Coachella Valley Weekly - July 9 to July 15, 2020 Vol. 9 No. 17

coachellavalleyweekly.com • July 9 to July 15, 2020

Discover The Indian Canyons

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Derek Wade Timmons

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Brian Wilson & Van Dyke Parks

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Catalan

Vol.9 No.17

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Lisa & Gertie

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July 9 to July 15, 2020

IT TAKES TWO: SISTERS BETTY SLIMKO & KATIE STICE

Coachella Valley Weekly (760) 501-6228

publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com coachellavalleyweekly.com facebook.com/cvweekly twitter.com/cvweekly1 Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Kirby Club Crawler Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Head Music Writer Noe Gutierrez Head Feature Writer Crystal Harrell Feature Writers Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Tricia Witkower, Jason Hall, Esther Sanchez Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Eleni P. Austin, Craig Michaels, Janet McAfee, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Sam DiGiovanna, Dale Gribow, Denise Ortuno Neil, Rob Brezny, Dr. Peter Kadile, Dee Jae Cox, Angela Romeo, Aaron Ramson, Lynne Tucker, Aimee Mosco, Michelle Anne Rizzio, Ruth Hill, Madeline Zuckerman Photographers Robert Chance, Laura Hunt Little, Chris Miller, Iris Hall, Esther Sanchez Videographer Kurt Schawacker Website Editor Bobby Taffolla Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

CONTENTS Betty Slimko & Katie Stice................... 3-5 Breaking the 4th Wall ................................ 6 Travel Tips & Local Happenings 4 U ........ 6 Derek Wade Timmons .............................. 8 Consider This - Brian Wilson & Van Dyke Parks .................................... 9 The Vino Voice ....................................... 10 Good Grub - Catalan ...............................11 Brewtality .................................................. 12 Screeners ............................................... 13 Pet Place .............................................. 14-15 Safety Tips .............................................. 15 Haddon Libby ........................................ 16 Dale Gribow ........................................... 16 Sawg For The Soul................................... 17 Cannabis Corner .................................... 18 Mind, Body & Spirit ............................... 19 Free Will Astrology................................ 19

BY CRYSTAL HARRELL

ONE FIGHTING TO SAVE LIVES, THE OTHER WORKING TO SAVE VALLEY BUSINESSES

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he bond of family is a force to be reckoned with, and two sisters have put forth their strengths and efforts to support the desert community amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Betty Slimko is a critical care nurse in the ICU at Desert Regional Medical Center and Katie Stice is the President and CEO of the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce. Initially it would seem that the siblings are part of two very different professional worlds, but they maintain a unity through their commitment to serve those in need.

“Growing up, we were inseparable.

Living in a small home means you are always together, and then there was a time when we had our own space to become who we are now respectively.

We are professionals in our fields, living quite different lives but we’re both hard working, compassionate, and outliers. We were raised by a nurse and firefighter, so it was expected to always reach for more and hit the mark,” explained Stice.

While Stice’s prominent role at the Rancho Mirage Chamber holds no steady routine of normalcy in these recent times, her duties revolve around constantly reevaluating community and business needs and making the most impact on recovery and jobs.

Stice also has various weekly virtual meetings, which include US Chamber, the Coachella Valley Economic Recovery Team with the Supervisor and Congressional offices, and the Business Recovery Alliance: Coachella Valley, which Stice founded and is a featured speaker on a national show called “Chamber Focus” with 9,000 chamber executive members sharing best practices for businesses and advice.

“The chamber community is tightknit. We will help rebuild America, one community and one small business at a time. From the start of the crisis, I took to social media because that is where everyone was weeding through information and sharing confusion and heartache. I showed up then and continue to connect with the greater community and lend support and guidance. Social media also keeps me informed as to what people need. I likely will see some common issues or challenges to problem-solve on a larger level,” shared Stice.

While their careers drift in different directions, the sisters got to work together on Operation Feed the Front Line and raised almost $7,000 and provided an estimated 700 meals to nurses at the three Coachella Valley hospitals. With Stice’s social media influence and restaurant contacts and Slimko’s knowledge of the medical teams, they were part of the perfect partnership.

“Currently, our work schedules are rough and Betty also stays a bit more isolated right now. She is cautious of being around the whole family because of the nature of her work. That is hard. When I do see her, I want to hug her, but I also

keep my distance. It makes me think of all of the nurses who just worked 12-14 hours in war-like conditions and then may not come home to open arms due to fear. That breaks my heart,” stated Stice.

Betty Slimko’s role as an ICU nurse plays an integral part of how she regards herself as a person; it also means she is never truly “off duty”. She feels it is a privilege to work in the only Level ll trauma center in the Coachella Valley and have the opportunity to work with many talented medical professionals, including trauma and neurosurgeons, intensivists, pulmonologists, and nurses in multiple fields of critical care. The recent resurgence in new coronavirus cases has made Slimko’s work environment even more high-stakes, and Slimko feels the emotional toll on not only herself and staff, but the community as well.

“I hear the voices of many different levels of confusion, fear, anger, hopelessness, sorrow and denial, and I genuinely hope that our community knows in their hearts that our compassion for you has reached a peak at a level that was unimaginable until now during these very challenging times.

Often times we are feeling helpless in some situations, but in fact, everyone from the hospital identifies with them. I think I can speak on behalf of healthcare workers when I say that during this time of constant change, our respect for patient autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice continue to page 5

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BETTY & KATIE

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prioritization are the fundamentals that haven’t changed,” said Slimko.

Systemic operations and physical alterations may have changed within the hospital in order to accommodate more patients, but the fundamentals of patient care has remained the priority at Slimko’s job. The desire to make a difference has motivated Slimko from the very beginning of the pandemic, and she strives to stay true to her personal motto of ‘Use Your Power To Empower Others’. The thought of helping someone get through the most vulnerable moments in their life is something that Slimko decided to pursue

years ago with a fervent want and need.

Music has also been a driving force to pick her up during difficult days.

“Making my son proud of me is the most rewarding part of my job. When I hear him randomly tell the person in line at the grocery store that his mom can save your life and if you get hurt she can fix it because she has bandaids, it makes me feel like I’m doing something right for this little boy,” revealed Slimko.

The relationship Slimko has with her younger sister Katie has been a truly special bond ever since their childhood, when they would perform talent shows

for the tenants in their apartment building at ages 11 and 8, respectively. Betty and Katie also have an older sister in San Diego named Anne who works for Partnerships with Industry. The sisters regard Anne as the “leader of the pack” and maintain in communication with her through the ups and downs of their daily lives, always acting as a balance to Betty’s wildness and Katie’s timidness.

“Now that we’ve grown as individuals and our priorities are different, we understand that growing up doesn’t mean growing apart. We can pick up where we left off at any time period. There is

also strength in us together as there is independently. There is a special presence about us when we are together. It’s pretty magical, really. Our rhythmic belly laugh can be heard from across town and once you’ve experienced the Slimko Sisters in person, you will be entertained, loved and have a friendship por la vida!” said Slimko. www.ranchomiragechamber.org Katie.stice@ranchomirage.org Slimko also volunteers with Gael Wetstone, a shock trauma RN, and they teach civilians tourniquet application and wound packing for major injuries through the Stop The Bleed Campaign.

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WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? . . .THEATRE IN THE NEW ERA

t is a trick of the eye when we look around and nothing appears to have changed. Because in a blink, everything is different. This desert we call home, this golden state of California, looks the same to the naked eye, but traveling with each breath is the potential of assault by an invisible enemy. It has changed the landscape of how we live our daily lives. How long will it be before we are able to sit in a small club again, sip our favorite drink and listen to the voice of one of the Coachella Valley’s talented singers, without a mask for fear of this contagion?

When will we again sit in a dark theatre with others right beside us, enraptured by the live performance on the stage?

Theater began with the ancient Greeks in outdoor amphitheaters. The rules of Greek drama were strict. There were three actors who played all the roles in a play, as well as a chorus. All violent acts took place offstage and were vividly described to the characters and audience by a messenger. Tragedies followed a specific structure. Each tragedy began with a prolog (a separate introductory section) and ended with an exodus, (a mass departure of the cast.) After the prolog, the chorus would sing and dance. The body of the plays consisted of episodes, in which the chorus and characters speak.

The first Greek plays ran continuously from beginning to end without a break. It was Horace (65–8 B.C.), a Roman poet, who was the first writer to divide a play into five acts.

(An act is a major division of a play.) Breaking up the action of a play is now a common practice. Today, most plays are divided into

BY DEE JAE COX

two or three acts, and many plays have just one act.

The way scripts are written and performed, has evolved. And because theatre has always been a reflection of our culture, subject and themes take on new meaning and significance.

For contemporary audiences, many plays have become shorter, two acts instead of three.

Better set designs, heightened music and choreography is integrated. Sound effects and lighting that illustrate the storm taking place, as the actor speaks. Theatre has grown with the ages and transitioned, because our society has changed.

And now, as we enter this phase of uncertainty, with theatres dark and opening dates uncertain, it’s only natural to ask… where do we go from here?

I spoke with a former teacher and mentor of mine, Simon Levy, a renowned playwright and director, Producing Director at the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles and an instructor for the UCLA Writer’s Program.

Simon, has been in theatre for many years and is a vital member of the Los Angeles Theatre community. I asked him where he saw theatre going? What are the changes we would need to make in this new era? His response shed light on the future of theatre.

“I'm part of a consortium of 57 intimate theatres here in L.A. We meet weekly to discuss the current state of Theatre in L.A., and have created a number of committees to prepare for reopening once we get an All Clear.

There's no question that we're in a significant paradigm shift for Theatre going forward.

