Last Night

Last night was a great success. I got to John's house around 6:20PM to find it was at the time just John and Nancy. It was quite pleasant. Later on Tim showed up with his father, then his father left, and man he got tall! Seems like more than a year since I last saw him, he's turning into a fine looking young man. A little while later JJ showed up with his mother. It was good to see her again, it was good to see Dan again too.

The first movie we saw was "Black Cat" a 1934 horror movie. Not bad, not great. Laughable in a lot of places, and a movie you could walk out and miss large parts of and come back and pick up right where you left off.

I went into the living room about a third of the way through for a smoke, by myself - but the room is very well laid out now with the fireplace and dark blue striped(white) wall paper. Antique and old style furnishings, white base boards and trim work. The old full mirror on one wall. It's quite nice. I sat in a high backed chair by the window and smoked my pipe feeling the lord over all creation. So tasteful. So elegant. So Dapper. A proper gentleman. I forgot I was wearing battered jeans and workshirt, and enjoyed my moleskin vest and it was just... wonderful.

I returned again at the end of the movie for another with the same feelings of ease. I was joined briefly the second time by Tim and JJ but they left before I lit the pipe, though there was some laughter, we were beginning to warm back up to each other - I hadn't seen either of them since Thanksgiving 08.

The second movie was "American Werewolf in London" 1981 - directed by John Landis - I have always been a fan of his movies, "The Blues Brothers" gets top billing in my book. It was a splendid film and we watched it almost silently, every so often John would warn of a scary scene and you'd watch Tim get prepared for it on the couch knees up to his chin hands near his eyes.

Following the movie Nancy left, and I was joined by Tim and JJ in the livingroom for my smoke, which was nice.

The next film was "Them!" 1954, a movie about killer giant ants that came about as a result to nuclear testing in the deserts. Always a good film to watch. Though I'm sure terrifying in its day, it is just to be appreciated now for what it once was. JJ and John were both sound asleep and Tim and I were knocking back cans of Pepsi like it was our job. Both of us - tall thin guys - were beginning to shake as a result, him more so because I have about 30 pounds on him.

Pain was beginning to creep up my legs and crush my hands and I was contemplating going home, but both Tim and JJ had been quite insistent that I stay the whole night, John had made up a spare bedroom for me, and I was far from tired - so I decided for better or for worse I would persist.

Them! ended and Tim and I moved to the living room to have a smoke, rather I smoke - he keep company. I quite like the boy, he's 13 now and choosing where to go to high school. He wants to go to the school I went to, all my friends, his brother, his father and uncles, hell John teaches there - its how I first met him, indirectly. His parents want him to take a test for a more deluxe high school in the city which is also a boarding school. Tim would rather be among peers at ours than "the poor kid" at the other. I had forgot how much apprehension there is in going to high school - especially one where your classmates will not follow. So we had a good talk about that, and when I finished my pipe we went back to the den to choose another movie.

Now may I say that I have never really been effected by horror movies. I rarely jump, scream, get un-nerved. (I did get spooked watching "The Ring" but that was because afterwards I had to drive along a resevoire through the woods, at night, to get home). We chose the original "Amityville Horror" 1979. Neither I nor Tim had ever seen it before. Man... BOTH of us spent the movie on the edges of our seats, mouths open, totally creeped out! We're "tough guys" so we'll never admit it in person, but my god...

The movie concluded and we descended back to the living room with JJ who was once again awake. Half way through my smoke the boys went back to the den to find a new movie. When I returned they were watching "Maverick" on TV which they'd never seen - the movie with Mel Gibson and James Garner, not the old TV series with James Garner =p They couldn't decide on a movie. JJ wanted "The Excersist" which Tim and he had never seen. Tim was standing his ground against it. I've seen it a million times and had no interest but would have watched it for Tim if he had wanted to.

I cast a vote for "Interview with a Vampire" which Tim didn't want to watch because he was getting tired finally at 4:30AM. He kept looking to me to make the call and I kept refusing to "It's your night boys, you decide", JJ wanted to watch it because he knew it would keep Tim awake and if Tim went to sleep I was going home. Not out of overt preference to Tim so much as John was out cold, Tim would be out cold, and I had no inclination to stay past that point, staying up with a boy I see twice a year and have little common ground with.

In the end, Tim decided to go to sleep, so I told them they'd have to lock me out, I got my stuff together and they followed me down the stairs. Showed them which switch to throw, and said goodnight! Walked cross to my '86 Olds climbed in, lit the pipe, turned the engine fan on - a toggle switch on the dash - and headed home pretending I was in a movie about my life and the sad music on the radio was the credits.

It really was a wonderful night. Woke up today to a voicemail from John telling me that "I was the hit of the night" and that he was glad I'd stayed so long. It was quite wonderful to hear.

Cameras.

