Tesla Motors and the progress on SpaceX. Elon Musk is also announcing a new transport system that will take passengers from LA to SF in 60 minutes. Shwush!

I'm looking forward to seeing the new movie Elysium. You know me to be a big believer in the truth about the 1%. As society continues to collapse, they will continue to abandon the 99% and seek out higher ground. But the 99% won't take it lying down. Viva La Revolution! (Fantasy! I know the people take to the streets in the movies and in Egypt, but not in America.)

I have plans to take a vacation in the Bay Area in late August for a change of scenery and to assure all family up north that I am whole. Then it's off to Borrego Springs over Labor Day weekend for camping in the stark beauty of the desert.

I return to work on September 9th.  I may get to see two old friends the week before. Alan and Don could be in SD for a hug, a meal and to launch the next 30 years. Beep Beep!

Waffles

Waffles is spending the weekend at our pad. Lola likes having Waffles around. He's very cute, curious and entertaining. Dog sitting can  be challenging because our 4 legged visitor isn't used to the sounds around our apartment complex.

But one night of restless sleep with Waffles unable to settle on the right place to lay his head, is offset by the pure joy and smiles he brings us. And, of course, Lola decided the best place to hang out was on Waffles' bed.

Having Waffles around with his positive stimulation is uplifting. We took Waffles with us to spend Saturday evening on a friend's back deck drinking vodka and cranberry juice and feasting on my best BBQ chicken marinated in Anchor Steam, with grilled vegies and sweet potato. We shared interesting, intelligent, progressive conversation and I proclaimed it to be the best I have felt in mind, body and spirit since my operation 3 weeks ago.


Tomorrow we have appointments with my Cardiologist and Surgeon. This is cookie cutter stuff, scheduled 3 weeks out from surgery for a check up. I am healing, walking, eating well, and although I admit to having the challenge of cabin fever and anticipating that the month of August is going to go slowly, it's all good. If you'd like to help make August more fun, give me a call, text or email and let's make a plan.