Sweet William

I have yet to define the reasons and, or events in my life that culminated in the future grooming of my "civilised" character makeup. Things happen for a reason?! Shit happens?! KAKA occurs?!!! Idunno. However, what did happen to me and the people in my life that were involved are very much the reason who I am today. "No. I don't hold you accountable".

And, for what seems like an infinitesmal portion of my growing years there was the influence of "W". Do not take it out of context. We all have an opportunity to evolve as humankind on the chain of morality vs. mortality.

"W" was the Phineas in my life, unbeknownst to me. He was the mentor of my cadence?! My, shall we say, sophisticated upbringing from the previous life I had known. No,..no "swapping of spit, here, you pervs"!

He was the artistic influence I needed unknowingly, and the spiritual guidance I never knew.

I'd met "W" in our early years in HS. He was by far, the most "different" of my friends, yet very unopposing and most important to me, non-"jockular". At that time in my life I was very keen to the "jocks" playing pranks upon me and torturing me with their "bullish" testosterone laden libidoes (weighing 95lbs in HS was not the greatest thing to happen to a little Dude!).

There was "W", however. And he as well as myself were all knit into that group I would nowadays describe as, "misfits".

"W" had charisma; had a zeal for life that one could digest into parts of a Shakespearean play, the characters being ourselves, of course.

How does one describe such a character?! He is and remains perplexing, an enigma. His virtues in this life remain true to his being. If ever there were trust to be held utmost, I would turn to "W".

I wanted to write something. I am at a loss. I'd like to say more, but can not. Not that I can't, but not that I wish not to. I'll say this, if ever I were to want to understand religion and righteousness, I would turn to "W". I have yet to meet anyone so humbled by life and humble in character. He is a man of true "conviction" by his faith. I am awed by how much.

He is a friend from my past that I cannot make light of when the light eminated from his character could have led throngs.

I once would have, but now would, equate him with Jesus by his mortality and morality. Forgive me if I have stepped upon toes for that one.

I speak only for me. That is the reason for this blog.

"W" was the other influence in my life.

Peace and Love, my Friend.

