Me: "How's this shirt look?"
Storm: "I don't like it. It's boring and your not a boring person."
Me: "Today I want to be boring."
Storm: "You could never do that, you know why???"
Me: "Why?"
Storm: "Because you are a failure."

Went out to Hayward today to check out a wholesaler of spiritual supplies. Seems like the place to go when I've sold out of 7day candles of a certain color, or when we run out of charcoal as we often do. Beats waiting a week for an order to come in the mail. Problem is that this guys gets most of his stuff from the same places I do, so I still couldn't get any Hoyts cologne. After waiting for forever for Saint Expedite candles Storm created an image of his own to slap on some candles, so that might just work as a permanent solution for certain reclusive saints.

testing. If this technology works for me then I will have the opportunity to start blogging again.

So Zebra, the tattoo & piercing shop, finally opened next door to The Mystic Dream. This means trouble. Today I got my nipple pierced on a whim. I'm hoping it will inspire me to get into shape because jewelry on saggy man boobs just wont do. Besides, when I get that sleeve done on my left arm I'm gonna want some muscle to go along with it (oh yes, I have plans now). I suppose I'm lucky that they didn't open up an ice cream shop next door or things may have gone the other way for me (although there is only the pain of brain freeze involved with ice-cream).

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I grew my beard out at BTW, and just today shaved it all away.

Can't wait to put up my Halloween decorations. Actually, most of them are Daniel's, but still. Big party potentially brewing. Gotta start thinking of a costume.

I haven't posted anything since before the wedding. To sum it up there was love and ceremony and cake. It was everything it ought to have been plus balloons.

Immediately following that was a week of Hell trying to get Mom enrolled in an assisted care facility that had me nonstop jumping thru flaming hoops with tests and doctors and notaries.

Between The Worlds… what to say… may have been the farthest I ever traveled to get closest to home. I’ve long been rather jaded about communities, but that seems to have changed. It’s like the time before I came out, when I realized that I needed to be with guys but didn’t believe that I could ever be in love with one. My experience at BTW was like that, falling in love.

No big plans happening for a while, which is nice.

 Thanks to southernpm for the subscription to Cooking Light magazine, from which this recipe was lifted.

Crustless Ham & Spinach Quiche

¾ cup (4 ounces) cubed ham steak

½ cup chopped onion

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

¾ cup (3 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese, divided

1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves

1 cup fat-free cottage cheese

½ cup evaporated fat-free milk

¼ cup (1 ounce) shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

2 large eggs

2 egg whites

½ cup all-purpose flour (about 2 ¼ ounces)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1) Preheat oven to 350

2)    Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add ham, onion, and pepper to pan: sauté for about 10 minutes or until ham is brown.

3)    Sprinkle ¼ cup shredded Swiss cheese in a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray. Top with ham mixture.

4)    Combine remaining ½ cup Swiss cheese, spinach, cottage cheese, evaporated milk, cheddar cheese, and eggs in a large bowl and stir.

5)    Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and baking powder in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, stirring with a whisk until blended. Pour egg mixture over ham mixture. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in center of quiche comes out clean.

This is so easy to make, and so yummy. It's become my favorite thing to cook. I'm making it at least once a week now.

I haven't had much time to spend in front of the tube lately, but I have been getting into the show 'Mad Men.' I'm in awe of how quaintly it portrays sexism and a multitude of prejudices, almost as though those days were to be missed. I become somewhat shocked at my reaction, however. In my daily life I would think nothing of being introduced to a divorced woman in slacks, but when such is introduced in the show suddenly I seem to share the same ugly sentiments as the characters do, thinking 'I bet she's on the pill.' I'm not sure if it is helping me learn more about myself, or simply affirming that under the right circumstances I too would be an asshole. Plus, it makes me want to smoke, now especially every time I step into an elevator. I must say though that the acting is great. I adore all of the characters, most especially the women in the cast, as each in her own way seem courageous amidst her flaws. 