Zoom and live-streaming will be a part of

BREAKING THE4TH WALL

our future - a combination of live and virtual audiences attending our shows. We need to embrace that new reality and prepare for it.

So, theoretically, a percentage of our audience, when it's safe and they feel comfortable, will attend live, and a percentage, who are more cautious, or live too far away, will simultaneously watch a live-streaming. I also think Zoom post-show discussions, etc. will become a larger part of our programming and a way of doing business. Elizabethan Theatre went through a series of shut downs, including one that lasted a year-and-a-half, and came back stronger than ever. Of course, they didn't have our technology, so live was the only way to go; but the marriage of technology with contemporary theatre, forged in the crucible of this pandemic, will create new models of how we "attend" the theatre.”

The Coachella Valley Theatres have also formed their own consortium, with the new

TRAVELTIPS&LOCAL HAPPENINGS4U

“Alliance of Desert Theatres,” consisting of the Coachella Valley Repertory (CV Rep), Desert Ensemble Theatre Company, Desert Theatreworks, Dezart Performs, Green Room Theatre and Palm Canyon Theatre. These theatres are all nonprofit organizations that rely heavily on donations, grants, fundraisers and ticket sales to not only get their shows up on its feet, but just to break even each year. Needless to say, with the current health crisis, it has also placed a heavy burden on their survival. Their public statement indicates that “Although much is unknown about the reopening of venues and events, including theatre productions, local producing companies are still creating and planning for the future. Some companies are producing online performances and concerts. Some theatres are anticipating a fall reopen, while others are planning for January 2021.”

There will always be life events, crises, forward thinking individuals and necessities, that force change. Theatre being an integral part of our culture will grow and evolve, just as most individuals will be required to do.

Future productions will be a reflection of how adaptable we can be. Integrating new technologies and social distancing into the presentation. I don’t believe that theatre will be exactly the same, but I do believe that it will survive and grow and continue to play a significant role in how we define our place in the world.

Dee Jae Cox is a playwright, director and producer. She is the Cofounder and Artistic Director of The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project. losangeleswomenstheatreproject.org palmspringstheatre.com

ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY LYNNE TUCKER

DISCOVER THE INDIAN CANYONS PALM SPRINGS, CA

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alm Canyon Fifteen miles long, Palm Canyon is one of the areas of great beauty in Western North America. Its indigenous flora and fauna, which the Cahuilla people so expertly used, and its abundant Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm) are breathtaking contrasts to the stark rocky gorges and barren desert lands beyond. A moderately graded foot path winds down into the canyon for picnicking near the stream, meditation, exploring, hiking or horseback riding. While in Palm Canyon visit the Trading Post for hiking maps, refreshments, Indian art and artifacts, books, jewelry, pottery, baskets, weaving, and conversational cultural lore.

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Andreas Canyon The contrasting greens of the magnificent fan palms and more than 150 species of plants within a half-mile radius beckon the desertweary traveler to this lush oasis. A scenic foot trail leads through the canyon passing groves of stately skirted palms, unusual rock formations and the perennial Andreas Creek.

One can still see bedrock mortars and metates used centuries ago for preparing food. This tranquil setting is excellent for photography, bird-watching, or a picnic at one of the tables along the trail.

Murray Canyon Murray Canyon is an easy to moderate hike south from Andreas Canyon. Foot and

equestrian trails take visitors to beautiful recreation areas featuring many palm trees.

Fortunate visitors may catch a glimpse of a Peninsular Big Horn Sheep (an endangered species), mule deer or other wild animals still roaming the high ground above the canyon.

Less visited, Murray Canyon has its own secluded beauty. The endangered Least Bells Vireo bird is also known to nest here.

Practice social distancing and stay safe.

Think Trails and Enjoy the Sites!

Lynne Tucker A Passion 4 Photography 818.298.7007

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LOCAL MUSIC

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hen asked about noteworthy bass players from the Coachella Valley, I think about musicians like Nick Oliveri, Scott Reeder and Armando Flores. Or I may consider Dan Dillinger, Serene Noell or Jeremy Parsons. There really is a plethora of pickers and pluckers to choose from. However, the utmost unsung bass player is Derek Wade Timmons or DWT. Who was the bass player called upon to perform in an all-star band with artists like Lisa Lynn Morgan, Tom Edwards, Jeff Bowman, Michael Keeth, Vinny Berry and Nick Hales to pay tribute to Paul Rodgers with the Icon Award at the 2019 Coachella Valley Music Awards? DWT Who was the bass player to make the three-piece desert rock band Sleazy Cortez a household name in the Southern California?

DWT. Who was the bass player who can stand and deliver next to arguably the best guitarist and drummer combo in Arthur Seay and Mike Cancino to ever hail from the desert? DWT. Who’s the bass player who drove 255 miles to rehearse with the band Diesel Boots and perform with Collyn McCoy (The Ultra Electric Mega Galactic, Aboleth), Corey Dean Little (Motorsickle), and Trent Ramseyer (Whores of Tijuana, Ogressa)?

DWT. Who’s the bass player to step into the already well-established Punk/Metal force Throw the Goat with Brian Puke Parnell and Troy Anthony Whitford and help the band not only maintain their trajectory but become even more fortuitous? DWT. You kind of see where this is headed. DWT is among a unique breed of bass players who do their job when summoned, do it well and go almost unnoticed because they, along with the drummer, produce the foundation for which all the discernible riffs are laid. It’s time for us to give reverence where it is due.

Coachella Valley Weekly spoke with DWT with some trepidation. The man has a way of being serious about having fun so there is a deceptive aloofness to him that will T-bone you into a spin of sober-mindedness and objectivity when you speak with him about any topic.

Below is our quick convo.

CVW: You are very prolific on the bass.

Why the bass? Why not timpani or pan flute?

DWT: “I know the sheer animal magnetism of the pan flute could have gotten me a lot of luck with the ladies, but I had to keep my lips available for smoking and drinking, as for the timpani, that’s just too much tuning.

I was happy playing Misfits and Metallica on guitar all day until I really started listening to Primus. Who wouldn’t switch to bass after that?”

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DEREK WADE TIMMONS – BASS IN YOUR FACE!

CVW: Understood. With all the bands you’ve played in, what do you take away from the totality of your music career thus far?

DWT: “I could have worked harder to have my music reach more ears and I still regret every song or supposed EP or band that never came to fruition, but there are way more that have happened that I’m really happy with, and I’ve made so many friends and met so many cool people because of it. Also looking forward to accomplishing some things both in the near and distant future, hopefully making a few larger-scale dents on the music world.”

CVW: Where do you think DWT is headed?

DWT: “Well, the city said I have to get all these weeds out of my yard, so there’s that.

Of course that’s apart from getting engaged to Stevie Jane Lee, the new Throw the Goat album coming out this fall, Grins and Lies going into the studio in August, and working with Nick Hales and Greg Saenz on the new Sleazy Cortez bizness. But yeah, the weeds seem to be the most urgent, according to The Law.” Coachella Valley Weekly also communicated with some of DWT’s bandmates, his fiancé, and a few fellow “low-enders.”

Stevie Jane Lee (fiancé, Grins and Lies) “I would say what makes DWT a great bass player is his diverse taste and knowledge of music, he’s like a walking Wikipedia haha! His presence on stage makes you really bring his bass lines to your attention, where in some

bands the bass can get lost under everything else. Having the honor of being in a band with him myself, I would also have to say that he has inventive bass lines, a good attitude, a general excitement to be playing music and quick fingers. I may be a bit biased but I have never worked with anyone in all the bands I have been in that is more fun to work with than Derek. He really loves what he does and it is contagious. As a front man in Sleazy Cortez he is quick-witted and funny. His lyrics really tell great colorful trashy stories that are just fun.

In Grins and Lies he brings a funky element to Metal which is something I haven't ever had in a band, it really creates something unique. I would say he is just as cool as everyone thinks he is with a little more thrown in.”

Troy Anthony Whitford (Throw The Goat) “He's one of the most positive dudes to ever dude! A musical encyclopedia! Best coal mining bass player to walk this desert. VHS loving, record playing, B side finding teddy bear.”

Brian Puke Parnell (Throw The Goat) “I’ve gotten to know Derek more and more over the last year since he’s been in TTG. It’s made me wonder why we weren’t better bros before now. Derek is like a 17 year-old with the stories of a 57 year-old. He has the fresh-faced exuberance of someone half his age, but he can spin a yarn about the coal mine that could lead a person to believe he’s near retirement age. His Kentuckiana-twang and sleeveless shirts, often emblazoned with bald eagles and American flags, might send a distinct ‘white trash’ vibe to some, but he’s really a big softie without an ounce of hate in his heart. The extent that he’s been able to retain so much information about music and film (plus the verbal momentum he’s able to demonstrate when sharing this information) is quite impressive. His youthful excitement over his various collections is also impressive. We’ve had some long nights, getting hammered and putting on records from his substantial library, talking about music for hours on end.

Playing and recording music with Derek is a blast. He gives a lot of attention to detail when it comes to his bass lines. We kinda speak the same language when it comes to music, even though he has a degree in it and I most certainly do not. But it’s easy to work together and that’s what counts. He’s always gung-ho and raring to go with whatever silly idea that gets thrown his way. He’s a kind hearted, down-to-earth dude who loves life and makes everyone glad to be around him.”

Luis Eduardo Carranza (Grins and Lies) “Well, where to start with DWT. We’ve been friends and bandmates for about 12 years now. I think we’ve played in about 5 or 6 bands together. We’ve learned a lot from each other and share the same passion for music. He came

BY NOE GUTIERREZ from Indiana when I was 18 to California and landed in a house known as ‘Nottingham’ in Indio which consisted of nothing but musicians.