Turkey Run Final

(Horse Race trumpets sounding.."Ta ta da da da da da ta da da...) "BANG"! "And they're off"!!
Well, dear Readers, here's what happened.
I was psych'd and ready. Confidence was high. Heck, I've been running between 8 and 10 a day and 12 on Saturdays. So. 6.2 mi is a "walk in the park, eh"?! The throngs were impressive. Actually, the 10k in Niles is touted to be one of the tougher courses in the midwest, because of the many hills in the course. Some the gathering are people from all over the country and I even spoke with a couple from Germany who'd (not just for the race) come to try it.
The moment had come and we started moving outside to the Starting line. It was a beautiful morning and I decided to wear half the weather gear I'd been wearing since the Cold came to town (another bonus). The race is comprised of 3 parts; Walk, 5k and 10k, even a Fun Run for the Kiddies.
The moment arrived and the gun sounded. I was thinking, "OK, the 10k is next. this is the 5k, right?" I asked a gent standing next to me if it was the 5k runners to which he said yes. However, something didn't look right. The runners leaving looked different then the next in line. I asked another couple if it was the 5k group. They said, "No, we're 5k". ...?!...?.."HOLY SH..!!!" Five minutes passed to let the 10k runners start. I was LAST IN LINE from the Start!! "RUN FORREST, RUN!!" And I did! I ran harder than I ever have. I was passing people in the rear gaining on the front. Then I thought, "Slow down, the hills will kill you running like this". I slowed down and found my everyday running pace. I decided to increase it a bit after a mile had passed. In my mind I envisioned every stretch of the course. I knew the course. I have run the hills almost every week in my training. I WAS READY.
My pace impressed me. Must've been the adrenilin and the thought of "for the 1st time in my life I WANT TO WIN". The race was for me. The last few months of my life were behind me. The petty BS, everything toxic was not in my head. BALLS! I HAVE BALLS! (course, you don't want to fall asleep on a sofa in a robe if you own a cat I hear in your latter years)...
I was still passing runners. I figured my pace at 8mi, or less. I knew I would kill my time from years before. And then, the Ultimate No No. I was running and following the line in the road looking down so as not to disturb my trance. In the corner of my eye I noticed a runner coming up "fast". "Wha's this"?!! "OH,..MY...GAWD! SHE...IS...SOOOOO...HOT"!! "Oh no. RUN FORREST"!! I was not going to do that! "It broke my trance!" So, a 1/4 mi later I am almost winded, thinking to myself, "what were you thin....?!" I dropped my pace fast. Half to what it was. That nearly killed my run. It was the runner's no no. "Won't do that again". "Well,..mmm, who knows, she was H O T".
The hills passed. The hill I knew I would have the most issue with was before me. (The hills in Niles are not by far the biggest, but we do have the highest elevations in Berrien County. They are long and gradual making it more challenging for runners). The one before me was the longest and had turns making it very difficult. I paced myself once again looking down to gain my trance. I was 3/4 of the way to the end of the hill when I heard someone coming up behind me. "Not again". I pushed, knowing my limits on the hill. "Dammit, I am not an old man and I am going to win"!! I pushed until I thought my Heart Specialist would say, "I told you so". "Screw it, Doc! This is something greater than another $1,500 Echocardiogram!!"
I started passing others, then more! "YEAH, BABEE!!!!"
Rounding the top of the hill brings you to another. This one is the same, yet no turns and, it's the same distance downhill as up which gives many runners an opportunity to gain their distance on the "leading pack". I made it mine.
Through it all I knew I was running the best I have in all the 40 years I've been running. I knew I had won, at least my division. In the end however, my stupidity said otherwise. I didn't place 1st, or even 3rd. I was bummed. But, I knew had I started at the time I was supposed to and toward the front of the pack, I would've nailed it by knocking 5 minutes off my time. 5 minutes! As it was, my pace was 7mph, impressive for me. Enough to walk away proud of what I had set out to do. Impressive enough to know that I can still accomplish my goals. I need that. Today, I am going to go out and run 13.
I can do that you know, because I am the, "WORLD'S MOST UNFAMOUS ARTIST"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peace.

"Where'd you get thoes Shoooz?!"

It's Race Day. dear Readers. Am I excited?! I dunno, it's 5:30 am and I can't sleep.

The photo is for my dear friend, TS in Indy. "How'ya like me now, huh?!?" Send some pics with yours, Dude!!! Really though, they're cool! I've wanted a pair of Flame Shoes for quite some time, but never motivated. Hey, nipple piercing, heart muu-muu,..Flame Shoes. right?!!

Anyway, I digress. Today is important for me; it'll be the first time I will truly compete for time. Trouble is, now that I'm 55 I'm "bumped up" to the next age group which sux, 'cause I am now "officially younger" than the others in my category of 55 - 59 yrs. "Bastards"!!

Whatever. Looking forward to what I accomplish. Only fear I have is when I'm sprinting a long distance my "gag reflex" kicks in?! Ok, pervs, stop right there....

Other than that, my daily 5-10 mi I HOPE, will carry me on this one. In the past I've enjoyed just running and finding the ladies with the nice derriers to follow. Sorry, what can I say?! ..m o t i v a t i o n.....

I think it'd be kickass to wear my shoes with the flames, but, they ARE TRULY a fashion statement only. They are hard to wear and almost impossible to climb stairs with the "Herman Munster" soles. Gotta love it!!! "Viv la'diffrenz"! (my French sux).

Looking forward to this afternoon's T'Dinner, too! I'll be spending it with Friends this year. Family situation dictates "awkwardness". But, that too shall pass and maybe in the future I can visit my children and let my grandkids sit on my lap while I relate the story of the, "World's Most UnFamous Artist" to them! "heh hehe"!

