Texas Windmills

Southern Ghosts

Southern Ghosts

Miserably abiding

What the dusty skeletons

Have been so long hiding

I heard that they were here

But they seemed too far

To be so near

Despite the doubt
Tonight they appear...

Social Distortion

My buddy Joe Gonzalez was kind enough to take me with him to Social D last night at the House Of Blues. We had a great time. This was the third time I have been fortunate enough to see the boys at this venue. I saw them back in the day in Hollywood about 1981 0r so at some run down old dilapidated dance hall with some other punk bands. I don't remember them that night, but my brother Roger says they were on the bill. He says we had a good time. Hell, in 1981 I ALWAYS had a good time.

R.I.P. Jim Carroll

Jim died of a heart attack 9-11-09. They were my friends, and they died.

Into Arkansas

Olive Branch, MS towards Memphis

Southeast 2, maybe Georgia

Southeast 1

Glad To Be Home

I am now home from California. It was a whirlwind of a trip. I drove Katie's car across the country, which was quite enjoyable; I had been wanting to get some alone time, and that trip pretty much provided that. I rolled into Los Angeles on August 18, and I met my wife and daughter on August 19th, which happened to be Betsy's Birthday. Our objective was to move Katie off campus (USC) and into an apartment with her roommate, Amanda. Mission accomplished. There was lots of schlepping and lots of shopping, but we got it together. Unfortunately I didn't have the time I would have liked to have had to visit friends, but that will have to wait until next time. Now that Katie is settled in, there will be lots more time for leisure on our next visit. I am kicking around the notion of going to the TAXI Road Rally in November.

We stayed at the Westin Bonaventure. I wasn't entirely happy with the hotel, as they seemed to hold an archaic business model, e.g., they charged for internet service which I thought was stupid, because even the most mom and pop motels across the country include that service for free. Plus, parking was $34.00 a night, which I suppose is the going rate for downtown, but it pissed me off anyway. The Bona Vista lounge at the top of the hotel was interesting. It is a rotating bar, offering you a 360 degree view of Los Angeles each hour. That was fun.

Next time, more time will be my own. But I knew that going in.

I also realized something on this trip. I need to get in shape....

In the Quiet

In the quiet of the morning before the brain starts racing you can sometimes catch a glimpse of the infinite. It comes sneaking in at the odd moment when you least expect it, and it is gone in a flash. But for that instant, the universe opens itself up to you and there is a joyful delight and a thoughtless knowing that you are in the presence of that which you emanated from and to which you will one day return. Eternal. Wordless. Indescribable. Holy.

The iPhone Ad You'll Never See

Test

This a test from my phone...

The joy of music.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!
My dad would have been 95 tomorrow.
He was the most youthful and alive person I have even known.
He died on my 21st birthday.
Rog and I are 45 now and we miss him every day.
Enjoy your dads while you can.
If you had or have a horrible dad, never mind.

Betsy's New Man

My wife has a new boyfriend. And if that wasn't enough, he's moved in! His name is Billy. She rescued him. Took three months, but she did it. He's been living here a couple months now, and is only just now approaching me. But he's crazy about Betsy.

Learning

I've been learning lots of things lately...

Like never paying in advance for work not completed...

Like never saying never...

Like doing the best I can with what I have...

Like excellence is its own reward...

Like taking the time to be still.

VACCINE

I medicate my pain
to put my soul at ease

My overloaded brain
is the cause of this disease

The choices I have made
have authored my affliction

A cold and selfish heart
within a walking contradiction

Starving

Your heart's in the right place
and I'm starving for the sight
of your face
But this old car
can't go that far
Aching for your love
about as gentle as a shove
from a strong man
at the right hand
of a tycoon
or a missile
in the hands of a baboon

Move In To Your Truth

This may not be what you imagined it would be, but it is all you've got in the present moment. Live it. If you don't want it, change it. You are the creator of your own reality. You are powerful. Move in to your truth.

Language and Identity

We are inexorably bound up in our primary language, and to a very large extent it sets the parameters of our reality. We are usually unconscious of what lies behind that language, which is the pure essence of who we really are.