Freestyle Poem


Mind & Heart Collide into the Elusive Door

What is this place?



Show yourself!



I feel as though there is a meeting place for friends and foes alike…

Where everyone celebrates the vast moments of life.



Yet, I can't get in.

It's like I can see a door to endless celebration, and I do not hold the key.

Let me in! Let me in!

How could I break the lock?

If only there was a window, and I could throw a rock…

Let me in! Let me in!



How hopeless should I be…just give me the damn key.

AHA! Perhaps this is a game… So now, where is the cheat code?

Let me in! Let me in!



I watch people come and go…perhaps they will know!

My Question "Please - you must know, how do I enter into this place where so many of you come and go?"

A Response " If there is one thing to know - this isn't a show, so hit the road"



Could it be that I am the only one not welcomed here?

Could it be that this place is just not for me?

How could this be so? Please please let me know!



This place begins to taunt me…



Why not me? Why not me? Why not me?



Wait…was that an echo I hear? Is anyone there? Please - why not me?

Oh shit - I'm finally losing it. Pack my bags and send me to the hospital. I'm done here.



NO - WHY NOT ME WHY NOT ME WHY NOT ME!

Will I ever understand? Please please just let me in….



The door begins to open…I think I'm going to pass out, so my heart takes over.

The door is open and there are so many people!

Oh joy oh joy, here I am!




Random Parks in Austin

I spent a good bit wandering Austin, TX. I highly recommend getting lost in the parks of the city of Austin. Please let me give you an idea of what a walk in the park may look like through one day of my experiences:

Upon completing my self guided tour of the Umlauf Sculpture Garden, I found my self wandering the land across from Robert E Lee St. I wander off a side walk and down some cement stairs to end up on a trail next to Barton Springs!

As I make my way further down the trail next to the spring, I begin to notice so much life! I see people showing up in dispersed groups in the water on kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, and floats. I noticed several mini waterfall spots bordering the trail...one of which someone posted up at in a hammock taking a nap (that is always nice to see). Down, down, down the trail I continued only to discover even more people, dogs and music.

By the end of the trail my body temp was rising quickly from the suddle humidity and relentless sun power through the clouds. I was ready to join everyone in the water! Then I realize : Whoops! I forgot a bathing suit :(
Around this time, a friend along the trail made me aware that it is legal to be topless in Austin. In slight disbelief, I journeyed on to the next trail in an attempt to find paddleboard rentals. Shortly after crossing a mini bridge, I found the paddleboard rental shack. I approach with two questions:

1.Can I be topless in Austin?
2.How much to rent a paddleboard?

I was met with generous smiles and a response for question one, "oh hell yah, enjoy!" My heart felt like it was ablaze with excitement. I undressed in the middle of the park down to my thong and grabbed a life vest to stay classy ;D. I hopped on a paddleboard and road up and down the Colorado river for about 2 hours. Possibly one of the best days of my life so far...I love to celebrate nudity especially in the water element!!

After exiting the water I redressed and found my way to a massive park where people were all over relaxing, flying kites, walking dogs and riding a mini train. Apparently I just missed a big Kite Festival that happens in Austin every year. Check out this Kite. Its hard to see, but it looks like a dragon:


Then I found a bicycle rental and went for an accidental 2 hour bike ride. B-cycle (Bike Rental Station) in Austin is ONLY used in the downtown areas...which makes sense now. I ended up riding a chunky ass city bike 2 miles out of range per the park stations...This was the most unplanned active day I have had in a while. And well worth every minute of it :)

Umlauf Statue Garden and Musuem

I had a wondrous partly cloudy afternoon stroll through the Umlauf Statue Garden and Musuem dedicated to Farrah Fawcett and Charles Umlauf in Austin, TX.
The facility offered brief history on Farrah Fawcett's art and some story on how she acted as Umlauf's muse for his art. Good Stuff....Check out the statues and paintings! Jesus

 Wax on her eyes!

 55 year old self portrait of Farrah

Farrah's first self portrait

Farrah self portrait

Statue of Farrah by Umluaf

 Seated Entertainer

 Standing Woman by Farrah

St. Michael and Lucifer


 Spirit of Flight

Supplication (1966)




 Seated Bather

 Pieta (latin=dutiful)

Umlauf includes Mary Magdalene in this uniquely traditional sculpture


War Mother

Skater


Icarus (yes, from Greek mythology)


Young Girl

Torchbearers

The Kiss

Lazarus

Mother and Child

Diver


Amanti

Bambino Su Cuscino

Lotus (Egyptian Goddess of Fertility)

Modeled after a hippo from San Antonio Zoo

Rhino

Wild boar

Eve



Lovers V

Reclining nude

Poetess (Angeline umlauf, wife)