I am carrying two labels on my shirt while I run this morning (which by the way starts at 9am). One will be for my friend and neighbor, Jane who is fighting cancer right now. My thoughts and hopes are with her. She's a lovely lady! The other is something that has TRULY boggled my mind for years, GENOCIDE! Stop fu...ng GENOCIDE!!! It just PISSES ME OFF that in this "dayandage" Humankind, for the most part, turns their back on it! "WHY?!!" Why are families, mothers, children and husbands brutalized?!! It MUST stop!!! I have come upon a group (in Niles, no doubt) that works toward trying to maintain Peace and help families throughout the world to deal with the tragedies of such atrocities. I feel a need to help. Who knows?! I promise to help when my Art will allow me so. In the meatime I will try my best to help.

Like I mentioned before, my friends, listen to John Lennon's song, IMAGINE. He wrote the TRUTH. And as we all know, "The truth is...." well, you know.

I leave with one thing I need to say.

Seth, you've given your father the "much needed son to father" talk and your words helped. I am here for You now. The arms and love are here when you need them, Son. Your father will always have faith in you. Remember when I said the Chinese point of view for Chaos? "Crisis = Opportunity". It's helped me.

I love you.

Peace, Everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!

hmm...Karma?!

Y'now, there are those times in my life, as well as other's, I'm sure, that "things" happen for a reason. As I grow older (not up!) I find myself drawn ever closer to that kind of thinking. For the past several months my life has been (In my eyes) tumultuous. However, IF I were to look at it in the perspective of CHAOS (as I explained the Chinese interpretation in an earlier blog) I see it as "a Journey".

My writings have drawn very few comments. That's fine. But, for me it has been "eye-opening" which is where I wanted it to go. I'm ranting, raving, crying, moaning,.. however, if one were to look beneath it all, it's been something most of us in our lives are afraid to do; "Put our head on the chopping block". Meaning, I am vulnerable to you all.

Back to where I was going. A journey. Up's and Down's are in everyone's life. At a time when I thought my life was ready to be exploited by "Me", well, it "bombed". Self-pity took over self-reliance. But, things have happened and have been since then. It was just a matter of time for me to see it through reflection.

Life is Wonderful!!! I have beautiful children who love me.

Grandchildren, well, they still think "gran'pa" is weird and kinda keep me at arm's length,..but, they love me!! They have to, I'm the personification of "Jimmy Buffett" and someday hope to take them to one of his concerts. Providing of course, he's still playing and I'm still drinkin' Tequila!

And then, I have the love and kindness of my friends.

Thank you ALL!!

Happy Holidays!!

Peace, my Dear Readers.

There are times when I can be sooo stoopid

When I write these blogs, it's in my own self-interest. I really don't care if anybody reads them. It's just my "internal therapy" session with myself. I rant, rave, complain, bitch, moan and most of it comes across as self-pity, which it may be, or it may not.
It is the mission plan, so to speak, of my upcoming show in Downtown Niles. And yes, it will be a helluva show! 30 years in the making.
I started to tell about my life, growing up, influences in my life through the friends through years. Somehow, I side tracked and went back to my droll complaining. A.D.D.??! I hope not. I am easily distracted. Was that a bird?!
So, I have something to say. In my writings I tend to forget the human element out there. I tend to allow my thoughts to become muddled. And through my rants and raves I have hurt someone Personally. I didn't mean to, but I was checked on it! And it hurt me as well, because in reality this person really has been working with me, for me and has tried to help me establish myself within the community. And so, I say, "My apologies". The written word can be sinister when not dictated properly.
Please forgive my comment.
This town of "ours" has potential. It has opportunity. It has people diligently trying and unfortunately (myself included) those whom speak against it sometime. From hereforth, I will do my best efforts to try to help this community while I am here. I do hope that I can establish myself here. And I know where and whom to turn to when I decide.
Niles is my home. Has been for 55 years. It's still a place where one can look across the street and wave to a friend, a merchant, or people just walking down sidewalks will smile and say, hello.
You just have to say to yourself, "yes, it's possible".