I happened to live there. So that’s how it all got started. He joined a bunch of bands and we all swapped musicians within each other. He’s always had his own unique style on bass. Still don’t know anyone who plays like him. Overall, great fuckin’ guy and I’m lucky to know him as a dear friend of mine.”

Mike Cancino (Death In Pretty Wrapping) “Props to DWT for moving down from Indiana to play in a Desert Rock band and to his brave kitty who rode all the way to California on his dashboard.”

Arthur Seay (Death In Pretty Wrapping) "Derek is a great dude, a great player and wins the award for best upbeat attitude.”

Armando Flores (Blasting Echo) “Let's see, between him and Dan Dillinger, it's a toss up as to who is the most okayest bass player. Derek has a glorious beard, but he drinks shitty beer. However, he does wear cut-off shirts, so that's a plus. Derek also turned downed playing with Blasting Echo, so I'm butthurt about that, still. He comes across as a solid individual, but that's probably because he's got a good woman at his side. She probably keeps him in check. If there was a Yelp rating for bass players, I'd give him 3 out of 4 bass strings.

In all honesty, he's a solid guy. There's just a handful of people who are first-call players when somebody needs a bassist. Derek is in that group.”

Jeremy Parsons (Mega Sun) “My first impression of Derek was, in one word, ‘welcoming’. A very witty, slick, magnetic personality. Musicianship? He’s wise and versatile. He’s talented and an innovator.

When Derek is there to perform or there to check out music, it's always a little bit better.

He brings a good attitude that makes you have a good time.”

Serene Noell (The After Lashes, ORMUS) “Derek is a top-notch bassist as well as a groovy singer. His tunes will grow a beard on anyone just listening the tunes of Sleazy Cortez.”

Dan Dillinger (The Sweat Act) “Honestly, we're not super close. All I could really say about the guy is that he's a great bass player and has always been cool when we've been around each other. Never had any negativity between us. Judging by all the people around us and their views on him, he's a pretty stand-up guy.”

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BRIAN WILSON AND VAN DYKE PARKS

“ORANGE CRATE ART” (OMNIVORE RECORDINGS)

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rian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks were a couple of wunderkinds when they first began collaborating back in 1966. Brian, of course, had already earned a reputation as the leader and chief songwriter for the Beach Boys. Barely out of high school, Brian had figured out a way to fuse complex, Four Freshman-flavored harmonies with rollicking, Chuck Berry-fied melodies and instrumentation. When his younger brother, Dennis, suggested that song lyrics should reflect the Surfing and Hot Rod culture that were the epicenter of California cool that cemented their sound.

That was how it all started in 1962.

Three years and an astonishing 10 albums later, Brian had stepped away from the exhausting grind of touring and was focused on honing the band’s sound in the studio. Collaborating with world class studio musicians that were dubbed The Wrecking Crew, he created intricate sonic soundscapes that surrounded the Beach Boys’ beatific harmonies.

In early 1966, they released their masterpiece, Pet Sounds, to rapturous reviews. English fans grasped the record’s significance immediately (in fact, it spurred the Beatles to conceive their game-changing Sgt. Pepper album). Most American admirers were slow to catch on. Perhaps they were confused by lyrics that no longer chronicled fun in the sun, sand and surf. Despite modest sales and vocal protestations from the least hirsute member of the band, Brian pressed on, enlisting Van Dyke Parks as a co-conspirator for his next magnum opus.

Van Dyke Parks was born in Louisiana and began playing the clarinet at age four.

He sang in a children’s choir, displayed an affinity for Tin Pan Alley standards and began earning his keep as a child actor. He spent a couple of years as a music major at the Carnegie Institute Of Technology in Pittsburgh. But in 1963 he chucked his studies, in an attempt to escape what he termed the “highbrow angst” of academia.

Relocating to Los Angeles, he played music with his brother Carson and began making a name for himself as a lyricist, composer and arranger. He worked with everyone from Tim Buckley and the Byrds to the Harpers’ Bizarre and Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention. He didn’t warm to the Beach Boys’ music until the release of Pet Sounds.

When he and Brian met, they recognized kindred spirits.

Over a period of four months, they went to work, pairing Brian’s brilliant melodies with Van Dyke’s articulate and idiosyncratic lyrics. The partnership yielded instant classics like “Heroes And Villains,” “Wonderful” and “Surf’s Up.” The album, was going to be called SMiLE and Brian proclaimed it a Teenage symphony to God. Unfortunately, a follicly-challenged Beach Boy couldn’t reconcile some of Van

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Dyke’s more esoteric lyrics. Unable to feel the excitations, he ended up alienating Van Dyke and undercutting Brian’s confidence.

Already feeling emotionally fragile and relying more and more on chemical enhancements, Brian opted to shelve the record. Old Man Beach Boy prevailed, although the band would pick the bones of the SMiLE sessions, inserting the odd song into other albums over the next few years.

Over the next three decades, Brian retreated from the spotlight, emerging only occasionally. The SMiLE album became the Holy Grail for true aficionados. Meanwhile, Van Dyke toggled between making quirky solo albums and working as a producer, arranger and guest artist on a surfeit of important albums. A partial list of his neverending credits includes Ry Cooder, Nilsson, Little Feat, Circle Jerks, Victoria Williams, U2, Syd Straw, Aaron Neville, Sam Phillips and T-Bone Burnett.

For his final album on the Warner Brothers label, Van Dyke managed to lure Brian back into the studio. He created a song-cycle that paid homage to his adopted state, California, and no musician exemplified the California sound better than Brian Wilson. Additionally, there was a measure of symmetry involved in completing a project together.

The finished product, a 12-song set entitled Orange Crate Art, was released in late 1995. Despite its pedigree, the label (going through a major restructure), gave it no promotional push. Even though it received critical acclaim, sales were disappointing and lackluster. Happily, the cool kids at Omnivore Recordings are celebrating “Orange Crate’s” 25th anniversary with a lavish 2-CD reissue and a first-time vinyl release on orange vinyl.

The album kicks off with the title track.

Sun-dappled acoustic riffs wash over a plucky string section and sparkly keys as Brian’s stacked vocals crest over an insinuating conga beat. The lyrics pay loving tribute to the color saturated paintings that adorned fruit boxes during the first half of the 20th century. Those renderings depicted the Sunshine State as a glamorous land of milk and honey and beckoned the rest of the country to migrate west; “Hear the lonesome locomotion roar, Hobo-hop if you dare/and it rolls where grapes of wrath are stored, stops on a bracero’s prayer.

And merrily the record rolls along, a nostalgic travelogue that whisks the listener back to the halcyon days of sunny Cal-if-or-nia. Stops along the scenic route starts with the breezy “Sail Away” which crafts an ornate mosaic of instrumentation: swaying strings, rippling keys, shang-alang guitars, the propulsive kick of vibes and steel drums, plus a fanfare of Mariachi horns. The bespoke arrangement hinges on Brian’s playful Doo-Wop vocals as he good-naturedly offers to “…Raise a toast to what’s left of my memory.”

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

The action hopscotches to the affable, emotion-packed epistle of “Palm Tree And Moon.” Rustic flute notes, wily keys and chunky percussion conjures up contradictory imagery of wide-open spaces and exotic ports of call. Brian’s dreamy voice is buttressed by layers of lush backing vocals as he sends out a romantic S.O.S.; “I put it in a letter, how could I love you better, and dropped it in a bottle in the sea/Put it in a letter, I don’t know where it went so, I went to Sacramento, said you were meant for me.”

Having Van Dyke at the helm, composing, as well as arranging, allowed Brian the freedom to just sing, and the results are exhilarating. He completely invests his whole heart and soul on both “My Jeanine” and “My Hobo Heart.” The former is powered by sawing jaw-harp, piquant acoustic guitars, continentalflavored accordion and brushed percussion.

Brian manages to wrap his wry vocals around some rather Van Dyke-ified wordplay; “I carry the torch for her in the orchard, apples were her last name, my Jeanine, my Jeanine, each tree would ignite with blossoms of white and apple her hair aflame, my Jeanine, my Jeanine/Jeanine in jean and calico, a streak of mean don’t let it show, so when she tells you let her go, her yes may be no, I love her so.”

The latter weds electric keys with liquid arpeggios and jaunty sleigh bells to an accelerated Cha-Cha-Cha beat. Brian’s harmonies are lattice in that familiar, sunshiny, Beach Boys style. The lyrics celebrate the reluctant domestication of a restless wanderer, a former Casanova; “And now my travelin’ days are through, and ridin’ horses in the sand, or walkin’ with you hand in hand will do.”

The best songs indulge bit of time-travel and celebrate what Nat King Cole once characterized as “lazy-hazy-crazy days.”

On “Summer In Monterey,” breathless harmonies ride astride twinkly piano notes, home-on-the-range harmonica and a slightly hokey, clip-clop beat. A west coast companion to Patti Page’s “Old Cape Cod,” Brian’s wistful recollection returns to that brief, bucolic time between World War II and Vietnam, when (seemingly), America’s exceptionalism was on full display; “Wasn’t so long ago, that every year your family

would rent a house from June to Labor Day, summer on Monterey.”

“San Francisco” blends angular, Far East keys with a giddy-up groove. The sly instrumentation and Brian’s impish vocals manage to mirror lyrics that find an ol’ cowpoke pining a good-time gal he once knew in the city by the bay; “I can’t go from ‘cisco down to ‘frisco, how I’m missing those days of yore/Miss those frisky women, raw rye whiskey, with each kissin’ we would explore El Dorado, for this desperado was gold in the dust/Like many a man in God I do trust, gave up on El Dorado, so lost in my lust where love is not for sale out on the end of the trail.”

