served

served, originally uploaded by Thirteen Letters Photography.

ingredients

ingredients, originally uploaded by Thirteen Letters Photography.

Am cooking flowers (hollyhock, squash, rose of Sharon) stuffed with a mixture of ricotta cheese, an egg yolk, chopped parsley, grated Parmesan, salt and pepper, baked in tomato sauce.

incongruent

incongruent, originally uploaded by Thirteen Letters Photography.

Doing

Have been up since 4 a.m. or so. But, at least I have gotten some Pennsic packing done.

Touch and Go

They have me up until the "old banjo" part. The fucking tyranny of rhyme.

If I remember correctly after four beers, the main riff is a theme is adapted from some Russian composer.

In the year 2525

The Game

The Game, originally uploaded by Thirteen Letters Photography.

In the climates of our choosing, in the bones of our days ...

In the climates of our choosing, in the bones of our days ..., originally uploaded by Thirteen Letters Photography.

thick air

thick air, originally uploaded by Thirteen Letters Photography.

Interesting Life

http://xkcd.com/308/

distortions

I want change.

Conversation

"Dad, give up sword fighting."

"What?" I asked my son, unsure that I heard correctly.

"Nothing," he said, looking shy.

I sat down beside him on the couch. He curled up against me, hiding his face.

"What did you say?" I asked again.

"I said 'give up sword fighting,'" Jax replied.

I was puzzled. "Why?"

"Because I don't want to do it when I grow up," he said.

"You don't have to do it when you grow up, if you don't want to," I told him.

Strangeness.

...

stained, originally uploaded by Thirteen Letters Photography.

We buried Grammer today. Am home now and tired.

I love you, Grammer. Sleep well.

Grammer and Cadence

Grammer and Cadence, originally uploaded by Thirteen Letters Photography.

July 14, 2008

It's about 13 minutes until midnight as I write this. I've got a late supper cooking --chicken thighs sauteed with hot pepper flakes, onions, and garlic. After it cooks for a while, I'll throw in bok choy, summer squash and green onions. Eventually, I'll add some oyster sauce, more chopped onions, and some of the cilantro from my garden.

Am still not feeling much about Grammer's death. Have chosen distance this time, it seems. Grief will come in the next couple days. Maybe tomorrow, when the family gathers at Brown's Funeral Home in Newport.

What is also difficult is, well, July 14 is also the third anniversary of Sakura's death. And, as is my custom, I want to mark it. I honor her because I will not let her be forgotten.

I'm just tired at the moment. It's been a difficult summer, after some difficult years. I still haven't learned how to be okay on a consistent basis. All the things I learned to help me cope during the dark years, I haven't unlearned yet. The financial situation has been hard to deal with gracefully.

Still, I'm loved. And I love. Life is sweet. I am strong. And I have many, many joys.

I will remember Grammer and Sakura in love, and do my damnedest to honor their memory.

Grammer and Grandad

Grammer and Grandad, originally uploaded by Thirteen Letters Photography.

My paternal grandmother, Danilla Matilda Davis, died Saturday, July 12. She was 87. Grammer died quietly at home, much like she lived.

barbs

barbs, originally uploaded by Thirteen Letters Photography.

dangle2

dangle2, originally uploaded by Thirteen Letters Photography.