Is the Bush administration targetting me?

if he offers you a free trip abroad, i think you should decline.

It's interesting that you should mention that yitwail.

I got a second email from him telling me Dave had cleaned the carpet in the condo on the beach and that the front lock had been changed. He also told me where I could find the key and to go ahead and make copies of that key.

Should I be worried that with Hurricane season starting, homeland security is trying to get me near the ocean?

Why did Dave have to clean the carpet?

Why did they tell me about the key?

i imagine the carpet was stained somehow, ketchup perhaps. maybe the lock was changed so in the unlikely event the last occupant turned up, you & your possessions would be secure. i'm not sure there's anything sinister about an ocean location. they might be planning to give you a boat ride.

Yes, during which, he can do some diving with cement flippers . . .

{singing}

Broke into the old apartment This is where we used to live Broken glass, broke and hungry Broken hearts and broken bones This is where we used to live Why did you paint the walls? Why did you clean the floor? Why did you plaster over the hole I punched in the door? This is where we used to live Why did you keep the mousetrap? Why did you keep the dishrack? these things used to be mine I guess they still are, I want them back Broke into the old apartment Forty-two stairs from the street Crooked landing, crooked landlord Narrow laneway filled with crooks This is where we used to live Why did they pave the lawn? why did they change the locks? Why did I have to break it, I only came here to talk This is where we used to live How is the neighbor downstairs? How is her temper this year? I turned up your TV and stomped on the floor just for fun I know we don't live here anymore We bought an old house on the Danforth She loves me and her body keeps me warm I'm happy here But this is where we used to live Broke into the old apartment Tore the phone out of the wall Only memories, fading memories Blending into dull tableaux I want them back

Who's that from, Jes?

The Barenaked Ladies.

is homeland security investigating them?

Nice poetry. I remember that you and I were first attracted to A2K as a potential place to swap fiction and poetry. These days I'm too busy painting to write much fiction, and this is the first year in a long time when I haven't written a single line of poetry. Soooooooooo glad you continue to carry the flag.

I didn't write that, it's a song by The Barenaked Ladies.

Well, whoever wrote it, is nicely written. I hope that you are still writing; you do it well. If nothing else, law school makes writing non-legal stuff almost a dream.

Thank you. I write a little, these days I haven't had a lot of inspiration. Hmm. Are you still writing?

Mostly essays for A2K threads. I've been fiddling with a couple of short stories, but they haven't gone anywhere. As I said above, most of my time is spent in the studio painting. I'm in the middle of a very productive period. Over the last six months I've done some of my best work. A dozen paintings have been complete this year so far, and I have at least half a dozen more in mind. For the past several years I was working on more-or-less traditional landscapes, but I'm now returning to the more abstract stuff I'm better known for. Anyone who'd like to see some of the recent work can send me their email address, and I'll send a digital photo. I used to post paintings here, but the systeme seems to have changed and I haven't figured out where/how to do it anymore.

I'd love to see some of your work. Are any for sale?

I don't have PM privileges, but I think I can receive them.

SierraSong,

I just sent you a PM with details for getting in touch with me outside A2K. Let me know here if there is any problem.

Thanks, Ash! I just replied via email. Looking forward to seeing your work and doing some business with you!

Sure,


I'm worried about my security and privacy and you guys are talking poetry..


(not to mention the security of someone willing to send me the address to a condo and tell me where to find the key.)

maybe your condo could use a painting or two. in fact, maybe you should replace any paintings already there...they might have small insects in them or something, you never know.

upon further review it could be that you are just paranoid.