Annette and I became acquainted in late 2007; we've gone out and I've enjoyed her company.  Annette is a wonderful woman to know; she's the Matriarch of her family and the foundation on which everyone depends.  Annette loves to cook and her signature dishes (at least the ones I know) are posole and green chili stew--both are supreme!  And, if there is a color or jewel that would personify Annette, it would be the emerald (though, she loves the color red).  In this picture, Annette is on Sandia Crest overlooking Albuquerque.

I've known this guy since 1983--we've been involved in a lot of adventures and misadventures (too many to mention here--but they may get mentioned elsewhere on this site); as a hobby,  www.gatesofdixie.com and www.neonparadise.net are just two of our collaborations within recent years.  And, Gil must be given credit for helping to get my life straightened out--he convinced me to move to Albuquerque and I guess this is where I needed to come because everything fell in place after that!  Gil's personal website:  www.gildavis.com

Steve was a long-lost friend--I hadn't been in contact with him for ten years--when I suddenly learned through Suzy's Facebook that he was appearing at the Poe Show in Phoenix performing "Double Deadly Lenore" on January 16, 2010!; Suzy was attending and I asked her to help me reconnect with him!  What a small world.  Steve is one of my favorite people; during the darkness of the late '90s, I eagerly awaited letters from Steve which helped ignite my philosphical imagination and creative process.  Steve was an integral part of our group in Mesa, AZ during the early '90s.   We've had some great experiences together!  Steve loves poetry and scorpions; he's married and is currently working on a Bachelor's degree in IT and works in Support for hospitality software for hotels and restaurants.

Bob is a former co-worker; he recently retired and since we no longer work together, I can put him exclusively in the "friend" column now.  But, I do miss seeing Bob at work.  Bob and I talk about cameras a lot--he's very knowledgeable about cameras and photography and has made me more aware about a great many things--particularly about buying cameras and taking good pictures.  Bob is also probably good at providing advice on how to get rid of STDs, but I won't mention that here.

Suzy and I met through a small publication that I co-produced with Gil back in the early 1990s (NightScapes); she is the mother of Ian.  Suzy is going to seminary to become a minister; she is currently on a weight-loss program and has lost 30 pounds!  Suzy also has two daughters from another relationship--Betsy and Heidi.  Suzy's website is:  http://resourcesforspiritualactivism.com

This is a photo of Suzy wearing her bellydance outfit at the Arizona Renaissance Festival in 2010.

Kathy is a wild cat in many ways; knowing her over the years certainly made life interesting (and, at times, aggravating); I met Kathy through Steve.  Kathy is a botanist and used to work at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.  2009 saw some major changes in Kathy's life--mostly for the good.  Kathy was a major inspiration for me during the dark years of the late '90's and first couple of years of the new millenium; she helped spark creativity in thought and writing.   For many years, we kept in very close contact through phone calls and e-mails--and have enjoyed several visits together in both Morgan City and Albuquerque.  It is Kathy's untamed spirit and intellectual depth that I find most exciting about her!   I'm privileged to say that I got to know Kathy on many different levels resulting in a very special and rare-type of friendship.  

Photo by Ann Owen

Ross is a classmate from Palm Springs High School; we took radio broadcasting together; prior to a brief lunchtime visit on July 23, 2008 at the Excalibur in Las Vegas (where Ross works in the telephone switch room), I hadn't seen  Ross for 31-years!   My daughters Robyn and Chauntel and myself were treated to a tour of the underground support and logistics labyrinth that exists underneath Excalibur that keeps the resort functioning.  Ross also repairs the phone systems of other hotels on the Las Vegas Strip; he is one of two PSHS classmates (that I am aware of) who lives in Las Vegas.   I look forward to visiting more with Ross on subsequent trips to my favorite city.  In this photo, Ross is in the phone switch room under Excalibur. 

I just reconnected with Rodney (October, 2009), who during the last fifteen or so years, has become a fundamentalist, born-again Christian--in fact, he is a minister.  Rodney lives a very spartan life--living usually in a tent, and riding a bicycle across Arizona preaching the Word of God.  At the time this picture was taken, Rodney was staying at a church in Golden Shores, AZ and we were passing through there and visited with him for a while.  Rodney is interested in the Rainbow Tribes and hangs out with them some times; click here for his MySpace page:

http://www.myspace.com/jesustribesrainbowfamily

Rodney is also a clown:  Normal t. Joey, a magician and a juggler--a man of many talents--but he is very serious about preaching the Gospel and getting souls saved.

Melinda is the mother of Vernon, Krystal, Robyn and Chauntel; she and I had our first date on April Fool's Day, 1980 and we were married in June of that same year!  Melinda and I were married for fourteen years and then, divorced in October, 1994.  Melinda is a phenomenal artist--among the best, in my opinion.