Rocket Science

Do you think?! that, the world's problems could be solved by someone who really doesn't give a crap!? Its 2:30 am and I just woke up (on the sofa mind you) took a couple X's so I might be able to go back to sleep. Seriously, does anyone really give a damn about tomorrow?! Save for the lot whom are presently "down on their luck".
If you want to see the "happy people" come to Niles. They're everywhere! Diggin' thru trashcans, roamin' the streets, chain smokin' like they've never heard the words; emphysema, lung cancer,...they're the "Happy People"! They live in a foster home, get an allowance and pack they're suitcases for a day "about town".
They...scare me. Sometimes I think, (Beach Boys tune here) "Wouldn't it be nice if we...." could just get a check for pretending we were incapable of maintaining our faculties in this modern day world??
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed there are more of those little electric wheelchair mobiles around recently?! I think I see a growing population of them. Really! They're freakin' everywhere!! My thought on this; (I can already feel the "oh God. here he goes, from Barney) they have feigned a condition which makes it impossible to work; heresuit; a check in the mail,..disability,..or, the same which was preceeded by a revocation of their driver's license and they needed, no, Craved, mobility!
Really! What fool would drive a scooter, moped, or lawnmower in the middle of winter?! One without a license!!
By the way, my last blog said I was going to run 10,..did 12. Running at the Thanksgiving Day Run for the YMCA this month. Come and cheer me on. This will be the 1st time in my life I will actually compete for time. In the past, it's always been for fun, or checkin' out the "Babes" butts while running behind them. "Hey, I'm a Senior! I can do that!" "Harmless, right?!"
Age is a state of mind. For me, it's just another wrinkle.
So, my Dear Readers I leave you with this (and by all means I am not the Dalai Lama, or any bastion of Knowledge, or a Seer) when I turned 55 and I saw my life passing at 55mph before my eyes, it was then I decided, "What the f..., what do I have to lose?! I have always wanted to aspire to becoming a well-known Artist. Past few months I've been dilly-dallying around. However! I've been prepping. It's time. Time to show the World another Artist. It wasn't until recently that a close and dear friend of mine helped me with that relization; I can do Anything and I will. Besides, next week it might 15 miles, then my 30. If I never attempted, I never lived.
If I should die on the side of a road, just say, "well, his socks were clean."
Which reminds me, Dear Readers, do not grieve my passing when that day comes. Instead, give me the Biggest, Damned, Tiki Party ever! Promise me! And drink a shitload of Tequila in my honor. The Pirate will take a portion of my ashes and blast them from his cannon from a sailboat over Lake Michigan (I'd prefer the Caribbean, but we're a struggling lot right now, who knows?! Ol' Johnny Boy just might make his mark before that time and he'll be able to.
Anyway, 'nuff talk about that. Feel the X's kickin' in.
Good night my friends.
By the way, I have a request from all my readers. When Christmas approaches I would like it if (your choice) you would listen to two songs for me. They bring out the side in me that (hard to explain) has always been with me. I might appear as a coldhearted SOB to some. To others I'm a pushover, to those who know me,..I'm a lover of life and all humankind. Those two songs were written by the greatest poet of recent times and tragically taken away from us; John Lennon. Listen to; Imagine and So this Christmas (his christmas carol). If those songs don't make a tear come to yer eye, then you must think gas is a bargain at a $1.96 a gal.
I admit it. I cry everytime I hear the songs. They're painful. Human suffering is Bullshit! There is no need for it to happen.
Oh well, like I said, X's are kickin' in and I'm wandering.
Good night, Dear Readers.
Peace and Love

To the BatCave Robin!!

