The two biggest pieces I have ever seen in my life.

Gigantic Morganite with Quartz and Kunzite. Mmmmmm they look so good in that case!!

This pictures were taken at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Main Show at the Convention Center. This year's much anticipated show is titled Mineral Oddities.

On my way to purchase two crystals at the Westward Look Resort in Tucson, AZ. A huge rainbow appeared that I could have been at one end of collecting the gold. Or in this case I got two gem crystals, one indicolite and morganite both from Brazil.

Look into the lights my friend see what you can see

A nice piece to wake up to and brush thy teeth

This was my childhood favorite clock tower, on the hour the pods would open to reveal animated dolls from various countries. The dolls had an overly cheery look like the two or more moves where not the only thing they could do. In any event I was unable to get a picture of them before my flight. My last memory was the tuba xmas event in Midtown where I played the baritone along with around 250 other low brass players.

The Clock Tower actually looks great with the Stained glass window in the background, I'm very pleased to know the clock tower has a new home.

Here's a picture of Prefuse 73 grainy as it is (taken by a 2 megapixel camera on my phone) in the Railto Theater, Tucson AZ for the 2009 Gem and Jam. I couldn't tell you the rest of those on the play bill a couple of bands and a dj that played some tech house ish records with a latin mix. This was actually the second night of Gem and Jam, the first night i went out on the town. I have a couple more pictures to add from the evening of jams and gems.

I would say the last two months of my life were getting ready and building up for the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. Originally I made a plan with another friend to drive across the country in my van to sell Herkimer Diamonds and to go mining. This plan to leave and go mining was something I had posted about on tribe not that long ago, well that plan came and went. Here I was making plans that I thought were concrete, but as it turned out my partner was only laying down gravel. To make a long story short our plans were thrown out the window when he beseeched me to leave on Feb 2nd 2009. He wanted to drive 33 hours straight from New York to Tucson, and I personally would rather keep my life than risk loosing it. So while he was conspiring his separatist solo plans I was being spoon fed lines bullshit for 6 hours until I learned the truth.

Luckily for me, I told my story to a real friend and he opened up his home to me and just like that I had a place to stay in Tucson. Meanwhile I was fighting off the disbelief of what had happened. With the pressure mounting to get to where the good deals were being made I pulled myself together and after making 100 negotiations with the priceline negotiator in a 24 hour period I was able to land myself a $346.28 round trip ticket to tucson with one layover in chicago. Basically the same exact flight I took two years ago to attend the show. Things were starting to look up.. I had recently deposited a $2219 check from Progressive for the no fault rear end collision that occurred the week prior.. (i only suffered minor injuries, whiplash). With that check and some extra flow from ebay I felt confident that I could find a few good deals in the mineral marketplace.

I arrived on Feb 5th to Tucson a little late by a collector's standards. The best time to arrive is at the beginning of the show when all the dealers have their newest / best material laid out on the blanket. Say someone hits a new pocket of tourmaline from Afghanistan it would be great to be the person who buys the entire lot and can control the market on that material especially if it's quite desirable (this was a real life working example of material I missed out on b/c of when I arrived, however I did get their contact for future endeavors). Tuscon is an exciting time for collectors, hobbiests, and dealers alike. The sheer buying and selling of minerals can be quite the spectator sport, if one chooses to simply not engage. The temptations to buy become too great when the truth of the Tucson show reveals itself.. this is a buyer's market just like most of the american markets... unfortunately the buyer's market has negative implications being that dealers judge the year on how well they will do by this show. I've heard from many a people that the Tucson show sales are down / slow in comparison to even last year. Which is not a good thing for buyers as there will be less dealers coming out next year for Tucson and or they may just attend the larger shows in Europe and skip Tucson altogether.. This show is a key indication about the state of affairs in America. However despite the poor economy transactions are still being made. Exciting ones too.. I sometimes like to think of the mineral business to be much like a great game of Texas no hold em High Stakes Poker. There are always deals to be made.. especially being in this buyer's market... like this AMAZING deal for practically a room full of tourmaline.. enough tourmaline to keep even a tourmaline hungry collector happy for several months. now if only i could raise 18,000 in three days!