My father. I guess this is going to be as much about him as cameras. Film is one of the things he left me loving. Aren't you amazed? Stupified? I'm not talking about motorcycles. I am talking about film. Film Cameras. They were something he loved, you can see a great many of them here - although I have given one or two away to friends, a Bolex Super 8mm movie camera and a 120mm knockoff of a Rollie.

The camera that I am using now, I am actually in the process of uploading a youtube video of my fiddling with it and loading it for the first time in 5 years... the Retina Automatic III. You see through most of high school and after I used a Retina IIC folding camera which you can see in the above picture (back row - dead center).

This Automatic seen here:

I can't wait to get out there and start taking pictures again. I haven't for a while. Its just not something I can do right now, and there is surely not enough light down here in the basement. There is much to be said for digital cameras - but they are not really cameras, just as cell phones are not really phones. A digital picture is a picture, but it is not a photograph - it lacks the art and style. It lacks the significance - and in my mind it does not capture the soul. There is an art - a loving art to real photography. I am not bashing on those who use digital cameras for fun for for a job, or for their art. I just personally don't believe in it. I am not a hypocrite, they are fast, light, and easy. I use one when I am moving about and I took the above to pictures with them.

Most of these pictures are digital, some of them are not. Some are digital pictures of photographs. An example of a photograph, my Great Great Grandfather, his last name was Blue, and he was a Sheriff out west.


^ Photographs last. That picture is about 120 years old and still looks much as it did when it was taken. THAT is the legacy of a photograph. Incidentally another thing I love - something I did not get from my father is pocket watches. Mom and Dad would give me one every year for Christmas. I love them deeply. This one was a gift of my Uncle John, it IS the watch carried by Blue. It is the watch that was in his pocket in that photograph. An Elgin, key wind, mechanical movement. It still runs, but the hands no longer move - I do not know why.




I MISS my father SO much. The idea that he is really gone is still heavy on my mind, just over 2 years later and I am still in shock. My father... Here is a picture I found of him when he was about 14. With it I have a picture of myself at 14. I have some of his features, though not all of them.


My Computer desktop background gives another view of my thoughts of dad, how much I miss him, always a tribute


I know that I'll need to let go - turn loose of it over time and move forward. But right now with my health, my body, the intense physical pain. I think of Dad always, I loved him so much, I cannot forget him.



I will leave you with something completely different. Richard Thompson's cover of Woodstock - as written by Joni Mitchell. This song as he sings it brings tears to my eyes, and if you watch the video - it brings tears to her eyes as well. This is a song I would like played at my funeral:





Go Now, in Peace & Love. Be Good. Be Free.

Boston Legal

Been watching episodes of "Boston Legal" which truly was one of the best shows on television. In this episode "Juiced" they do something they did a lot in the last season, they came close to breaking the wall between a scripted TV show and the viewers.

Carl Sack: You know, the only show unafraid to have its stars over 50 is "Bo..."...
Carl Sack: Gee, I can't say it.
[- gesturing toward the cameras and the audience - ]
Carl Sack: It would, um, break the wall.

I love it. They used when appropriate old footage from previous movies and actors to describe memories. They even wrote an episode in a previous season based around a TV show William Shatner did in the 50s, where he played a lawyer with another actor as his father. It was an excellent episode.

The writing is incredible. The actors are incredible. The man who plays "Carl Sack" was in Night Court in the 80s playing a sex driven money grubbing bootlick. He was good there. He is GREAT here, playing much the opposite although still very dapper.

Most members of this cast have had great success in both television and in movies. Sometimes it seems it is the show were old Star Trek characters go, one of the leads played "Odo" on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, another - a judge - played Quark on the same series. Denny Crane one of the leads played by William Shatner was of course James T Kirk in every form of Star Trek right up until 2009's Star Trek film.




my hands hurt like hell, the pains swarming again, i'm done for now.

Its not actually Woodstock, I think this was 1970.

Watch Joe Cocker in the first 30 seconds. Just try to contemplate what drugs he was on? Good God, to feel that good! I think my friend Paul is heading over, I have some stuff for his motorcycle, the 2004 Moto Guzzi 750 Breva. Used to be my Moto Guzzi. Greatest bike I ever had. Well greatest modern bike, my 73 Triumph and 78 BMW were both WONDERFUL bikes!

This is my more recent Youtube vid, little bit of motorcycle talk, little bit of music, and some pipe tobacco


I've got my homeless man's beard going on, and my slicked back hair. I'm not shaving till summer time, 'cept over and under the lip hahaha. My beard is growing red like my father's. We are different men though, different experiences. I have tattoos, pop never did that.

Back in Phoenix, pre-tattoo, no beard, more hair



Different pipe, made by the same company, and HORRIBLE tobacco. Thats some of the worst stuff I ever smoked, but at $19 a tin, you smoke everything you've got. In the background you can see a bag from a record store in San Fran - I<3 Records. You can see a picture of my friend Liam who I think the world of. Pictures of the Moto Guzzi, Triumph, Triton, Jack Nicholson on a Harley, lol. Pepsi and Pipe tobacco, my two drugs.

