[left yesterday on UseFilm]

Neven Spirkoski  {K:940} 9/16/2006
you have fantastic forks

jude  {K:15566} 9/17/2006
Thank you, Neven. It's good to know you appreciate
them. I can't tell you how often my cutlery has proven
to be a major disappointment...

...:: * ::... 

Yesterday in my email box, one of the most beautiful birthday gifts
I've ever received appeared...a foto (see below) taken in Corsica
by a beloved friend and gifted photographer, Colin Cartwright.
I met Colin—or Ceorlwin, as I call him, taken from his wonderfully
funny account of an encounter with a fiercesome goat on the
windswept hills of Northumberland—on UseFilm, then followed
him to PhotoPoints. We share much in common...an undying
love of all things Beowulf; of things that go bump-in-the-night,
from horror movies to prowling ancient cemetaries; lilting Celtic
and rock music...the list goes on and on. I call him my "dark
twin"...my mischievous Celtic soulmate. It is my sincerest wish
that upon my death, he sprinkle my ashes upon the winds of
Gefrin. There is no place I'd rather spend eternity.
   If you've not had a chance to view his work, I encourage you
to take a look...strike up a conversation with him. Allow him to
enrich your life, as he has mine.

* * *
[ click image for larger version ]


trees of eden

* * *
"and she already hears the trees
of Eden with their crystal bells
ringing in that ambrosial breeze"

thomas moore
paradise and the peri
lallah rookh

...:: * ::... 

Jerri recently introduced me to Maira Kalman's work. She's
absolutely wonderful. I love her words, her paintings, her humor.
If she were a man, I'd seduce and marry her. Hell. I might even
if she were a woman. Which she is.
   I wonder what she's doing Saturday night...

note: the following is a brief excerpt from ms. kalman's illustrated
column, posted each wednesday on the new york times website.
although you must purchase a subscriber account to access the
column, it's more than worth it.

* * *

"My sister and I go to Israel during the short,
furious, the-world-is-doomed war.
For a wedding.
Because you cannot postpone weddings in
dark times—especially in dark times.
Who knows when the light will come on again?
Are things normal? I don't know.
Does life go on?
YES.

[snip]

I return to New York. Tired. Sad.
The world is coming to an end.
What to do? What to do?

I know what to do. Spend the day on the subway.
Oh wonderful, life-affirming, two-dollar subway ride.
I go with Rick. He wears a straw hat,
and he will take pictures.
It is August. Hot but not too hot.
We take the F train to Coney Island.

Two girls on the way to the aquarium have tied
t-shirts around their heads and they are dancing.
D A N C I N G!

A man in a black hat and scraggly beard reads a book
A woman next to him wears a green hat and does not
read a book. The man takes his brown suitcase and
gets off at Delancey Street. Things are looking up.

And his serene and charming paintings.
I think of his bulldog tenacity and solid optimism.
Winston, where are you now?"

© copyright maira kalman, new york times