Finally, “Movies Is Magic” is appropriately cinematic. Shimmering guitars, crisp keys, plush strings and dulcimer notes are anchored to a rock-steady beat. An expansive ode to the power of celluloid, Brian’s ebullient harmonies match classic silver screen drive-in imagery; “Sky lit up like a jukebox for a dreamboat Delta Queen, rain dropping all around, put up the top you clown/And turn on the Nat King Cole, off with the Rock and Roll, to the movies and magic.”

Other interesting tracks include the Tropical-Mariachi shiver of “Hold Back Time,” the rainy day whoosh of “Wings Of A Dove” and the kaleidoscopic carousel of “This Town Goes Down At Sunset.” The set closes with the autumnal ache of the instrumental, “Lullaby.”

Of course, Omnivore being Omnivore, they add three previously unreleased tracks on the first disc. Matched by Van Dyke’s impeccable arrangements, Brian gets his croon on, covering three Great American Songbook standards. Two Gershwin favorites, “Rhapsody In Blue” (a record he played endlessly as a musically precocious toddler), and “Our Love Is Here To Stay.” On the former he adds wordless vocalese that renders the song all the more poignant.

The latter hits the sweet spot with layers of Four Freshman style harmonies. The final track is a sharp and sincere take on Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World.”

There’s also a second disc that previously unreleased instrumental versions of each song.

Although Brian Wilson successfully revisited the “SMiLE” material in 2004, and even the original recordings saw an official release seven years later as “The SMiLE Sessions,” none of that would have been possible without this 1995 summit.

There’s something miraculous and magical about “Orange Crate Art.” A technicolor tribute that waxes nostalgic without ever sounding coy or saccharine.

The music Van Dyke and Brian create here is as vivid and inviting as art that inspired it.

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July 9 to July 15, 2020

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

THE VINO VOICE

T

hat it has been a tough year thus far is surely an understatement.

I know many in the wine world had expected to experience a new slate of fresh vintages to kick off the new decade; instead, a much more sobering experience has affected us all.

Last year in one of our November articles titled, “20/20 Vision Food Pairings”, I thought I’d get in front of the 2020 media drive before everyone wrote on the new decade. Such minor matters these days.

But in the midst of the summertime blues, we can still enjoy some thirst

10

THE 2020 SURPRISE SIPPER

quenching wines to beat the heat. Below is one surprising quaff to take notice of: For this last Fourth of July celebration— where most of us all partied at home, I was wondering what wine would especially cheer things up. Hmmmm—I thought to myself, thinking inside the envelope, probably a nice Zinfandel, which in some circles is called our own “American Wine” as no other country produces a California Zin. And it goes great with grilled hamburgers.

But thinking outside of the box, it came to mind that I had chilling in my garage fridge, a British Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine from

the vineyards in Sussex England. How about that! The irony of celebrating our July 4th with a British sparkler kinda fits the scene of our crazy summer indoors. And further, I don’t think our wine loving revolutionary and Declaration of Independence author Thomas Jefferson would have ever thought a world class champagne-style wine would be produced in England—of all places!

And that’s because back then—and for most of our current history, England was much too cold to produce wine: way above the latitudes of Champagne, France, which sometimes had their own problems keeping their vineyards warm enough to produce classic wine.

But now in the times of energetic global warming, northern Europe is feeling the heat. And now in England, there are over 700 individual vineyards in the British Isles producing over three million bottles of wine last year.

Many of you wine enthusiasts have heard that Queen Elizabeth II had set aside seven or so acres at the Windsor Castle Estate for a vineyard a few years ago, and it’s now producing more than 3,000 bottles, including that of sparkling wine.

But the British sparkling wine that is rumored to be one the Queen’s favorite; and, the Champagne-style wine of choice served at Pippa Middleton’s wedding, was the sparkling wine that we opened for our stay at home humble Fourth of July dinner: 2013 Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs, $80.

I hadn’t heard of the English Nyetimeber Estate generally, nor have many of my California wine drinking friends. But perhaps many of you Anglophiles have.

Going on their very entertaining website, nyetimber.com/our-story, we learn that, “its earliest beginnings saw it named in the Domesday Book in 1086, almost 1,000 years ago, when the peaceful valley of Nitimbreha made its first appearance in recorded history. A property owned by King Henry VIII, it’s believed Nitimbreha refers to a newly timbered house or perhaps a small timber plantation. Almost 900 years later, in 1988, the holy trinity of sparkling wine grapes – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot

BY RICK RIOZZA Meunier – found a new home in the lee of the South Downs.”

“With its ideal soil and location, Nyetimber had yet to achieve its full potential until Eric Heerema became the Owner and Custodian of Nyetimber in 2006 and he recruited Head Winemakers Cherie Spriggs and Brad Greatrix, who both shared his vision of crafting the finest English sparkling wines. And since then, Nyetimber wines have gone on to achieve global acclaim, winning international awards and blind-tasting competitions, as well as being recognized by some of the world’s most celebrated wine experts.”

“Our vineyards share similar characteristics with the best sparkling wine vineyards in the world. Greensand and chalk soils allow our vines, in each of our separate sites, to flourish across the south of England. The climate here allows for the slow ripening of our grapes, allowing us to achieve the optimum levels of ripeness and acidity, as well as the complexity and finesse for which our exquisite wines are renowned.”

“Spread across several separate sites, our vines are perfectly suited to the greensand and chalk soils of Sussex, Hampshire and Kent. The gentle south-facing slopes allow for the best possible exposure to the English sunshine, ensuring our grapes achieve the optimum level of ripeness before harvest.”

With all of that fanfare, we couldn’t wait to taste and celebrate with a very chilled sparkling wine in the 100+ heat, nor matter where the bubbly was produced! And taste it we did as we were watching Joey Chestnut beat his own record. What a way to knock down a hot dog!

So on the nose, you’ve got that classic combination of English orchard fruit and zesty citrus, with decadent warm pastry tones and hints of nutty complexity.

Remember this blanc de blancs wine is 100% Chardonnay, and the aromas show a pure focused core of Chard.

The palate has bright energy in the form of crisp green apple and citrus flavor right up front, but it’s the finesse and softness of the bubbles that win one over to the British sparkle. Medium to full-bodied, racy and precise, but charming as well with pears, apples, mint, white peaches, ginger, saline, and acacia flowers to satisfy every blanc de blancs bubbly lover. A nice light chalky finish as well!

You know this is the good stuff by the fact that it’s a 2013 vintage and just released last year. It’s definitely a pairing for shellfish and seafood, and a great sipper on its own—with perhaps some popcorn on the side. And even though we enjoyed a nice California red wine with our July 4th burgers, the 2013 Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs was one great apéritif. Cheers!

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

CATALAN MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE

E

stablished in 2012, Catalan features the unique cuisine of Catalonia, found in northern Spain and Andorra, south to Barcelona. Seafood, lamb paella, and suckling pig are featured mains and a wide variety of tapas or small plate appetizers. The origin of the word tapas (meaning cover or lid in Spanish) is from a small plate balanced by the server on top of the rim of the glass of wine filled with appetizers to accompany the beverage. The variations of tapas are endless. Marinated olives, garlicky shrimp, smoky, spicy firm chorizos, charred octopus, jamon iberico, Serrano ham, grilled shishito peppers,

BY DANIEL PARIS Catalan is blessed with a specious outdoor courtyard for dining that is cooled by the A/C from the interior. Make your reservations early and try a glass of icy sangria or crisp Spanish Albariño with some of the most unique cuisine in the Coachella Valley.

Catalan Mediterranean Cuisine 70026 HWY 111, Rancho Mirage, CA 760-770-9508 Closed Monday – Tuesday Wednesday – Sunday 5pm to 9pm

July 9 to July 15, 2020

GOOD GRUB

empanadas, and tomato bread are just a few Catalan offers.

If you have never tried paella, order it here. It is the classic preparation of saffroninfused rice with Spanish chorizo, chicken, shrimp, mussels, and clams. It is as good as any served to locals in Barcelona. When large gatherings become a thing again in the future, order a roast suckling pig and paella dinner for you and your friends and family.

Entrees include an excellent marinated skirt steak, jidori (free range) chicken, crispy skin salmon, squid ink pasta, grilled rack of lamb, and many more.

With the recent closing of dining rooms,

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July 9 to July 15, 2020

BREWTALITY

J

uly, 2016 seems like a very different time than right now, some would say a better time. If you were a venture capitalist looking to make a profit through the Foxboro Brewing Co in 2016, the world was looking especially bright. The Foxboro Brewing System was just released to a market that had hit peak craft beer saturation, as independent brewing was finally mainstream after years of fighting for cultural relevance.

Not only were new styles of beer being explored by a public thirsty for variety, brewing technology was being innovated at an accelerated rate, with homebrewing being no exception. Companies like Picobrew had been around for several years, simplifying homebrew to a process similar to using a coffee machine. The Foxboro company looked to simplify that concept further. If Picobrew was the Mr. Coffee of the beer world, their system was going to be the Sanka. For a while there, it looked like instant beer was the next evolution of homebrewing.

And suddenly, the Foxboro Brewing Company disappeared as quickly as it arrived.

Novel approaches to making homemade beer were nothing new, the Mr. Beer homebrewing kit had been around since 1993. Employing a plastic, barrel shaped vessel to ferment your beer in, the Mr. Beer employed extract brewing, a simplified way of making beer at home that uses pre-made, concentrated wort solutions. It took almost twenty years for another new homebrewing method to emerge, this time in the form of 2010’s Pico brewer. Using drop-in pods, Pico’s brew machines offered a Keurig-style approach to brewing suds, but it still took 7-14 days for you to enjoy the beer it made.

