as I contemplated what I could do to show calamity how highly regarded she be on her birthday, I considered sweet artistic expressions and photos and how they could be tied in with the words to convey. Then thought so what... so she can have more junk to store away and eventually throw away for we all need less "stuff"? No. That won't do. The gift I can give you on this your birthday are words.

Sometimes I remember when I saw you spinning records in the morning at the beach, crying. It is in those moments of deep connection to the meaning and nostalgia playing from a record. I can't forget the time I heard Billie Holliday, having wanted to play some myself for about a week prior, I was thrilled to hear it come from the loud speakers. When I saw you drawing in the morning, I awed at your artistic abilities, so many there seemed. We knew we were done for when you called out to the familiarity of the sound of the uncorking champagne bottle.... heehe. I wished i could sing, or play piano, or even just wiggle my booty with any fraction as much as you do when you're droppin' the bass... I envied your charisma, your expressiveness, even your quickness to be goofy... you do them all like you were born to. Even when things were extra rugged between us, you were smooth as silk and a woman through and through. I know it wasn't easy.

Props to calamity Shell Bell. I will be sorely missing you! I better be able to visit you in Florida. In your next chapter and thereafter, I wish you blessings and good vibrations and karma and beauty and understanding and joy... and euphoria! If people deserved such things... you do, just for going forward and reaching for it. It takes some balls to do that, and is once again something I will admire in the one and only Shelly. Happy Birthday grrl!

2 E or not 2 E, that is the question. Whether tis nobler to have your name whisk from lips to your ears or to stand pristine in prose.. For what better friend could a person ask than one who not only can splay colour on canvas but suggests one drink the same to the taste of honey, sage, and rosemary. She understands the menace posed by Lepus Californicus since influenced by Swamp Rabbit escaped from the Black ops lab in Georgia nearly thirty years ago.

Fabulous DJ, Hippo Wrangler, Recently adorned Red Caped Adventure Avenger, carrier of the "Zeekret Veppon", Impeccable Calvin Impersonator, ivory tickler, and all around inspirational laughter inducer Calamity covers all the bases, goalposts, and wickets all on her own with bits left over to explore the far flung haunts of San Francisco to the lost sub oceanic continents. Keep your eyes peeled for this amazing chunk of the universe will get under your skin in a myriad of methods.. permit me to count the ways 1-1000, 2-1000, 3-1000, 4-1000....

:-)

I am so intimidated by Shelley. She spins, sings, plays music, paints, draws, works a job I couldnt do, does Burning Man stuff on the side, makes it to EVERY party, AND she is hot.

Just call me another Calamatities groupie.

Righteous Diva, commin' your way!
She's got a beautiful voice!!
She's no damzel in distress!!!
And boy is she a good kisser!!!!!!

Arf!

Whow!! So check this out! This one time, Im sitting in my friends house after St. Paddies day and Im kickin it in a kitchen chair, staring across the room at this beautiful red head... star struck with the biggest smile, as both of us ponder the other red head we left asleep on the carpet in front of the fire place... when this other crazy redish head comes in from nowhere with the biggest smile on her face.
Now naturally... me and my red head look up to this new redish head to see what she's about... and she opens her mouth, as though to say something, pauses to give the slightest quick chuckel, turns to me, and starts jabberin... her voice very charasimatic and speaking to me very much as though she and I had been the closest of friends for years. We start jaw flappin at each other in personal excited conversation, she strolling around the room joveliently and entertaining well, as conversation moves from one of many good subjects, over to one of my more favorite conversations... at which point we hop skip through names... dates... ages and the other... and somehow end up in the livingroom under a blanket on a couch (?) taking pictures of our tongues together and drinking Tacate beer in a can.

I dont know many people who can beat that kind of introduction. Just thought I'd share..