Franco and Lisa

Franco and Lisa Esile

Don't Fall Into the Camping Spirit Little Dogs!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg_0ggp7bMI&w=560&h=315] This is what summer’s all about in New Zealand: It’s about sitting by a river with your two dogs (even if your particular two dogs are freaked out by rivers) it’s hoping your favourite pink jandals hang in for another year it’s about itchy feet because you forgot to put your socks on […]

International Travel Tips for Making International Coffee

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV8q3ZihgaA&w=420&h=315] As of yesterday I’m back in NZee, which means goodbye for now Santa Monica Boardwalk mulled wine at the Venice Ale House, Randy Weeks live at The Cinema and new friends who do things like crochet you funky gloves & usher you to your 17  hour flight leaving little bits of themselves in […]

Thugs Against Drugs and other Celebratory Things

So yesterday there I am at the Santa Monica Urth Cafe sitting by the window munching my way through the finest Half-Sized Fruit Plate ever – oh good grief those mangoes – and working on my new up-and-coming course teaching people who ‘suck at meditation’ my simple easy technique for getting all the lovely calming […]

The Real 'Not Usually Spoken About' Deal on Forgiveness

Here’s how people usually teach forgiveness: They start by telling you to go get a piece of paper or an entire legal pad, depending on how pissed-off at everyone you are. Then they say, sit down and write why everyone you’re mad at was such an asshole how this makes you feel, why you now […]

You Should Like Totally Meet My Friend Bob and His Mental Health

Whenever I see this poem it reminds me of a funny friend of mine who one day when I was trying to sell my house and had this painting lying around advised me to get rid of my man hating poem. Which is the kind of thing that can happen when you only read the […]

On Being the Queen (or King) of Your World

There’s nothing like coming to a different country or doing some challenging thing like being by yourself for a long time without all your regular friends and dogs (Yes I still miss you) to dredge up some of the less pretty things you think about yourself, the things that can sometimes get obscured by your […]

I Love Me I Love Me I Love Me

This is one of my favourite inspirational cards (from my deck of Life Cards). Which is why I painted it up all big and with more colours and some extra words. All the I love you bits at the end are because sometimes I need a little extra love to remind me ‘ah hello, could […]

Another Reason Why People Like Me Love America

Demetri Martin on WhoSay I discovered Demetri Martin the same day I came across Charles Bukowski. It was a good day and a good example of why people like me like to live in America. PS: In case any immigration officials read poetry, and have been following my blog when I say ‘live,’I mean in […]