NYC

I love this city. No matter what time it is or where you are at in this city, you can open your window and you are gonna hear something. It is most likely gonna be the traffic, probably a bus, either stopping or accelerating, both cause a tremendous sound. You might hear people talking, you may not be able to make out what they are saying , but you can hear them.

We live, when we are in the city that is, directly behind a coffee shop. They import all their coffee from Puerto Rico. All day, everyday I smell some really good coffee being roasted and it stinks. It’s a fact, roasting coffee stinks, but later when they brew it, then it is pure haven.

It’s amazing the sounds of the city. It never stops here and that’s a good thing. I am sure if I woke one afternoon and all was quite, well then I would have to worry. I don’t know what I would do without this city. It is a center for me. I can reason with the insanity I hear and read about everyday when I have this city to bounce it all off of. It’s like this place is so, so large, so loud, so fast, that all pales in comparison. And it ain’t like I am even trying to compare. I been places, I ‘ve seen things and none of it compares.

Last night at the hot-dog stand, Grays Papaya that is, we were just standing there eating our dogs, minding our own business when in comes this tall guy with a camera crew. Well he’s some famous chef and they are doing a little work for his weekly show. But he’s causing a scene and no one can really move or enjoy their dogs. Next thing you know, two guys who are part of the neighborhood street gang start yelling at these guys, telling them to get their camera and crew out of there and let us all just enjoy our dogs. The chef and crew, in true NYC style just ignored them, so the guys from the gang beat their ass and sent them on their way with a bloody nose and a broken camera. This city is on my side!

A friend shared this site with me, check it out. These are flat chalk drawings the appear to be 3D! http://gprime.net/images/sidewalkchalkguy/

Boo

I don’t know why we like to scare each other. I wonder if it’s a southern thing or does everyone, everywhere like a good scare? I wonder if other countries celebrate Halloween by scaring each other? I don’t think so.

In China, Halloween is called Tend Chiech. In Hong Kong it is called Yue Lan, it is know as the festival of the hungry ghost. In Mexico Halloween is known as “El Dia de los Muertos” it is a joyous day, a day to remember those pasted. Hell, France doesn’t even celebrate any holiday like Halloween. Most countries celebrate Halloween as some kind of nod towards the dead. Down here in my south, we get drunk and scare little kids.

It’s been happening for a few years now. It started small, Stacey and I, well just I, got board just handing out candy one Halloween and took it to the next level. I put on this old man mask I had and hid in the bushes. The rest is history.

And tonight we plan on making more history. Stacey has got a few new toys for us to use to scare anyone dumb enough to come to our front door. She bought a fog machine, a ghost that runs up and down a line between two trees and a really scary witch that screams and dances and lights up. I will take a photo and post it tomorrow.

This has gotten to be an event and we don’t even have to invite friends, they just show up for the show. Lots of guys now come dressed up and ready to help. They are rewarded with a beer and a bowl of homemade gumbo, if they do a good job!

So whatever you do tonight- DON’T SHOW UP AT MY HOUSE!

Southern Fried

I love to have a Martini, but I can only have one at the most, cause after two I’m under the table and after three I’m breaking in to my neighbors house!

So, Stacey and I are sitting out on the front porch having a cocktail. It’s about dark and like any good southern I’m on my third martini by then. All the sudden we hear a fuss coming from somewhere close. It’s coming from across the street and it sounded angry. Shit, goddamn, motherfucker, you no good yellow-belly sap sucker! We quickly realized it was our neighbors pet-sitter, and she was having trouble getting in the house. She is also so our pet-sitter and my friend. So, naturally I asked if she was o.k. Well, actually, Stacey asked her if all was o.k.

Anyway, next thing I know, I’m explaining to my neighbors neighbor that it is in fact o.k. if we break into this guys house because she, my friend, is the pet-sitter and she is locked out.

Of course I have called my neighbor, the guy who owned the house I was about to break into. He informed me that the sitter had left a few messages that had transgressed from pleads to threats of murder, if he didn’t answer his “goddamn”. phone, and tell her where the “fucking” keys were. He asked me to please help the sitter get in and that there was only one window to get in. He further explained that his new 50″ plasma TV was hanging on the wall right under this window. Please, oh god please, he begged, don’t jump on my TV.

