Must've Been Busy

So much for the resolve to do at least weekly posts! Well 'tis the season' you just get busy and then before you know it Christmas has been and gone. Let's not forget the real reason for the season, the birth of Jesus. Also remember to give gifts all year long, not the kind you buy in the store but gifts of kindness, love and time. Children need our love and our time most of all, even though they might say they need TV, stereos and stuffies so see who you can give your time to this season. To all my friends and relatives in England and Australia, I hope you have a very Happy Holiday and a Super New Year!

Goodbye T'Pau

More sad news. A beloved pet has died. Although Pau as she was called hasn't lived with me since about 1991, I have visited her and only last week had seen her with my daughter. T'Pau was a Red Point Siamese which I named after the 80's musical group and also for a Vulcan character in Star Trek. Pau died today of heart problems which I'm told is not unusual for an older Siamese. She was a lovely little cat and she will be missed. Goodbye Paui.

Goodbye Dennis

I have to take up a few lines just to say goodbye to Dennis Uchytil. I went to high school with him and he's about the second person I know from my class now who has died. At the reunion's we joke "oh you're still alive." But it's not funny. At this time of life you study your mortality. And now Dennis is gone. I found this picture in my yearbook. It hardly seems like yesterday he was doing some antics in class or on the bus. He was a good guy and it sounds like he had a good life after high school and was well liked. He was in high school too even though he drove the teacher's nuts sometimes with his antics. I see kids like Dennis in school everyday. I just hope they become half the person he was. Goodbye Dennis. See you later.

No Borders

I just watched a couple of movies this weekend that are somehow related. On Friday I watched United 93 and on Saturday it was Kingdom of Heaven. I realized after seeing them both that we are still fighting the exact same war today in 2006 that we were in 1184. Why is that? Well I think that I realized after viewing these movies that it comes down to one common denominator. That is Muslim vs. Christian. Funny we haven't picked on the Buddists or the Hindus. No for some reason back in the time of the crusades it was decided that the European and now the Western world in general can't seem to get along with the Muslims. Are we really so different? Isn't it true that both of us believe in a divine being. Does it really matter whether we call him Christ or Allah? The devotion that the Muslim world shows to their God simply can't be imagined by the west. You know I can't say that I've seen christian devotion compete at that level. Why are they so much more assured and devoted to Allah than we are to Christ? It's a theological puzzle that I can't explain. Are we hiding our devotion? Is that the reason that we for example don't have suicide bombers and hijackers that are prepared to die for their beliefs? What is wrong with western christianity that we don't go to such extremes to make a point for our faith. Could it be that our faith just isn't that important to our daily lives? Makes you think doesn't it. After watching United 93 it would be very easy to say that you think their God Allah must be Satan to make people do such terrible things in his name. But when you see Kingdom of Heaven you realize that europeans seemed to have a similar mindset back in 1184. So what has changed. Nothing. The more things change, the more they remain the same. The war has not changed. The technology with which we fight has. This war is old and way past it's time to end. We need to forget those theological differences and find a common ground based on mutual respect and love, the love of a creator god who is all things to all people. This is my hope for the world. I pray it is realized before it is too late.

The Latest

I've finished the Flat Iron Painting. The historic Lacombe landmark is now immortalized in acrylic. I am sad and outraged (again) with the government for cancelling the Museum Assistance Program. They are destroying our heritage and our country.

Today we had a visit with cousins from England. Here is a pic. L to R. Fred, Dad Annette (cousin from England) Mom and Guy( Annette's husband). It was a fun day even though it was raining. Hey Tina this is for you if you are out there!

9/11, we will remember them.
I did this painting in 1992, of what I thought was a generic cityscape. I did't realize till I saw pictures that it closely matches NYC with the WTC towers till someone pointed that out to me.
Now I guess I always think of 9/11 when I see it.
I dedicate it now to all those who lost their lives, their families and friends.

More of my art.

This blog is just the best way for friends, relatives and others who can't be with me personally, to view my latest artworks so per the many requests I've received, I'm posting some more here.
I am busy making plans to have my works displayed at the Gallery On Main here in town sometime this fall but till then here's a sneak peek.

I was finishing a painting entitled "Green River Croc" the day before hearing of the sudden death of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin in Queensland, Australia. The crocodile painting was some risk taking on my part, I made it kind of stylized and was never sure about it. I guess it will now forever be dedicated to Irwin.

Here's Fred, my hubby with a zucchini from our garden this year.

My "Chi Panda".

THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN

A dark Peruvian mistress swirls her skirt
through the downtown river valley
and she will rush past you in the crowd
and you will never know how fast she can run
until you hear the splash.

Then her dark murky flesh is all around you
and your mouth aspirates her sweat
all you feel then is oppression
and you can still hear the sound of feet
and traffic beating above you
as she pulls you down.

face down
there you are
a week from now
still floating
in her arms.


I just wrote this, I was watching the news about the missing student being found dead. I just know unlike Lake Superior, the North Saskatchewan gives up her dead, eventually. It's like the Hudson, bodies are dumped, people jump in. I think both the Bow and N. Sask. are probably treacherous and if you fall in, well...

Bad day but hey, it was a Monday! Monday sucks! Even if you have the day off, sometimes you just can't seem to avoid that sucky part. I am working on my newsletter today and I want to place an excerpt here of the movie review I wrote for "The Constant Gardener". So here it is:

Some people may remember Network, the 1976 satirical film about a fictional television network and its struggle with poor TV ratings. It was written by Paddy Chayefsky and directed by Sidney Lumet, and starred Faye Dunaway, William Holden and
Peter Finch. To cut to the chase, the film spawned the popular phrase "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore," though the actual quote in the film, as uttered by Howard Beale, is "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"
Well this movie made me feel this way but truthfully I have no choice but to take it. I alone can’t do much. The film adaptation of John Le Carre’s “The Constant Gardener” is the flick I am referring too. I am still trying to figure out if the title is at all significant to the content or did Le Carre just come up with a great title that he liked? It stars Rachel Weisz (The Mummy) and Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient). What makes me mad is the way the country of Africa is portrayed as being, as one minor character puts it “f!@#$%&* ed by the world.” It’s all true as Le Carre would have us believe by his note with the end credits that the truth makes this story look like a garden party. I think I believe him and I guess that’s why I’m mad. This past weekend the World Aids Conference pointed out that it is the women of Africa and other Third World Nations that need education and support. The world at large says they will help but what they do is not enough and so often the people we are trying to help end up at the mercy of unscrupulous governments and drug companies because they are black and poor and who really cares if we lose a few anyway? What is really maddening and scary about what Le Carre is saying is that where do we draw the line? Perhaps maybe Big Brother will not only be watching you but perhaps exploiting you and using you for his experiments next? It says a lot about how the various governments handle world affairs and their roles in world government. The kid with the most toys wins. Watch this movie and see if it doesn’t open your eyes.

"Lord of War" with Nicholas Cage elicited similar emotions. I just get disturbed when I see the way the world is going. As a writer I feel there's a certain responsibility to speak out. Most of this is done through my poetry but I don't like to get political but it does happen.

Oh a happier note, I finished my "garbage bin" painting that now adorns the bin behind our garage. It pays tribute to Rikubetsu our twin city in Hokaido, Japan. A shot of the side of the bin is included with today's post. I also finished another painting this weekend.

I'm noticing that Fall is on the way, the subtle change in the angle of the sun and the air, well it just smells different. Summer just went by too fast. I'm not ready for the stresses that come with the Fall season. This poem expresses my feelings best.

THE FALL FROM GRACE (The Last Long Weekend)
It’s not legend
the trees have lost their green overnight
the leaves now red and yellow
smudges on the sidewalk.

Fallen from summer’s graces
the sun’s declination decides down
for a lower angle
the shadows grow long
and thoughts turn inward.


My gentle glee is gone
and the last of the summer wine
filters down my throat
the air and my heart are heavy
as the attitude of the wind alters
threatening winter chills.

Knowing this last long weekend
will also fade
like looks and the summer sun
I expedite it’s passing,
as I order more bourbon to liquefy
the fall from grace.

I wrote this last year but it still holds true for me.

Home again, home again tickety boo!
Well my work week is done. Sorta. I have a painting to finish on canvas, a new one to start and a garbage bin to paint all this weekend, oh my!
Last week I finished painting my first actual guitar! It needs to be varnished yet but it looks pretty good. I call it, "Mexican Flavors"

NAPKIN POETICS (The Poem from which this blog takes it's name!)

What I like is
I have just written
this little thing on a napkin
my mind cut images of voices
out of startled life around me
from the clamour of a surrounding restaurant
plain white and ordinary
but looking at it
there is some kind of trim around the edges
which doesn’t stand out much
until you look at it closely.

Pic of me at Halloween, sort of a Underworld Vamp thing.

My first blog! Wow! I must contemplate that for a few days!