Contrasting Realities, or, Warm Tea on a Cold Day

So, after a bumpy night of wild dreams, I managed to crawl out of bed in time to stagger through a shorter than usual jog. It's a shame I can't remember the dreams, one in particular that stood out, but the complete memory of which still escapes me. It's the mental equivalent of having a word on the tip of my tongue, but it continues to elude me. C'est la vie. 
Anyway, after bumbling through my morning, it was my good fortune to go to a birthday/bon voyage party at one of my favorite Chinese restaurants. It will be one of my friends birthday on Wednesday, and one of our mutual friends leaves for Hong Kong tomorrow, for a month. So, we celebrated one's birthday and the other's departure today, along with some other friends of ours. And a wonderful meal it was. It also was an opportunity to exercise my ear for mandarin. It's ain't easy training your ear to listen to another language. Two phrases I learned in Mandarin today are: I am full, and Do you know what I mean, among others. 
Being a sunny, but rather cold and windy day, it was exceedingly pleasant to sit in the front window of my friend Tommy's restaurant with friends, eating good food, and drinking hot tea, while outside people of all types, and walks of life, walk by. The thin plates of glass that comprise the windows, seem to separate two different worlds. Days like today make me feel extremely fortunate to be alive. For awhile I can forget my tiny problems, and not dwell on the Republican SOB's that are seriously screwing this country up. Although I did have a brief discussion with the only other American born English speaker, the husband of my friend Hong, about what a man-made catastrophe the sequester will now be for all the social service organizations, including food banks, and all non-profit organizations. It's always the poor and disadvantaged who get hurt the most.
Eddie, my feathered little brother, and Albert, who looks like a glossy black bear rug with the bear still inside (and alive I might add), are both napping, and I am drinking another warm cup of tea. After this, I will be relaxing on the sofa myself.
Anyroad, the world is still here for the moment. And even though I know there are bad things happening in the world, and horrible people doing many of them, for a time I can forget them, relax, and remember that timeless moment sitting in the front windows of a warm restaurant, sharing food, drink, and wonderful conversation with friends. Zai jian. 

All Along the Watchtower, Looking for Jimi

I always loved the music Jimi Hendrix created with his guitar. He was a artist extraordinare, a musical genius if you will. And as so many musicians and artists tragically do, he died young. There are those who have a major impact on our lives, whom we can't help but shed a tear for, even long after they left for realms unknown. It is a magical experience when a piece of music, or literature, or a painting or picture, or a film, reaches into our world and moves us to some place we would not have never gone if we had not experienced what that musician, artist, writer, or cinematographer, had created and shared with us. 
I sometimes feel I have become too complacent in the midst of my little life, and allowed my world to become a bit too vanilla. But then, as if heaven sent, someone's artistic gift reaches out and touches me, and my eyes are opened in a new/different way.
So. This is homage to all the Jimi Hendrix's, alive or dead, whether they wield a musical instrument (including, of course, a beautiful voice), a pen or keyboard, a pencil or brush, or a camera of any kind. I can give nothing but my deep appreciation, and very humble gratitude. 
That is my "piece" for today. If you are in the US, you might have expected a comment on the "sequester". But you already should know where I stand. In a word, the Republicans are evil, and must be destroyed (to misquote a famous horror movie line). 
As for my current state, I'm quite exhausted. I managed to get up in time this morning to get in a decent jog for the first time in a few days. Had quite an interesting conversation with some of my English learning friends at the Library, as well way too much food, ie, pesto pizza, Chinese spring rolls, as well as other assorted things. Anyroad, now I am going to play couch cowboy, give Eddie headrubs, and maybe get some reading done. Purely for pleasure, of course. 
So. Look out for trouble, in all its devious forms, and treat each other well.