http://machinesoflovinggrace.com/olympias.htm

http://youtu.be/HyVIr7d-vCs

I continue working in the realm of shadow and sound, voices lost on the transparent wind of change in a world of virtual silence where dust gathers and memories of those long gone linger like the fragrance of dead blooms, promises broken and sorrows that fill the ocean of time like hollow boats of dead souls singing as they drift toward infinite horizons of lost suns and misted moon beyond the portal of comprehension, space and spirits ascending to the music of clocks counting out the moments of life remaining, uncertain of what tomorrow will ever bring and not really caring anymore.   Yet I do continue to try, to understand and to improve.  I work at piano and art, reading when I can and working for those I can, to help those in need and to find purpose through kindness and good deeds.  I shall always try to do a better job and give of myself what I can.  I like to believe that this world can be a better place in which to live if we all try to accept others and respect boundaries. 

    Today marks the 3rd year since the end of a relationship I had grown to know for nearly 3 decades.  I lament it ending.  I conclude for now with remembrance of a group of people that once greeted me and now are distant specters of a former life.  I have no regrets.  I would do it all again without a moments hesitation.  Being part of a family for nearly 3 decades taught me many lessons and made me realize that one must work to achieve fulfillment.  I worked without hesitation and will give myself a passing grade in effort.  I did not do everything perfectly.  I doubt one ever could. 

   I wish to thank those of my former family who showed me so many unknown vistas, new horizons and ideas.   I learned to love, to care, to accept and always try to find a way to overcome all obstacles.  I remain steadfast in the belief of marriage, love and friendship.  It was for me a significant achievement to be there when I was needed and to care for all who asked for my help.  I have no regrets other than I did not listen better.  Perhaps in the next life I will do so.

    With this, I depart for midnight piano practice in the House of Blue, with 3 black cats and a little dog named Pip.  When you feel down and sorrow overflows, turn to music and poetry.  Turn to the kindness of a pet or to fiction for all these can remove pain in good time.  And if possible, seek help when you need it whether through a higher power, prayer, therapy or friendship.  I continue on in my Halloween Boat.  Goodnight, and know that ship I sail on the horizon will always continue forward, churning the waves and leaving in her wake a sea of magic and odd hopes.  

At present time I work in areas of this world where shadows are deep, the night is forever and winds calm the summer starlit skies whilst I gather together railroad cars and operate switches with a lantern to guide me.  I am out at times as late as 4:00 AM and crawl home sore yet safe and satisfied that I did a good job getting my train in one piece, back to its point of origin.  I do this 5 times a week.  I am drawn to the city at night.  The city of lights and countless people stirring at all hours in a weird and climate surreal.  I am reminded at times of Dahlgren by Samuel R. Delany.  It is a world of decay and ruin.  It is Amerika in decline.  Our industrial back bone is mostly gone now.  I feel I am witness to the transition of Amerika from industrial super power to something new, and who is to say if the revolution will one day bring something better for all. 

   The Poet's Garret is a place I intend to spend time writing and drawing.  It will be free of the NET.  This will allow focus on artistic work.  I will include more drawings here for the archive.  I lack currently the ability to upload new work however in good time I will share my latest efforts.  I hope you enjoy them.  Best wishes to my beloved Merricat and my next of immediately family.  They remain for me a foundation that allows purpose and mission.  I realized that whether I am with a significant other or not, I still serve my family regardless.  It is not an option. 

    I also continue rescuing animals.  Three turtles saved and one baby ground hog only just recently.  I only wish I could stop all the turtles from being ran over out on the death strip, the place where once as a lad I to was mowed down by a speeding motorist.  I believe that the incident allowed the art work shown here and other efforts creative on my part to manifest.  I was idled and allowed to look inward to my imagination.  And my imagination is very lively.  I draw what is within.  I sometimes get ideas from pictures viewed or feelings felt, perhaps a statement can even generate a new direction in pen and ink.  I welcome all to comment on the art work at hand and if you can find inspiration here, please let me know.  Please share your ideas, invite me to visit your gallery and perhaps together we can create something this world has never known.  I still have not found another artist work who is close to mine in style. I follow in the footsteps of Hannes Bok, Virgil Finlay, Joseph Mugnaini and Dorothy P. Lathrop to name a few.  Best wishes to my companion artist and free thinkers and Long May you Run. 

