Hanging Out In Oakland

I had a group therapy meeting in Oakland over weekend. We have not been to Oakland in awhile so we had to hit up a few of our favorite places and walk around as the sun set.

The group meeting I attended was across from a mortuary - I sat across the street and watched the parking lot for any signs of un-life floating around.

After grabbing chocolate and caffeine at Timeless we walked down to Issues and I found a copy of Beyond the Dark Veil and I almost hyperventilated in the small store. Watching online auctions sell the book for hundreds of dollars I was bummed that I never got the first print. I was not even sure if they would reprint it but here it is - I bought it!

Hanging out at the Colton mausoleum with one of the sphinx twins at Mountain View. The sun was setting as we made our way along the cemetery trails. We saw some deer and the twinkle lights go on as we left. It all felt very magical. 

We ended the night with vegan deep dish pizza from Zachary's and a stroll around the neighborhood looking at books and in shop windows.

Ace Hardware has a neat display going on. It is part mad scientist part vampire hunter. It had a very old time-y movie set feel.

Cemetery Gates Volume 2 - Out Now!

Finally it is out! I had some set backs like dealing with depression and waiting for a cover that never came. But after working on a few different covers myself I came up with a design and went off to the printers.
Cemetery Gates volume 2 is about connecting with spirits. There are personal stories that talk about messages from the departed. Of course there are photos I took over the summer of the cemeteries I visited. I bring history and facts about some of the stones I found. Also I interview a spiritual practitioner on honoring loved ones that have passed. Also with each order you get an angel post card from a shot I took in Lodi, CA at Cherokee Memorial Park.You can pick up your copy in my Etsy store for $5.

I am hard at work on #3 - which will be extra special. I plan on doing a double issue that will come out in mid October. The theme is the thin line between worlds. I am trying my hand at photographing models and bringing to life concepts I have in my head. Here is a sneak peak from last weekend!

Cemeteries & Vegan Pizza

Last weekend we headed out to the Pleasenton - San Ramon area to search cemeteries, eat vegan deep dish pizza and just get away for a few hours. We spent time in both the Memorial Gardens Cemetery and CFCS St. Michael Cemetery  which are right next to each other. 

The weather has been nice and I have been digging up history (ha ha) on cemeteries in the area and playing cemetery explorer. Partly because I love cemeteries and also I am working on a zine that has been decades in the making. I am also curating and updating the lists of cemeteries via Wiki in my area.

I am always on the hunt for interesting stones. Matt also has a good eye and spotted the above stone. What stood out is the pot leaf! We have never seen anything like that. Also note the sports teams, Matt found it funny that opposing sports teams seemed to balance each other out being placed next to each other.

As the sun set I had to have Matt get a quick pick of me in. I climbed up and got dirty but that is part of being a cemetery explorer!

After a quick trip to Whole Foods and coffee-fuel we headed over to Zachary's for deep dish vegan pizza! There are two places that offer vegan deep dish in the area and I like Zachary's better. At Zachary's there is not a super long wait, the atmosphere is fun and I like the taste better. We got our vegan deep dish with jalapenos (of course) and drinks on the side (I got a bottle of Angry Orchard Apple Cider - super good!).

Cemeteries and pizza - what a perfect day time date-getaway! As always thank you Matt for taking me and sharing these adventures with me. Also if you are curious about my upcoming zine project please keep an eye out. Check out my Instagram account in the links to the side for more cemetery photos and of course photos of random stuff I post.

More Cemetery Photos

Large Celtic cross, by where we parked, kinda in the middle of this section of the cemetery from here we made it to the top and back down - I did not even fall or trip!, a flat Celtic cross marker, an interesting lighting bolt pattern with texture.

A few more photos from last Saturday's trip to Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, CA. Again, I cannot wait to go back with Matt and explore the sections we did not get to last time. It is a really beautiful place and a great area to walk when the sun is out shinning with a nice breeze. Maybe a picnic is in order!