does it matter?
does it matter
if you write it,
if there's no one there
to read it?
does it matter?
does it matter
if you paint it,
if there's
no one there
to see it?
does it matter?
does it matter
if you scream
if there's
no one there
to hear it?
does it matter?
does it matter
if you try
if there's
no one there
to notice it?
does it matter?
does it matter
if you live
your whole life
trying
but die
without succeeding,
does it matter?
if you die
and there's
no one there
to cry,
does it matter?

ROUGH...

it's been kind of a rough patch in the road lately. into every life some rain must fall. i've been trying to help my sister; with her transition from moving out of her hi-rise to taking her documentary tour of the US. in the meantime, my house has sprung a sewage leak. lovely. but at least it's outside. then the brakes on my camaro are fixing to go out. i got an estimate at the place where i get my oil changed. it seemed a little high, so i thought i'd get a 2nd opinion. the 2nd place(Just Brakes)'s bid was DOUBLE!!! i showed the tech Kwik Kar's estimate and when he realized he wasn't going to get the brake job (2 front rotors, 2 front pads), he tried to scare and intimidate me into replacing the front calipers; which he said(in a raised voice) i couldn't drive with it that way because it was hazardous. that i could kill myself, him and others on the road. i didn't appreciate the dramatics. my car was still up on the rack and he was acting like he wasn't going to take it down. and he was going to charge the same price for the caliper job($250) that Kwik Kar was going to charge for the whole brake job. oh, hell no! i reminded him what he'd told me over the phone: that the estimate was free and i could have the car taken dwn (off the rack) at any time. i said take it down NOW. so, i don't know what to do. if i had someone to install the parts, i could save a bundle. i called the parts place and the price of the parts are HALF of what the businesses are asking. i know they have to make a profit, but DOUBLE??!! so, i guess i'll have to take it back to Kwik Kar. oh and the straw to break the camel's back? i got one of my credit card bills yesterday. it had a $30 late charge. i'm never late, so i'm like what?? come to find out, i never got last month's bill. and it's been so crazy around here, i didn't even snap until now. so i had to go to the bank today and straighten that out. and the beat goes on...

more & more...

Fri = 70% chance rain
Sat = 60% chance rain
Sun = 40% chance rain
Mon = 40% chance rain
Tue = 40% chance rain

go away rain, go away...

rain, rain, rain. will it never cease?
80% chance today, 60% chance tomorrow, 50% on Sat, 30% on Sun, 30% on Mon...

saving the day...

i left my place yesterday around noon. headed for Bolivar, by way of Winnie. it was a nice drive. the rain had mostly let up, but you could tell there had been quite a bit of it recently. i stopped at Stuckey's for a pit-stop and i love looking at all the kitschy souveniers. got back on the road, drove thru Winnie(which looks much as it did back in the 70's when i used to frenquent it), past the fruit & vegetable stands, thru High Island(one of the birding capitals of the world), past Gilcrest, on thru Rollover Pass. i didn't stop at any of the Bolivar beaches; as much as i wanted to, since i was traveling alone with no cell phone, and if i had gotten stuck in the sand, it would've been bad because no one knew where i was. i did make a circle thru my old neighborhood, over on the beach side where the old roadside grocery store used to be. there's only an abreviated rest stop there now. the only recognizable house is my former in-laws home and a couple of rent houses i had occupied back when i was married. then on towards the ferry landing. i stopped for a Dr. Pepper at the bait house in Siever's Cove. the bait house is nestled in a fairly large marina, next to a boat ramp.
there's a covered deck built above the place that offers quite a view of the surrounding area and you can watch the boats and barges pass by in the intercoastal waterway which is just adjacent to the marina. i was the only one there and had the whole deck to myself, which was great! very peaceful, very relaxing. the weather was unbelievably cool. i guess because of all the recent rain. the humidy was real low and there was a nice cool breeze. so pleasant. i finished my soda and continued toward the ferry. unfortunately, there were a lot of cars ahead of me in line. it took two ferries, it was like 4pm-ish. after an uneventful ferry ride, i drove on the seawall headed for the west end of the isle. by the time i made it, to the place i always go to on the west end, it was 5:30pm. i parked and made my way across the walkway over the dunes. i took a nice, long leisurely stroll. since the tide was down, i was able to find a lot of sharksteeth. something i haven't been able to do in awhile because usually every time i go, the tide is up. i also found a nice specimen of the angle wing shell. the weather was incredible for this time of year. it felt more like autumn. i felt as if i had died and gone to heaven. surely heaven is a beach! it would be for me. when i got back to my car, it was 7:30pm. i was pretty hungry by this time since the last time i had eaten was brunch(leftovers from El Gallo) at 11am. i really wanted to have supper at DiBella's. a fantastic Italian restaurant over on 31st St and Ave P that is mostly patronized by the locals. but since it was 8pm by this time, i wasn't exactly dressed correctly (really short and holey cut-off blue jean shorts and a tank top), and had no reservations, i decided to skip it. i was still in the mood for Italian so i decided to go to CiCi's. i know, what a letdown. but it is a good place to get cheap pizza and lots of it. besides you can order any kind you want, unlimited amounts and free refills on drinks. all for under $7. that's hard to beat, especially on a poor artist's salary. as i sat there devouring my veggie pizza with extra cheese, i got to see the most beautiful sunset. it was splendid, with lots of pinks, lavenders and violets. i finally hit the road and decided to chance it by taking I45. you see, the last time i took I45 down to Galveston for the Historic Homes Tour with Elaine, the gulf freeway was under construction and created a huge traffic jam. but thank God, there was no construction, no detour this time. but it's quite a way from the west end of Galveston to my humble abode in the Heights and i didn't get home till after 10pm. which i was pretty tired by this time and since i had to go to work in the morning, i brushed my teeth and went straight to bed. but all in all, quite a way to spend a sunday.
p.s. i did two new paintings Fri nite!

rain...

