flowers and insight

A little scruffy looking as far as the flowers go, but we wanted to get the garden going this year. It was destroyed when we hired "wall guy" 3 years ago to rebuild our backyard wall. He, we later found out, had been taking pain killers for the past two years previous to us hiring him. It turned out that he couldn't finish the job as was agreed upon a first, second, or third time. So, we had to hire someone else who also, as it turned out, couldn't quite finish the job. But with determination from William, and help from Matthew and Shelley, last year we were able to get the wall pretty well complete. Just the top framing along the lattice walling, and we will be hopefully done with it. William did a great job on it. Everything, but the tree was destroyed. We had made it quite clear that the tree was not to be harmed in any way, or else. He did at least get that part right. So we planted the bulbs last year, and just got the rest planted in this year. You will see more of the tree later. In the back of the garden is the lilac bush we got from Zita. The first one that took us three tries was also destroyed by wall guy. We will also get Mr Budha out on the plate in front of the tree.

Okay, here is another real oldie from my past. This one is when I was realizing my sexuality. I was back home from a date with a nice young lady. I had gone into a bathroom that was empty, and one of the stall doors was half way open. But the light above it was out, so it gave it this weird haunting look. When I was home and thinking about the stall I wrote this.

What are you looking at?
I don't know.
What do you expect to see?
Someone.
It's dark.
You're in the dark, not me.
Really?
Come out a little.
Why don't you come in?
I told you, it's dark.
Too dark?
Sorta, yeah.
Whad'da expect?
More!
More than what you see?
Yeah, and that ain't much.
Cut on me?
No! You, what I can see, look fine.
What can you see?
What I would like to have!
Have?
Ok, what I would like to have respond to me.
Come, again?
You're what I would like to believe,
would make me happy.
You see all that in this dark stall of a shadow?
My half-bear form.
Don't you wish I could come in?
No!
What?
I wish you could put light on me,
and light the shadows. What is dark?


I hope you find something in it for yourself. Enjoy the pics, as well.

bathroom and show

These are what I saw on the ship in the bathroom. Lucky me. I didn't notice the face till the last day, but the horn blowin' sailor - mystic ham stomached being was hard to miss.

On another topic; we went to see the new musical. Saving Aimee at the Signature Theater. It was written by Kathy Lee Gifford. It had some great voices, and some songs that let them use them, as well. And that is my review. Enjoy the pics.

A thought created, a thought dreaded

Years ago I got a picture from Zita that was of a broken ship on a stormy sea and there were a few men hanging on the the timber still floating. It was a Russian Print. I loved that one. And I still wish to see the original someday. This picture reminds me of the print, and the poem I just wrote helps deliver the thoughts that live in me. Some how enjoy the pics just isn't apprapo, but here you go.


In this time of belief we hear the pain
We see the reports of those that have died
Do you feel the true pain or block it and hide
How does one know the way to go through the process
I don't want to really see the want and feel the hurt
I want to say that I am sorry for those who are suffering
and ask people to know I can relate
But can I really relate
Can I really say that I am in it with them
No. Not really. Does that make me cold or wrong?
I am deadened to truth and surrealistic about the horror
I have put up my walls and don't want to expose myself
I am an island that is still afloat at this time
Do not carry burdens to me that I cannot bare
I will help those I can in ways I can
But God bless those who cannot hide
and God bless those who will not lie.
For I am neither and I am both

Poems and pictures

When I came back from the trip little did I know that spring was still so far away. Though I did manage to get some floral shots. The trees are so clean. I love the little pink bud still rolled up with all the others wide open around them. I hope there are some warm days left out there. Not hot, but warm. I have another poem to deliver on the web. This one is much older than the one I wrote for the competition. Both are very profound in the fact that they are about women that have been in a man's life. This one I wrote 18 years ago while I was in college to finish up my B.F.A. I was sitting in Music appreciation early Monday morning, and the teacher was playing Debussy's "Afternoon of the Faun." It was absolutely beautiful. It is still one of my favorites to this day, or night as it is right now. Anyway, I hope you like it. I still like revisiting it every now and then.

