Once again thank you for all you cards, letters and support, of our careers…
I want to take a moment to congratulate all of our friends who have just won and are nominated for awards this season.
First; my dyslexia is acting up this week that I can barely spell my name so your warned before you read…you’re the ones who wanted me to write this raw and uncensored …
Today our family grew by 1 a beautiful Siamese cat named cuddles she is 10 years old and her human mom a friend of ours, past away and someone needed to step up and take care of cuddles so.our family is bigger… I know what your saying, I always write about hating cats and my horrible allergy’s … funny how a loving little creature can change all that… her sweet demeanor and affectionate behavior warmed me up and I guess I can live on anti-histamine… too late now she’s moved in and family is forever so guess I love cats!
We are heading to a Super bowl party at Jay and Tina’s and I’m leaving a sculpture till tomorrow in the studio…I can’t believe someone is getting me to leave work before I’m done! I must really like Jay and Tina.
Many of you ask about our sculptures and where we get our inspiration to create; often you our friends and fans inspires us and drive us to create, over the last month Bradlee has entered our life and given us a new perspective and drive to create…often a muse is the most elusive of all the gods of the ancients …I guess we are blessed to have found such a muse… our best work will be inspired by Bradlee and his smile that lights up the darkest night and warms the coldest night.
Now all I need is someone who has Abraham Lincolns build to help with our posture issues to finish the bicentennial sculpture.
For us it’s been a hurry up and wait month, I have 4 scripts on their final days and between double and triple fact checking to revisions I am sick of each topic and can’t wait for a change of pace.
I have been working on a children’s book for Mount Vernon and I’ve just begun the final group of watercolors. The publishers expect galleys by the middle of the month and I’ll keep you informed on its release date. I’ll be autographing copies in Washington this summer and will create a special watercolor and autograph edition for those of you who make a donation to the White House Historical foundation or Mount Vernon Ladies Association. Many have written asking about advance copies and we will be in touch with you shortly.
As I write I am in pain many of you may remember my root canal from a couple of years ago and how Brian re built my filling after it came out at a gala in Washington using a tooth repair kit from wal-mart… well last week the filling once again came out and this morning I received the news that the tooth has to be extracted, a large piece was taken out this morning and a surgeon will remove the rest in a couple of weeks… as many of you know I hate the dentist and trust me this is not going to be easy I am a big baby when it comes to tooth pain…
Otis is working on an amazing novel it’s cutting edge and action packed I’m reading the proofs today… I know he has a hit on his hands… and the Washington Symphony is progressing on schedule I’ll keep you update as to sneak peak concert dates…
Our gladiator is on its last stage of work before completion and Ryan will be our model again, for a study of the David beginning shortly.
Zack Robbins has a play opening tonight in Maine and we send our love; one think I know is Zack can turn lemons into lemon aid so with a great product the sky’s the limit, if your in Maine drop me a note and I’ll give you all the details to catch Zack live… you won’t regret it he is amazing…
John Mackenzie just called to tell me he has just secured the lead captain von trapp in the sound of music I’m very proud to know him and look forward to opening night; a star will be born and Allen town and riverside a memory.
Before I close today take a look at Ted Haggard and all he’s said this week… it makes me mad when someone hides behind religion or stays in the closet and ruins so many lives yet still says I’m straight and that makes me better in some way… as a gay man I’ve been involved with guys who tried to later claim they were straight and the only people they fool are themselves and their families who want to believe …
I have no problem with who I am and when I see people like haggard and his family preaching a horrible self hate in the name of what’s holy and good I realize how dangerous they are…parents listen and then believe they can change their children … because Ted Harrgard changed … if you have any belief in God understand one thing he created us all and therefore he created homosexuality, it exists in all of nature so it is indisputably natural and to force someone to change or conform is the real sin against nature. Instead of giving a voice to men and women who use religion to make money and fear to push agendas we should give voice to reason.
I never intended to be an activist but someone has to speak up for those afraid to speak. It is time our media and our governments start representing all of the people and not those who push a profit based agenda.
United by our best attributes instead of our hatred, bound by our common dreams of a better world rather than a world we are all cookie cutter copies.
I guess I’ll get more hate mail and threats but I don’t want to see any more young men and women with ruined lives write me because they were scared to be themselves. Hate is a powerful thing but I still believe that truth and love are more powerful.
Take a good look at yourself and stand up for what’s right…
The world is changing and not always for the good of all I’m sad to say.
A large number of you have asked when I’d return to my show. I needed the break after my heart incident and then I just enjoyed being silent for a while… I’ll be back in syndication shortly and look forward to all of your ideas…
And to reverend Fred Phelps and his flock I decided to unblock your correspondence so write me with all the hate you have and I’ll respond with all the forgiveness I can muster
J.B.
