I could tell stories about mom’s pan fried gluten steaks, the Tupperware party songs and our goat buck Siggy (short for Siegfried) at our ranch up the road from Ardenvoir who could jump any fence, but instead this one’s about an after-church late summer potluck at Hazel Dell Park in Vancouver, Washington in the very early 1980s.

The hero is Bob Bolton and his lovely brunette wife Rhonda. I liked her smile because her teeth were flawless and I never saw her bite anyone. She represented genetically perfect maxillofacial structure in my young mind. I was in awe of how perfectly the upper and lower jaw aligned, the strength and sharpness at the corner beneath her ear and how when she’d speak the mystery would unravel like a hot pink stocking. My young mind was so curious and intuitive. I thought.

Bob was and probably still is a jovial active outdoorsman. Seems like he was a draftsman or systems engineer or punch card computer programmer. He had the body of a devoted student. He had a pinched temple thirty-yard gaze, also known as nearsightedness. He loved the particular details of life. Like names of things. He was a birder by hobby and boasted about his acumen often. And he emphasized his dictums with a rub of the nose and a pushup on the glasses.

And on that day in that park after our church members had broken bread and casserole and veggie links and corn and pie we were all standing around shooting it you know? I probably had a friend or two there to hang with. Mom and Dad yucking it up with Doris or Pastor or someone. The group must’ve dwindled to a few dozen by this time. Then Bob lets loose with a report aimed at Rhonda but directed to all of us.

“Rhonda, was that I Rufus Sided Towhee?” he exhuberated. “I think that was a Rufus Sided Towhee Rhonda, did you hear it?” Rhonda barely turned off her mousy prattle to arch her porcelain brow at Bob’s invitation to listen and look for the feisty under brush thrasher. But Bob did his 123 rub glasses nudge so proud of his achievement. Internal clone high fives commenced.

Within a few moments we’d loaded up the hot plates and coolers and were headed on to our next Sabbath afternoon destination. I believe it was our favorite aftermeal hike that short trail at the end of the hall that led to mattress flats right above box springs. Hardyharrhhharrr.

Me and Mom and Dad have been laughing about that for a good 30 years. And where I live now, a convenient 1,000 miles south in the Upper Ojai Valley. I see that little black winged bird with the white specks and the reddish brown breast threshing the fallen leaves and twigs searching for the grubs and seeds that fill his little Rufus Sided tummy.

And then finally I did this little design and made some new things. The cool part is that I finally did a black design that I paint in the details. I love being an artist and I’m so grateful for my childhood. It’s a sort of coloring book life that inspires what it was like for me growing up in my hometown.

So I drove into downtown Ojai and parked my car in front of my beloved Art Center (have I mentioned that I’m PR person on their board of trustees?) and took my bike down for a little ride to my dentist in Oak View.

After learning that I have three cavities and that Dr. Joe Westbury lives a quiet life in Meiners Oaks, I hopped back on the extreme coaster cruiser and huffed it back up the bike path to town. Just past the “Y” on the path adjacent to the Ojai Valley Inn I noticed a big man with long gray hair and a beard ambling along the path with a petite crop coiffed blonde. Even from 30 or 40 feet, I thought whoa that looks like The Dude. And then as I pedaled past the couple I confirmed my suspicions with a nod and a smile that he warmly returned. The Dude Abides.

I attempted to talk to my phone and google voice a text message to my BooBoo Sonia Erneux but that wasn’t working so I thumbled it into my phone as I rode along. I was mildly struggling with myself over whether to go back and bother him and had basically resigned myself to be satisfied having seen him whatever. Then Sonia texted back that I had to get a picture of him. So I went back.

I’ve met or seen other celebrities but you have to admit Jeff Bridges is pretty fucking spectacular. I said “Excuse me, permission to approach.” He said “Yeah sure.” I said, “Nice to see you, would it be OK for us to have a picture together?” He was like, “Yeah sure man.” So I took off my green helmet, pulled my trusty Canon G11 from my purse. His wife reached for the camera and said, “Here, let me take the picture of you two.” I handed the camera to her. While she was trying to figure out how to turn it on, I asked, “Does my hair look alright?” He said, “It looks great.” and then pinched my little thin crest and straightened it gently while putting a big old monster bear hug on my shoulder. The Dude is Huge dude, seriously. I returned the favor and we smiled together for what seemed a pleasant micro-eternity. He must have liked me, just look at his nipple. Finally he let go and he said, “Maybe you can help us out too. Can you tell us how to get back into this hotel?” I was like, “Yeah you’re almost there. There’s a gate right up there off the path.” I was like, “How long are you in town for?” And he said, “Just for one night.” I was like, “Cool, it was great to meet you. Have a fun time in Ojai.” Then I gave him an Ojai Face decal and a window washing postcard. And said, “If you’d like to get your windows washed, give me a jingle.”