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www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF THE FOXBORO BREWING MACHINE

There was plenty of room in the homebrew market for someone who could offer the public a truly instant beer product that they could enjoy in the moment without wait, and that’s where Foxboro’s ideas came in.

Hype for Foxboro Brewing’s instant beer began summer 2016, as the startup company created a YouTube channel and uploaded four promo videos, all featuring a trio of middle-aged men demonstrating the versatility of the Foxboro brewing concentrate. An article in “Plastics Today” raved about the innovative packaging of the Foxboro beer concentrate, how the Snapsil flexible stick packaging allowed the packets of concentrate to resemble bottles of beer.

Regional entertainment publication Dayton. com teased the arrival of “powdered beer” that Foxboro was set to debut, and if you paid attention to any of this initial marketing that was going on, something already seemed terribly, terribly wrong.

You know the feeling you get when you see a movie trailer for an upcoming summer

blockbuster, and it only takes you a minute to know that the movie is going to be terrible?

That’s the feeling you got from seeing the promotion for Foxboro’s brewing products.

You wonder how people can invest so much time, money, and resource into creating something, but then allow it to be promoted like an afterthought. The official Foxboro YouTube promos feature some of the cringiest acting you’ve ever seen, by guys with no beer etiquette whatsoever. They repeat Foxboro Brewing’s catchphrase, “make it like you like it” while talking over each other, putting ice cubes and lemon slices into their glasses of carbonated water and concentrate mix.

Dayton.com called Foxboro’s line of liquid concentrates, “powdered beer,” illustrating the failure in effectively communicating what the product is the media. Never the less, Foxboro touted their brewing machine, simply a CO2 home soda maker, and four styles of beer to choose from, as the ability to “brew craft beer anywhere.”

After a short promotional period to build hype, Foxboro Brewing debuted “Western Brew Concentrate,” an American lager, to the American drinking public. While official reviews may not exist, there are 9 user reviews for the concentrate on Untapped, all of them overwhelmingly negative.

Apparently, people hated it. Described as watery, malty and rough, tasters slammed Western Brew Concentrate after trying it at beer festivals where it was being promoted.

One Untapped reviewer even seemed to be reviewing from home, as his review consists simply of a picture of his kitchen sink drain, and a 0-star rating.

None of the other styles originally

BY AARON RAMSON promoted were ever produced. The Foxboro Beer Maker, essentially just a water carbonating appliance, can now be found in department store clearance sections at a fraction of its original selling price.

As of today, the maligned Western Brew Concentrate is impossible to find, seemingly pulled from shelves and scrubbed from existence. Foxboro’s website is just a landing page with no links, their Instagram deleted.

Foxboro brewing’s Facebook hasn’t been updated since January of 2018.

Which begs the question, why?

While researching this article, I found that Foxboro wasn’t the first company to come up with creating instant brewing concentrates.

Pat’s Backcountry Beverages had been making beer concentrate since 2008, but by 2018 were looking for new investors to continue operations. As of 2020, both Foxboro and PBB are seemingly defunct and out of business.

Did legal action spell the end for the Foxboro brewing company? Did they infringe on any copyrights that ordered a legal cease and desist? Or was it just a case of a start-up business with big ideas, terrible execution, and not enough funding?

Instant beer concentrate may have been an idea ahead of its time, and for fans of the Foxboro brewing system, the demise of their homebrewing method will remain a mystery.

I

SCREENERS

f you haven’t seen it, then it’s new to you. Right?

The good people at DEG compile the ‘Watched at Home Top 20’ list with the most widely consumed titles on disc and digital during the previous week (except for outside subscription-based streaming platforms).

Assembled with the newest studio and retailer data every seven days, it confirms current consumer enthusiasm for home viewing of the newest movie (and TV) releases in order of popularity.

Yellowstone: S3 (Paramount), Trolls World Tour (Universal) Yellowstone: S1 (Paramount), Yellowstone: S2 (Paramount), The Invisible Man (Universal, 2020), Sonic the Hedgehog (Paramount), Jumanji: The Next Level (Sony), Bad Boys for Life (Sony), Birds of Prey: Harley Quinn (WB), 1917 (Universal), The Call of the Wild (Disney, 2020), Bloodshot (Sony, 2020), The Gentlemen (STX/Universal, 2019), Spies in Disguise (Fox), Onward (Disney), Fantasy Island (Sony, 2020), Dolittle (Universal), Harry Potter (WB, Complete 8-film Collection), Star Wars: Episode IX – Skywalker (Disney).

How many have you seen? All these recent films are newly available for purchase whether a streaming file/link or physical disc.

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

No. 429

OLD IS NEW

BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS

So even with the future of public movie-going still in limbo at least in traditional closed venues and with the encouraging and suddenly widespread interest in reviving old school drive-ins, it is clear that we will not give up our love for and need for sharing and enjoying great stories on a big screen – even of that screen is digital and it’s in your home. Without a way to experience a shared narrative, we are doomed.

NEW ON BLU: BLACK RAINBOW (1989) Mike Hodges (Flash Gordon, Get Carter) wrote and directed this mostly forgotten supernatural chiller that’s a cautionary on the human race’s ability to destroy the world.

This suspenseful and unsettling gothic tale of the occult will raise the hairs on the back of your neck.

Martha Travis (Rosanna Arquette) is a travelling clairvoyant on the road with her skeptical, alcoholic father/manager (Jason Robards). The two con artists have been duping the gullible for years.

During a séance Martha appears to communicate a message from a dead man to his wife in the audience. Shocked, the wife insists her husband is still alive. Later that evening, the husband is actually murdered by a ruthless assassin.

As Martha foresees more and more

July 9 to July 15, 2020

tragic events, curious journalist Gary Wallace (Tom Hulce, follows the pair in pursuit of a hot story -- with unexpectedly catastrophic and decidedly spooky results.

Unfairly, Hodges’ strange and intricately plotted film never got the exposure it deserved, now, newly restored in glorious hidef from the original camera negatives, audiences can experience the darkness at the end of the rainbow, as never before.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS INCLUDE: A brand new audio commentary by film historians Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan, archive commentary

by director Mike Hodges and archival cast and crew interviews and featurettes.

The print and it looks fantastic, the clear, vibrant colors pop from the screen and although there aren’t that many special effects, each set piece is superbly photographed and highly detailed. If it slipped under your radar back in 1989, or you saw it in a less-polished version, then Arrow’s Blu-ray is certainly worth checking out for the performances, Mike Hodges’ skill at creating busy images with very little, Gerry Fisher’s gritty cinematography and a story that, if a little overwrought in places is compelling enough to overcome its flaws and make for a darkly entertaining and solidly crafted thriller. ARROW. robin@coachellavalleyweekly.com

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July 9 to July 15, 2020

PET PLACE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

LISA & GERTIE: SAVING SENIOR DOGS

T

he tiny Chihuahua miraculously survived as a stray dog in our desert, found by a Good Samaritan who brought her to Loving All Animals. The dog weighed only 2.8 pounds, her skin was red and inflamed, she had no teeth, but her eyes were clear, and she was a sweet heart who gratefully wagged her tail. She was microchipped, an owner was located but

claimed he’d given the dog to someone else years ago. He wasn’t interested in having her back. The microchip showed her name was Carissey.

Loving All Animals immediately took her to a vet. They wondered if she might be a hospice case given her estimated age.

However, the vet determined Carissey was about 12 years old, in relatively good

BY JANET McAFEE health given her age, and not requiring any medications. An anonymous animal lover was so taken with the adorable pup in the waiting room at Desert Dunes vet, she paid for her initial vet visit. This was an omen that good things were in store for this amazing and photogenic pup.

It was a “miracle match” when Lisa Knox met the little dog at the Loving All Animals shelter the following day. An ardent animal lover, volunteering at Loving All Animals for 10 years, Lisa has the distinction of being their longest volunteer. She was always there in the early days of the organization, staffing adoption events throughout the Coachella Valley, helping manage the Super Pet Adoption Fairs, fostering dogs, training new volunteers, taking dogs to the vet, showing adoptable animals on KMIR and KESQ, and doing every task imaginable in the world of rescue. In December 2019, Lisa was hired part time as an Executive Assistant at Loving All Animals.

Lisa fostered and adopted the tiny Chi who she named Gertrude or “Gertie”.

Gertie thrives at home with Lisa, a happy, healthy pup with a vibrant personality.

Gertie eats 5 small meals a day. Because all her teeth are gone she must eat soft food, and she loves it when Lisa sometimes hand feeds her. Gertie adores her three sister Chihuahuas, Tikka, Bailey and Chella. At first Gertie did not know what to make of her new brother, a tortoise named Tanker.

Now Gertie and Tanker happily co-exist, however she chases him out when he tries to join her on her memory foam dog bed.

How did Lisa develop a fondness for Chihuahuas? Lisa explains, “My 120 pound Akita passed away and I went to the old Cathedral City shelter to adopt another Akita. The shelter manager gave me a little Chihuahua to hold while we were looking at other dogs. I ended up adopting the Chihuahua I was holding when she won my heart. Precious Peanut lived to be 18 years old, and she taught me how wonderful this breed can be. Chihuahuas have the

MEET KIKO

MEET SAVANNAH

Kiko’s hobbies are cuddling in bed and laying in the sunshine (indoors of course). This 3-yr-old girl is fully vetted, and ready for her “furever” home. She would love to get a home that supplies catnip treats. Rescued by www. prettygoodcat.com in La Quinta.

