Another Sample of Stephen's Work

W O W


To see more of Stephen's amazing work, click here.

Twenty-One

January 12, 1988

At seven years young
you opened the door.
Your too long gown
gently dragging the floor.

Looking up at me
so quiet and unsure.
With questioning eyes
and innocence pure.

"Who might you be"
your unspoken word.
"Are you a good person"
I silently heard.

A humble beginning
yet this moment I knew.
A special connection
born for me and for you.

From Raggles to Reindeer
and Catholic school.
Or emergency rooms
til well after two.

And those teenage years
all fraught with drama.
Of a rusted out truck
oh my God, what a trauma.

Then off to Georgia
a new chapter began.
The Red and the Black
and a Bulldog fan.

Now another milestone
you've grown and come far.
At last you can legally
drink in the bar.

And as the years passed
I've watched as you grew.
Gracefully dealing
with all that you do.

Hoping you remember
when life seems unfair.
Nothing can break
the bond which we share.

Happy Birthday Beth Anne!

I Came, I Saw, I Ate

By now the garlands and lights have likely been taken down, the stockings and Christmas CD's have been put away and the trees, stripped of their yuletide trimmings, have all been cast to the curb and are happily decomposing in the local landfill.

Likewise, the champagne bottles, noise makers and party hats used to ring in the new year have also been discarded as we now collectively settle back into the normalcy of our pre and post holiday season lives.

However, given the events of the last quarter of 2008, normalcy may have changed a bit.

From the sub-prime meltdown to the auto industry bailout; from the near disappearance of the 401k to the biggest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history, 2008 leaves many of us a little shell shocked and somewhat unsure of what the new year may hold.

But nevertheless, for me some things about the beginning of a new year remain constant.

For instance, the holidays are the times I tend to take on the persona of a procrastinating bear who is way behind in it's preparation for hibernation and consequently consumes virtually everything edible in sight.

Deviled eggs by the dozens along with entire hams and turkeys have been known to completely vanish when I'm left to my own devices in the kitchen.

Mashed potatoes, gravy and casseroles disappear faster than a politician's promises while desserts literally leap from their containers onto my plate.

As a result, one of my ongoing resolutions for the new year is to realize I'm not going to hibernate and therefore I need not act as if I am a human Electrolux.

Beth would tell you it's impossible for me to do so and admittedly, I've always had a healthy appetite. But during the rest of the year, I normally run enough to offset the increased consumption.

So for me the new year means its time to get back into the fitness groove; time to forgo the utilization of my unending list of excuses of why I can't run today; time to set some running and race goals for the coming year and time to begin training.

And it also means its time for me to make peace with my bathroom scale, put away my super-size pants and start dressing from my regular closet once again.

Because in reality:

I eat therefore I am.

Happy 2009!

It's A Bird. It's A Plane. I'ts A Maniac!

wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.