Headvoice

Contextual Mamma Mia

Finally... blue skies and sunshine over a complete weekend. What a difference it makes for my state of mind! When you are taking pictures of the blue sky in May you know you don't live in Miami Beach.

This view over the roof looking towards the street out front looks like it could be from an exotic mountain chain, but it's only five feet from the back screen door. Mundane can be exotic... in the right context.

Just like these flowers growing in through the fence!

They smell sweet, and I surmise they are honeysuckles, but have to ask our neighbors for sure. Botany was never my strong suit. Aren't blooms captured intwined within a fence decent war-time metaphorical context?

Botany studies can come later in life... as I really do want to become one of those men of Italian heritage that while away their last few years puttering in the garden; raising peppers, tomatoes and fresh basil. One upside is I can already cook like an Italian Grandmother on a good day, stirring the Bolognese sauce as it simmers on the back burner... now it's time to look ahead to the gardening part of this end game equation.

Light a candle... and look for an honest man. That's my advice.

Drip Drip Drip

Here we have a drop of rain captured in an evergreen bush in the front yard during the seemingly endless rain of the past week.

Too long between postings again. Every time I try and write something pithy lately it just seems to fall flat; so it's a purple picture instead of pithy prose again today.

Work is pretty much all consuming this month, prompting Mark to note almost every morning that my daily routine is like "another groundhog day." When I leave in the morning, the puppy dances around my feet once he spots me in office clothes. He knows I am leaving and doesn't like it... but on the weekends the strategy switches to lying on the bathroom floor as I take my morning shower, because he knows I will walk him earlier than Mark. Our pup has grown up into a living daytimer.

Do you want to go for a walk?

Frantically Spring

Busy and hectic... days are just flying by with work and socializing. Now that the warm weather is here for more than just a day now and then, you are more likely to find me out enjoying myself. Word.

Last week was an example of this... honestly burning the candle at both ends. And, over the weekend my parents came for a visit. Time for a Saturday evening dinner party!

Saturday was something like an orchestrated plunge into warm weather entertaining. By two in the afternoon we had a new patio set and BBQ bought and assembled. Food shopping was completed and things were already being marinated. Guests arrived by 5, and even though it was cool... I grilled away. Desserts followed shortly thereafter.

Sunday was a sunny day trip to Niagara-on-the-lake, joining the other touristas walking around the village which was lined with tulips in bloom which you see on this page.

All around the town the vines were starting the annual trip from tiny leaves to ripe grapes ready to become wine. I couldn't help but think some of these grapes would end up in my glass one day...

Apples in Blossom

So this is what an apple starts out as... reddish buds and white flowers. They don't seem to have any scent. But then again, what was I expecting...cinnamon spiced apple pie right out of the oven? Mother nature doesn't work that way you dolt.

Friends are moving to Antigua at the end of the month and the bon voyage parties start tonight.

And the weekend will have two guest stars driving up from New Jersey, the parental units. What will they bring? Once it was 20 pounds of fresh sea scallops right off the boat, and lots of Pennsylvania made hard pretzels. If only cheesesteak sandwiches traveled better...

Sound! Rolling! Action!

Lately, lunchtime at work has become a bore. Just a year ago it was frequently a boozy, hilarious and languid event running late into the afternoon. But this week finds me alone and walking more but eating and drinking less.

Today on a side street two blocks from the office a movie shoot provided an appealing diversion.

Hey! There is Samuel Jackson and Eugene Levy right across the street... with a crew of hundreds it seems. Lots of security, and they are really obvious. Food, lights, makeup and movie stars.

I watched them shoot one scene about four times or so... and was fascinated by the conversations overheard from the walkie talkies. The Director set up the next scene with the crew and it sent a chill through me, because he framed it like a photographer in his conversation. That's how I see things, in frames.

There are NYC fake cabs and building exteriors all around my office. Trailers and food service trucks line the blocks.

They are pretending to be in New York City.

Is that what I am doing too? Is that why I am so angry?

To the curb

Finally the fat man in the basement threw the switch and summer warmth blew into town. It's wonderful to leave ranting behind and soak in the smell of sweet spring air. Freshly cut grass, a savory and rich lasagna, the cuddling puppy... and visiting friends can really cheer you up quickly sometimes.

Fucked

You can be white. You can be male. You can articulately speak the Queen's English. You can have a US passport and citizenship. You might think you are set.

But it doesn't matter because you are gay; it's still the penultimate trump card.

Fuck you if you say it doesn't matter.

Fuck you when you make a fag joke to the boss just because you can.

Fuck you when I am not invited to lunch.

Fuck you when everybody else invited to your party is a woman except me.

Fuck you when you don't know our anniversary and I know yours.

Fuck you if you think we all know each other and act the same way.

Fuck you if you can't look me in the eye at work because you are a homophobe.

I am sick of having to be 150% just so I can be treated like an equal.

Fuck you. Fuck all of you.

And now get out of my way.

Cold and Wet

A week passes and it feels like deja vu all over again... except that "Friends" is over now and torture in Iraqi jails is back in the news, but not with Saddam holding the leash this time.

Is there anything good happening in the world at all? Or is it that there is only two stories a week that the media locks the focus onto?

Some cold and wet blooms in anticipation of Mother's Day tommorrow. Remember that even torturer's have Mothers!

Wet Blooms

Cold rain fell this weekend, brightly colored blooms remained mostly closed and uncelebrated in the cool wet air. Spring knocks on the door, but it is just now swinging open.

He is busy chasing the floating chlorine thingie...