A Gift for Valentine's Day

I have a gift for you.  It's not shiny like jewelry, nor sweet like candies and chocolate.  It's not beautiful and fragrant like roses.  This gift is the most precious thing I have to give.  My words.  They come from my heart and soul, and therefore nothing else like them exists in this world or any other.  I want to give you this gift on Valentine's day because I realized how important it is to share them with you. 

We are the light of this world. We, the Hopeless Romantics.  Nothing stands between destruction and the abyss if not for us. I know you are one of us.  You wouldn't still be reading if you weren't.  There is strength in us.  The power of an Unending Forest.  The oldest and strongest tree may die, but the Forest lives on. It can't be destroyed, not even by fire.  It can only be cleansed.  New growth will come, nurtured by the rains and given time to flourish. Renewal always follows even the worst perceived destruction. We are the Forest, not just a tree.

Sometimes the World seems too dark, but only in darkness can the source of light be found.  You are that light, as am I.  We must never stop believing in love.  Love is not a shield, to protect us from that which we fear. Love is not a weapon, to destroy hate.  Love is a Force of Nature.  Love creates beauty, though beauty is occasionally frightening or painful to look upon. 

Take my hand and walk with me into the Future of the Unknown.  Do not fear what may lie ahead.  We will be together. The Hopeless Romantics are greater in number than you might imagine.  We just have trouble finding one another because our path so often takes us through the darkest places.  I will stumble. I often do, but I will pick myself up. Should you fall, reach out to me and I will carry you as far as you need until you are strong enough to walk again on your own. 

These words are a Gift Freely Given.  They are yours now. Do with them what you will. I don't need them back. I have more. 

My dear Hopeless Romantics, I love you all.  Happy Valentine's Day.

Uh oh. It's coming. I feel it looming over me, creeping closer day by day. It won't be long now. I should be ready for it, but I'm not. Oh well. There is no stopping it. My birthday. Ugh.
It will be nice to have my parents in town. I just don't want my sweet wife to worry too much about it, since we are broke and can't afford any kind of party. I don't need one.

Tea and Conversation

Spring is just around the corner. At least that's what everyone keeps saying. I look forward to it, more this year than in years past. Of course, I don't think I am hoping for the same thing everyone else is. They say they can't wait for Spring. Really, they mean Summer. They want sunshine, and blue skies, and shorts and t-shirts and sandals.
I want dark cloudy days, lots of rain, and sitting by the window with a cup of Lapsang Souchong. Preferably lost in conversation with someone dear to me.
This Winter has gone on far too long, of that we are all in agreement. I've spent dark cold mornings moving snow and thinking about the weather in Phoenix. The only thing I really miss about the Sonoran Desert is the monsoon season. The glorious rain. Sheets of it. And lightning that illuminates the sky like a photographers flashbulb.
I'm tired of Winter, but not ready for Summer. I hope it is going to be a long, wet Spring.

Professional Journalism, YAY!

No more "oh woe is me" posts. I've turned my life around. I'm a real, honest to whatever, published professional journalist. Check out the posts.
www.examiner.com

Strange New World

I am trying something new. I've got an opportunity to be a freelance writer/photographer for an online news/entertainment source. Still have to jump through some hoops to get the ball rolling, but it would be awesome to finally be writing again. I've needed to be writing, but haven't had the reason and energy. This gives me the guilt I need to actually do it regularly. Don't laugh. I know you just checked my history on this blog. With any luck this will cause me to post here more often, as well. Don't hold your breath, though. I can't lose one of the two readers I have. heh heh.

Photo posts.

Damn. I realized I've never posted a link to my DeviantArt work. If you aren't familiar with DeviantArt.com, you really need to check them out. There's some bizarre stuff on their (a big part of why I like it) and the artists are just amazing. It's a convenient place to upload my photography, so I've started doing just that. I've got a bunch of stuff in the queue that needs to be uploaded right now, I just havent found the time as yet. Go check out what I've got, and look around at some of the other artists. It's not just for photography, there are all kinds of visual artists, and even some written word pieces on there.

http://piraticalstyle.deviantart.com/

All Hallow's Eve, 2009

It's approaching faster than I'd like to admit. We've decided on a new turn this year, and have planned to Haunt the garage for the ToT's this year. Witches, wizards and flying ghosts will be in attendance, and that's before the guests arrive.
The space is going to be great this year, and I can't wait for Halloween night. If you are in Castle Rock, Co. this year, stop by and see the show. If you can't get that far down, hit up my friends in Aurora. August and Pandora Rose at DarkRose Manor. They are haunting their entire property. Front and back yards. It's going to look great. Check out their website for directions and sneak previews of the goblins and ghouls.

http://www.wix.com/filialuna/darkrosemanor