I sang with TCC for a conference being held here in Dallas on Creating Change in the GLBT community.

I was asked by the director to give a short speech, concerning my HIV status and my sexual orientation. I was worried all week about the mechanics of the speech. Not until I walked up and held the microphone did I realize the emotion that would be involved. I spoke about the over 60 friends I lost in TCC over the years. I spoke about us each having angels and I spoke about dreaming for my future.

I was asked to introduce a song called, Gone To Soon.

Mind you I was fighting back tears and my voice was crackling. I was realizing at that moment that I was standing, holding a microphone and reading, something I couldn't have down 3 years ago. Overwhelmed by my actions and listening to my words. My status is no secret, but, somehow saying it loud to a room full of people, was really overwhelming. A friend Will, said he saw the raw me.

The director came up to help me and I read on fighting back the tears, listening...really listening to what I was saying.

More important than my health status or sexual orientation, is my story...I'm a self-taught artist, trying to make his mark on the world.

I will do this again, I don't know where, but, something happened to me today.

I'm still chewing on this afternoon, where my life is, where I was hoping it would be...hell, that I have a life at all.

The director gave me an opportunity to share apart of myself today. As I was standing there, I began to realize I'm ok, just being me. And the me is ever changing.

I need time to think, so more later

If you're gonna start sometime, why not now

It seems like I just got back from Christmas in Missouri.

January was a busy month, physical therapy, art, music and more...yes there was more, but, I can't share yet.

My new everyday cane, called Something Wicked This Way Comes...my first mixed media cane

Funny story, I've forgotten this cane twice, while I've been out...a good thing since I'm starting to walk around without it now



A painting I named Celluloid for a local Aids Agency, here in Dallas. Aids Interfaith Network, where I volunteer every Wednesday. My friend Blake is holding it, wishing he was Vanna White!



A new piece I'm calling It's Complicated. I had a night out with a good friend and we say the movie, by the same name



And finally moving onto the next stages of physical therapy. These are yoga balls I've become one with. I call this the yoga ball snowman



One of the last paintings I did in January is still in the making



Valentines Day cards have ben placed. Potentially 2 new card clients have been found and 4 art shows are scheduled.

January was a busy and productive month.

This year for me has been about so much more than surviving...I'm finally getting comfortable with the new me.

Tomorrow I give a short speech talking about my experience as a gay man with Hiv

More important than my status or my sexual orientaion is my story. I'm a regular guy trying to make his mark on the world. This songs pretty much sums up how I feel right now.

Press Here

If you're gonna start sometime, why not now

I'm singing this year in the 10th anniversary of Sing For the Cure, a movement comprised of 10 songs, centering the experiences of Breast Cancer.

The Turtle Creek Chorale started this project 10 year ago. It's now sung around the world.

This is TCC singing One Voice with The Mens Heartland Chorus

Press Here



As I practise for the performance in May, I dedicate the performance to my cousin Lori who fights everyday to look beyond the disease and into her future. Her childrens future

Love you Lori

If you're gonna start sometime, why not now

A question has been brought up several times after the earthquake heard halfway around the world.

We all go back to our lives, doing what we do and somehow life goes on.

Press Here

So, the director of TCC put an emergency benefit together for those in Haiti. Going beyond asking what you can do, and acting on that question...everything has an answer, the question for me is answered.

If you're gonna start sometime, why not now

This year has been a whirl wind of activity.

I was asked by a local photographer, Larry Lourcey...his website is www.lourceyphoto.com or the blog www.lourceyphoto.com/blog. He's starting a project this year called Portrait of an artist and I was asked to kick off his project,

His idea is to take portraits of individuals with their passion, all walks of life and all ages.

His idea for me was ironic, as I have been wanting to paint my head. His idea, much cleaner, was to take a picture of the pack of my head and then take a picture of my art...then superinpose the art on my head.

For me the final image represents what goes on in my head while buildinf a piece



The changing ideas forming to build a final statement. Each painting is in my head and in my heart. No mistakes...happy accidents are wgat makes life interesting.



The painting behind me is the piece used for the project, called, Live, Laugh, Love. 24x48...the canvas representswhat I'm trying to focus on. With everything going on in our kives, we forget to laugh and it's essential, I believe to love.

Finally, yesterday after a day of volunteering with Aids Interfaith Network, I met up with a good friend Al Glover, to take pics of q16 pieces now hanging for an upcoming show in February.



Thanks Al, more to come...here's a clue...it involves a bank and a coffee label!

If you're gonna start sometime, why not now