[ "i'm glad we're connecting right now." was what she said to make everything alright. ]
my girlfriend is someone special, i tell ya. we beat all odds in the beginning and we’ve persevered our way into a life that cannot be beat. God is good. i know i blog a lot about my boys, but they wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my wife. we’ve been going strong now for almost ten years — so long, that i had to scan the pictures from our beginning. in light of both our parents’ celebrating their 40th anniversaries this year, i have a lot to look forward to.
march ‘99, i took kristy back to my old backyard, trafalgar square.
then we backpacked through europe. starting with paris.
where we kissed for the first time in a hole-in-the-wall club just doors down from the “moulin rouge” windmill. i’ll never forget the iron-barred, gothic Metropolitain subway entrance in that seedy part of town.
i knew she was mine when she didn’t mind sleeping in the attic of an old hotel just a few minutes from Gare du Nord. we were even above the housekeeper’s linen rooms. so high, the slanted ceiling housed windows to the sky. my kind of penthouse — no running water, just a mattress.
these were the stairs we had to take to our “penthouse.” the lift didn’t go that high.
the year 2000, somewhere around haight and ashbury, sf.
march ‘01, tied the knot in lake arrowhead. yeah. i cried.
and today, my girlfriend. my best friend. my wife.
[ one of many flash fiction pieces, but in third person. ]
dwelling in the bull’s pen. lie
the very peculiar mr. prince.
finding himself in a situation.
hiding from a potential mess.
this rodeo. in his imagination.
next to him sat a NASA spaceship.
wrecked. with lettering that stated New England 7 and a sign, “Come In.”
without hesitation, he stepped into this
decorated racing-striped thing and crazy
lights were blinking. as he was thinking,
“what happens next, a visit from Hal Fishman?”
bam. on the console. pops out a television.
with a mercury reflective surface as he sees
his tears drip an unusual color of crimson.
on the screen. level with Hal’s lazy eye.
read a bold italic caption, “Want To Fly?”
electricity streamed as he touched it.
he belted a good scream as he felt it.
tingling. pins and needles. numbed.
a thought bubble above his head read “yes.”
suddenly the sound of an engine and
computer’s voice shouting, “New England 7″
a switching sound, then “Activation.” his
only words, “good ghosts in heaven!”
shaking. rumbling. mid-air suspension.
grab something. quick. anything connecting with
the microphone. sand-bagged stand in an orange
construction cone. a little bird. one wing. broken.
extreme emotion. no one understands. hold on.
speak: he was silent.
unique: be a puppet.
mescaline: tranquilizer.
wresting: pile driver.
ecstasy: pacifier.
reality: he was no higher
than a 5 and a half foot stage.
towering over people half his age.
his mind went blank. as he shot
into space. seeking the truth.
[ i miss the old downtown fullerton. this is in memory of my memories. ]
my city filled with street sounds. nicely covered with the stench of mexican rice. stove top. chili grounds. and spotted with check cashing stores. like a checker board. black. red. no green to be seen. not either side. black marks Starbucks. and red, Target. they’re on every corner. every turn. over my shoulder. in third place, the am pm mini marts. a bp company. sunrise colors. clash with yellow and green. i shop at the liquor/deli on lawrence. support the local theatre. saving old architecture. bike riding past bus stops. dreaming. freedom. child-like lollypops. to reach the barber shop. free cut. in exchange for the paint scheme. and logo. i love trading. free beer. the keg. and the kettle. train depot. the best mexican breakfast burrito. they add potatoes. at the sante fe cafe.
it’s always a beautiful day.
the goodness in cruising around. getting to know the owners of my city. stores. restaurants. bars. cafes. ace hardware. and convenient stores. from the soco district to mcclains coffeehouse. the book ends. capping off. harbor boulevard. after hours. the lights of the drunkards. so pretty. ugly. mainly because that’s not me. trying to get a piece. i stare from the outside. inside my volkswagen. jetta. in peace. better understanding. what it means to be free. that motorcycle cop always sits in the drive of the boba shop. i got a seat belt ticket. and wished him well but was thinking… different. i removed my flip flop to arrange an origami-style cramp in my toe. knuckle pop. the woman supporting 5 children walking the stroller. ignorance gets older. construction hardhat mentality. re-do the sod because they forgot the sprinklers. giving jeri some money. he’s homeless no wonder. but he still supports the liquor/deli on lawrence.
[ it's been difficult to blog here lately. just been busy i guess. i've noticed that i've been spending a lot of time with my boys this autumn. man, it feels good. ]
i’m realizing it’s so much easier to post “just words,” but i finally got around to some color. here are some random shots from the past three months or so…
the boys had a monday off recently so we reaped the opportunity to get some princeboy-time in at the aquarium.
this was the real fun for me. i like to take advantage of the times when we don’t have a woman around to really teach the boys about life. we parked it next to a homeless guy on some grass to eat lunch. i’m trying to eliminate their fear for worldly fear early on.
i like to donate a few bucks once in a while. ha!
halloween this year…
speed racer and sarah palin. classic.
one evening while noah was at cub scouts, ezra and i snuck out to catch a cal state fullerton soccer game. tuffy loved him.
both the boys played soccer for the first time with the fullerton rangers.
i had noah at home for two days of bonding. unfortunately it was because he was sick, but nevertheless, it was bonding time. here he is at the doctors getting a breathing treatment.
apparently this is the view my boys see me in. one of them took this, i can’t remember.
just the other night we went to the fullerton museum. they love the fender exhibit. i mean looove it! this is the power rocket boys, by the way.
