Tonight is the last night I plan on mourning the death of my mother.  I am stating this in the hope that doing so will help me to gain some closure and momentum in my own life.

(Click here to read my father's obituary for my mother)

She has been my protector, provider, teacher, inspiration & guide and I will always miss her.  But I cannot continue to mourn the way I have.  It has impacted each day since she left very profoundly.  Tonight, I'll drink a few beers; withdraw for a while and allow myself time to say goodbye.  I am not setting her aside, but restarting my life.

I will always love you, Mom.  Thank you for letting me spend your last night with you.  It meant so much.

Fire Family at Rusty's Bar

 Another wonderful evening of friends, family, fire and faeries.

You can click here to be redirected to my other blog to view more photos from the evening.  

83rd Annual Zilker Park Kite Festival (2011)

I was very excited about attending the 2011 Zilker Park Kite Festival.  I prepared our kite the night before, charged 4 backup batteries for my cameras, polished the lenses, oiled my bike chain and formatted my flash drives.   The next morning, I packed oranges and cashews into my pre-packed photo-bag, strapped it to my back and headed out for a day of kite and photo fun.  
(click on any picture to enlarge)

I expected to see a scene like last year:

(photo credit to somethingtocelebrateblog)

However, this is the scene I was greeted with: 

Let me begin by saying I truly appreciate and respect the men and women of the Military,  National Guard and the Texas State Guard.  These amazing individuals have dedicated their lives to the idea of protecting me, my family, my community, state and nation.  

My deepest gratitude for your service.

"The Texas State Guard (TXSG) mission as a branch of the Texas Military Forces is to provide mission-ready military forces to assist State and local authorities in times of state emergencies, with homeland security and community service through Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA). To augment the other two branches of the Texas Military Forces, the Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard as force multipliers"







I asked numerous soldiers why they were there.  Each responded in the same manner: "We are here to aid with security."  

 




After numerous such responses, I went to the "Command Tent" and the officers gave me their attention as I asked why they were there.  The gentleman who addressed me advised me that his troops had been working hard all year and this was their reward.

Wouldn't it be  a better reward to give them the day off and let them enjoy Kite Day with their families?  



Would they be any less vigilant in watching over their community if they volunteered without the uniforms?






I don't think so.
 

Rather than inculcating a military presence into the consciousness of our community, maybe we could focus on continuing to strengthen the bonds our community is famous for.

The command center was the recruiting center, located between the restrooms and the primary drop-off/pick-up points for the school buses that shuttled families in - supervised by the Guard.

There must be other venues more appropriate for a military recruiting tent.

 If organizers believe that a recruiting tent for a branch of the Texas Military Forces is necessary at the family (children's) kite festival, maybe they would consider a proximity away from arriving families and an agreement to maintain conformity with other vendors and organizations. 

I respectfully request that uniformed soldiers not be involved in ANY security or policing duties.

In retrospect, can we agree there are better ideas than setting a military perimeter around a children's festival? 

Although most of the TXSG was courteous and respectful, a good number appeared to find the presence of a long-haired guy on a bicycle with a camera in South Austin to be a concern.

 

 



 






























This is a family kite festival and there is no need for a military presence or this level of security.

After contacting the organizers of the festival with my concerns, Billie McCulley contacted me let me know that "...Amazingly enough we have fewer than 20 members who are able to work the fest..."  "...we rely heavily on volunteers, usually numbering in the 800s." 
          "...This year we asked the Texas Guard to volunteer and to set up a recruiting booth."  

"...The Guard is a gallant and patriotic organization that sounded like a group of volunteers who could help us take care of 30,000 attendees."    

I let her know I am thrilled that the TXSG wants to volunteer their talents in security and logistics, but that it's a concern when done by the same people in uniform. The children that attended this function looked at generous volunteers offering up their time and saw military uniforms instructing them where to go and running security.  From my "Keep Austin Weird and America Free" perspective, I view this as a potential slippery slope for our community culture.

Ms. McCulluey asked me to come to one of the Kite Festival Planning Meetings to voice my concerns and to share some of the ideas I have to let more people know about the festival and how they can contribute.  You know I'll be there!

The ‘Kite Tournament’ was created by The Exchange Club of Austin in 1929 with a mission to encourage creativity in children. It is still owned and run by the club.

I've attended the  Zilker Park Kite Festival for years before we became residents of Barton Hills. We love our neighborhood, our park and our community.  We look forward to attending again...When my backyard is military uniform-free and filled with children flying kites in a creative, care-free environment.

Please help get the word out!  This is not a city event.  This is an organization that needs inspired, creative, committed help.  It doesn't cost anything to volunteer.  

They are struggling to accommodate crowds attracted and inspired by a great idea.  


 If you or your organization would like to volunteer  talents & resources to help with the festival, please click here.


My hope is that others would:  Share their point of view with the sponsors of the event with respect, love, reason and ideas with an intention of positive change.  Let's continue the tradition of non-uniformed community volunteers at the Zilker Park Kite festival.

I truly believe that there is a better way.

I love you, I'm sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you. ~ Hoʻoponopono

Goodbye Uncle Hershey

My wife's Great Uncle Hershey passed this week. He was 90 years old and very dear to both of us. He roller skated every year for his birthday until he was 86. Hershey owned a general store in Deep Ellum, Dallas during the Great Depression. A man of honor, a man of his word. He is one of the few people I know who fought the IRS and won.