Did I vote today? no. Why? Because I'm old enough to know better than to get mixed up in politics. I dunno. I'm sitting here in front of the TV watching the food network show a clip about a "Spam" contest in Austin, Tx. THAT makes sense!! I can tune in the Travel Channel and watch Andrew Zimmern slurp down Grubs and eat stuff from a goats ass. THAT makes sense! I have fervently been watching two BOZO's "bitch slap" one another and EACH has said the same thing their former running mates said four years ago,..eight years ago,..12,16,20,24,28......I not buying it.
Switching the scene here.
I read something from the internet yesterday that kind of told me that people are "really monkeys in bluejeans". Someone wrote that Nostradamus predicted this election. ....yep.
I have this theory. At one time in the far past Mars had a civilization that had flourished and then (as we face today) exhausted their planet's resources, depleted it's atmosphere and essentially, "screwed" themselves out of a home. So, they "eyeballed" our planet. It was nearby, had an atmoshere and probably, with some rearranging of either atmoshere, or alien genetics, they could repopulate. TA DA!!! Monkeys and Humankind! These Martians probably would've looked pretty hideous to us, but through genetic alterations they finally came up with a being that could inhabit this planet.
To me this explains a lot of missing links. 'Frinstance, Pyramids. They're ALL OVER the world, but none of the civilizations whom built were ever in contact with one another when they were built. Or, were they?! Let's look at the idea of Atlantis. It's belief and legend is worldwide. If we can believe in the bibilical Flood, Sodom and Gommorah, why can't we believe in other "non christian" ideas? The Pyramids are similar in design. Most used for the same Astronomical predictions and calculations. I dunno why the sacrifices came about, must of been hard living in those jungles....that're some King found out his daughter was banging the local cocoa bean picker and decided, "WE SHALL HAVE A PARTY!!!!!" "OUT WITH HIS HEART!!!" What was that guy thinkin'?!
The Nasca plains in Peru; from high in the air one can see huge animals, birds, insects and even something that looks like a landing strip! Why Not?! I ask. Why couldn't there have been a civilization from Mars that decided to populate this one. If they could travel space, they certainly could travel around our little planet.
I digress. To wrap life and civilization up in 5,000 years seems pretty ludicrous to me. To simply deny those ideas and have millions of worshippers believing some "dude" walked on water?!!! EH?!! Am I nuts?!

Ran 12 miles the other day. Not bad for an "old" dude. Poppycock", I say! Old is in the mind. How we approach our latter years is in our hands. Not some magazine, Guru, 20'sumthin bangin' Cougars,...

My friend said, "If women who chase younger men are called Cougars, why not men who chase younger women be called "Bears"? I like it! Then we thought, "Why would we want to pursue someone who gets their social studies from Cosmo Magazine and "The Rock of Love"? Not me. I need something else stimulated, also. My MIND. What's left of it.

Well, I tried to scramble everything in tonight's blog and believe I have done such. I have decided that my Art Show for next year will entail two days. In college I enjoyed "messin' with people's minds". Kinda like performance art. I have decided to "Rock this Town" before I leave it! Am I going to leave it?! Who knows. Right now I do know that Niles really is "Bedrock", as one of my dear friends says. And, the number of Cougars around here is beginning to increase. "Where the hell is Animal Control when you need them?!"

10 mile Homeboy

Going to run 10, maybe 12 mi today. it's going to be a beautiful day and I want to get all the running in before winter hits. I sometimes run in the snow. Tough, but sometimes beautiful. I remember an evening I was running and came through the back portion of our golf course, here in Niles. The snow was deep, but soft which made the run arduous, yet easy enough. The thing that makes it memorable was while running, the snow concealed the sounds of my run. The snowfall (which was heavy) restricted my view somewhat. It also did the same to the herd of deer on the golf course which I found myself in the middle of. THAT WAS AN EXPERIENCE TO REMEMBER!! Not only myself, but the deer had the same expression. Wha?!!! The cold didn't give me goosebumps, just the Dudes with the racks. I think everybody kind of agreed that, "Okay, the little man couldn't see where he was going, just let him be on his way and everything will be cool!"

Thanks, deer Dudes!!! It was Awesome. I really hope it was sweat running down my running pants. ...never checked.

The above drawing is for my daughter, Audrey. She'd brought it up in conversation last week when we'd met for a drink to have a "Father, Daughter" time together. I love my kids! They're so cool! And each an Artist, themselves.

The drawing is just another way of looking at a bad situation. Mind you, I enjoy running when the cool weather comes. Roadkill in Summer?!! Dear GOD!! The smell!

