"Do you love me? Are you playing your love games with me?"

-------Old Greg
The Mighty Boosh

(Dang it that show is so FUNNY!)

So I'm on my 3rd published contract now, thanks to M, who has had more of an influence on my life in Dubai than she realizes. Being recognized as a professional does wonders for the self esteem, and does it's fair share of legitimization and validation as well. Is it all becoming worth it? I think so. Getting paid and seeing my work in print is like discovering a new element...me.

This is hopefully, if they choose to make it so, the cover.

Neon Star Signs

Normally - I don't put much stock in the stars. But I will admit - there are some things about my sign that ring absolutely true...almost uncanny. Actually, look up Virgo anywhere and it pretty much describes me to a freakin "T". Daily horrors though, I usually scoff. Today, however, something caught me - my horror says "Let frivolous friendships fall away while nurturing those that truly matter."

Wow. That is exactly what I have been worrying over for the past few months. Losing friends, wondering if I could or should have done anything different....but now I know. It's OK. The people who walk in and out of your life like a swinging door are just like episodes of a TV sitcom. You watch, have a few laughs, roll your eyes at the silly ending and the bad acting then move on to next week's episode. True friends are like favorite movies. You watch them over and over again, each time discovering some new snippet you missed before and still laughing and crying at all the good parts.

Let the frivolous go. Concentrate on the good stuff.

I like that.

I think I will.

It's a proof.

Another one bites the dust. What is this new phenomenon where a certain segment of my friend pool degenerates into a muddy puddle of bitchiness? I can't stand having to be the man here - I thought females were the ones who usually throw hypersensitive titty-baby hissy fits? I've lost my patience since I hit 30 - Sigh - another excercise in deletion. I think I'll just start sticking with the fish.

Don't ever assume
anything about anyone.

It's not your place.

Either ask questions
and listen to the
answers,

or

keep your
fat
mouth
shut.

A star
with no eyes
feels its way
across the vast
beyond
living without
care and
conforming to
unseen shapes
while I
with three ways
to see
stumble
fall
and crawl
my way
across my
sheltered life
as if
I were
completely blind.

I was privileged last night to be in audience of one of the best Spanish Guitarists in the world. It was a perfect venue, and our seats were close to the front. It was a bit warm, but it is Barcelona after all, and beauty overcomes the heat. However, all was forgotten when Manuel began to play. Uncomfortable fanning and coughing made way to sudden and complete hypnotism, only broken by the last chord and triumphiant stand and bow at the end of each magnificent piece. 1.5 hours and 3 encores later, I was still hearing the music on the walk back to Ramblas. Today, it is still in my mind - a good sign....

Travelling - what a rush and a crippling effect all at once. I was in Malta for 10 days - went to visit a good friend, and ended up severing this friendship with the speed and swiftness of a slamming door.

THERE - I'm done with you and everything that makes you YOU.

Been doing alot of that lately, and it's actually making me feel strong. I am not sorry - for I did nothing wrong - and it feels marvelous to let balloons fly off into the wind and not turn back.

I am in Barcelona now. What an amazing city. Inspiration is so thick I can breathe it...

Even
dragons
have
bad
days...

Here's the irony
of leaving at dusk
and missing
all the fireflies...

Today
I
was
bored.

In the UK now

Back in the UK for a bit. Right now I'm in breezy Aldridge - peaceful and beautiful. London is next - I'm hoping for sun so I can revisit my swans. Then Malta is calling....seeing a dear friend and meeting in the ocean...after that is Spain, both above and under water. How Lovely.

Going back today - but not for long. I'm touching sand for one day only and then it's off to Europe for the next month. Things do work out sometimes after all... :)

going home

I'm going back to the Middle East next week.
I dread it with each second I breathe.

And everyone is asleep.

life
is
boring.

i
much
rather
close
my
eyes
and
think
of
other
things.

Tomorrow
I go deeper
than I've ever
gone before.

It's darker down there,
and colder still.

But the journey back
is like a rebirth
from the grave

- from dark to light

- from cold to warm

and the
sweet
sweet
moment of that
first real breath.

So I will go,
and I will come back,
once more.

Traveller

It is interesting here
where I find myself today
so quiet
no cars or barking dogs
no people yelling
or guns pop, pop, popping
no murder or pain
or jealousy or war
just cold, black sky
and ancient dust
blowing in gravitational
celestial ionic winds
streaks of color filling the night
filling my eyes
here
in this interesting place
not called earth.

In the hands of her daddy...

My niece - 3 days old - my "little pickle".
Babies are such miracles! :)

Always make time for Mardi Gras.

stand


walk


run

What kind of
notes
make the
song
that you
sing?
Do they
jump
do they
skip
do they
clang
do they
ring?

Spinning
on a wet
sphere
we live
die
and live
again.

Bright light
petals like
yes, no,
random
swatches
of things
meant
and don't
have
to be,
like the
biggest
lying truths,
these
happy
and unhappily
never
afters...

Tiny fire within
she spreads her four stained glass wings
and Dragon takes flight...

All
God's
creatures
are
beautiful
to
me.

But I do.


























































And to me, it's worth it.

Shaped absence of light,
my own self lies before me,
my shadow my soul.

Clarity