Hershey has never taken any grief from anyone (outside his lovely wife, Thelma). He had no intent on changing and recently got into a fist fight at the home he was in and slightly fractured his hip. No one noticed and when he tried to get up the next morning, he put weight on it, fell and really broke it. As often happens in these cases, he got pneumonia and just couldn't pull through.

The way I see it... There are worse ways to go than going down swinging at 90.

R.I.P Uncle Hershey.

More Photos from Komasket 2010

I hope to be posting more photos as I gain more regular access to the internet again.

Stilt Faeiry

This was an amazing event and I hope to share more photos and maybe some stories from the 2010 Komasket Music Festival soon.

I really enjoyed all of the stilters running around the festival.

Oh Happy Day!

I see Arlene tonight.

We re-enter Canada on Saturday!

Special thanks to George and Dino.

We love you guys!

A Message of Hope

Although this may first appear to be a message of despair, please watch to the end. This is a video that was submitted in a contest by a 20-year old. When they showed it at the AARP competition, everyone in the room was awe-struck and broke into spontaneous applause. The message is inspiring and creatively put together.



I first saw this in 2007 and terminated the video in the first few seconds as it seemed as if it was a young person who was writing about giving in and giving up. Thanks to Sanford, who sent this to me and let me know how brilliant the message and its presentation are.

Shooting for the Okanagan!

We re-filed our visa papers today. Being raised in South Central Texas, people often ask why I want to live in a place where you can only run around naked 3 months out of the year.

First, I have the ability to go well beyond the training available to me in the U.S.:

Then, there is the view from the home of our dear friends and sponsors. It is a beautiful place that inspires my artistic side and calms my other side. You may recognize this shot from my very first blog post:

For those of you who think this was photoshopped, I share this video taken in the same yard:

To top it off, we would have the opportunity to live with our dear friends and sponsors, the O'Briens:

Life is an amazing adventure and everything seems to point us North right now. We will miss Austin (if our visas are approved) with our entire being. Austin has been our home, close to our families, surrounded and supported by amazing friends. It is a warm, dynamic city of dreams, creativity, music, magic and possibilities. I will miss it and it's weird inhabitants so very much.

I will be returning regularly to the United States, even while I am in school. I have friends, family and clientele that demand it. Plus, I'm not allowed to work in Canada while I am studying and someone needs to pay for my extravagant lifestyle. Ha!

The Otto Tour

An adventure through the countryside.
Words spoken in kind tones,
Words that spear our very being.

Sharing, not trying to convince, sharing.
Fields, Mountains, streams, the colors!
... That's old man Johnson's place.

An adventure through the countryside
Smells smelled, sights seen, decisions made.
For transition, for growth, for Love, for Life.

Now we struggle, now we strive
Reaching for what we want
Knowing where home resides.

Canadian Countryside Surprise

Our dear friend, Otto, made certain I got to take a peak at the World's Largest Reel Lawn Mower as we toured around the Okanagan Valley.

(click photo to enlarge)

I love that the "standard-sized" mower is next to the big one...for perspective.

The Deep Creek Tool Museum is open year round and features personalized tours, restorations, and sales. It is located at 91 Deep Creek Road in Enderby, BC.
Call 250-832-2506 for hours or more information.

Morning Music - Nortec Collective

A friend and co-worker of my brother offered to let Arlene and I go to see Nortec Collective on her dime! It was a very generous gift for which we are very appreciative.

I had not heard of them before the night of the show. They are an intriguing fusion of Ranchero and Techno. The only contemporary of theirs I can think of is, one of my favorite groups, Gotan Project.

The music is more for fans of techno than it is of Ranchero/Norteño music, but worth checking out:

Pure Austin Weird Event

I hope you will all join me for the Electro Circus, an interactive participatory circus arts jam, today from 3pm-10pm in Zilker Park at the Polo Picnic area. There will be DJs all day and the Daily Juice will be there to provide fresh juices and smoothies. The community will provide all sorts of toys like hula hoops, poi, staffs, juggling goodies, slacklines, and lots of training to learn fun new skills. There will also be massage therapy, face painting, sidewalk chalk and a misting tent.

For those of you that can't this is a bit of the fun you will miss:

Electro Circus - You are the star of the show!

http://yourheartisaportal.com

Sponsored by C.U.@Circus (facebook group)

My Friend Fraser

My friend Fraser

Happy, energetic, loyal

Loving, insightful, delightful

I think of you daily

Whether at home, in the park

Or bicycling after dark

Your matching smile is missed

Consider yourself loved

And your forehead kissed

I miss your hugs.

Summer Hiking in Austin, TX

My 3 favorite young Canadians on a hike in the Austin greenbelt.

I miss you already. Travel safely and take good care of your parents.

Vibrant

I love the joy, amazement and hope in the eyes of children.

The things they say, the questions they ask, the hope they stir in me.

Thank you for sharing your sweet way with us, Shaughnessy.

Amazing Words of Love

Please forgive me for posting so many videos lately, but this one really hit me in the solar plexus.

Does your husband's snoring bother you?  You must watch this:

The video is entitled, "Funeral".

An Evening Out - SXSW

I know no one as blessed by the friends he keeps.

A great evening at Auditorium Shores, waiting for the two-song performance of Erykah Badu.

Craig and Eva are Expecting!

I have known Eva for over 20 years and have never seen her quite so happy. 

Craig doesn't look unhappy himself. 

Congratulations you two!

We are waiting excitedly for the news of the new life in your lives.

Amanda

My Dear friend, Amanda.