Me

Glacier in a dream by rcw

Here it is, April 14, 2011.....my 56th birthday and the last entry for this particular blog.

To the left is the most current piece of artwork, done this morning in my usual program, CorelDRAW....this time X4.
I've been using the CorelDRAW series of programs since CorelDRAW 1, which goes to show how long ago this part of my learning process began.

Most of the art pieces displayed in this blog have been rendered or at least added to via one of the CorelDRAW programs. 

To date, I am still it's humble student. Still mastering parts of it from earliest releases, let alone keeping up with current updates.

Just like life; so many layers, so many mysteries.....so many days. Each new day an update.

As this particular project comes to a close, I'm filled with a sense of accomplishment, but also a sense of the bittersweet. I guess that's common as most things end.

On the one hand, I've completed something....maybe I didn't write every single day, but none the less I saw it through.  That, for many -including yours truly sometimes- is a major deal.

At the same time, this year-plus project has been a unique opportunity to participate in this aging milestone in a positive and creative manner rather than limiting my vistas to taking stock in the ravages of time as marked by greying hair and sagging chins.

Not that I don't have both. I do. and plenty of both to spare. But they are inconsequential when compared to the experiences and miracles, pinnacles and pitfalls of this life thus far. And the fact that it's not over yet only fills me with the wonder and anticipation of a child awaiting Christmas morning.

San Francisco Homes rcw

That may not sound politically correct in this highly-charged culture in which we live, but in this year of 2011 I'm a little too old to mind my verbiage to that consistency. And besides, Political Correctness is just another  word for Censorship.

Manners are something else all together. Having respect for one another-regardless of race, color, creed, sex, generation, age, financial situation, living condition, pet ownership, species, job description or any other avenue of potential hatred (or lawsuit possibility)-should be something that is taught first at home, then reinforced in other sources of education and social interaction.

If we want our society to change there is only one way to do it....and that's to do it.  Our public lives should be managed much as we would handle our private lives, and with at least as much responsibility, culpability and accountability. A healthy respect for Karma needs to be thrown into the mix....somehow that got away from us....skipped a generation or something.

All this fancy talk is coming from someone who's got plenty of Karma on their back.....all of it admitted to and earned. It's a heavy load, but no where near as heavy as that which is being drawn together for those who violate Cosmic and Common Law.   But that's not for me to judge....I'm too busy carrying my own.

Having said all that, today feels kind of like a graduation, and I suppose it is; having re-lived memories, shared joys and heartaches, faced demons, fought depressions, found sanity; laughed, cried and written my way through over 300 entries. But more than that, having lived through those original moments and having made it thus far is, in and of itself, an accomplishment.

Jack and Randi

Not a perfect life, mind you.  To the contrary. And to those who I've ever hurt intentionally or not, I am truly sorry. If there was a way to change any of it I would. But we aren't given that luxury. Please know, you are in my prayers forever and I hope you found twice as much joy as the sorrow I caused. 


In spite of or because of it all, I am fortunate to have found Jack and to have him in my life....a most wonderful person, friend, partner, lover and more.  I've been blessed with getting to know my birthson, with wonderful family members and friends....including Wylie T. Katz. 

Lots of people don't have half as much as I've been given...and for that, there's more that's expected.  As is only fair in the grand scheme of things. That's what volunteering is all about.

Teaching at Glide, working for Dennis Peron, the Co-Op have all been part of giving back to the community. Even now, although I've had to modify my schedule a bit, I still try to help out whenever possible. There's still so much work to do.

Randi Webster    rcw

So as this blog comes to a close, for me personally what does Fifty Five Is The New mean? After so many examinations of the question, have I come to any conclusion?

Well, yes.  For today, Fifty Five Is The New.....Me. 
Now...onward now to the next....Let's see what 56 is all about!

May the Holy Spirit of Peace and the Healing Power of Love abide and grow in the hearts and the minds of All.....Amen.

Fortune cookie Futures

Today is Thomas Jefferson's birthday and the day before my own.  Have a good one, Tom....and thanks for the founding documents!

