Camping in Big Sur --- DO IT!!

If you are ever in the mood to camp … but … not really rough it too hard core … then … I have to recommend camping in Big Sur.

Big Sur is close enough to ‘civilization’ … yet … the geographic features are magnificent enough … that one can’t help but feel completely amazed and dwarfed by the beauty. The weather on the coast is so mild … that it hardly matters whether the rest of California is experiencing triple digit weather temps … as it was during the weekend I went camping there … after July 4th.

There are plenty of camping destinations in Big Sur … for this particular camping trip … we chose to stay at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. This park is great for families … and newbie campers. There are plenty of amenities … and even a swimming hole.

This was the first EVER camping trip for my partner, Chris. She is now a full-fledged … card carrying member of the lesbian faction! She earned her camping wings in grand style … preparing and cooking amazing feasts during dinner … and breakfast the next day. Chris even suffered the humliation of not bringing all the tent poles … which fortunately … wasn’t too painful … as our friends had brought an extra tent with them. Whew!

A word of warning … regarding the swimming hole … yes … there a big rocks to jump off of … but … please be cautious of the ugly submerged tree stumps! I had an unfortunate accident … that could/should have been a LOT worse. I’m amazed that I wasn’t impaled! So … please heed the warning!

We are still waiting for pictures from the disposable camera … but … in the meantime … here are some digital pics for your enjoyment. You’ll find the pic of my bruised ‘trunk’ … from my accident with the submerged ‘trunk’. Stay tuned for video footage!

- Bertha

http://www.brrtha.com

Gnarls Barkley

OKAY … so … I misplaced my mp3 player … and I was forced to listen to commercial radio … FORTUNATELY … I came across ‘crazy’ … by Gnarls Barkley … and I immediately went home and downloaded the album on iTunes.

Now … by now … I’m already getting tired of the original radio song … but sheece … when a song is played to death on Live 105, Alice, and KFOG … there really isn’t much hope for the song to survive.

Even still … I’m definitely stoked on this eclectic album. If you aren’t familiar with Gnarls Barkley … it’s an interesting little ’super’ group … comprised of Danger Mouse … and Cee-Lo. I first came across Danger Mouse a few years ago … when he ‘released’ the Grey Album … a fascinating album length mash-up of The Beatles, White Album … and Jay-Z’s Black Album.
So … back to the Gnarl’s Barkley album …you’ll find all sorts of souldful funkiness … it’s a very diverse album … that I reckon will take me all summer to completely digest. Just don’t be surprised … if some songs remind you of Al Green … Stevie Wonder … and the like. There are some jams that are reminiscent of Sly Stone … P-FUNK … and others that remind me of Outcast. There’s a lovely sense of hip hop … and drum and bass that flows throughout the album.

If you are tempted to purchase this album … then I recommend the digital album on Itunes … as it includes a instrumental version of Crazy … which is certain to be used in MANY remixes this summer!My final thought on this album … is that there is an AMAZING rendition of The Violent Femmes’ - Gone Daddy Gone … definitely my new favorite song of the week!
So … if you are a YME subscriber … check this album out … otherwise … buy it on ITunes!

- Bertha

http://www.brrtha.com