My hair was slicked back with 00 grease. I have 5 gallons of that at Brent's house, its used in old (and I mean OLD) motorcycle gearboxes. We're talking 1955 and back. Considering my dream machine is 1967 though, how old is old?

Here's another one


This is or was not long after I got home from Phoenix. I shaved my head about a month before I came home. You can tell a fair amount about me from my videos, you can get a real idea for what kind of a guy I am. Sometimes words on a page just don't quite cut it.

That stereo is now in the room we started in, my bedroom. I now have a queen size bed, the workbench is just a workbench. The house was built in the 20's here in Worcester. Big old house. Not a standard New Englander when it comes down to it, but its weathered 91 years of New England winters, so there's that.

I'm done for a bit.

Peace!

Another one bites the dust

I just got word that Tom's dead. Since that list was last updated Mike, Shawn, Patrick, Mark, all died. There are only 4 of us left. I want to cry. I want to scream out. I can't. I'm numb. I'm immune.

I have now been diagnosed with 3 syndromes and PTSD. I am 25. I have seen so much death. I have seen so much. 

I tried to go work the phones at SJ tonight to try to raise money for the annual fund. My body locked up before it started. I did get to see a couple old friends from high school though which was cool. 

I'm tired and I feel old as the moon. I don't like this. I don't like feeling like this. I miss being touched. I miss being cuddled. I have not been held by another guy in 10 years. I don't know when again... or if I ever will be again. Tom died from Heroin. Tom died because he was doing porn at the age of 13. I don't even know Tom's real name, and he died not ever knowing mine. Isn't that a kick in the head?

I'm just seeking a shelter from this storm.

Hard Night

It's 6:44AM at this moment, and I haven't written here in a while. I haven't written anywhere in a while, I just haven't felt much like writing. Life has been more valleys than hills. The other night I actually sawed open my old gun safe hoping to find a revolver I remembered keeping in there some time back, instead I found a book that saved my life when I was 15, and a suicide note I wrote when I was 18. You have to laugh at the irony. 

My mother had a bit of a breakdown last night. I haven't seen or experienced anything so utterly shattering since my father died. She was smart though, she wanted to go to the hospital. So I got ready to take her and then Al showed up and at first he tried to stop it - didn't realize how serious things were, but then he did a turn around and off we went. For a little while we didn't think she would be admitted, and then things turned out and we met with a social worker and she suggested mom go in for 3 days. She's in a hospital in one of the surrounding towns. 

I'm so used to feeling suicidal. I'm so used to feeling like the world is crashing down on top of me. I'm not used to watching mom come unglued, I've never actually seen it happen. Her boss holds a lot of responsibility for this and I want to hit him REALLY hard with a baseball bat. 

So here I am, here I am sitting here in my bed in mom's house and my body feels like total shit, broken down, and where is mom? She's in the hospital. That leaves me taking care of the dog and the cat for a few days, doing up the dishes when I can, some laundry. Holy shit. Just... holy shit.

I have the car on the road at last, so that is very good. That is very very good. I'd be right fucked if I didn't. I'd be full on out of my fucking head. I'm getting there anyways. I'm getting there. How much? How can this be? 

Don't let it bring you down... it's only castles burning.

Tonight.. Tonight..

But can you fake it?

For just one more show..

and what do you want?

I want to change

And what do you got?

When you feel the same

Even though I know...

and I lost it... and yes I know its a different song than the title. I'm feeling random tonight. 

I'm on stickam at the moment in the forum room with AJ, Carl, Dave, and Stefan. It's a good way to fill the hours when you have no other choice.

Brent was here earlier. That was good. 

We sorted the tools, pulled the engine out of the Norton frame and figured out some mounting work. I have to cut the center stand brackets off for sure. Then I want to clean up the frame and spray the lower bits with truck bed liner so that it won't rust in the winter time. The upper ends of the frame will be sprayed with fresh black rustoliam I think. 

Engine plates will be in 2 places, front and back, no bottom mounts for now. 

We also have worked out the idea for the head pipes again, we just have to figure out the best way to do it. If all else fails I'll have to pay someone, but there is a GREAT muffler shop in town. 

As you can see I am a big fan of Eddie Vedder - not just his music, but the man. 

I have been thinking of dad a LOT lately. God I miss him so much. I know that he is proud of me, I have been fighting so hard. My life isn't working out the way I'd planned you know. I thought I'd be a history teacher, or a camera man, or a techie, or a chef, or a motorcycle mechanic.... ANYTHING... not a bed ridden, underweight, muscle lacking, stressed out....

this isn't self doubt or anything. My friends, so many of my old friends are dead. Sam died in my arms. Nick was dead long before he died. 

But I am still alive. I may be sick, I may have 3 syndromes, but I will fucking beat it. No one will ever stop me. I am my father's son. 

If I want something, then I fight like hell for it.