Contact info@prettygoodcat. com or (760) 660-3414.

Savanna is 60-lbs of doggie love! Her hobby is cuddling up with you. This 7-yr-old shepherd mix girl likes meeting other large size dogs. Savanna is dog ID#A44398071 at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. For more info or to schedule appointment, contact adoption@psanimalshelter.org (including dog’s name & your phone) or (760) 416-5718.

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reputation of being yippy ankle biters. My Chi’s are just the opposite, they bark only when someone comes to the door or to greet me when I arrive home.”

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com Lisa has some advice for people who only want to adopt a puppy or young dog. “When you adopt an older dog like Gertie, she already knows how to be part of a family. Most of them are already house trained. Senior dogs are calm and relaxed, and they are so grateful at getting a second chance.”

Today Lisa and Gertie are on a mission.

They spread the word to encourage senior dog adoptions through social media where Gertie garnered a huge following on Instagram. Gertie’s story went viral on Reddit where over 50,000 people viewed her story. On Dodo, two viewers want to run Gertie’s entire story on their websites.

You can find Gertie on Instagram at @ gertiesgram, and her viral video and be found on the subreddit @aww.

Lisa sums it up, “I can’t imagine life with dogs. They are always happy to see you, they are very comforting, they don’t judge you, and they are the greatest comedians in the world. Gertie is a great companion during the COVID quarantine. She loves going places with me, and she brings smiles and joy wherever we go.” Check out Loving All Animals at www.lovingallanimals.org.

Janetmcafee8@gmail.com -----------------------------------Below is a partial list of shelters and rescues in the Inland Empire with animals for adoption. Many of these shelters remain closed for walk-ins, and you must call for an appointment. You can view most of their animals online in advance of calling.

SAFETY TIPS

COACHELLA VALLEY ANIMAL CAMPUS – This county shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. You can view the animals at all 4 Riverside county shelters at www.rcdas.org, and get the ID number of the animal you want to meet.

Email them with the animal’s ID number at shelterinfo@rivco.org and call (760) 3433644. Located at 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms. (Public) PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. They schedule appointments Wednesday through Monday, closed on Tuesday. View their animals online at www.psanimalsshelter. org, 4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, (760) 416-5718. (Public) ANIMAL SAMARITANS – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. View their animals at www. animalsamaritans.org. Email acorrow@ animalsamaritans.org to foster. Located at 72307 Ramon Rd, Thousand Palms, (760)

FROM THE CHIEFS CORNER

601-3918. (Private) CALIFORNIA PAWS RESCUE - The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 73650 Dinah Shore, Palm Desert. View their animals at www. californiapawsrescue.com, (760) 656-8833.

(Private) HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt a dog or cat. View their animals at www.orphanpet. com. Located at 17825 N. Indian Canyon, Palm Springs, (760) 329-0203. (Private) KITTYLAND – The shelter is closed so call for an appointment to adopt a cat. Located at 67600 18th Avenue, Desert Hot Springs, www.kittylandrescue.org, (760) 251-2700.

(Private) FOREVER MEOW – Foster based rescue for cats located in Rancho Mirage. Contact them at www.ForeverMeow.org, call (760) 335-6767. (Private) PRETTY GOOD CAT – Foster based rescue for cats located in La Quinta. Contact

July 9 to July 15, 2020 them at www.prettygoodcat.com,call (760) 660-3414 (Private) LOVING ALL ANIMALS – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 83496 Avenue 51, Coachella, www.lovingallanimals.org, (760) 834-7000. (Private) MORONGO BASIN HUMANE SOCIETY – Located at 4646 Sun View Rd, Joshua Tree, www.mbhumanesociety.com, call between 11am-4pm for updates (760) 366-3786 (Private) CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ANIMAL SHELTER – Shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Hours for adoption 10am – 4pm Tuesday thru Sat. Google “City of San Bernardino Animal Shelter” for website to view animals and get the ID number of the animal you want to meet. Located at 333 Chandler Place, San Bernardino, (909) 384-1304 or (909) 3847272. (Public) SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER AT DEVORE – Shelter closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt.

Call (909) 386-9280 daily between 9am & 5pm. View animals at www.sbcounty.gov/ acc and get the ID number of animal you want to meet. Located at 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino (Public).

DREAM TEAM ANGELS RESCUE - Foster based rescue located in Grand Terrace/San Bernardino area. Contact them through website www.DreamTeamangelsrescue. com, (360) 688-8884. (Private)

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

BEAT THE HEAT AND CHECK THAT BACK SEAT!

of children’s reach.

Always make sure all children have left the car when you reach your destination.

Don’t leave sleeping infants in the car ever!

Put your purse, cell phone or wallet in the back seat as a reminder when you exit your vehicle In addition to heat stroke, children left unattended in automobiles may also experience other types of injuries. For example, there are documented cases in which children left unattended in cars

T

he Dog days of Summer have arrived. And the bad news it, it looks like more is in store this week with a long hot summer ahead.

Each year, dozens of children and untold numbers of pets left in parked vehicles die from hyperthermia. Hyperthermia is an acute condition that occurs when the body absorbs more heat than it can handle.

Hyperthermia can occur even on a mild day. Studies have shown that the temperature inside a parked vehicle can rapidly rise to a dangerous level for children, pets and even adults. Leaving the windows slightly open does not significantly decrease

have put the vehicle in motion and hurt themselves and other people. Car-jacking and abductions that may occur when a child is left alone in a vehicle are also cause for concern.

For additional safety information contact your local fire department or law enforcement or visit caloes.ca.gov/ICESite/ Pages/Summer-Heat-Resources.aspx

the heating rate. The effects can be more severe on children because their bodies warm at a faster rate than adults.

Safety tips concerning children include but are not limited to: Make sure your child’s safety seat and safety belt buckles aren’t too hot before securing your child in a safety restraint system, especially when your car has been parked in the heat.

Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows down.

Teach children not to play in, on, or around cars. Always lock car doors and trunks— even at home—and keep keys out

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July 9 to July 15, 2020

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

HADDON LIBBY

SOLAR CYCLES AND CAGES

W

hile we have been dealing with the impact of pandemic (along with the occasional earthquake, riot and oppressive heat), the world experienced its strongest solar flare in nearly three years late on Thursday night, May 28th.

While the flare did not cause damage, it did disrupt radio signals for hours.

As the solar flare came at the same time as the George Floyd riots, few people paid attention to the cosmic disturbance.

If you think of solar flares like earthquakes, the late May flare was somewhat like a 3.5 earthquake around here - it is enough to get your attention but nothing of concern on the surface. Solar flares have a size gauge similar to the Richter scale for earthquakes. The weakest solar flares are classified as C-class while the strongest are X-class.

While May’s modestly large flare may not be a big deal, it could be a precursor to more ominous electrical disturbances. As the sun had not had a flare of the magnitude of the May 28th flare in nearly three years, this one may indicate that the sun may be about to enter only its 25th solar cycle in 265 years.

Solar cycles average 11 years in length.

Like high and low tides at the beach, a solar cycle has a higher strength period and a lower

strength period. Some periods are active with flares while others are quiet.

If you think of solar flares like our earthquakes, each new solar cycle brings the chance of the solar equivalent of the Big One. Scientists estimate that we have a 40% chance of a strong X-class flare in the next 20 years.

If we are entering a new solar cycle, scientists estimate that our most vulnerable period to catastrophic solar flare disruption would be in the 2025 area. Like earthquakes, solar flares are difficult to spot until after they have occurred.

DALEGRIBOW ON THELAW

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are a good start. Candles would be a useful option while the power grid is down.

If you want to try and protect your most important electronic devices from the electromagnetic fields that could damage, consider buying or building a Faraday cage as these enclosures protect the devices inside from the electrical discharges of the solar flare. Faraday cages are lined with a metallic sheeting to protect the contents inside from harmful electromagnetic fields that can damage or wipe devices.

As we move to a world where we are increasingly reliant on technology, something as seemingly innocent as a strong solar flare could cause more damage to society than a pandemic. While we have not had an X-class solar flare since 1859, it is an ever-present possibility that we should increasingly prepare for over the next few years.

Haddon Libby is the Founder and Managing Partner of Winslow Drake Investment Management. Please visit WinslowDrake.com or email hlibby@winslowdrake.com.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INJURED & CRIMINALLY ACCUSED

ARRESTED? NOW WHAT HAPPENS?

fter you have been arrested on criminal charges, the arresting officer takes the police report to one of the sergeants at the station. The Sgt. will then send it to the filing deputy in the district attorney's office. The reports are sometimes delayed in filling because paperwork has been misplaced or more info is needed. When the filing Deputy DA reviews it, s/he tries to determine what crimes have been committed and whether it should be a misdemeanor or a felony.

Even though the police officer may have arrested you/cited you for a particular crime, the filing deputy could decide that there were more counts that should be filed and/or less counts.

That is why it is often important to retain a lawyer asap so s/he can possibly contact the filing deputy and hopefully have input on how the case is to be filed in other words, to get a second bite of the apple. However, some cases are a direct file to the court, by the arresting agency, thus bypassing the DA. If the Defendant is in custody we have bondsmen that will take you out with NO MONEY DOWN, if you qualify, and they will use a 7- 8% Bond for our client instead of the standard 10%. Bond hearings are no longer in Dept. 2K, you NOW go to the Clerk's Office. If there is no filing of the complaint on the arraignment date, the matter is continued for 15 days.

Your first appearance is called an Arraignment, for either a Misdemeanor or Felony.

Misdemeanor Arraignments are in Department 2K and stay there until Trial and then go to Dept.

