ootlooc.com blog

He has written two e-books (taking place about thirty years apart) recalling his travels out west first as a single stoned drunken man in his late twenties and then as a sober but still poor and crazy married man in his mid fifties. Written with humor and poignancy and recalling some of the politics of the times, what these two 'memoirs' also have in common is the spontaneous adventure of being on the road and going where fate or mechanical mishaps take you and the amazing people-characters you meet when you leave yourself open. These are his stories about the sounds of life and friendship. Take a read and listen.

Totally Gone West

(Right click and select save as to download or left click to read online.)

Mark experienced culture shock in his high school years when (after his parents divorce) he moved from the inner city to a small town suburb and there encountered many lily white- blue eyed -blonde haired hockey jocks and their cheerleaders. He eventually stumbled on to others of his own mind and from 1978 to 1982 with one in particular (Michael James Gray) took 'vacations' that became journeys and homes away from home. Along the way he discovered multiple ways of opening a beer bottle without an opener (this was before twist off caps), to roll with one hand and how to flirt without even knowing it.

Oh, and as a side benefit he discovered friendship, freedom, life, love and all the subtle sounds within.

The Idiots of Eden-Leaving Babylon

(Right click and select save as to download or left click to read online.)

Thirty years later. What has he learned?

1. Love begets love

2. Can't drink

3. The west is still wild

4. Nothing mechanical, obviously

Two more trips out west this time in 2007, twelve years sober, in a painted up 'Merry Prankster' style 1974 Mercedes Benz Motor Home with wife, teenage daughter and two dogs, again with little money, no planned route or destination and relying on the kindness of 'strangers'.

The mp3s

Marks songs and lyrics are experimental, eclectic, sarcastic, sad, literate and problematically poetic.

More can be found at: http://www.onetalkingshoe.com

Mark A. Garcia is a drummer, keyboardist, performance artist and song and story writer who drives vulnerable adults to work and back home again for a living (barely). He is domiciled in Pine City, MN on the Snake River with his wife Patricia McQuarry, dog Yuffie, cat Eddie and other less tame wildlife. They have two daughters Jamie and Riva who live in St. Paul and Minneapolis respectively. Mark has had songs played on local college radio, CD write ups in local rags, performed in venues/bars as a drummer/keyboardist, performed short pieces and plays of his own creation with/without his family, had a couple stories published in Whistling Shade (back issues- summer of 2005 and 2006) and currently at Secret Laboratory. (click on Arts & Entertainment)