Safe.

Another thing I realised...I just feel safer with women. 

I guess that's why I have so many female friends. 

I remember when I was a little boy, I was on a trip somewhere; Mum and Dad were in the front of the car (Dad driving- he always drove) and I was sitting with my Auntie Lorraine in the back. 

I was feeling sleepy, so she let me lay my head down on her ample breast, & I slept soundly and peacefully.  Like a baby. 

I was not so sure about my Dad- I don't remember EVER feeling safe with him- but I DID feel safe with my Aunty Lorraine.  

On some level deep inside me, I'm a little bit wary of men.  In my twenties and thirties, I can remember starting fights with them in pubs.  I guess this was partly to do with my conditioning (Dad spent endless hours teaching me how to hit other men, saying it was 'the only language they understood'), but I wonder if, on some level, I was not somehow getting them before they 'got' me.    

Like the way I was conditioned to treat women; 'dump them before they dump you'.

I know not all men are like my father- not all men are savage, boorish brutes (just like not all women are angels!), but I simply feel safer with women. 

I noticed they don't start as many major wars as men do; that says something. 

Today, I give thanks for gentle feminine energy.   

Thank you for making me feel safe to be me...& to treat EVERYBODY with love.

Heart.

A Valentine's Day No-Brainer.

"When you love somebody...set them free." 

It scares me about the human race we even need to be told this. 

I have a saying (it's a fairly recent one) "I let you go so I can love you better." 

Seems pretty straightforward...but it's astonishing how many people take this as rejection. 

We are such an insecure species...we need to hold onto things. 

We HAVE to learn to let them go.

Watching the movie "Melancholia" last night...I was reminded of what IS important, and what is not. 

Money, riches, prestige, power...none of these things are important. 

To live, to love, and to LEARN TO LET GO. 

These are all that matter, in the end.

Happy Valentine's Day to all.     

Let's keep going...

Armistice Day.

I was lying in bed last night, & I heard a loud noise in the next room; I was startled, my heart rate leaped, and my breathing quickened.  It was nothing major, but...

I realised...I still felt as though Dad was going to come into my room and thrash me. 

Even though he is now dead, and it was a long time ago...I still carry that legacy inside me. 

I am a grown man; & it still shakes me to my very core. 

I am reminded...I have to find a way to let it go. 

This fear deep inside, and all the latent hatred and negativity that go with it. 

It was 11:11 when I decided to write this piece. 

Armistice Day. 

The war is over, time to start again. 

Time for all the abused children to lay down their arms, and walk away from the battle. 

It is time to flush all the hate, fear, loathing, anger, anxiety, & trauma from our system...

And let love in. 

Love is everything. 

Love is the lullaby for a wounded world.

Let the healing begin...

<3 nbsp="" p="">

Love IS all you need: & I'm going to prove it.

Watch this space, if you dare/care...

It 'aint me, babe.

Next adventure March 19. 

My tastes are not lavish, I stay in dumps and dives and hang out in the poorer parts of town- but these things cost virtually nothing. 

Someone asked me recently how I can afford to travel.  As he took a drag from his cigarette, we established that my last trip cost half his annual cigarette budget.  Blow it out your arse, mate.  It's about priorities. 

I love adventure; and if you do it right, and you have no other commitments, you can do it cheaper than staying at home.  Maybe I should write a book about it- people don't believe it can be done. 

Maybe I will. 

Stop and talk to a backpacker.  If you have the guts. 

Some people think it is money keeping them from living the adventure. WRONG.  It's fear..lack of imagination...& SPIRIT. 

Being ready to DIE in sleazy places to get the pump. 

People baulk at my pics of the ghetto.  & these are NOT Bosnia!  Grow up, and LIVE!!  Get a set of balls, and screw your courage to the sticking place.  (& don't bleat about families and children & job as an excuse- you made your choices.  I know what it's like to be thrashed by an old man who was resentful we held him back.  I DON'T buy it.) 

Someone to blame for staying home?  It 'aint me, babe. 

It's easy to blame others, or look for excuses, or citicize those who are living the dream.

It 'aint me.

  

Evolution My Arse...

OK...I watched 'Expendables 2' the other night.  I love those action ensemble pieces, like the 'Dirty Dozen'- & this is certainly of that oeuvre- on crack.

I'm not doing a movie review; that 'aint my thang.  And I am still deciding whether I watched the film in order to keep my finger on the pulse of the level of violence in Hollywood movies from a political POV (I would hate to be one of these fuckless wonders who criticises films & this genre without actually WATCHING them), or whether I simply wanted to satiate my blood-lust for primal pleasures by living vicariously through big buffed, beefy (& mostly old) action heroes.

 

Who cares.  I was amused by all the bullets, blood, battle ballet and nudging and winking between these semi-retired action impresario's.  I was especially amused to note the body count, and the special effects were without equal as hundreds of evil doers were routinely converted to mince meat.

But I was also amused to note that despite the body count- they could not allow Arnie to say 'Yippee-kay-yay- "MOTHERFUCKER"...I guess because it might be offensive.

I can tell you this; politically speaking? Nothing has changed much since Brando's 'obscenity' speech in 'Pocca'.  

 

Bottom line?  Wholesale slaughter is fine...rude words are not. 

 

Twas ever thus...shall ever be.  

Evolution my ass...

"Australian All Let Us Rejoice, For We Are BARBARIC!!"

I never thought I would see the day. 

Not on MY shores...

After three months in America, I thought I had seen it all. 

I always do feel that way; because every time I go to the States- I DO see it all. 

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. 

The country reminds me of myself, in a lot of ways. 

But I saw something today on my arrival at Melbourne Airport that shocked me to my very core. 

Waiting in the queue to be jumped, pumped and gazumped by Airport Security, I saw this gorgeous little fellow. 

Anyone can see the little chap has an issue or two, but he was happy as a lark.  And frankly...that's all that matters to me. 

I saw the joy.  And his mom was attentive to his needs, so who cares about the rest of it. 

A mom and her little boy...getting it done.

With no help from anyone else.  

These two beautiful souls were ahead of me in the line. 

I lost them for a moment, as I went through the big spraying and disinfecting chamber and collected all my contraband and highly suspicous shit, and caught up with them. 

Just in time to see one of the Airport Nazis searching the little boy. 

THAT'S RIGHT.

Searching THIS little boy!!

Can you believe it??  I COULDN'T!!

This is barbaric. 

BARBARIC, I TELL YOU! 

I have a BUNCH more to say about this, but frankly?  I am too angry right now. 

And shocked, stunned, bewildered...

EMBARRASSED...

But mainly ANGRY. 

My thoughts go with this little boy- so clearly and obviously a massive threat to our freedom and security. 

Some days I cannot see anything to commend us.   

This is one of those days. 

What hope do we have, when our government officials FRISK a little boy like this??

J-Lo was given a special escort through customs at O'Hare while I was ther the day before...

& today, this beautiful little boy is dusted down like a common outlaw. 

God knows what effect this might have on him. 

He seemed OK...but how would one know?

Who are we?

WHAT have we become?

Sorry, I am tired, upset, and in a moment I will make no sense at all.

Because there IS NO SENSE to be made of this.

I don't know about you...but some days, I just despair.

Take care...

J