Dancing Shoes?

Wednesday night I was working a little late. Had a little bit of frustration built up in me for various reasons. I was then called by some co-workers/friends of mine to meet them out at LQ/Latin Quarters. So I heads over. I get there and the guy at the door looks down at my feet and says, "You don't have any other shoes?". In my mind, I am thinking, "Why would I?". He says "We don't allow sneakers in the club." Ohhh- it's that kind of place. I don't care much to go in after that anyway. So I called my friend Damien on the inside and tell him what has transpired. He comes out to try to see if he has any pull. Doesn't work. Door Guy is a stone. So I wait. My friend Lauren comes out. She is this striking blonde who should be able to pull a small favor on presence alone...She smiled and used words like this is my "baby doll"and tells door guy how I was supposed to teach her to dance. Door Guy. Stone. So I wait again.

As I wait there is this guy standing outside looking very well dressed. Nice suit, tie. Looks like he is the owner of the place. He is talking about Charleston SC, and how great it is- but the only problem is that it is surrounded by South Carolina. I laugh. Chuckle rather. The Suit dude looks at me and asks, "hey, what size shoe do you wear?" I say and 8. He is like " I have some shoes for you, I was gonna get rid of them. I can give them to you and you go in and teach that nice lady to dance. I live two blocks down." Me loving and adventure and a good story. I say "OK". We walk.

He goes on to tell me how much he LOVES asian women. I am not surprisd. Two asian walked past who were much less than cute and he whips his head back and goes "MMM, see that is my type." Again, not surprised. So I ask him what he does, he replies "I work at a hotel on 51st. I make reservations for people man. Shitty job." I am shocked- He is so well dressed and lives in a very decent location. Door man and guilded building. Hmm- This is the cover. This is me judging it. So he runs up and get the shoes. I wait outside and call Damien. He is like "don't BUY any shoes man- we are leaving." I am like " I am not BUYING any shoes. Stay put." He is like "don't BUY any shoes man-we are walking up." I am like " I am not BUYING any shoes, man. Stay put." So I walk back with shoes in hand...Door Guy. Stone. No stone. He cracks a smile. Tells me to in and just tell them I am gonna change inside. As I get in the gang is coming up the stairs. They completely deaded the adventure...I got the shoes MAN!

But all in all- The rest of the night was. I didn't get to break in the shoes and do my dance move. But I got the story.

-Rodney

Still discovering...

I am really enjoying going thru my old photos and finding things...

This is another from Portland...

The goods for now...

Every morning on my way to work on the F or V train, I see this old space for advertising. It's seen a lot messages in it's day. I love it when those stories start to reveal themselves.

The Goodness Continues...

Here are a couple more images I took while away last summer in Rome...

Photo Goodness....

Still digging...



This is from a trip to Boston a few years back. I was visiting my friend Stephanie and she took me out antiquing. Fun day...

The following tasty little one I found wandering around Rome last summer. I have so many photos yet unearthed. They shall be dug up by me and hopefully dug again by you...



-Rodney

Amazing type...

The US Debut of Hanne Hukkelberg. Little Things is cd title. Look at this type. GBs...GBs...


GBs= Goosebumps

-Rodney

March 4th...

A few years ago, I worked for a crackpot. I mean this guy was a kooky dreamer. His name Joey Reiman. The World's Best Salesperson. He had all these ideas. He created a company around the "idea" of "ideas". I worked for that company. In fact, it was at that company that I began my art career.

One of his bright ideas, was that everybody should take a personal courage/dream day. That day was March 4th. AKA "March Forth". He gave all his employees this day to pursue their dreams. His line was, "this is not a day you take off, but a day you take on". This guy, to his credit, truly believed in the dream. He was living his. I admit, I have always liked this concept. But it's been awhile forgotten.

Well the other day, it came back to me. I believe for very good reason. That voice that I had been hearing in my head for awhile, had quieted himself. It's like all of a sudden he accepted his defeat. A tension subsided. I broke a smile.

So today, I celebrate "March Forth".

Sometimes, you HAVE to do what hurts.

Sometimes, you HAVE to do what's scary.

Sometimes, you HAVE to see what's really there. Even if it is something that isn't.

There is, I believe to be, a magical moment when all the doors open up at one time. And the thought of a choice with so many options can be daunting. And it truly doesn't matter which door you choose to pass through. They all lead to the same place. The test is to see if you have the courage to choose. That place (that which is beyond those doors) is gonna be different for everybody. But if you know what you are after... that is what you'll find.

Keep walking through doors ahead of you, closing the ones behind you. Never worry about what you are leaving behind, if it is yours, it will be waiting for you on the other side the doors ahead of you. The key is to keep walking.

- Rodney

We are engaged!!!...

Well, "We" is not entirely the truth. But since I spend so much time with this guy, I feel a considerable amount of joy for this momentous occasion. Matthew and Rachael are getting married. Last nite, March 1st, He popped the question. I can't imagine how nervous he must have felt. Even after being together since high school, and I am sure knowing each other very well, popping the question still has to be the biggest thing a single man (and by single I mean unmarried) does in his life. Last night was hands down a celebration. We laughed, drank, and danced. The DJ at Shebeen played ridiculous, hot jams and the bartenders were showing love like we owned the place. Congrats again Matthew and Racheal.

Oh and I didn't want to ask last night, but when is OUR wedding?



This is a happy man...