Soul Soldiers

For Lolly

Cuz you dinnae get to hear it the other night.

Porcellino

HERE'S the picture I was looking for,
albeit a blow-up from a contact sheet.
It's one of the best photos I've ever taken--
one of my favorites, anyway.

September 18, 1989. John P.'s 21st birthday.
My then-boyfriend, Guy Aitchison, did the tattoo:
Black Flag bars and Nancy. Nice.

John P.

Couldn't find the pic I wanted--the one I took of him
on his 21st birthday, when I got him his first tattoo.
This is a blurry pic (the only one on my computer)
taken at our friend Jeff's wedding in 2001.

Anyhoo, Happy Birthday John P.!!

Greg

I was looking for a photo I took of my friend John, as today is his birthday. I found a contact sheet with this on it instead. It's the only photo I have of my friend, Greg. It was a bit of a jolt seeing it because Greg has been on my mind a lot lately.

This tiny pic.
The sweetest, but alas, fading memories of our times together.
A huge empty space in my heart where he used to be--these are all I have left of my friend.

I know I've never fully mourned his death. I don't know how. It's something my therapist, Kristin, and I just talked about last week--Greg...how much Ron reminds me of Greg and always has...how much I relive losing Greg every time I lose Ron...and how much more I miss Ron every time I think about Greg. Yes, they are two very separate--and uniquely special--men. But they are both people I have lost from my life, and loss is something I have an extraordinarily difficult time processing.

Anyway, I've been thinking a lot lately about contacting Greg's best friend, Phyllis, and talking with her. I only met her once, at his funeral. That's part of the difficulty with this--I don't know any of his friends and I've never had anyone who knew him to talk to--I think that's an important part of the healing process when someone dies that I missed out on--the part where you reminisce with others who knew him and it helps somehow in validating that, yes, there WAS this person who touched your life--and YOU, in turn, had some impact on his life. I've only had my memories of Greg, unshared, unvalidated. It almost feels sometimes like it never happened...like I loved just a dream, and not a man.

Process

Barbara's latest piece evolves.

Ripe

This is my sister-in-law, Jennifer...


...and this is my niece, Maya (or maybe Sydney).
She's ready to come out any day now...

Tink

Double-Headed

16 inches of Jolly Rancher Watermelony
goodness for your sensual pleasure...

A Tiny Anniversary

Just a little note: it was 15 years ago today that I lost my first baby.
I often wonder who that little person would have become...

Heineken? Fuck That Shit!

Have a few drinks while you're eating out.

More Matchbook Wisdom

Advice

Boys, listen to your matchbooks.
It would make us girls really happy if you did.

No 'Hi Bettys' Allowed

Dammit, I need to start exercising.
I've put on 15 pounds and not an ounce of it is muscle.
And to think, I used to have cannons
like my old man here...

Jen's Shower

Decor

Crisitunity

Cold Turkey

Morphine withdrawal is a nasty business.

Everybody Loves a Good Jazz Square

The world premiere every 'tween has been waiting for.

How to Skin a Hellcat

And now a few words about capitalism from
one of my all-time favorite bands (and albums).

Mom Libs

Found this silliness in a pile of Jasper's school papers.
Being his Mom makes me happy.

"Have You Seen My Dickens?"

Reading 'A Tale of Two Cities' at the moment. Have never read it before and am enjoying the novel immensely.

Sorry 'bout the dearth of posts lately. Back on blogging task soon.

Feel free to recommend some of your favorite reading.
p.s. Franko--I got through the 'Deathly Hallows' in one day. All 759 pages.

Almost Famous

I am honored to be one of Barbara's latest 'pieces'.
I will soon be covered in beadwork and will, without a doubt,
fetch a good price at one of her upcoming shows.
It will be more beautiful than I have felt in ages.

This is, I am, at the beginning.
Once more, with (an excess of) feeling.

Speak No Evil

"Oh, you ARE sick!"

The reason I had to own this doll.

The End Is Nigh

12:01 a.m. brings immense happiness to many,
immense income to many others.

Hogsmeade, Friday Night