3M. On Misdemeanors, we can appear on behalf of our clients, pursuant to a Waiver of Personal Appearance under Penal Code Section 977.

While a strong X-class solar flare would not kill people directly, people would die due to the failure of many electronic devices.

Most experts believe that a Big One flare would take down many power grids globally.

With the loss of power for weeks or months, challenges related to maintaining food and medicine supplies could challenge us in ways the pandemic has not.

While most experts do not believe that a solar flare would wipe out all electronic devices, it could impact literally any area of our lives.

If you look in your home for items that could be rendered useless after a flare, the computer that you are reading this article on would become your new doorstopper. Your cell phone would also become a brick. Could an electronic car like the Tesla be rendered as worthless as your iPhone? What about your thumb drives with family pictures?

As electronics would be down, you would need to use old-fashioned analog devices like televisions with bunny ears and transistor radios. Devices with thermostats could be fried meaning that refrigeration and heating systems might not work.

How is one to prepare for such catastrophe?

Large stores of non-perishable food and water

On Felonies, the defendant has to appear each and every time, and those cases are in 3N, 3S (and 3T for drug charges). On felony cases, it is often difficult to get discovery from the DA before a preliminary hearing.

When we appear at the Arraignment, we are supposed to get a copy of the police report, which we forward to our client. We ask you to review it and let us know what looks correct or incorrect. Sometimes, the court Deputy DA has not had a copy of the report for us, and we have to enter a plea of not guilty, and get the report at a later date.

For the court Deputy DA's to Dispose of a case, they often have to go to a supervisor for authority to reduce or dismiss the charge. It is not easy to obtain. In 2020, the standard offer is jail time on most cases.

The current District Attorney for Riverside County is Mike Hestrin. He has instructed his deputy district attorneys to not plea bargain and to demand the defendants plead straight up to the charges with maximum sentences. Thus, the court deputies have had limited authority to negotiate. Today the DA's maintain they will make the best offer at the Arraignment court and the offers go up from there. However because of Covid 19, who knows what will happen in the ensuing months.

This is where your lawyer pays off by trying to convince the prosecutors or by pulling an end run and going straight to the Judge for an indicated sentence. Some prosecutors are easier on certain cases than others, and it is the luck of the draw as to which prosecutor is assigned to your case.

Sometimes they are assigned by the first letter of your last name and sometimes by the

last number in your court case number. After we enter a plea of not guilty at the Arraignment in 2K, the matter stays in 2K for misdemeanors. Then, it will be set for a Trial Setting Conference and a Trial in 3T. The day before the last day (before the case, would be dismissed for lack of prosecution), the matter may get sent to downtown Riverside.

Some cases are Wobblers. This means they can be filed as a Felony or Misdemeanor. For instance Domestic Violence (DV) is a wobbler.

It can be defined under Penal Code 243(e)(1) as a Domestic Battery or under 273.5 PC, which involves an injury and can be a Misdemeanor or Felony.

There are 4 Defenses to DV: 1. It was an accident 2. The injury not from this incident 3. Self defense or defense of others 4. False accusation On a Felony, after the Arraignment, the matter is set for a Pre-Preliminary hearing or Felony Settlement Conference. At that stage you try to work out a disposition. After that, a Preliminary Hearing will take place where the prosecution has to prove that a crime was committed and that the defendant is connected to the crime. The Prelim is not a stage where you have guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. There just has to be a connection between the charge and the defendant. In the vast majority of Preliminary hearings, the judge rules in favor of the District Attorney, and you have to return to court again for an Arraignment and a subsequent Trial Setting Conference and Trial.

The Indio Courts are always backed up with criminal cases and more so with Covid 19. In the past there have been civil freezes. This means that no civil case goes out to Trial, as all the courts just handle criminal matters. Because the District Attorney will not readily negotiate a plea, the courts are inundated with cases. Because

your case is set for a particular Trial date does not mean it will go out on that date. Nor does it mean the case will stay in Indio at the Larson Justice Center.

"Though I am sometimes referred to as a DUI criminal defense lawyer, I choose to not view my clients as "criminals". I prefer to view them and more importantly to treat them as good, honest people that have found themselves in a scary and unfortunate situation."

I look upon my job as protecting the Constitutional Rights of every American who drinks and drives and gets arrested for a DUI. I do however "Change Hats" when I SUE Drunk Drivers for damages to my Injured or Deceased (Wrongful Death) clients.

PLEASE DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE, CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER...IT IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN HAVING AN ARREST OR ACCIDENT AND CALLING ME ...SO DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER DALE GRIBOW - Representing the Injured and Criminally Accused "TOP LAWYER" - California's Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-20 "TOP LAWYER" - Inland Empire Magazine 2016- 2019 PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating "DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT AND GET A DUI OR ACCIDENT... CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER....THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME" If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns please contact Dale Gribow at 760-837-7500 or dale@ dalegribowlaw.com.

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SWAG FOR THESOUL

July 9 to July 15, 2020

BY AIMEE MOSCO

FOLLOW YOUR SACRED HEART “Allow your inner self to guide you and awaken remembrance in you that brings you back to the soul nature of living in happiness and harmony on purpose.” Gratitude + Forgiveness x(Love) = Happiness, by Aimee Mosco and Donald L. Ferguson, Foreword viii e all know what it means to “follow your heart”. It is a phrase that reminds you to get out of your head and let your feelings guide you. That is all well and good when you are focused on love, but what happens when you are not? When your emotions take direction from anger or resentment, that can be pretty dicey advice!

The sacred heart, however, does not recognize volatile emotions such as rage or fear-based feelings like disappointment.

It is in direct communication with your inner Spirit, the part of you that exists above and beyond ego. Emotions that are misaligned with happiness and harmony do not register or exist in the space where your sacred heart resides.

Your ego is responsible for corrupting your emotions and commandeering the guidance that comes from your heart if you are not fully paying attention. When you “follow your heart” under these conditions, your ego is in full control of whatever comes next. In some instances, that works out alright, but often the results are not what you had anticipated. Either way, it is important to understand that you are not functioning as an empowered creator if you are allowing your ego to influence your decisions.

If your goal is to create happiness in its highest form, it is helpful to give power to your sacred heart. When you acknowledge this deep part of yourself with attention, and fuel it with your focus, you draw from your divine power source and become a force guided by true love.

It is not necessary to perform a ceremony to connect with your sacred heart. It is

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sufficient to simply make an agreement with your inner self to let this part of you preside over heart guidance. Then follow up with some focused attention when you are looking for specific guidance and pay close attention to what you are feeling deep inside. Feelings of harmony and peace from the depths are signs of sacred heart intervention. Insecurity and fear are markers for the influence of ego.

If you want to do some energy work to reinforce your request for guidance, gently tap on your thymus chakra (also known as your sacred heart chakra, located approximately 2 inches below the hollow of your throat) while stating the intention “I choose to follow the guidance of my sacred heart over my ego.”

In my pursuit to help humanity awaken to love in pure forms, I invite you to join Facebook group Evolve through Love hosted by Elizabeth Scarcella, BB Ingle, and me. Go to facebook.com/groups/ evolvethroughlove and share with us your joy.

Aimee Mosco is an Author, Intuitive Channel, Spiritual Teacher and Co-Founder of Intentional Healing Systems, LLC. Aimee’s passion for helping others inspired her book “Gratitude + Forgiveness x (LOVE) = Happiness”. Find Aimee at www.ihsunity. com.

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July 9 to July 15, 2020

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CANNABIS CORNER CANNABIS TO COPE WITH TWO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMICS

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cannot seem to get away from talking or getting angry about coronavirus. It invades every activity. It is on every TV commercial, “wash hands, wear a mask and keep your distance to save lives.” Am I that powerful that I can save lives? I do not think so. Can you imagine all the guilt children will have after this is over to think the child would cause their grandparent to die? I see posts on social media saying “maskit or caskit.” If you think not wearing a mask will kill someone, I will sell you a bridge on Staten Island.

According to Phil Magness, a Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research there are two pandemics: one that deals with the general population, which is mild, and one that deals with the elderly long term care facilities (LTC), which is serious. All the epidemiologist models did not predict that 30% to 70% of deaths are coming from LTC facilities. The models used projections from the flu virus.

The associated models strongly adopted non-pharmaceutical policy interventions as a primary tool of COVID-19 mitigation.

Public event cancellations, school and business closures, and wide scale lockdowns or shelter-in-place orders (SIPOs), were implemented in all but a handful of countries across the globe with direct dependence on the advice of epidemiology modeling. In a well-documented example, the simulation model for the United Kingdom and the United

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States by researchers at Imperial College London (ICL) spurred both governments to shift their response strategies to embrace wide scale lockdowns in mid-March 2020.

Magness continues to state the models diverge from the realities of the coronavirus outbreak in the US and UK countries. Simply put, we adopted the wrong measures and used them to ineffectually target the milder of the two pandemics, all the while neglecting or even exacerbating the much more severe outbreak that continues to run its course through our vulnerable nursing home population. Massachusetts LTC deaths have leveled from their early peak in April, but they still remain at approximately three

times the general population’s daily toll.

The controversy about the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) confuses the public. The Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) published a peer review study in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

It was a retrospective analysis of 2,541 patients hospitalized between March 10 and May 2, 2020 across the system’s six hospitals.

The study found 13% of those treated with HCQ alone died compared to 26.4% not treated with HCQ. None of the patients had documented serious heart abnormalities.

