today's addition to "Alex in Movieland"

sees "Halloween" on Halloween

name change

when Terry Hastings & I were concocting this photo project I told him of my boyhood infatuation with Helen Morgan after seeing her portrayd by Polly Bergen on "Playhouse 90." so those old albums of mine found their way into the photo.

when I askd Terry for his title so I cd post he told me "My Man." at first that sounded fine since it had the allure of old-fashiond torch singers. but then a bit of checking showd me that Morgan didn't sing that song. I knew it was made famous by Fannie Brice. so I notified Terry of that & mentiond a couple of her hits which had "man" in the title. & last nite at his retropective in Palm Desert the actual print was unveild & I saw his final title -- "Can't Help Lovin' That Man."

in addition to seeing the actual print (& receiving my #1 of an edition of 5) in his slide lecture ("Decade in the Desert") there was this huge blow-up.

a thrilling evening.

"My Man" by Terry Hastings

this piece will be unveild at the Terry Hastings retrospective at University of California Riverside's Palm Desert campus this weekend

another piano

photographer Stephen Baumbach has coverd a piano with photographs he's taken over the years. & today he added a poem of mine. I went to his studio to sign it. the piano will be on display during Pride weekend here in 3 weeks.

my stunning life

(photo by Marconi Calindas)

I've had this long-time fantasy. I'm doing a nite club act in which I come out in a tux & feather boa & sit on a piano & sing.

yes. my singing career was over when I outgrew performing as a "boy soprano."

but one still has dreams.

today my dream came to as close to coming true as it ever will. Terry Hastings -- one of the best art photographers in the valley -- invited me to come to our dear friend Marconi Calindas' studio. there Marconi has paintd an upright piano which will be on display at Palm Springs Pride. I got into my tux & a boa I had. the latter wasn't as snazzy as those Helen Morgan used. but we're talking magic here. I made my way on top of the gayly paintd upright. it was hot under the professional lamps. but even with sweat & skinny boa I felt every bit the star.

I don't know what Terry will make from our shoot. but I trust his talent. & I'm loving every minute of my late-in-life career as a model. all lives have ups & downs. I no longer dwell on the downs. & this latest up is one more page in a biography I wdn't trade with anyone.

(photo by Marconi Calindas)

morning rarity: coffee in bed. from that came a poem. & even after my mind jogs. sun on courtyard reminds me of the one I designd for Santa Fe. joining of indoors & out.

the universe is here.

from Joel Singer's Men of Letters series