It started out rainy earlier this morning, woke up around 5:30 a.m. and got a chance to listen to the drops pat against the side of the house.  I love that sound...it's great for things like sleeping or writing.

Tomorrow is my 56th birthday.  Teri and the Oakland crew celebrated with me over last weekend, but Jack and Jack White want to celebrate tomorrow with special pizza, some nice cannabis, some old movies and a couple of shots to toast the occasion.  Sounds like a good plan to me!

While at T's we had Chinese Food-yummy!  I especially love hot and spicy Chinese food and where T gets it, they know how to do it right!  Funny thing though, my fortune cookie.  Actually I opened three.....the first one said "Prepare for something unexpected."  The second "You will soon need to make a decision on an important matter." and the third "Be prepared for something very soon."

Hmmmm.  What could it all mean?

Some people don't believe in fortune cookies or tarot cards or palm reading....they think these things are  purely superstition, evil from the devil or just something for children to do.  I'm not so sure.

The Fool   by rcw

I've read tarot cards before and have been impressed with the results, according to the responses of those who've asked me to read for them.  And I have a theory on how these things work.  In the case of tarot, I think the cards act as a kind of conduit into the psyche of the person being read. 

As for fortune cookies....luck of the draw?  Don't know.  But I'm keeping my eyes open for what it might mean.  I know we need to be prepared for earthquakes and fiscal disaster....we've done our best with what we have as far as emergency supplies go.  Money is tight, but we did stock up on food and water, pet supplies and first aid.  I'm waiting on some new flashlights ordered via the internet....should be coming any day. 

Other than that, well we've done our best. Life goes on, and if a disaster has my name on it, I pray to face it full on in faith.  That's it, that's all.

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Fortune Cookie Futures.....simply put, be prepared, don't be scared.

Blog To Be

It's getting close to the end of this blog....over a year's worth of time, even if not every day included an entry. But it's been more than that.  It's been an examination of self, a meditation on the way of the world and how it effects someone personally, a form of discipline....a combination of all of the above and then some.

Blogging is similar to Diary keeping, but then again completely different. Most diaries are extremely private, personal things; complete with locks and keys.  Blogs, if set up to do so, are out there for the world to see...but at the same time there's a sense of something deeply personal conveyed through the content's delivery, lending a voyeuristic quality to the genre. Of course, all this depends on the person doing the writing.

Over the next two days I'm going to figure out what to do next, blog-wise. I may do one incorporating a favorite  passion....cooking. No matter what, there'll be continued updates on Boo Boo's Bargain Basement Band as we continue to create music and videos and prepare for our Cadillac Campsite Tour, stories about Wylie T. Katz and everybody/everything else.  In a sense, the next will be a continuation of the first; as in life....so it goes.

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New

What's Next?

Back home from Oakland; the welcoming committee (Wylie and Jack White) greeted me at the top of the stairs when my sweetie brought me home. 


As much fun as it was over the weekend, it's good to be home.It's okay that there's laundry to do and paper work to finish up; I'm relaxed now and ready to handle it.

And part of that work includes this blog; quickly coming to the end of its cycle.  Three more days, to be exact...then what?  More blogging?  Probably so....although with a different theme.  Not sure what that will be yet, but the answer will come. Meanwhile....I'm still breathing,  the world keeps spinning, the national debt keeps growing and the tectonic plates keep rolling around. So there's still lots to write about.  No time to stop now.....things are just getting interesting!

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New What's Next?  Who knows?  But it should be an interesting ride!

Relaxation Therapy

Away at Miss T's for a weekend of birthday celebrationing.....Mali (Teri's room mate) and I are April babies so there's reason to party!

Bless T, Mali and Donna (the other room mate), all dear, dear friends....we never get enough time together, and when we are together we have a great time.

Most often we watch movies, have a couple of drinks and just relax, watching the humming birds and other critters that drop by her place for a morning feed.  When it comes to kicking back, back porches are best! In truth, there's nothing else like it in the world.

I'm going to keep this entry brief; still at Teri's and the birds are about! Oh! Only four more days 'til I'm 56.

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Relaxation Therapy....sitting on the back porch, watching humming birds.