The Paul McCartney Dream Trip

I had written several chapters in my book with a thread running through them about Beatle music, it having been an important part of my life in my younger years. I found --through submitting chapters to Internet Writers Workshop (IWW)-- those lyrics could cause big copyright problems, so I must rewrite those chapters. I can use a few song titles because titles can't be copy righted. I will have to do some more research. I gained a lot of fodder to help tie up and end my book from this recent trip. I will explain a little as I add a few images from my August 19th 2009 dream-come-true trip to see Paul McCartney.

Front of the Program

I have used pictures I took of the program to substitute for pictures which I was not allowed to take in the concert and to introduce and end this photo essay. Here, I will plug the Beatles Rock Band game that is similar to Guitar Hero so maybe I won't be forced to take these images down. It just wasn't complete without some Paul pictures when the whole adventure centered on him.

Fab Four-Sgt. Peper Girl Overboard

The Golden Legged Girls

August 19, 1965 and 2009

As youths we four girls went to see the "Beatles" on another August 19th in 1965. We have remained friends although not as close as we would like. God winked at us, and we were placed in a position to re-live this adventure to see "the" Beatle. Forty-four years later, on August 18th, we met and had a senior slumber party, and we kind of went wild and returned to our teen selves. We talked about old times, acted silly, went for a swim and then crashed.

Fab Four Together-Posing for Rare Photos

The next morning we got ready for our fast and flashy trip to Dallas from Houston. We had four limousine rides and two plane trips within 36 hours... not to mention we saw Paul freakin McCartney! None of us are rich; like I said, God winked at us. It was a gift

Stretching in Front of the Stretch

Lowering to Land in Dallas

Ready to see Paul- Where is that Limo?

Paul was Fantastic-We Danced the Night Away

Another Quick Trip-Home From Oz

Our Last Toast to Oz in the Limo

The End of our Trip Trip Over the Rainbow

I have many more photos and much more story on Facebook if you are interested and you are a friend. If I know you, just ask, I'll be your friend. The captions on the images there, in my Paul McCartney album, tell almost the whole adventure, and I am sure most of it will be in my book.

Waves of Independence

I Will Speak

"You are free to disagree
because our boys fight for that right!"
You have all but spat this at me.
Are you saying only those who agree should speak ...
that being against the war dishonors our soldiers?

The prisoner in a four foot square cage
rambles where his mind takes him ...
places ...
he doesn't want to go,
as a buddy falls in slow motion,
he feels the gun barrel
jammed into his own sweaty neck ...
places ...
he thinks he may never be again,
with steaming turkey and silverware chimes,
cool starlit nights and Christmas Eve wine.

He remembers ... where he came from ...
the mightiest nation on earth ... yet not perfect.
He thinks about honor ... courage
freedom of choice and speech,
wonders what he did to be trapped.
Free only in thought,
he keeps quiet, and dreams of running.

To give our thoughts voice,
disagree with our government,
is the gift our soldiers give to us.
Would you have everyone--not of like mind
throw this liberty away,
leave us all in a cage unable to change?
I will speak,
try to undo what injustice I see,
use the freedom bought at such a high price
to honor them ... our men ... our women ... our soldiers
otherwise their sacrifice means nothing.


-VCW
Charline

May Flowers

bone turns to soil
earth feeds the flower
beautiful cycles

APRIL FOOL

This photo is me as the fool a few years back. Actually... in my balloon delivery business... I called this character Jessie the Jester. Of course a jester is a fool, and the number 0 is my favorite card in the Tarot. It suits me don't you think, "The Fool"? The image was manipulated with Photoshop filters to make it look more like a painting. Many old friends have seen this photo before and it resides on my web site Through My Window with a slightly different version of the poem. I could use some help on this verse. If anyone has any suggestions, I am open to critiques. I like the internal rhyme, but something doesn't seem quite right with it as a whole. Could be the tense... could be just a word or two that still need changed.


Say Cheese

Seeing a being needing some freeing
From a saddened thought that was never sought

I borrow a frown from a bluish clown
Try hard to coerce the lips to reverse

Mark it the target to take a good hit
Contagious, I send the grand healing grin

Learning to turn a face scowled with concern
Into a sequence of wrinkles that beam

Beguile for a while with a painted smile
Planning that after, will bloom true laughter


-VCW

Eye to Eye with Jack

I just can't seem to get into a groove with my book. I have spent a great deal of time lately on my older art... formatting it for the "Art Message Cards" that I am creating for my site on YouPublish. Of course "Patchwork Faces of the Moon" is always in the back of my mind mulling around and picking up inspiration from some of my more psychic dreams. They have picked up again. As does much of my other art, this "Solar Animal Series" has a very other-worldly or dream-world look to it.

I decided to post some larger images at YouPublish that folks can print themselves. Most of the cards are only $2.00 a download. Some are free. I also have some free photographic art images for this "Solar Animal Series." I noted my favorite online service with each image.

This photo was taken at an exotic animal reserve near Kampwood Texas. The subject's name is Jack, and his girlfriend's name is Jill. I think he was trying to make her jealous, because he was really flirting with me that day. He kept dipping his head down so that I could touch him. A giraffe's head is ... really ... big. Anyway... This file can be purchased and downloaded from my new site at YouPublish.

I am enjoying working again with my art, but feel a grinding expectation in my heart to get back into the progression of my book. I'm just trying to make a little money and art as I go. I will probably add the "Redbird Series" to the cards soon and maybe even make some cards from the "Solar Animals" too. Right now, they are just offered in the more expensive downloads.

Happy Valentine's Day

I can't believe that it is the middle of February, and I didn't even make a post in January. I guess I remembered the New Years Haiga as being done in that month. I have been creating more Art Message Cards for my account at YouPublish. This is a more unusual one. I have a lot of sweet and funny cards that could be all occasion. Several are FREE. Check it out. I will add a link in the side bar, but here is the address. VCW's Original Art Message Cards- https://www.youpublish.com/people/3685

Haiga Christmas Card and New Year's Greeting

New Year's Tanka

we turn to year's end
remember droplets of life
waves moving from pebbles tossed
time circles once again
seeking the center

-VCW
December 2008