Continue reading "Haiku Review: GLOW - Public Art and All-night Groove-in" »
Took me a few months to get this uploaded, but this was taken on Memorial Day, adjacent to the Santa Monica pier where every Sunday an organization puts up a wooden cross for every soldier killed in the War of Terror (sic). They call it "Arlington West".
No image manipulation here, those are some bright wild California poppies. My traveling companion for the day takes in the majesty of the high desert's brief but intense blooming of the poppies. Poppies... poppies... poppies...
Cherry blossoms in bloom at Lake Balboa, a park in The Valley. Here I am waiting patiently for fairies to appear.
Had some good rains in early 2008 in Southern California. While they did little to alter the long-term drought we're experiencing, they did have a positive effect on the potency of the wildflowers this spring. Sorry I don't know what these flowers are called, but they smelled like a candy store.
There is no end to the props that people can dance with in the drumming circle. Martial arts weapons and provocative or dangerous kicks are prohibited, but now and then when there's room, you can find someone dancing with something that breathes a whole new life into an old toy... such as the hula hoop.
This sculpture is actually considered to be in West LA, found adjacent to the Los Angeles National Cemetery at the corner of Wilshire and Veteran.
Its inscription quotes Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address which talks about "...care for him who shall have borne the battle and his widow and orphan". It is a touching and fitting memorial to those who have lost their lives so that I might benefit. Nothing short of impressive there and I want to clearly offer my gratitude for such deeds.
Now, on to my point. My god, she's HOT!
Where was Jesse Helms when this sculpture was approved?
She's practically naked to begin with and although this image can't really pick it up, there are fully formed nipple erections and everything. No wonder the soldier's weapons are so erect and ready for action!
Seriously, you gotta check out this sculpture carefully next time you're driving by. I might also suggest that you cover the eyes of your preteen children less they erroneously begin to connect sex and war.
Too late?
I'm not 100% sure that I got her name right. It was given to me by her partner, Tom (who'll I'll need to write about soon as I get a decent shot) during a moment between grooves while individual drummers were trying to get a unified rhythm going. So, it can be difficult to hear things right.
She's a great dancer and presence at the Venice drumming circle. Also a regular, I don't have any particular fiction developed about her beyond my sense that she is an artist or performer of some sort.
A special day at the Venice Drumming Circle, father's day. The gentleman on the left is accompanied by his lovely wife of 30+ years. This is the first time that I'd ever seen her. Usually, I see this gentleman in the circle looking more like a hippy as seen below:
So, I call him The Mayor. Think you can guess his name? Here are some choices:
Yeah, its Steve. Ha. Always expected something more colorful. But in my mind, he remains The Mayor. He's well connected in the circle, he's sort of the Johnny Grant of the Venice drumming circle. He's a fixture. Always there, always a part of the larger groove. Steve, his honor of the Venice drumming circle.
This is Bob.
Bob has no compunctions against sitting down on a public bench with me even though every time he does so, he can't remember me from the time prior. With the exception of some difficulty in creating new memories, he's all there.
He can't remember me, but every time we sit and talk, I learn more about him. I tell him this each time he sits down, just to bring him up to speed. We laugh at the fact that I have him at a disadvantage in that I have a linear map of memories that we share, but he doesn't. Its kind of profound, if you think about it.
Imagine sitting down to a conversation with someone you've never met, but that person can tell you many things about your life. That must be quite a challenge to feel comfortable.
I try and keep him feeling comfortable, though. We share observations on the weather, the mood of the ocean, the startling amazement of the shear size of the pelicans that fly low over our heads.
Last time we said "goodbye" he walked off repeating my name over and over to himself. He's trying to remember me. Perhaps he'll be able to do it this time. That would be special. :)
Nice guy, I enjoy our talks.
That is Bob.
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