Hello again, fellow FA Artists, writers, illustrators, collectors, poets, dreamers and other highly creative persons.

Okay. I believe I goofed in the writing my previous Journal because it sounded so dour that quite a few of the folks reading it got the impression that I was very ill, or I was so deep in the darkest of a depression that I might have been considering harming myself. So first, let me apologize for the misunderstandings, and to those who were upset with my posting, I assure you I'm still in good health, and I hope to be around for a while.

July started off on a good note though. For the Fourth, I decided to join up with Noah and walk to the Arroyo to watch the fireworks being shot over the Rose Bowl as the dusk was settling in. I had trouble making it down the long, dark driveway, and by the time I got to the street, I was winded and drenched in sweat. I was so weak, that I suggested that Noah go ahead, and I'll wait for him to return. I decided though that this might turn out to be one of those "Once in a Lifetime" events, so slowly, steadily, I made my way to the arroyo, and soon met up with Noah, who had found him a great lookout spot from which to watch the event. I was glad I made it, for the show was spectacular, including a part of the presentation where it seemed the whole stadium was filled with fog. It seemed to me that the show's programmers had perfected the art of launching the rockets in special sequences to create spectacular sky bursts. A huge "Chrysanthemum" burst would suddenly be surrounded by a colorful ring, and there were plenty of my favorite "Crackler" style displays. I made it back up to the house with Noah bolstering my spirits through the long, dark walk up to the house. I felt great after that little adventure.

Later, that Sunday, I went with Noah to the Pasadena City College flea market, as I hadn't visited that venue in almost two years. Much to my delight, I saw many of the vendors that I enjoy seeing there, and almost every type of ware I was seeking seemed to be for sale, as long as I kept making my way from table to table. I found some precision tools that are perfect for miniature work, quite a few toys to fix up, and a couple of Hot Wheels toy cars from a vendor who enjoys "Talking my ears off" when it comes to anything automotive-wise. It really cheered me up to notice that walking through the entire flea market didn't wear me out, or cause me any distress, except for the "Pain in the wallet," especially when it came to the high cost of liquid refreshments at the event.

Last week, Mike Kazaleh, a friend of Schirm's and mine ended up in the hospital because of a massive infection in his midsection. Schirm called on me that morning to tell me the news and invited me to come along, and in an instant, I decided, "Why Not?" After getting dressed and ready, on a whim, I decided to give Mike one of the fancier toy cars I bought at the flea market. We got to the Hospital, and Tracy was there, helping care for her husband, but Schirm and I had to wait a bit until Mike was "Presentable." Once we entered the room, both Mike and Tracy made us welcome, and we chatted, catching up on old news and such. I was surprised and pleased at the way Mike's face lit up as he accepted the gift of the Hot Wheels toy car. Later, when Schirm, Tracy and I retreated to a quiet area while the nurses had to tend to Mike, Tracy told me that one of the reasons Mike enjoyed my company was because we'd talk about cars, Hot Wheels, and automotive design. I was so touched with that bit of news that I almost felt like crying. After all, it was Mike who showed me that it's possible to render mechanical subjects with ink and a brush.

"Oh yeah, Life goes on, even after the thrill of livin' is gone." (John Cougar Mellencamp. "Jack and Diane.")

Despite the heat, the bugs, choppin' brush in order to make the fire marshals happy, and running short of money, I'm still very much happy to be alive. Once again, I apologize for the misunderstandings from my previous journal.

"Peace."