Around the Lake

So much activity
Everyone out with their cameras
Homeless and well to do
in equal measure

well, the homeless don't have cameras

Man passes me on his bike
says, "nice legs"
He's looking at me
I'm too startled to respond

Past old boathouse, courthouse, concert hall
though musicians play outside here
pass a man playing sax under the tree
sheet music in hand
5 minutes (and 1/2 mile) later
a man and his guitar

Today the lake is as blue as the sky
I run with the wind and sun at my back
and we all seem a little extra thankful

False Sense

I've been told by some that hail from more extreme climes that we're all a bunch of wusses out here. Moods fluctuating on the weather. More than one day of above average heat/cold/wet and we whine and say we're oppressed/bitter/depressed. And I wanted to disagree and believe that I've got more sense and more emotional toughness. But lately I've been thinking, "if the weather holds, I'll be alright by November."



Particularly nice lately

A leap of faith

flaming ancient neon cross
burning in the night

massive shining monolith
beacon on a hill

screaming evangelist on my TV
in the wee hours

Burn brightly through the night
Let me look upon your gleaming devotion
your iconic tribues
and sometimes condemn, sometimes envy
your trust, faith and comfort

I have nothing left to believe in
except me and everyone else
it's a bigger leap of faith
than I would have once imagined

"Pour one out for Jesus"

and try to remember how you got so exited
at the thought of church, candy, Easter dinner
or don't
or get over it

Stories I used to accept as fact
sound as folklore now
fables told to others

I smile about it
as I sip my mimosa
eat my pancakes
and start my new tradition

The accumulation continues

It's been a year since I settled in Oakland. It flew by. Amid riding my bike all over the place, trying to learn the piano and accumulating furniture, I actually got comfortable. First time I can remember that in a while. Pardon me now while I go see if the Mormons have fired up the signal lights on the mothership outside my back window.

My camera is damaged and gone for a time

It will return 2/10/08, or so I'm told. And I experienced another first in my life. Realizing buying an accidental damage policy was actually a good move. I'm sure at the time I thought it was a waste of good beer money. Well spent indeed.

My most popular pic on Flickr, but not my favorite:

Revenge of Skinny?

They're all in white belts and their girlfriends' jeans
Most pedaling around on pieces of shit made of steel
and they're so fucking hip!

surely the rest of the world mocks them
and they still get picked on by jocks

but how would I know?
mired as I am
in the middle of it