We laid upon the southern terms of time,
The colors were a blending of envy and fire,
And some might have been so inclined,
if knowing of our pleasures.
The green still predominantly hanging on,
Never totally losing dominance against the changes,
For the Southern Term lives on.

We felt the natural breath blowing against our skin,
The soft kisses caressing our curves of freedom.
The sun crept through the leaves still hanging,
clinging, or bound to remain in the trees.
It's warmth more seen on our skin than felt,
The direct rays not so attributed for the comfort,
as much as the general glow that surrounds us.

Like Fauns of ancient Greece we lay,
No hurry, no recognition of time, no somberness of responsibility,
A quick cool breeze, a switch of previous exhales from nature,
titillating the want of moving closer,
Then a following stroke proves warm again,
but we do not release the embrace.

Enjoy the pics.

A poem, a picture, and a thought

I know there are a lot of pictures out there waiting to be seen, but this was the one to be viewed at this time. We made baskets to be delivered. It was fun. William snuck over early in Easter morning and left them outside the neighbor doors. We were grateful that we were able to do it. It was a fun time with the Graeme man. he has grown even more. And his demeanor is quite good for a teen ager dealing with an aging gay uncle driving him around for apparel shopping. We tried to make 'THE LAST WHIMSY" But I failed horribly at that driving to the right spot on time. but I think we did okay. We made some ice cream tonight. Oh my god it is so good.

I also found my Xmas competition poem. It mentions breast, and is totaling a weird idea, but I thought it was a cool concept. I am still not quite sure what the marks against it were, but please comment if you care to does so. Thanks

From the start of our lively being we desire and grow in love’s attention
For we suckle on that first breast and nurture in its abundant fair
But how then is it taken, covered, buttoned and never again pulled to us bare
So is it not in that first love, that we find the love’s first shun
Oh woe is that mind that is left wallowing in that sallowing run
Sure we adapt, to go find alternate finger, or cone, but none do compare
For there is just that one that was to come so sweetly by God’s care
How can we then allow it to be worshipped by a younger sibling one
Cry out Ye Magistrates cry out a loud
For tis a crimer and a shamer that we must review
How do we know that God is meaning all that is allowed
Do we not still need that which is given and then repewed
But in even that thought there is this thought for the crowd stated
With that first shun we learn that love is so much more than what is just viewed and tasted.

Yes, a little odd and trivial, perhaps, but the writing is good. And the rhythm pretty good. Sure I made up a word, or two. But hey, artistic license is a hazard of the trade. Thanks. Enjoy the pic and the poem.

Check It Out and about Christ

I was at Macy's and saw a sign that I had to take a picture of. The lady's were looking at me as if I were crazy, and perhaps I am. This was a saying that some guy back in William's and Craig's past kept saying the whole weekend they spent with him. I forget the details but not the saying. So,"Check It Out!"
And as for the sunsets, well, they sort of speak for themselves. The Crucifix is something I found for William in January in the Chicago area. West Dundee to be specific. I hoped he would like it, and he seems to have taken a shine to it. The crucifix separates from the base, which could be handy if we need to do an exorcism in our hood. Which isn't so wild an idea, now-a-days.
And finally, I made a pineapple upside down cake for William on his birthday. I thought it made a good photo. Just wish I had wiped the side of the plate. Ahh well. Enjoy the pics. And have a good week.

A Friend and a Face.

So our friend Ralph was here tonight to eat some dogs and chips with us. Don't worry Edvard was not the dogs referred to in this part of the evening. Edvard met him at the door with jumps and licks. It is amazing how much both Ralph and Edvard have in common. They both are just a little persistent. Just a little bit. They both get their way a lot, of course by being persistent. It is just natural that they win over so many people by their charm and ...persistence. Ralph was with us the day we got Edvard. HHHMMMMM Let's see, I think he helped by being persistent enough that he would be there to help us out with him. And I assure you he has. God blessed us with Ralph and then with Edvard. People and things come into our lives for reasons. Ralph's reason was not just Edvard, I am sure. But it is a strong point. The other photo is a picture of a broken hook in the Bathroom stall at my job. It looks like a face to me, as well. And yes, my pants were up when I took this photo. You people are so funny about that. Enjoy the pics