Dear Mama,

I am cradled by the magic of these islands. There is so much going on here! Music and festivals and theatre and art and sports and underneath it all the weather is constantly changing and giving a sense of movement to everything.

Dear Jake,

The other day in the library I met the most MINDBLOWNG PSYCHEDELIC MAYAN/CELTIC PANTS

Dear Mama,

I have been thinking lately of houses and what I want mine to look like when I build it. Jake is very good at fixing and building things, so that helps! My little nest of a room is coming along nicely. When you told me stories of living in California, I would picture you in houses like these.

Dear Mama,

This past weekend Newtown (my old neighborhood) celebrated its annual Fair Day. It was hot and sunny and crowded. My camera and computer aren't getting along, so here are some photos from other people.

Dear Mama,

I'm writing an essay on music in Sufism for my Mysticism class. Sufism is a branch of Islam that focuses on the mystic tradition, and although there are some fundamentalist Muslims who believe music should be illegal, there are many sects who embrace it as a central aspect of praise. My lecturer introduced me to two books by Hazrat Inayat Khan, a poetic author and master of the vina (an Indian stringed instrument).
I wanted to copy down everything he wrote, but here is just a little something:

It would be no exaggeration if I said that music alone can be themeans by which the souls of races, nations and familes, which are today so apart, may one day be united.
... there will come a day when music and its philosophy will become the religion of humanity.

Dear Mama,
The sun was so bright today! I left my laundry on the line while I went into town. It was probably dry in fifteen minutes!




this is the park I live beside

Dear Mama,
The other day my flatmates took me to Princess Beach. It is bordered by a series of rocky island bits with the most amazing tidal pools full of all kinds of life. I swam in the cold, cold ocean and it was awesome!

Dear Mama,
Enjoy your time at the ocean! Spring Break '09! Here are some more photos I find inspirational; I know you'll like them too. I often daydream about the house I will build in the woods.

Dear Jessie,

Apart from "I'm on Fire" and the Nebraska album, I never fully appreciated Bruce Springsteen. Now I understand your undying love.

I have no stereo so I've been accumulating cassette tapes from the tip shop: Enya, Peruvian flutes, REM, and Born In The USA. OMG! Listening to it the whole way through on my walkman was possibly one of the most patriotic experiences of my life! Even beat casting my vote for Obama...

God, I love America!

Dear Mama,

Easter Sunday was sunshine and everything in the city and in Brooklyn was closed up, so I went out for a walk around the bays and went beachin' fer Jesus!







It's like the Cali 1, only shorter...

Dear Mama,

This has nothing to do with mysticism like we've been talking about, but I absolutely love these photos and thought you would like them, too! There are more in this series.

Dear Mama,

A couple weeks ago my friend Sophie and I went for a long walk up to the wind turbine at the top of Brooklyn hill. I took a video from the top, but no pictures that show the amazing depth of the view. You'll just have to come see it!

about half-way up...

Dear Daniel,

Here in NZ they call dump shop the "tip shop". My flatmates give me rides there, usually on Sundays. Last time we went I bought a big ol' coffee table book on silent screen stars. Pretty nifty book, but the best part was what I found inside the front cover ...



^this should give you some idea of the blinding brilliance that is ...



DECK DOGZ


























There are nine issues (ten but #7 is missing: "Dogz part 1")



P.S. Mama, I'm pretty sure this kid would have been in your classroom, if you know what I mean.