THIS Rhett Butler Will Never Die

Don't know where to start or how to present these things in the best understandable fashion so forgive the messiness. Most recent amazing thing was Wednesday in San Francisco. I went into the city at around 4pm and finally got to visit the Columbarium when it was open. See all the amazing photos I shot by clicking on this image: After doing a quick run through there I drove back downtown to meet one of my best old friends, Jeff. See, we had plans to go see an excellent concert at Slim's this night. I picked Jeff up on Market Street after he got off work and then we went for a drive to the ocean. You can see some of the photos we took there by clicking on this image: After lounging there for an hour we went back into town. We drove through Golden Gate Park and saw the herds of buffalo that live there. Sadly, this made me think of eating buffalo stew at Tommy's Joynt . When we got there we could not find a place to park. Jeff didn't show it but he was very saddened by ...

As usual, I'm a bit of a late bloomer and didn't start to listen closely to John Coltrane until about 15 years ago. His mystical music takes me places that I used to only get through chanting. If you are unfamiliar with him, check out some of the videos posted on my blog. If you are familiar with him, listen to him today and offer thanks for the vision he shared with us. John William Coltrane ( September 23 , 1926 – July 17 , 1967 ), nicknamed Trane , was an American jazz saxophonist and composer . Although recordings of his work from as early as 1946 exist, Coltrane's recording career did not begin in earnest until 1955. From 1957 onward he recorded and produced dozens of albums, many of them not released until years after his death. He achieved extraordinary popularity, while also responding to a religious awakening that has made him spiritually inspiring to others. Coltrane has been credited with reshaping modern jazz and being the predominant influence on success...

The spell I seemed to be under while on vacation seems to be shifting it's effect on me. I again am no longer carrying my camera with me whenever I leave the house. I am not considering asking strangers to pose for photographs. My inkling of a belief that I could tap into a source of magical wishfulness to assist in bringing about miracle-like changes is reverting to old thinking. I don't feel depressed; not the kind of syrupy, sad depression I used to indulge in. Yes, something in that mental arena has seemed to really shifted and I can't help but think it has to do with stopping the meds. Like, being on antidepressents actually made me agree on some level that I WAS depressed. And now that I state that I don't need/want those meds I've overruled the inner computer so that program no longer functions. I've been so tired the last few days. Taking naps two or three times a day. I think this will pass though. Except that my back has really been bothering me. I...

I had one of the most incredible dreams I've ever had this morning. It was with Bob Dylan and the young person that led me to understand his genius. The dream took place in a small town where Dylan was going to perform. He sent me a text message on my cell phone and told me to bring my friend, that he wanted to meet us and that he had something to give us. I found my friend and she was so excited. "What could he possibly have to give to us, he has given us so much already?", she said over and over. We met him in an empty parking lot in the dark of street lights. Now this is almost hilarious but he smiled so big and said "I've wanted to meet you so badly!" and was actually giggling! Then he handed us a golden ticket (I thought it was a credit card) and he said "Use this. It will take you anywhere. Just remember though that I will always be there with you. All you need to do is remember my songs." God. Now I'm crying. Life without Dylan. How have...

trying out animoto.com's free video feature. let me know what you think?

Got home from my travels in the midwest yesterday. In the few hours since I've been here I've been feeling a temptation to slip into a depression but I am determined to fight that off. I have things to do. Ok, before I get more into this blog entry I need to recount a dream I had this morning. I had a lot of dreams this morning, probably triggered by being back inside my own bed. The significant dream though was of seeing Monica, the girl that I had started to become involved with back in the earlier part of this year (remember her? from my photography class and the deathly depression i fell into after she rejected me?). Well in this dream she had decided to welcome me back into her life. I had seen her at a concert (Judy Collins). She knew I was there but she wouldn't look me in the eye. It was a very early morning dream so I can't remembe many details now except that after the concert she was willing to be in my presence and wanted to talk to me. I started several tim...

I've been a busy little Cemetery Man while on tour here in the midwest. Click this image to see some of the cemeteries I've visited. Be sure to come back in another week or so as I will have probably twice as many more Chicago area cemeteries for you to look at.

giving up on my old ways... they don't work anymore. i want to be somebody. i want to do things. the things that i want to do. i'm not going to be controlled by the old rules anymore. been having a feeling lately, a notion. that the weather is going to change. this is actually a true story. before we left California for this trip to Ohio Gigi kept fearing that we were going to die in the heat back here. there had been a severe heatwave occurring here in the midwest for weeks and weeks, with no let up in sight. i said to her, "We will be fine. By the time we get there the heat wave will have burned itself out. Just you wait and see." well guess what happened... the heat wave burned itself out and we have been enjoying lovely days back here. sadly, the rainstorms also "dried up"... we were hoping for a little excitement from thunderstorms, something we never get to experience in California. there is still time though; 10 more days before we come home. so what ...

The continued celebration of our birthdays today. We visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. I was actually quite moved emotionally. The displays of genuine rock and roll memorabilia are so beautifully designed and arranged. I plan to buy a membership and come back to visit as often as I can. Unfortunately they do not allow cameras inside the display areas. The photos I have in Flickr were taken inside the lobby. Well, most of them!