This Mothers day, for me,  is a sad one.  She departed this current realm in which we dwell on 09 January 2014.  We had one of the worst snow storms prior to her leaving. I was out of power for 3 days and so dealing with keeping sub zero temperatures from destroying the House Of Blue.  When the power came back I attempted to contact her and wished to stop by.  Her husband Jim said she was asleep and could not see visitors.  This continued for two days in a row and a Thursday Morning I got messages while at work for me to call my father and Jim as well.  She had passed away at 9:00 AM.  She had fought breast cancer and the complications of it for over 4 years.  It has been one of the hardest things in my life to deal with.  My mother and I were like twins in so many ways so a part of me is missing now.  I could say however that a part of her lives on in me.  I continue to carry out her work in assisting animals and talking to friends.  Mother always was very communicative, never lacking something interesting to say.  She told me her mind worked on 5 different levels continuously.  I have the same gift or curse depending on how you look at this.  I miss her.  I have trouble wanting to talk with her and not being able to.  So I speak with her in my dreams and daily thoughts.  Thank you mother for creating me and guiding me to this point in life.  Know that you live on through others. And to you a happy Mothers day I do wish. 

 

http://youtu.be/iqktvDCpSsg

The Wheel of Law from Kendra Smith's Guild of Temporal Adventurers.  Excellent!

Kendra Smith, keeper of obscure dreams, lives off the grid in North California.  This song is from the Guild of Temporal Adventurers.  The Wheel of Law continues to turn.  Karmic Law I would hope.  And so to open the gates of the Sun.

 

 

 

Piano Lessons and the Arrival of April

Today is April 5th, two thousand fourteen in the year of their lord.  I dwell in a place I call the Valley of the Morning Sun.  Within this valley is a House painted Blue.  It is called the House of Blue.  We call it the HOB for short.  Within this house is one of the largest depositories of working manual typewriters in the Midwest.  It was mostly created between 2003 and 2011 by an enthusiast known as Georg.  He learned in the spring of 2011 that his days of being in the security of a married life were soon to end.  He basically shut down the project, that of continuous writing using ancient equipment brought back from the grave of neglect.  He became driven to save his relationship but for all his efforts, the sound of knocking at the door only became louder as "the contender" with abilities beyond Georg's own Dreamy Idealist notions, only grew more persistant with each passing day.  By the autumn Georg was alone.  In post recovery writing was merely a tool to bleed the toxins of massive depression from his blackened heart.  Writing is recommended to anyone suffering a similar fate.  Writing does help and also illuminates ones later movements when reviewing previous entries.  Writing will now serve as a creative tool..........I hope.

   That is the basic introduction to this sea of change, the turning of the wheel of law and the circle that has been traveled now completely, and so to gaze back at the path of ruin, of accomplishment and new directions.  

    I am to write a novella and a series of short stories this year.  Can this be accomplished in the age of word wide web interference along with the demands to be constantly placed upon my plate.  I will let you know by October if I have conjured that which lay kicking about upstairs in the darkened passages of memory.  It is my destiny to dream.  Dream is destiny. 

   I will also continue working on art and hope to post new offerings of Goddess worship and elemental beings that seem to be the theme of the bulk of my work.  I also love to play my piano and that continues with both lessons and attending shows by prominent keyboardist.  I saw Spencer Krug's Moonface playing in Bloomington in March. Opened by Saltland's cello and electronica, and followed by Spencer's excellent solo piano performance.  Impressive and inspirational.

      I was handed an assignment, simple and intriguing, by my piano teacher, Charlene.  A piece called Silent Movie Music.  My great grandfather George Thomas was a piano tuner for Baldwin back in the days of yore, during the silent movie era.  He moonlighted as a player at the silent films and so I now have an opportunity to have just a small taste of something he played with perfection.  I am the 6th piano player in my family that I am aware of.  I hope to pass on the art to any who would wish to follow this fine skill.  That being said, between writing, drawing, piano practice and obsessing about how to get from A to B and B to A without suffering.  Well it's time to go off screen and actually accomplish some of these small miracles I have desire of realizing.