I did purchase a few items that I am proud to add to my collection. A indicolite (blue) tourmaline that my friend nicknamed the redicolite, and a morganite crystal (pink beryl), both of which are gem crystals. I also get a few other tourmalines, a pryite, quartz, fluorite specimen that is quite nice and a few bi colored kunzites.

I also happened to both nights of the Gem and Jam... where I was able to catch Prefuse 73 the first night and Greyboy allstars the second.

I've seen so many world class specimens of minerals it's mind boggling.. objects that are so prized that museums are often turned away b/c they cannot fetch the selling price.

one collection I saw at the Westward Look Resort (where a good majority of the high end dealers where located for the first time this year), was estimated to be valued at 40 million!!

My friends and I tried a newish vegan restaurant (new to me) in lower east side (LES) of NYC on 1st ave between 6th and 7th st the other day (day before yesterday) called counternyc. the meals were moderately priced for a vegan bistro, the service was excellent and the food was great! I ordered the tornado of seitan, peppes frites, mushroom ravioli, and one other appetizer that is eluding me at the moment. I also ordered two deserts, i just couldn't help myself and thought that i would regret not ordering one or the other of chocolate tart (tofu based tart), and a pecan fudge sundae w/ phyllo dough. mmmm there was an impressive list of organic beers and mixed drinks to boot, almost two pages worth!! I'm looking forward to when i can return to counternyc with more of my friends.. www.counternyc.com

Have you had a run in with the 5-OH where you felt you were extremely lucky not have to gotten nabbed or at least scorned upon? I had one such instance not too long ago, where i was showing a buddy downtown rochester, at the good ole drunk hour 1:30 - 2:30 am. My buddy commented on just how many cops were out that night, we had seen over 14 in less than 5 minutes. I was telling my buddy as we drove down the main strip that this is DWI avenue of town, that all the cops come out on Friday / Sat. nights. As I was telling him this and we had driven past all those police cars I realized I had driven down the main strip without my headlights on at 1:30 am!!! I was really surprised that I didn't get any attention at all.. it was like i was invisible >;)

I've had a few other instances / run ins that concluded in such bizarre manner that when the story is recited it sounds like a big fib... n e ways i'd love to hear back about your close encounter with the long armed man of the law.

UPDATE:: 12/28/2008

sold one Brandenburg Quartz crystal double terminated quartz twin var amethyst + smokey quartz + H20 bubbles on ebay for $275,
sold 4 tourmaline crystals 3 of which were not listed below, one i was thinking of when I wrote this list.
sold 2 aquamarines, one the smallest of the erongo mnts 13.7 for $200
sold 1 aquamarine from minas gaieras that i had listed on ebay for $35, sold the single etched crystal for $50 b/c that's what it's worth, if not more. Many of these minerals you could sell for more..

I have a LOT of these minerals are underpriced. you will find good deals . ask me quesitons i have answers. provide a valid email address and i'll gladly send you pictures,


I have a huge personal collection of minerals, rocks, and crystals I collected for the elevation of my consciousness. I feel I have gained what I can from these teachers and now it is the time to pass the knowledge on so that others can learn from these amazing specimens. I am planning to keep some, but only what i can carry with me on my person. I simply have an abundance of crystals and minerals that need new homes. If any of these items I have listed below strikes your fancy or you would like to know more about / see photos, I can easily email you any picture of an item(s) (each mineral / rock / crystal is unique in that no two items are the same any where in the world) OR if we're in the same part of the country perhaps we can make arrangements for a private showing. I also have many different examples of each mineral / rock / crystal from inexpensive to large cabinet pieces. None of this material is facet rough it is all high quality high energy specimens. These make great gifts for the holidays!!

