Gary Ilson

just got back from my friends memorial service. Gary Ilson died of a heart attack. He was ten years older than me. A professional poker player and a poet. A real poet. He wrote poems about love and hate and all the foibles of human existence. He even wrote a few poems inspired by my paintings.

He was calm and quiet and full of mirth and good humor. And a real genius.

His service was interesting. I had put together the video/slide portion of it. I was sent a large stack of photos to scan. Here I found a whole new Gary I never knew. We had met in 1988 so my image of him begins there. But in the process of scanning and organizing 100 images I saw him in the fullness of his life. I saw him as a boy playing baseball. I saw him as a youth in the early 60's, a long haired rebel in the 70's.

At his service the two worlds of Gary met. The Gary I knew from dinner and parties and the Gary of the casino. Of course we knew Gary worked as a card player but I have always known him more as the guy who would stand with me and look at paintings and discuss the interplay of color and brush stoke. He was pure genius in that way.

One of his casino friends got up to speak. He looked right out of central casting, a guy who was almost good looking but had something to hide. Sort of like one of those Las Vegas magicians all dressed in black who waves his hand in the air while picking your pocket with the other. But his sentiment was real. He had love and respect for the man. And he stood up in front of a crowd of 90 people who he knew didn't know him from Adam and gave his testimony. He was here, a bit late and I'm sure heading out for long night at the tables. But he came and made sure that everyone knew that the Gary who went to the casino, where it is low down and cut throat, that that Gary was a gem, a jewel. Something rare.

anyway, I will miss him. I am full of regret. He promised to teach me golf and I had put it off till a better day when I'd have more time. And while I may have more time he won't be here. He was a sweet man. Like my wife said, "he was one of the few people I never had a cross word with and never had an argument with." But don't mistake that for shallow. You always had deep and thoughtful discussions with Gary. Discussions that went to the bone of decisive issues. Deeper conversations than you'd have with 99% of anyone else.

This while having some of the most intellectual discussions and talking about issues that usually end fist fights. He wasn't interested in having an argument but rather understanding your position or his in relation to yours.

Always a fan of JAckie Gleason, "So long old pal" as we'd say.

skateing

I think if I had several lives to live I'd be a speed skater in one of them. I always likes skating as a kid. I'd be really fast. Olympics fast. And then, after my knees give out I'd join the Olympic Curling team and play till I'm about 76 years old. Then I'd become the Curling team coach. I'd win about 4 medals. One gold, two silver and one bronze.

In one of my other lives I'd be a politician. I'd get elected mayor of a decent size town when I'm 28. That would lead me to a seat in congress. I'd give the response one year to the state of the union. That would get me elected to the senate. I'd run for president but not win. Not everyone can be president.

rainbow

rainbow. duh? right in front of my house. It actually turned into a triple rainbow. The clouds drifted away and revealed snow on Mt Wilson.

had no power all day.

mending

My stitches are mending up. Had me a rough couple of days. More from being sick from the pain killers and a nasty stomach flu. I'd recommend that if you have surgery to skip the throwing up and the stomach flu. It doesn't seem to appreciably enhance the experience. Got myself back to work by Thursday.

Being cut open and the aftermath of being so feeble as you recover of course makes one realize how tenuous one's existence is. It is all really part of the aging process. You fall apart. Adjustments in one's thinking is required. For me it is part of a struggle to maintain that sense of invincibility. It is part of the mythology. I am the golden child, yet I may need a cane. I am the golden middle aged man, the golden wheezing octogenarian. So it is.

All along one can shake his/her fist as you really start to understand the quote, " youth is wasted on the young." My mind is sharp and full of so many more well shaped ideas than in my younger days, yet I have less energy to act upon them.

Progress is measured in years and months, not days and hours. My schedule is so busy now I have to parcel out my attention to projects in slow but steady steps rather than headlong leaps.

I'm not complaining though. I lead a good life.

oxycodone

me and oxycodone don't mix. Spent half the day yesterday throwing up. No fun when you have a belly full of stitches. Plus that stuff makes you constipated.

I'm sure, in a few months I'll look back and laugh. Oh that oxycodone with the vomiting. What a character!

Gumby Death

Sunday jam session was called "gumby death" in honor of Art.

Good session too. We have so much stuff getting into the mix. I have sometimes 5 key boards hooked up, all running through fuzz boxes and effects. And also throwing in audio shit from the internet, loops and sound effects. Randall has set up another station very similar but has guitar input too. Then there is the fun room. Full of all kinds of funky instruments. Throw in the drummer, bass and another guitar player we have a huge sonic wall happening. Hit and miss since it is all improve. Very jazz like in it's approach.

Randall has everything rigged into his protools set up so every session is recorded and it is super clean and everything is on it's own track for mixing. We are slowly coming up with more interesting sounds and songs.

loads of fun.

Gonna get surgery friday. Not looking forward to that but will be glad to get it over with. I hope it doesn't keep me off my feet for too long.

Finished Lucky. It's off to Sundance in a week. Damn, I wish I was going up there this year. Had loads of fun last year. Next year we'll be back in I'm sure. Maybe with a feature even.

new years

well...this year it Mel and me. We stayed home on New Years Eve. I took some amazing pictures of the moon rise above Pasadena and the mountains with me new camera. Pretty awesome looking wide open on the f-stop. Getting a Canon D7 that shoots HD video in a few weeks. I think the camcorder is dead. These new SLR's can do it all and you can use any lens you want.

Anyway, we made fondue and rum drinks. Built a fire and listened to music while we watched the city lights and the xmas tree. Went to bed at 10 o'clock. LOL. I set my alarm for 11:45 but my mom called first and woke me up. She was in Taos with brother Bob and sister Mary and all that bunch. They sang for us over the phone. Then it was time to rattle some pans as we watched the whole valley come to life with fireworks and noise. So many fireworks!

Friday was blackeyed peas and fried chicken day. Corn bread and greens too. Had some friends stop by and all was very relaxed. Watched the parade and the bowl game. Ha...next week all the Longhorns will be in town for the bcs championship game. I can practically see the Rose Bowl from house, well the lights and the fireworks for sure. Maybe I'll try and get a scalped ticket.

Saturday was 2010 rock festival down at Randalls. We had an all day jam session. I was hooking up all kinds of shit to the sound board. In search of new soundz, new stuff. I have been playing a keyboard off my iTouch. lol. It has some great sounds. Everyone thought I was texting at first. Been pulling audio from Youtube and all over the net and mixing it live. We are getting some crazy sonic shit going on.

Today I was on the hunt for some oil based clay. Gotta do the bronze piece I was supposed to do last fall. Found the place to get it but it was closed. Tomorrow. I want this bronze done by the end of the month.

School starts this week. Should be fun. UCLA here I come again.