Dosing by HFHS also differed from other studies not showing a benefit of the drug. henryford.com/news/2020/07/hydrotreatment-study Doctors on Long Island are using doxycycline instead of azithromycin (AZ) +HCQ on patients in nursing homes. Doxycycline appears to have less complications than AZ. abc7ny.com/coronavirus-treatment-longisland-news-nassau-county/6093072 And finally, Corneliu Popescu and Philip Fisher published in Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, a retrospective analysis of 1061 cases in Marseille, France. Good clinical outcome and virological cure were obtained in 973 patients within 10 days (91.7%) using the HCQ+AZ+Zinc. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32485391 Using medical cannabis may be one option for coping with confusing information.

BY RUTH HILL R.N.

A cannabis ratio of Cannabidiol:delta-9tetrahydrocannabinol (CBD:THC) 1:1 is a good first start. Take 5mg twice a day and adjust upward to three or four times a day as tolerated to boost the immune system, reduce anxiety, and reduce the flow of proinflammatory cytokines. The most lethal complication of COVID-19 is when the lungs progress to a cytokine storm.

Dexamethasone, a steroid, along with Tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody used for arthritis, are both successfully being used to mitigate the inflammatory process.

Unfortunately, much of this information is often blocked or ignored by social media and the mainstream media. There is positive information about treatments and nonpharmaceutical strategies for treating COVID-19.

In summary wash your hands more frequently, wear a mask, but if someone does not wear a mask due to issues with breathing, lack of oxygen, or rashes that sometimes occur, do not shun, or ridicule the person. Let us be more understanding of others and not panic the elderly.

Direct question to info@ruthahillrn.com.

MIND,BODY & SPIRIT

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BY BRONWYN ISON

7 MEDITERRANEAN DIET FOODS TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH

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ating a Mediterranean style diet may help improve your overall health long term. I’ve always been an advocate of this diet. Plus, I love all the yummy and healthy options I have.

You may want to consider a Mediterranean diet leading up to the holidays. Here’s what you can enjoy!

Olive Oil tops the list of fats you can enjoy.

Do away with the butter or any other oils you may be using for cooking, salads, dressings or baking. It’s perfectly fine to have olive oil as your primary fat.

Go NUTS for handfuls of nuts throughout your day. Almonds are a fabulous, delicious and hearty snack. Go with a mixed bag of nuts and dried fruit to add a little sweet to the salty. However, try to go with raw nuts versus salted or flavored or coated in chocolate.

Followers of the Mediterranean are suggested to eat three plus servings of fish per week. This can include shellfish. Fish is packed with protein, omega-3 fats and are heart healthy.

Legumes are a great substitute for meat or fish. Legumes consist of beans, peas, lentils and are great for vegetarians. They can also pass as a vegetable because they deliver fiber and nutrients, such as folate and

potassium.

Fruit is another enjoyable food to be added to your diet. Three servings per day are recommended. Consider tossing a few strawberries or blueberries into your next salad. Or, top your oatmeal with a half a banana and raspberries. Or, a simple fruit bowl will do.

Veggies and more veggies! If you enjoy eggs for breakfast consider making yourself an omelet and chopping up your favorite veggies. This is a great way to start your day.

A salad for lunch and steamed or sautéed veggies for dinner along with your favorite protein.

In conclusion of a hard days work, you may choose to enjoy a glass of red or white wine. Yes, wine can be a part of the Mediterranean diet. Consume conservatively and overindulgence is not suggested.

There are several options with this diet and it’s a great way to slim down. Everything in moderation. Enjoy!

Bronwyn Ison is the owner of Evolve Yoga e-volveyoga.com - bronwynison.com.

760-564-YOGA(9642).

Join evolveyogaonline.com for yoga classes ON DEMAND and BetterForItNow. com, 7-Essential Principles to improved SelfCare and Self-Compassion.

July 9 to July 15, 2020

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

WEEK OF JULY 9

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “As beautiful as simplicity is, it can become a tradition that stands in the way of exploration,” said singer Laura Nyro.

This is practical advice for you to heed in the coming weeks. According to my analysis, you’re scheduled to enjoy an extended engagement with rich, fertile complexity. The best teachings won’t be reducible to a few basic lessons; rather, they’ll be rife with soulful nuances. The same is true about the splendid dilemmas that bring you stimulating amusements: They can’t and shouldn’t be forced into pigeonholes. As a general rule, anything that seems easy and smooth and straightforward will probably not be useful. Your power will come from what’s crooked, dense, and labyrinthine.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You may think that playing heavy metal music and knitting with yarn don’t have much in common. And yet there is an annual contest in Joensuu, Finland where people with expertise in needlework join heavy metal musicians on stage, plying their craft in rhythm to the beat. The next Heavy Metal Knitting World Championship will be July 15-16, 2021. This year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic. If it had been staged, I bet multiple Tauruses would have been among the top ten competitors. Why? Because you Bulls are at the peak of your ability to combine things that aren’t often combined. You have the potential to excel at making unexpected connections, linking influences that haven’t been linked before, and being successful at comparing apples and oranges.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In 1848, Danish King Frederick VII agreed, under pressure from liberal agitators, to relinquish some of his absolute power. Thereafter, he shared his decision-making with a newly formed parliament. He was pleased with this big change because it lightened his workload. “That was nice,” he remarked after signing the new constitution. “Now I can sleep in every morning.” I recommend him to you as an inspirational role model in the coming weeks. What so-called advantages in your life are more boring or burdensome than fun and interesting? Consider the possibility of shedding dubious “privileges” and status symbols.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian author Mary McCarthy provides you with a challenge you’ll be wise to relish during the rest of 2020. She writes, “Everyone continues to be interested in the quest for the self, but what you feel when you’re older is that you really must make the self.” McCarthy implies that this epic reorientation isn’t likely until you’ve been on earth for at least four decades. But judging from the astrological omens, I think you’re ready for it now—no matter what your age is. To drive home the point, I’ll say it in different words.

Your task isn’t to find yourself, but rather to create yourself. Don’t wait around passively for life to show you who you are. Show life who you are.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Some night soon, I predict you’ll have an agitated dream while you’re asleep: a nightmare that symbolizes an unresolved conflict you’re wrestling with in your waking life. Here’s a possible example: A repulsive politician you dislike may threaten to break a toy you loved when you were a kid. But surprise! There’ll be a happy ending.

A good monster will appear in your dream and fix the problem; in my example, the benevolent beast will scare away the politician who’s about to break your beloved toy. Now here’s the great news: In the days after your dream, you’ll solve the conflict you’ve been wrestling with in your waking life.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “Love is the best school, but the tuition is high and the homework can be painful,” writes author Diane Ackerman. I’m guessing that in recent months, her description has been partially true for you Virgos. From what I can tell, love has indeed been a rigorous school. And the tuition has been rather high. But on the other hand, the homework has been at least as pleasurable as it has been painful. I expect these trends to continue for the foreseeable future. What teachings about

© Copyright 2020 Rob Brezsny

intimacy, communion, tenderness, and compassion would you like to study next?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “A single feat of daring can alter the whole conception of what is possible,” wrote Libran novelist Graham Greene. His words can serve as a stirring motto for you in the coming weeks. I sense you’re close to summoning a burst of courage—a bigger supply of audacity than you’ve had access to in a while. I hope you’ll harness this raw power to fuel a daring feat that will expand your conception of what is possible.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “It’s not always easy to tell the difference between thinking and looking out of the window,” wrote poet Wallace Stevens. That’s a problem you won’t have to worry about anytime soon. The coming weeks will be a favorable phase for you to both think and gaze out the window—as well as to explore all the states in-between. In other words, you’ll have the right and the need to indulge in a leisurely series of dreamy ruminations and meandering fantasies and playful explorations of your deepest depths and your highest heights. Don’t rush the process.

Allow yourself to linger in the gray areas and the vast stretches of inner wildness.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The coming weeks will be a favorable time to undertake a transformative vision quest, even if the exigencies of the pandemic require your quest to unfold primarily in your inner realms. The near future will also bring you good fortune if you focus on creating more sacredness in your rhythm and if you make a focused effort to seek out songs, texts, inspirations, natural places, and teachers that infuse you with a reverence for life. I’m trying to help you to see, Sagittarius, that you’re in a phase when you can attract healing synchronicities into your world by deepening your sense of awe and communing with experiences that galvanize you to feel worshipful.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “To love well is the task in all meaningful relationships, not just romantic bonds.” The author and activist bell hooks wrote that. (She doesn’t capitalize her name.) In accordance with the highest astrological potentials, I’m inviting you Capricorns to be inspired by her wisdom as you upgrade your meaningful relationships during the next six weeks. I think it’s in your self-interest to give them even more focus and respect and appreciation than you already do.

Be ingenious as you boost the generosity of spirit you bestow on your allies. Be resourceful as you do this impeccable work in the midst of a pandemic!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “One-half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it,” wrote author Sydney Howard. Now would be a perfect time to act on that excellent advice. Is there any obstacle standing in the way of your ability to achieve a beloved dream?

Is there a pretty good thing that’s distracting you from devoting yourself wholeheartedly to a really great thing? I invite you to be a bit ruthless as you clear the way to pursue your heart’s desire.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Author Ellen Goodman writes, “The truth is that we can overhaul our surroundings, renovate our environment, talk a new game, join a new club, far more easily than we can change the way we respond emotionally. It is easier to change behavior than feelings about that behavior.” I think she’s correct in her assessment.

But I also suspect that you’re in a prime position to be an exception to the rule. In the coming weeks, you will have exceptional power to transform the way you feel—especially if those feelings have previously been based on a misunderstanding of reality and especially if those feelings have been detrimental to your mental and physical health.

Homework: Is there a so-called weakness or liability you might be able to turn into an asset?

FreeWillAstrology.com ------------------------------------------------Rob Brezsny - Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

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July 9 to July 15, 2020

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