gift.

j'adore this painting. a gift from my buddy jyl. while house sitting her beautiful space when she traveled india a year ago, i fell more and more in love with this painting which hung on her wall from bedroom to kitchen. the subject's slightly masculine hand. almond puppy eyes. sharp mouth. it's always seemed 'sexual' to me. but, i've heard 'strong'. i suppose it could be both. or neither. we'd have to ask its creator: .

jyl is changing the color decor of her home. while visiting her and her patio, a few evenings ago, for dinner (a delicious spread of garden roasted veggies, tomato nut dipping pate, baguette, pan heated and salted almonds and filberts next to assorted cheeses and blueberries) she gifted me with this piece!

which now sits on my wall leading from bedroom to kitchen.

as i cleaned my apartment tonight, tip top the vintage refrigerator to the saltillo tiles' bottom while listening to interpol once through, i passed her several times and smiled.

cozy clean gratification. m'life in an intentionally-condensed box filled by good energy and meaningful art. that's where i am now and i like it. basking in the glow -or, rather, lingering incense*- of sterilized domestic bliss. grateful. for this. for jyl. and for 'her'. i have a feeling she'll be with me for a long while.

*during a spring trip to mexico, i passed a store front. small space, HUGE smell.. and found myself drawn inward... an earthy smoke with notes of myrth... twisted in such a way that, apparently, speaks to more than just me. imagine?! while perusing the inventory and basking in the legal high of nasal intoxication, a local woman sprung in, going straight for the magical burning sticks, "when i passed by and smelled the store, i was reminded i just burned my last" she lamented in monotone mexican verbiage.

indeed, i picked some up for home. at $5 for 20, i wouldn't have considered resisting. in fact, i picked up 60 sticks.