Like I said, I love to have a martini, but after three, can ya really expect me to be able to climb a ladder, open a window and jump in the window and miss the the TV directly under the window ?

It was my neighbors lucky day!

Last of the Southern Bohemins

O.K. so we went to Mobile Friday night to see a movie. It was a documentary on the life and times of Eugene Walter. Like I said a few post back, the name of this film is The Last of the Bohemians by Robert Clem. It was a pretty good film. I met Mr. Clem afterwards and spoke with him. I ask him how he chose to do a film on Eugene, his reply was that he had written a movie based on a autobiographical novel by Alabama native William March. Both the book and film are called Company K and they are a graphic account of a soldiers experience of World War I. He said during that project he learned of Eugene and decided he wanted him to be his next project.

This was the first showing of the film. I believe Clem will do a little more work on it and then fully release it. I doubt it will play in a theater, but I bet when it is released you can get it on Amazon.com.

Stacey did a little photo shoot of downtown Mobile Friday night during their ARTS!ALIVE evening. Enjoy!

There was an iron pour in the streets.

Finding My Religion, Southern Style

I have always thought, Religion, Buddhist, Tibetan Monk whenever I heard the words Dalai Lama. Those two words actually mean “Ocean of Wisdom”. But I have always thought the Dalai Lama was all about Religion, I never new of his political position in the world. I grew up as a Catholic and was never exposed to other Religions of the world, well there were the Southern Baptist and all I really knew about them was that they were not supposed to dance, drink or gamble.

Sunday, Stacey and I went to hear the Dalai Lama speak, here in Atlanta. It was billed as the “First Emory Summit on Religion, Conflict, and Peace-building”. Yea, that’s what I said, “what”? In a nutshell it brought together five of the most knowledgeable people in the world on different Religions. Jews, Hindus, Catholics, Muslims and Buddhist were each represented by some of the leading thinkers of their faith.

I didn’t know what to expect and someone made the comment that they did not think it would that big of a deal, they were there because someone in their family had invited them. Well I wonder if that person was as impressed with the event as I was.

The panel was made up of Rabbi David Rosen, he was a very good speaker, rather long winded but I liked what he had to say. Dr. An-na’im represented Muslims, of course, His Holiness the Dalai Lama represented Buddhist and Professor Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of the Mahatma Gandhi represented Hindus. Sister Joan Chittister spoke for Catholics. This lady was awesome. She is a well known activist for women in the church and in society.

H H Dalai Lama didn’t speak the most, as I thought would be the case. He started the conversation out with some thoughts on our mission in life. Then each of the other speakers was to give comments on this subject form their faiths perspective. What they all agreed on was this, no one faith is the only way to God. They also all agreed wars must not be fought in the name of religion and we must all, always show reasonable compassion to everyone. It’s that simple, now get on with it!

Southern Bohemian

So it’s today and this is where we are. Three days behind and trying to get out of town for the weekend. Friday night in Mobile, a film about Eugene Walter will be screened at an very old temple. I am not sure if it was a Masonic Temple or what and I have never really been in the main part of the building. Stacey and I want to see this film so we are just gonna go to Mobile for about 24 hours. My back is almost 100% better, but I need to get back and get things done. I need to finish two custom paintings, one is a pair of dogs and the other a wedding themed piece. I also have to build a full size bed, two twin bed swings, a coffee table, using an old Ford pickup truck tailgate for the top and a pedestal for a piece of art. All of this by Thanksgiving. No prob!

In Mobile we plan to see a film about Eugene Walter like I said. The film is by Robert Clem, it is named Last of the Bohemians. I have no idea what to expect, but looking forward.

It is also the semi annual event ART! ALIVE. Check out this page and read all about whats happen Friday night in downtown Mobile. I wish I could stay and enjoy it all, but this has to be a quick trip.

Pain in my Southern side.

Sorry, I really want to write something witty and insightful for you guys, but I hurt my back yesterday. I was in the middle of the tough task of picking a piece of paper up off the floor and BAM! I was also in the middle of writting a little something on our visit with the Dalai Lama Sunday. It will have to wait as I have NO pain pills and sitting at computer hurts like hell! Thanks and feel free to feel sorry for me.