(6) Aquamarine from Erongo Mountains Namibia various sizes,
(23) Aquamarine etched by solution from Minas Gairas, Brazil,
Aquamarine, Black Tourmaline, Fluorite on matrix
Aquamarine, Black Tourmaline, Smokey Quartz
Aquamarine, Black Tourmaline
(7) Brandenburg Quartz variation amethyst + smokey quartz often times these crystals have water trapped inside from 1,000,000 years ago. Phantoms are also present in many of these find crystals,
(4) Topaz,
(2) Helidor,
(6) Tourmaline (pink, green, multicolored. every piece has at least one end terminated, some are double terminated)
(6) Moldavite smaller pieces / one large besednice,
(1) Hemitite on matrix
(1) Apetite (purple small),
Red Apophylite various sizes
Floroapophylite small pieces to one large cabinet piece
Green Apophylite w/ stilbite or scolecite
Clear Apophylite w/ Stilbite
Brown Apophylite w/ Mesolite or stilbite
Cavansite on matrix, loose cavaniste balls
Green/Pink/Brown/Clear Heulandite, some on matrix, some loose
Super 7 Quartz Crystals with 7 different minerals inside. this is a very powerful stone, they don't call it super for nothing.
Rubies / Corundum
Clear / Black / Chalcidony on matrix
Chalcidony psuedomorph calcite
Kunzite
Spodugmene clear w/ garnet
Garnet
Fluorite various localities, USA, Namibia, Okuroso, UK Rogerly mine
Fluorite eteched on matrix
Malachite from the congo
Dioptase tsumeb mine namibia
Calcite, Fluorite, on Spheralite matrix

at trying out some ebay listings of minerals.. since i can't seem to get any help designing my website (if you know anyone that wants to help with my website or has the time to make it happen please PLEASE contact me privately). for now i'll be listing my material on ebay.. myworld.ebay.com/planbisco

no not to psychos, or propane, or cocaine or crazies, but to watching Battlestar Galactica. i can't get enough what with this website www.surfthechannel.com in existance i have unlimited access to all the tv / movie programs i could ever want. i watched all the seasons of stargate atlantis, against my better judgement to go outside and do something with my life (stargate is not even in the same league as battlestar, stargate is weak cheesy entertainment value at best as far as i'm concerned). surfthechannel just makes becoming a living TV cell a reality. please help!

here's the front of the koxbox party flyer..

i came across this party on www.goabase.de on dumbluck. yesterday i was searching for parties for a stranger i met on the airport super shuttle, on my way back from newark international airport. Tom, was wearing an hallucinogen sweatshirt, i had to make a comment and asked him where he was coming from and what brought him to nyc. Tom was from australia and he was in nyc to see ACDC play at madison square. he asked me if i knew of any clubs he should check out, i took down his email address and said i would send him some infos about what's good in nyc.. i did a search on goabase for parties in usa and came across this event in queens with koxbox.. www.yogibogeybox.org/ and thought to myself it's been literally ages since i went to a psytrance party and would be great to come out and see some friends like old times. i asked another friend about the organizers and he said yogibogeybox really know how to throw a great party so it looks like the forecast is great for psy entertainment this sat nov 15th. i'm psyched

just got back from a 12 day stay in germany.. was my first time visiting germany and i fell in love with hamburg or hemmweh. My friend purchased me a flight for my 29th birthday (i'm a libra baby!) and we choose to fly into dusseldorf.. we were both disappointed in dusseldorf being that the city is mainly for business people, with little to do in terms of sightseeing / music. it's a big drinking town and other than that it's strictly business types and some famous architecture .. we visited the frank geary buildings there (2). it reminded me of my home town, rochester.. a great place to leave from. we couldn't seem to leave fast enough, and headed to munich for the international gem and mineral show, which had a huge exhibit on australian minerals / gold. there was two gold nuggets there that weighed close to 300 ozs! one looked like the size of a small pig (couldn't think of a better analogy)... we ended up spending on day at the gem show, due to a long train ride to munich that left us tired and confused. i made the mistake of trusting google to provide me with an address for the munich international fair trade center. google sent me in the total wrong direction / place and i ended up missing out on a couple of hours at the gem show. we had a lovely dinner with friends from green mountain minerals and i surprised my close friends by doing two shots of jagermister. (usually i am the first to denounce alcohol, however there are a few i mean few exceptions). after munich we hopped on a train to berlin where we officially started our sightseeing adventures.. we stopped by the berlin wall, the technology museum, and the jewish museum, which we didn't really alot enough time to see. we didn't plan this trip around seeing music, something that is usually a stern motivator when traveling this was strictly a pleasure trip. the technology museum was an interesting sight, we saw an exhibit on zuse AG / a german mathematician who invented the computer, his company was later bought out by siemens AG mainly b/c zuse AG received no government funding for research, while IBM did. was hard for zuse to compete with having to pay for their own research eventually zuse decided to sell. the museum also had a huge exhibit on locomotives as the museum was housed inside an old train repair factory, lots of history on german engines and the engineering of locomotives / influence on germany.

