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California

California…where to begin? I’ve got to crash now but maybe I can put in some stream-of-consciousness stuff and fill in the blanks later.

Smooth flight on Southwest, as usual. Why is it that each Southwest flight is like a shared experience between travelers? I meet more people on Southwest flights than any other airline. People just open up for some reason.

Touchdown on that familiar solitary runway at Lindberg Field.

Another ugly Mustang for a rental car. Bright yellow in Toronto, pumpkin orange here.

Why is everything so dark here? Streets are dark. The hotel’s exterior hallway is dark because the lights are out. Dark is everywhere.

The guys behind me on the plane who spent the whole time talking about vulnerability scanning. All I ever do is talk about vulnerability scanning. I was dying to talk to them and at the end of the flight, I gave them my card.

Checkin at the hotel. I managed to book myself back into the same hotel I stayed in last time I was in San Diego. That time I was here to see a former shipmate get married. At least eight years ago, in my estimation.

Memories of that trip when a taste of home came on the hotel lobby radio. It was the Connells’s hit ’74-’75. Upon hearing it, I grinned ear to ear.

Conversation this morning with a Detroit reseller whose brother lived at Mission Beach near the roller coaster. He mentioned one of my favorite dive hangounts: Moondoggies. What fun I had there.

All the friends I had here once and where they are now. I have a list of folks I hope to scare up while I’m here.

Driving by old haunts and recalling the friends I met there.

Learning my former home here in San Diego, the USS Elliot, is being decommissioned in less than a month. I hated that steel box and I loved it, too. It’s fitting it is coming to an end near my visit.

Damn you, California. I left you vowing never to look back, but you got to me anyway. I couldn’t shake you if I tried.

  1. I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
    I’m going back to Cali… hmm, I don’t think so
    I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
    I’m going back to Cali… I don’t think so

    Going back to Cali, stylin, profilin
    Growlin, and smilin, while in the sun
    The top is down, on the black Corvette
    And it’s fly, cause it’s sittin on Dayton’s
    Laurents steering wheel, plushed out, gold – leaf phantom top
    And three girls waiting
    VRRRROOM engine’s blowin, the chrome, is shining
    Passing all the cars on the way
    Movement of the wind, back wheels spin
    Pop in a cassette and push play

    I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
    I’m going back to Cali – yea y’all, I don’t think so
    I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
    I’m going back to Cali…

    I’m going back to Cali, shakin ’em, bakin ’em
    Takin ’em to spots they never before hung
    ?? the place, on Sunset it’s a trip
    Where the A. C. ‘s cold, and the girls still strip
    The record skip, but this girl kept dancin
    Prancin, grindin, grinnin, romancin
    I asked her to the barn, so we could hit the hay
    I wanna do this, Brutus, but I don’t wanna pay

    I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
    I’m going back to Cali – no man I don’t think so
    I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
    I’m going back to Cali…

    I’m going back to Cali, rising, surprising
    Advising realizing, she’s sizing me up
    Her bikini – small; heels – tall
    She said, she liked, the ocean
    She showed me a beach, gave me a peach
    And pulled out the suntan lotion
    Now I thought that was fast, but this girl was faster
    She’s lookin for a real good time
    I said, “Close your eyes, I got a surprise, ”
    And I ran away with the bottle of wine

    I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
    I’m going back to Cali… I don’t think so
    I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
    I’m going back to Cali… I don’t think so

    {saxophone solo}

    ————————————–
    the blizzog @ jamiegaines.com

  2. Got no reason for coming to me and the rain running down.
    There’s no reason.
    And the same voice coming to me like it’s all slowin down.
    And believe me –

    I was the one who let you know
    I was your sorry-ever-after. ’74-’75.

    It’s not easy, nothing to say ’cause it’s already said.
    It’s never easy.
    When I look on in your eyes then I find that I’ll do fine.
    When I look on in your eyes then I’ll do better.

    I was the one who let you know
    I was your sorry-ever-after. ’74-’75.
    Giving me more and I’ll defy
    ‘Cause you’re really only after ’74-’75.

    Got no reason for coming to me and the rain running down.
    There’s no reason.
    When I look on in your eyes then I find that I’ll do fine.
    When I look on in your eyes then I’ll do better.

    I was the one who let you know
    I was your sorry-ever-after. ’74-’75.
    Giving me more and I’ll defy
    ‘Cause you’re really only after ’74-’75.

    I was the one who let you know
    I was your sorry-ever-after. ’74-’75.
    Giving me more and I’ll defy
    ‘Cause you’re really only after ’74-’75.

    ’74-’75

    ’74-’75

    ’74-’75

  3. I was just out there right before Halloween. It was nice, except for, oh I dunno, the hellfire and brimstone raining down from the sky. Yes, that’s right, the night I arrived the huge fires flared up, and I spent the rest of the week dodging ash and smoke.

    I’m sure the city’s very nice when it’s not burning down, though. If you’re in town Friday night, check out the National Comedy Theatre.

  4. I remember redwood trees, bumper cars and wolverines
    The ocean’s Trident submarines
    Lemons, limes and tangerines
    I remember this

    I remember traffic jams
    Motor boys and girls with tans
    Nearly was and almost rans
    I remember this

    History is made
    History is made to seem unfair

    I recall that you were there
    Golden smile and shining hair
    I recall it wasn’t fair
    Recollect it wasn’t fair
    Remembering it wasn’t fair outside

    Low ebb, high tide
    The lowest ebb and highest tide
    A symbol wave I must confide
    I guess we took us for a ride
    I guess it’s just a gesture

    I remember this defense
    Progress fails pacific sense
    All those sweet conspiracies
    I remember all these things

    I remember traffic jams
    Motor boys and girls with tans
    Nearly was and almost rans
    I remember this…this

    Low ebb, high tide
    The lowest ebb and highest tide
    I guess we took us for a ride
    I guess its just a gesture.

    At the end of the continent
    At the edge of the continent

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