So it is nearly official... we are changing the name of the store from 'Dolphin Dream' (gag, can't you taste the chum) to... drum roll please...

'The Mystic Dream.'

We've got the name secured for the county and the web address, what a relief. On the one hand it was a difficult decision, since the store has been there for 18 years and everyone knows that name. Problem was that the name was dated, and blatantly New Age, and I hate dolphins. Oh I tried to like them, talked up how in Greek culture they served as psychopomps and such, but their greyish flesh and highpitched nagging cries actually give me the willies. Also, many of them are rapists.

So now we have to find a way to promote this change. This may not be so easy. Spiritual folk don't often welcome change. However if pissing people off is unavoidable then you might as well have fun with it, right?

Someone at my shop suggested that dolphins only live to be about 18 anyway. Not sure if that is true, but I wonder if I can turn that into some sort of advert. Perhaps I could draw a picture of a geriatric dolphin, sort of Wilford Brimleyesque, with a thought bubble that says 'No antibiotics please, I just want to die.' Or I could take a page from the old Jack In The Box commercials where they blow up the clown, except I'll blow up a dolphin. I could totally get that up on YouTube if only I could catch a dolphin (not even sure what to use for bait there).

Storm's idea was to say something to the effect of "The dolphin is gone, but the dream continues." Best idea I've heard so far.

Thanks to all of you who congradulated Storm and I on our upcoming wedding, the response was touching. The Devil is now in the details, which is fun and nervewracking at the same time.

Lets see, what else is new... after visiting with some swell folk on Saturday Storm, his mom, Daniel and I went to see Kathy Griffin. I'm glad that I watch 'Best Week Ever' or else I wouldn't have understood most of her pop culture references. I really had a good time.

Looks like I might be able to hire some help for the shop, which will free me up considerably. So many projects yet so little time. I think I will spend this evening designing personal business cards.

I need a little day-long getaway, like a visit to a winery or a museum or something. Something that involves walking to some extent. Hmmm.

So Storm and I went to Martinez today and got our marriage certificate. He and I still need to have a ceremony to seal the deal, and then there is that bit about getting rings, but we are a step closer after 15 years. I think we are planning a simple ceremony in our backyard, which will take quite a bit of work to get into shape (since getting the store my love of gardening has had to take a backseat), but it is the best excuse I can think of for getting it all green again. Now if we can get coverage at the store and save our pennies we may be able to plan something of a honeymoon trip, which would be most lovely.

I'm taking Cat Yronwode's 'Hoodoo Rootwork Correspondence Course' and have been reluctant to turn in any of the assignments yet. The very first one asks you to explain a belief or superstition from you family. I come from a very unimaginative stock, so all I've had was stuff like 'don't open an umbrella in the house' or 'don't step under a ladder' and so forth. Nothing to get excited about. But then today I remember this strange thing that my grandma used to do...

My grandmother used to paint her quarters with red nail-polish (not certain if the color was significant or if that was merely what she wore and therefore had available). From talking with my mother, the understanding is that Grandmother did this to distinguish those coins in her coin purse that she would later need to feed to the laundry machines in her apartment building. Why she went through the trouble of doing this and carrying them with her everywhere instead of simply setting them aside I do not know. At any rate, these coins would make it into circulation in the region of Oakland California where she lived most of her life, and once I remember her having gotten such a coin as change for some purchase, causing her to remark that it was a sign that her money was making its way back to her, thus serving as an omen of better financial times for her ahead.

A few years ago I found such a coin, but failed to hold onto it. I think I will sort through my change jar later and see if I still have it.

Storm and I went to see the live performance of ‘The Kids in the Hall’ last night. I would have graded it a B+, but today it seems funnier in my memory so I’ll bump it up to an A. I’d been a tad maudlin since my birthday regarding things I loved when I was younger and now missed, so it was fun seeing the 'kids' again.

