My Blog

If you’re not on my livejournal, why not?
and if you’re not doing livejournal, again I ask, Why the hell not?
It’s soooo much better and sooo much more intimate than Myspace.  Those who I’ve met (in person) (and the rare one of two of you … i.e. Catina who I have yet to meet in person) … why are you not on Livejournal?

Those who blog on Myspace, why aren’t you blogging on Livejournal? 

It’s an easier format, it has privacy filters, and it’s a much more "at heart" community than the party and "gee how many friends can I collect" community at Myspace.

I just don’t get it.  And of course, those of you who are Tribe’sters, again I ask, especially those of you who blog, you’re simply in the wrong world. Go Livejournal.

You miss out on my archaeology field pictures, you miss out on things I’d like to talk to you about, you miss out on bodypainting pictures, you miss out on sacred studies and spirituality - ritual and magic. Hey it’s your loss.

But if you’re grown up enough to do Livejournal :
and you’ve met me in person, and we’re friends ….
add me … http://darkleaves.livejournal.com  because you’re missed.  It’s my main way of staying in touch with all of you …
Myspace is all about parties and events …. making new friends … it’s not my arena for people close to my heart …

Friendster friends:  You still are prehistoric aren’t you?
Myspace: www.myspace.com/darkleaves

Tribe: http://people.tribe.net/darkleaves 

Read about Two Tartes, Trader Joes, and Neighbours Club here with lots of pictures!

Read the tales of Stellar Pizza and Plane Crash Theater … at the Fire Breathing Kangaroo House

After work, we sped back to the Inn, swam, and showered and hit the Florida Turnpike off for Biscayne National Park south in Homestead. We went to "Convoy Point" on the coast. Just in the knick of time … as the coral reef snorkeling boat trip was just about to depart. $45. Boat trip, snorkeling gear, and guides. Grabbed our fins, masks, and snorkels and jumped on boat. Off we went through varying shades of green to blue-green waters of their famous coral reefs. Hour boat ride out, our hangovers a little rough with the rocking of the boat, but we managed fine. The waves were rocky and the clarity difficult but we managed to get in, swim around, and see some spectacular fish. Even ran across a barracuda.

"Biscayne has the simple beauty of a child’s drawing. Clear blue water. Bright yellow sun. Big sky. Dark green woodlands. Herea and there a boat, a bird. Its a subtropical place where the mainland mangrove shoreline, a warm shallow bay, small islands or keys, and living coral reefs intermingle. Together they make up a vast, almost pristine wilderness and recreation area along the southeast edge of the Florida peninsula. The park, located 21 miles east of Everglades National Park, was established as a national monument in 1968. In 1980 it was enlarged to 173,000 acres and designated as a national park to protect a rare combination of terrestrial and undersea life, to preserve a scenic subtropical setting, and to provide an outstanding spot for recreation and relaxation." ~ Biscayne National Park brochure

View Journal Entry Here ….

Sunday, 17 July 2005
Coco-Walk, Coconut Grove - Miami, Florida

How on earth do the shops and businesses at the infamous "CocoWalk" in historic Coconut Grove make any money? The parking garage beneath, unlike those found in Los Angeles with similar artsy and fashion-based  shopping centers with a mish-mash of bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, restaurants, cafes, clothing stores, and trendy shops with free parking like you find in alot of metropolitan cities … unlike Miami where parking is not cheap. But the splendor of the AMC @ Coco-walk provides you with a movie parking validation coupon good for 0-4 hours. However, they fail to mention, as parking manager "Steve" puts it … if you go over the 4 hours, you "have to" pay the full day flat rate of $8.00. What a rip-off! They don’t ethically give you the first 4 hours with the validation, and charge you the hour rate … they want to rob you of every penny they can. So as much "fun" you can have at Coco-Walk I have to say "not recommended" if you are driving. Avoid it like the plague. Especially with non-compassionate managers like Steve running the operation. This is something they should rectify immediate because the businesses who rent from Coco-Walk are gonna start losing business. Review by darkleaves @ gmail . com. 

Monday, 04 July 2005 - Pt I, Everglades City, Florida

I got up earlier than everyone else - and discovered my sandals were still in Allen and Rose’s hotel room after partying last night. I wandered downstairs to grab the continental breakfast at the Captain’s Table hotel we stayed at and it sucked. Orange juice and white powdered donuts. What a rip-off. Went back up to the room and luckily Rose, Allen, and Charles were just waking up and grabbed my sandals and said bye n’ thanks. It was 8:30 am, and decided to do some exploring before heading back to Miami. Drove to the Florida Heritage site of the "Smallwood Store" which unfortunately was closed so didn’t get to venture in. The place was thick with mosquitos though … so was eaten alive. Got to see some fiddler crabs on the beach which was nice and good views.

Smallwood Store
Built and founded in 1906 on Chokoloskee Island by C.S. Ted Smallwood - A pioneer in Collier County. The building served as a store, a post office, and Indian trading Post. Ted remained postmaster until his retirement in 1941. His business was with early settlers and Seminole Indians. Road access came to the island in 1955. The store was placed on the National Register of historic places in 1974. Restoration of the store as a museum was started in 1990 by the Nonprofit.

more …

On July 3rd … a visit to Big Cypress Nature Preserve in the Everglades …

Many pictures of Alligators taken … visit www.livejournal.com/users/techno_gypsie for pictures …

The Morgue
Wednesdays - Club Ozone
6620 SW 57th Ave
South Miami, FL 33143
305-666-6791

Venturing out to The Morgue that is held at Club Ozone in South Miami involved about a 15 minute drive from the apartment. Got there at 9:00, even though they supposedly are open at 9 … they didn’t open the doors till 9:30.

Place was dead with only a few people until 10-10:30′ish. Then people starting to pour in and by midnight the place was packed. Miami clubs are open till 5 am so I guess there is no rush to get there early unlike the west coast where clubs close at 2 am. DJ’s Dracula’s Daughter and Danny Bled spun incredible gothic, dark wave, synth pop, industrial, 80s retro, EBM, Electro-Clash, New Wave and Future Pop. No Cover and plenty of parking. 2-4-1 Well Drinks and domestic beers. Ages 18-20 is a $5 cover. No Cover for 21 plus. Supposedly there’s the typical gothic dress code of rubber, pvc, goth, kink, Victorian, Uniforms, Nurse/Doctor, Costumes and no jeans … though I saw alot of individuals with t-shirts and jeans.
Drinks were poured rich and strong just like I like them. Music was great and people were friendly. Danced up a storm. Good dancers. It was a very good evening. Too bad I had to leave by 2 am since I had work at 7:30 in the morning. Rating: 5 stars of 5.

more pics here

Full story here