Rain falls freely
from the clouds,
as tears
make their way
down the hills
of my cheeks
into the valley
of my despair,
Rumbling thunder echos
the hollow beating
of my fractured heart;
I know tomorrow's dawn
will bring a brighter day,
But for now
it is dark on the horizon,
Solitude surrounds me
and the darkness
is closing in.

another great quote!

"Meglio un giorno da leone che cento da percora" -- it's better to live one day as a lion than a hundred days as a sheep!

Re: comfort and joy

howdy all! i was just thinking (i know, very dangerous -- LOL), when i was sitting on my sofa this morning reading my Simple Abundance book, as i do every morning. part of my morning ritual. i was thinking i was part of a "sisterhood" and hoping all my "sisters in arms" may have been reading this book at the same time i was; and that we were, for this brief moment in time, connected by a loving, emotional, spiritual thread that crossed all boundaries of miles and time. i fell in love with the Simple Abundance book so much, that i have given copies to: my mother, my sister and my dear friends: Elaine, Myra, Michael-Ann, Carolyn, Heidi & Trish. you all are very wonderful, special and empowered women and i hope this book brings as much comfort and joy to your lives as it has to mine.

a great quote!

a quote from a book(The Food of Love) i'm reading:

"In Rome, we have a saying: "Anni, amori, e bicchieri di vino, nun se contano mai.' "

" 'Years, lovers, and glasses of wine, these things must not be counted,' " she translated.

i know THAT'S right!!!

unpleasant surprise

i got home from work yesterday and noticed my trash can (City of Houston-issued) was gone! how LAME is that??!! it's not bad enough to have been burglarized and vandalized (May '06), but now my damn trash can has been stolen! so i called my landlord and she said to call 311. i called 311 and they said i had to call the non-emergency police line and file a police report (on a trash can!). i called the non-emergency police line, gave the information and the officer said another officer would call me back. that was at 4pm. i stayed off my phone for the next hour because i don't have call waiting. by 5pm, no call. then a knock at my front door. i went and asked who it was. the police! i was so surprised! he asked if i had called and i replied yes, but told him i was told it'd be over the phone. he was very nice, took my info and gave me a case #. then i had to call 311 back and give them my case #. they said it'd take up to 10 days to receive a replacement trash can! or i could put it out in trash bags. i replied i didn't think they accepted trash not in a receptacle. he said no, that i'd have to buy some stickers and put on the bags. i asked where. he said Kroger's. i said, at the courtesy booth? he said yes (they are like a dollar apiece). well, i don't think so. there are a lot of stray dogs in my neighborhood and i'm sure they'd like nothing better than to receive a great windfall such as nice, big, fat, juicy bags of trash for their destruction pleasure. no thanks. i called my kindly neighbor to explain what had happened. and of course he said i could put my trash in his trash can, no problem.
well, i guess if you live long enough, you see it all....

wkend recap

what a weekend! Fri nite i went over to my honey's. when i first got there, he wasn't around. he usually always greets me at the back door. then i heard his voice. i thought it was coming from the backyard, but he wasn't there. then i looked up. and there he was, up on the roof! he was trying to get a good shot of the full moon! whatta guy! he always keeps me guessing, he's always doing zany things for the sake of art, he's spontaneous and unpredictable, it's exciting! Sat my sister Devereaux came over. i showed her how to set up her blog. i had shown Masoud the nite before. this is such fun! after we got my sister's blog up and going, Masoud invited a friend of his(Alli) over. Alli brought a couple of movies. Masoud has set up this cool "entertainment center" and it's like being in a mini theatre. then Masoud wined and dined us(delicious spicy meatballs, steamed rice, homemade guacamole, veggie medley of zuchinni, bok choy & okra -- finished up with fruit salad (watermelon, canteloupe, papaya & green grapes) for dessert. afterward Alli took us all to see Micheal Moore's new film Sicko. Alli dropped us off and Dev ended up staying the nite. the next morning(Sun), we three went for some breakfast pho. it was Dev's 1st time to try it, we broke her in right! then we went next door to the half-price bookstore. we all found something! Dev got a really good book on colors, chakras & crystals and a yoga DVD. i got 2 more copies of Simple Abundance, 1 for Myra and 1 for my new friend Heidi. Masoud found some Rumi poetry books. i also got a yoga DVD and Masoud found some Suze Orman books(on finance) which he knew i was interested in. Dev was so sweet, she got them ALL for us!!! then Dev had a birthday party to attend. when she returned, Alli came back over with the movie Blood Diamond and one of Jackie Chan's. oh and Fri nite Masoud and i had watched Love Song for Bobby Long(filmed in New Orleans) that Elaine lent me. then Sun nite after Dev and Alli left, Masoud(mr. wonderful!) drove me all the way over to pay my rent. he lives near Bear Creek Park and my landlord is in the Heights. whatta guy!!!
so, if ya'll get a chance, check out Masoud's blog: fineartimagegallery.blogspot.com and my sister's blog: usa-speaks.blogspot.com. the reason my sister wanted to set up a blog is because she is getting ready to embark on a National Tour. she's going to all the states except 5 (Alaska, Hawaii, Missouri, N. Dakota & Wyoming). she's filming a documentary! how cool is that??!!