Had to break down and buy the soundtrack to 'Sweeney Todd' because all the songs were stuck in my head. Nothing worse than trying to get to sleep and having songs run through your head with lyrics too vague to indulge in. When did I become one of those fags whose into musical theater? Its like I reached a certain age and my genes decided that it was time for my nipple hairs to turn gray while I sing off-key verses from 'Wicked.' This is so not right. I fear to think what else may be in store for me as the calendar pages turn.

Good Lord its been forever since I've posted anything. I haven't done anything art worthy for a while, and so I haven't been here pimping my designs. Don't suppose I have anything to say even now, nonetheless before folk wonder if I have fallen off the face of the earth I suppose I should update. Most of my energy has been focused on Dolphin Dream. It is finally becoming the store that Storm and I want it to be, however it has been six months of grueling work. Things are finally settling down, so with luck I will soon have more stuff to bullshit about other than my search for slatwall hooks. 

Felt well enough to make it into the store for a few hours today. Gotta revamp much of Carnivalia, starting with the Apothecary section which I now realize sucks. I'm enjoying the Lucky Mojo course, BTW, and highly recommend it.

Dolphin Dream's class schedule for the following months is out now. Responses have been good, but I'm still trying to generate more interest. (Suppose I should let Anaar know that she is now teaching 'Topless Intro to the Feri Tradition.')

Since the Anonymous Place nearby shut down the A.A. folk have been urging us to carry those medallions that announce how many years sober one has been. I can't seem to find the wholesaler for those though, so I'm thinking I'll just print up my own on Cafe Press beer steins.

I'm just buzzing with ideas these days (most of them bad), but creative nonetheless.

Storm and I finally got the flu that has been going around. Sucks! We've got so much to do, what with Tuscon then Pantheacon then Puck's initiation we were looking forward to focusing on everything we have let slide. Gotta wait until we feel better now. It's additionally frustrating because I learnt new techniques for stuff at the con that I've been excited to work on, but really ought not to while I'm all boogery. So instead I'm stuck in my messy messy house with a fever. Blech. Storm and I were supposed to go out and celebrate our 15th anniversary, but that has been shelved for now. Instead we are having pizza delivered tonight, not the most romantic feast, but it shall have to do. Its all about the company anyway.

So tomorrow we are off to Tucson for five days. Kinda stressful. The woman taking care of my Mom seems alright if not ideal, and our roommate Daniel is taking time off to stay here and watch the dogs. Still I'm nervous. I'm a rather rooted fellow, however I do like to shop so I look forward to that part of the trip.

I'm excited about the direction our shop is going. The book section is finally being given some much needed character. Ordering from a bunch of small sources can be a bitch, but I think it pays off. Now if I can sell such books, rather than taking them home to add to my private collection, we will be in business. We have a bunch of herbs in but they ain't out yet since we are out of slatwall room and don't know how to display them. Figuring that out will be my next task soon as we get back.

It's been too long, I know, but now I am trying to get back in the habit of updating this journal. As you all might imagine, having taken over the retail store right before Xmas was exhausting. Storm and I are finally able to catch our breaths somewhat.

Concerning the store all is swell right now. Did a sidewalk wash out front the other day to attract customers, mixing some ammonia/sugar/cinnamon and sweeping towards the door, and sure enough my sales boomed soon after.

I'm barely keeping up with my production of talkingboards (and haven't had any time to design anything new). I think it may be time for me to offer manufactured versions of my better boards, so if anyone has some tips for finding a manufacturer I'd appreciate it muchly. I want to keep doing some handmade ones, but only as limited editions.

Decided that in the same manner I like my coffee black I'm gonna stick to Bourbon for my boozing (good red wine being the exception). Later, when I'm filling out my absentee ballot, I'm gonna see about making a drinking game out of it, perhaps turning my wrist whenever a candidate claims to be for change. Feel free to help me out with this folks.

In a couple of weeks Storm and I are going to Tuscon for the gem show. Five days we'll be there; I'm excited but somewhat reluctant to leave the Bay Area for that long. Then later in Feb we will be at Pantheacon, so busy month ahead. I'll try to find time to keep this journal active.