embroidery

Here is a sample of a piece I'm working on. It's a large embroidery centered around a Day of the Dead theme. These are two sugar skulls. I'm really enjoying this theme. It allows me to use a lot of color, beads, and sequins.

a home I used to know

I wrote this a few months ago when I couldn't get my grandparent's home out of my head.

I miss the desert. I miss the smell of creosote, the sunsets, the full moon falling on my grandmother's roses. I miss that home, the house made of adobe bricks that they formed by hand. I close my eyes and stand next to the roses. They are thick and fragrant, red, pink and yellow. Tomorrow they are sure to be burned by the sun....but for now, they are full bodied drinks and I get drunk on their scent. I pick one and place it in my hair. I stare at the two trees in the yard. I used to hang in them and dream about love. In the corner of the yard is a shrine that holds a Virgin Mary statue. Placed lovingly next to it is a picture of my great grandmother, Frances. This yard has seen many things, and holds many memories....years of hidden easter eggs and christmas lights. The broken pinatas exploding into showers of confetti and candy. The time I drank my first glass of champagne one New Year's Eve, and then promptly threw it up. Or when Mariachis serenaded my grandparent's on the morning of their 50th wedding anniversary. My grandfather grabbed each girl and danced with her. I know they are sleeping inside, dreaming whatever people dream after a full life. I miss that home.

This is David at Kolekole rock. This rock was on military land, and so not a lot of people can see it. On top is this bowl shaped indent with crevices running down the side. It has been said that it was used for sacraficial beheading. The head lands nicely in the bowl and the blood runs down the sides. To get to this rock you have to drive up a long road, and hike up a long path. Part of the path requires you to scale a short wall of rock using a knotted and fraying rope. It was quite an adventure and the top led to these fantastic views.


See the ocean in the distance?


There were 3-4 of these small waterfalls.

Here are some pictures of Colorado two winters ago. It was a mild winter, and very beautiful.



I live in a tiny town, and two streets away is this farm with cows. This is a small dirt road, on the left is where my neighborhood starts, and on the right is where the farm starts. It's very beautiful and calm.


This is my back gate covored in snow.


These are my feet planted in my first real snow. I like the contrast of the colors.

pearl harbor

Two men in silent contemplation.


Flag through the ceiling of the Arizona memorial.


It's true that that the USS Arizona still leaks oil.

Pics of Colorado coming soon.

Gandhi's toe brings luck

In Waikiki there is this great statue of Gandhi. People come and place flowers and leis on it. Whenever I was in Waikiki I made it a point to rub his toe. It always brought me luck.

Iraqi Woman in Field

A picture Jeremy took in Iraq. She was harvesting something from those patches of grass. It leaves me feeling sad. Everything about this picture is harsh, from the barbed wire fence to the trash in the background. She is the only 'soft' thing in the entire picture. I often wonder what she is thinking at that moment.