Quote

“Don't tell my mother I work in an advertising agency. She thinks I play piano in a whorehouse.”

~Jacques Seguela

Snap shot

To see a few recent pictures of Dave's birthday party at Lou's, an afternoon in Battery Park City with Annie and friends, and a sunset walk along the Hudson River with Bruce, click here, why don't ya?

Slice of life

Today I walked from New York to New Jersey, and back again. I drank coffee and listened to a young, upper middle-class woman list all the things she didn't have, all the things she wanted, and her fear of the future. I cleaned my floors and washed my rugs, and in an attempt to make sure no one cut their finger on the broken water glass, I cut my finger on the broken water glass.

Secret

I think Tom Jones is mad cool.

The way things are

While walking across the George Washington Bridge, I thought I saw a sign that said, "No Explosives Without Permission." And it actually did say that.

Three petals

By Cristian René.

Grok

When a loved one has died, we wish they were here. When a beloved is far away, we want them close. We long for a lover who might never arrive, and to finally realize that the only person to heal your heart is you, feels both liberating and cruel.

May 25th

I'm always surprised how quiet I become around my father's birthday and on the anniversary of his death--how I can write something as simple as "Wish you were here," and have the past 13 years open like a floodgate. And though the agony has long since been replaced by a missing that is solid, steady and slow--I never get used to it. I never get used to this endless season without him here.

Happy Birthday Pop

Wish you were here.

Evolving 101

What an unusual experience--to feel both a longing to share my life with someone, and to also be content alone.

In real time

Annie sings: "La, la, la, la, la, la, la la, Mommy's world!"

Sitting at the sidebar

Zero 7, Red Dust. The kind of music that makes me wish there were 48 hours in a day.

Crowning glory

I remember vividly, the moment I first held Annie in my arms. I felt as if I had been given the title, "Queen of the World."

In real time

Annie in my bed, peaceful with fever--me ready for a book on the sofa, sleep's coming soon.

Temperature rising

Me: "Annie, you're so hot."

Annie: "Why, thank you!"

Hairing things

Annie: "Come here Mom, I wanna squeeze your bun."

Me: "You wanna squeeze my bun?"

Annie: "Mom! The one in your hair!"

I like boys who...

... like Darth Vader.

My friend Katie Bowen

She's a college student and an athlete, she's from the United Kingdom--she likes bubble wrap and her boyfriend, Steve.

In my dreams

Last night I dreamed I left the house, unaware I was still wearing my t-shirt donned with a "racy" remark. When I returned home and realized I'd been all over the neighborhood in the shirt, I was mortified.

In my dreams

Last night I dreamed I befriended a yellow otter.

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!

With a fiddle full of love from The Half Note!

In real time

Late night, clean apartment, sleeping child, falling rain.

Faces of Katie

Katie Bowen, Miss All American City, Ohio 2009


Annie: "Mom?"

Katie: "Yeah?"

Annie: "What are you doing?"

Me: "I thought it would be funny to send Facebook "friend" requests to Katie Bowens around the world."

Annie: "Mom?"

Me: "Yeah?"

Annie: "You're so weird"

In real time

While Annie sleeps, she is unaware that when she wakes up, I am going to allow her to play on the computer while I clean the apartment. She is unaware that I am going to let her play her Nintendo today, and eat junk food, too.

Tornado Child

By Kwame Dawes

I am a tornado child.
I come like a swirl of black and darken up your day;
I whip it all into my womb, lift you and your things,
Carry you to where you've never been, and maybe,
If I feel good, I might bring you back, all warm and scared,
Heart humming wild like a bird after early sudden flight.

I am a tornado child.
I tremble at the elements. When thunder rolls my womb
Trembles, remembering the tweak of contractions
That tightened to a wail when my mother pushed me out
Into the black of tornado night.

I am a tornado child.
You can tell us from far, by the crazy of our hair;
Couldn't tame it if we tried. Even now I tie a bandanna
To silence the din of anarchy in these coir-thick plaits.

I am a tornado child.
Born in the whirl of clouds; the center crumbled,
Then I came. My lovers know the blast of my chaotic giving;
They tremble at the whip of my supple thighs;
You cross me at your peril, I swallow light
When the warm of anger lashes me into a spin,
The pine trees bend to me swept in my gyrations.

I am a tornado child.
When the spirit takes my head, I hurtle into the vacuum
Of white sheets billowing and paint a swirl of color,
Streaked with my many songs.

This is where I work

This is who I love

This is what I need

Thanks to Annie...

...my bedroom smells like lilacs.

Word verification code

Right here on earth

Sometimes heaven is found in the arms of your beloved, or in a great work of art--and sometimes it's found in a warm bagel, a hot cup of coffee, and a sunshiny day.

Leo horoscope by Rob Brezsny

"The Amazing Race" is a reality TV show in which two-member teams compete for money and prizes by doing odd feats in exotic locales. One especially stupid and awesome task they performed was carrying 50-pound wheels of cheese down a slippery hill in Switzerland. Everyone started out hauling the wheels on cumbersome wooden backpacks, but hardly anyone was able to make it to the bottom without falling, breaking the backpacks, and having to manually herd the runaway cheese the rest of the way. I foresee a similar fate for you, Leo. You'll be asked to do things that are both fun and frustrating, all in a cause that in the long run will be worthwhile.

Funny

Courtesy of Cristian.

The show will go on

So much has been repeated these past few months--it's like an encore of the last three years, and where I once felt like every night was opening night, I now feel as if I'm continually returning to a familiar stage. I know this is the reason for my decreased time spent at The Half Note--so for now I sit in the audience and wait for a re-write, a new member of the cast, or an unexpected turn in the story.

Have I told you lately...

... that I love her?

Good fortune

Only a New Yorker could appreciate the size of my kitchen--and the morning sunlight, well, that's just a bonus.

From Overheard in New York

Girl #1: This whole Ben situation is really starting to piss me off.

Girl #2: I know! I just don't know what his deal is!

Girl #1: He called me like twelve times yesterday.

Girl #2 (stops): He called you? (pauses for a moment) Oh, you mean Ben your boyfriend!

Girl #1: As opposed to?

Girl #2: Ben from Lost.

Girl #1: Don't talk to me for an hour, please.

--Penn Station