I wonder when he’ll call?

I’ve been traveling from my home in lovely Ojai, California each year up north and east over the mountains into the Carson Valley of Northern Nevada. My friend Todd lives there with wife Stephanie and two lovely children. So, I came up with a silly t-shirt idea and made design for his town of Minden.

I bought a bicycle helmet today. A green Bern with a patented visor. First thing I did after getting it home was stick an Ojai Smiley Face right round on the backside of it. It’s a gift to myself and an acknowledgement of the importance of my head.

I mention that I got a helmet first because I’ve been obsessed with cycling recently. Possessed even. Dreaming of big rides over many hundreds of miles. And I want to put energy into this festering dream. I like the slow lane. I enjoy the details along the shoulder.

I bought myself a gift because in one week, I’ll be leaned back all leisurely like while Dr. Joe Westbury in Oak View fits me with a custom milled titanium abutment to which he super glues a custom fitted, dyed and stained porcelain crown. That gap in my smile is where old number 9 used to live. He was a little crooked and his replacement will be bulletproof and straight.

In my last update back in September, when I asked for donations, (see your yellow button opportunity below) my body was healing a hole-full of cadaver leavings into a lattice work of solid bone tissue. On the afternoon of November 4 Dr. Clark and oral surgeon with an office in Oxnard slashed open my gum line, fired up a boring device and made way in my jaw for a petite titanium screw with external and internal threads and a nifty antenna, i’m convinced, that helps the tooth fairy keep tabs on me. It also picks up Mexican radio so I’m glad I like polkas and accordions.

All told this project gumline is setting me back about $3,500. So if you’re inclined, put a portion of your wealth and good fortune toward a cause that has a mind, a passion and a hard-earned sense to strap on a helmet before an adventure. It’ll come back to you tri-fold. I’m the kind of odd that’s in your favor.

I don’t ask for your help because I need it, I ask because I want it and I want you to be a part of my mouth for years to come. Thank you.

I’ve been riding my bike a lot the past few days to strengthen and tone, enjoy nature and drop a few holiday indulgence pounds. I live in Southern California and the weather has been ideal for riding lately. I’m pretty fortunate, I know.

When I ride, I like to push myself. I love to climb, and so my motto is: the worst part is knowing that it’s possible.

In order to facilitate this extreme adventure, I need high energy fuel. Here’s a smoothy recipe video I made up from things I had in the cupboards and the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Make this recipe your own and let me know the flavors you’ve added or subtracted. I’d love to hear about it.

Recipe

• 1/2 Pear
• 1/2 Apple
• 1 raw egg (or not)
• 1 frozen banana peeled
• 2 TBS green super food powder
• 2 TBS hemp protein powder
• 1 TBS hemp seed oil
• 6 ozs. almond milk

Use organic think small and visit my sponsors:

Love Tanjane and Window Washing by Chris Wilson

I made a little video today with my sweety Sonia Erneux. She makes me some good omlettes and I’ve been wanting to learn how she does it. So today we fired up the camera and shot a little video that I then edited down to size in imovie.

Enjoy.

I just completed the dying and printing of a new batch of organic cotton tote bags. Here’s one of them with a classic Chris T. Wilson design with an Ojai Theme.

Lets have fun when we buy groceries and carry our valuables around town. I effin love dying these totes. What a fun way to spend a day. Colors staining my hands and the creative mind flowing.

Click this text to go to the “Totes” page or click the link at the top of the page or click the picture. I’m trying to make this easy for you.

Enjoy.

Very DIY’ing for you my corn childern. This is my first real foray into iMovie. I had a great time doing all this. I’ll put a buy link for the shirt after the video. Support!