I'm tired, now. 6;30. Think I'll turn on CNN and watch the latest update on the "horseandpony" show.

I'm going to write in PEE WEE HERMAN! He's the man!!!

God! I'm good!

It' 5:30 and I'm awake and pouring through the piles of drawings and cartoons I've done through the years. Good therapy. I'm fu..... good! I'm tired of sitting on my ass and not doing sumthin with this stuff. It sux being an Artist. "Damned mood swings anyway!"

It's time, Dear Readers. Time for this one to blossom (not bloom, you pervs)!

It's time to introduce you to the Artist. The side that at one time used to get my buddy, "B-Guy" (whom, by the way, has the most incredible wit and sarcastic art I've seen) sent at LEAST once a month into the VP's office to either apologise, or be on probation for 90 days for artwork that shouldn't have been found on company premises. (man, that was one helluva sentence!)

OH! OH! Gotta tell ya! Quick note about "B-Guy"!! This man used to make the Art Dep't cry from laughter! Other times, red-faced. So, it was a summer day in the Art Dep't at North American Signs. We actually had an Art Dep't before they put us in cubes. Anyway, "B-Guy and Jim, the Art Director, had their drawing tables by the windows. Great view. Especially of the vista across the lawn of the McCormick factory. Windows were open to let fresh air and sunshine in. Just so happened there was a fellow entering the factory. He had to be at least 100-150 ft away. We're all drawing and toiling the time when all of a sudden "B-Guy" yells, "fu.. you" out the window. (how do you spell terrets? turetts?..doh! I dunno!)

Both Jim and myself were kind of mildly alarmed. Wasn't the first time he'd done something like that, or even bothered to question. It was just "B-Guy". The thing that made it more than a simple case of, "well, working on drawings all day can be boring", was when he'd yelled the expletive, the VP was entering the Art Dep't. I don't think there was enough room under my drawing table to hide and I remember both the shock on Jim's face and the "Oh, I am sooo screwed", look on ""B-Guy's" face. It was a three page, handwritten apology after that. I think it and some of our other antics was the implementation of the "fall of the Art Dep't". Those were the BEST times of any job I'd ever had! I miss them. We were by far, three of the most creative and most times, bored Artists any Art Dep't could have ever found.

This really wasn't supposed to be about "B-Guy", or the one time Art Dep't. Guess it ended up that way. It was an influence on my life. It was my intro into the Professional and Corporate world. It was a great time and a sad time. Sad, to see our Art Dep't shredded into little Cubes. Sad to see our Art Director shoved into a room all by himself and stripped of his title (he died shortly thereafter from cancer). Sad to see "B-Guy" placed in the basement away from what he enjoyed most; a window with light! Normal people can't really comprehend what that means to an Artist. I think.

Okay, so now I'm "knee deep" in this blog, so here's a quick one about Jim. He was the Art Director and the mentor for myself and "B-Guy". The man's talent was his "photographic memory". It was incredible the drawings he could render from everything he saw and lived. He would do drawings of his time he'd spent in Korea and Japan. To the detail of what some of the soldiers looked like to the detail of the machines and planes of that era. His other talent, which nurtured mine and "B-Guy's" was his ability for caricatures. We had a pile, 1,000's of drawings of almost every employee at the time. Some which would, of course, fall into wrong hands, mysteriously, (had to be an Expeditor). And once again, myself, or "B-Guy" would be reprimanded by the VP.

When Jim was hospitalized for his cancer he called for "B-Guy" and I to come visit. It was Jim's time to say goodbye to us. God, that was hard to take. For both of us. Jim was a man of true character. Good husband, father and a good Catholic! Of which he asked both "B-Guy" and me to destroy the cartoons of the employees we had created. That was tough! But, it was Jim's way of making sure his amends with his God would give hime the road to Heaven without that on his mind.

He was a good man. So, I guess this blog is dedicated to the two individuals that helped influence my life, helped nurture the cartoonist. We had fun!