the sausage, garlic and red onion is simmering in the wine and san marzano tomatoes... this morning as i left for the dojo, it was 14 degrees. no shit. 14 degrees... but thats winter and we deal with it. in any event, after hard training and harder xmas shopping, i needed the comfort of pasta, the aforementioned sausage and broccoli rabe. and there is a bottle of chianti waiting as well. and i'm wearing a stocking cap indoors as i type this. winter...

speaking of winter, to revisit the winter salon at bjorn ressle gallery, i must say again it was quite a trip. an opening of your own work is always a beautiful time, but to see your work alongside the works of legendary greats is a totally new and humbling experience. it also (obviously) makes you feel pretty damn good. it makes you feel like you're an artist-- an artist involved in the continuum of this path that we follow. i leave for LA on wed. it'll be a good time with family and food and wine and my new niece and hopefully friends i haven't seen in a while. and the art i left behind from the last trip. LA in december can be gray or it can be brilliant blues and greens and intense sunsets. either way will work for me....