the jewish museum had tons of history of the jewish people throughout their existence here on earth, how they've been persecuted for so long. i was particularly moved by the exhibit in the basement that had memoirs of people murdered in the various concentration camps. things / objects that survived the war and told a story about the people who owned them.

our next stop was my personal favorite place.. hamburg. we went to spicy's museum of spices where we purchased coffee spice and saw the history of various spices where they came from ect. the museum had huge sacks of spices that you could smell / put your hands into. hamburg also had the best shopping as far as i'm concerned.. be it chocolate / or hipster clothing. many sections of hamburg reminded me of the lower east side of manhattan.. i could easily see myself living there.

we had time to check out some music at this club where ben klock played.. the club was really seedy w/ people hooking up left and right.. kinda gross IMO. we were there for music reasons only, as is our purposes at any given party. the music however was rather boring so we left around 6am.

sunday we headed to the fish market, where germans buy not only fish / meats, but fruits and veggies. the market was extremely packed with people selling everything you can think of.. i was impressed at just how many people were there at like 7am. packed shoulder to shoulder. people can find just about all the food they could possibly consume in a week at this market and for great prices.. the freshness is unmatched.

i had a great time in germany and am looking for ANY excuse to go back there / possibly call hamburg my new home. we'll see.

I went to Denver again this year to make purchases and acquisitions, and to try and sell some of my material in the Holiday Inn room 310.. nothing has sold so far but i'm remaining optimistic. i did make quite a few great contacts and

Odin sleeping under the chill out stage at the Orb Festival

of the Sterling silver chain i traded cash for at Camp Bisco.. the price was right.. I'm planning on putting a wrap on the chain, however I need to do more research on what I like and want before I'll take that leap

Going to festival after festival is taking a toll on my body, leaning me towards narcalepsy. I was able to snap this picture in a rare waking moment during the last festival, Camp Bisco. At last year's festival I brought my mini sound system and rocked it pretty much the entire time.. This year I brought the monitors, however my cdjs and mixer were in nyc, unavailable to me, I forgot to bring all the proper connections.. needless to say I was able to set up the monitors in the Dimitri Fibonacci tent (DFibonacci.com).. rocked out with some minimal techno for about an hour.. i had the channels backwards and made mixing properly extra difficult, though there was a reason, that being channel one was fried.. so channel one became channel three and there the confusion was sown.

wow what a line up of talented minimal tech house acts all play8ng at the same party.. it's amazing to see all that talent playing at a festival in new york.. usually i would expect something like that to happen in the UK or europa... though many people consider nyc to be the capital of the world being that every culture from around the world has some concentration there. thankfully a close friend caught the fine print in the informational newsletter for presale tickets for $40!

the other photos didnt come out as well.. i'll take some new ones with the new camera once i'm in the right place at the right time

getting a polish

were attracted to the crystal energy, they kept buzzy around and around.. I think they got a little drunk on the energy b/c they got sleepy and were having lots of sex (not in the order). we conveniently had my booth set up on a bee mound.. luckily it was mating season and they were all quite docile / no one got stung

May 23rd photo 1

the view from my rear view

This toy lasted all of ten minutes with odin before he performed major eye surgery on the poor rabbit.... then it was cotton mouth all over again.

Occasionally wagging his tale in his bountiful dreams