Ok, first of all, I'm returning to comments this week, but it'll be slow. Just know I'll get to you all, I promise! Second, tomorrow---if my calendar is correct---is Steve's 60th birthday (eekdog). Hope you don't mind my going public with it, Steve! You mentioned 60 in a comment, so I figured it's public domain...I turned 60 seven years ago, and I hid out under my bed: I hope you're not under your bed! I hope all who love you will help make it a great 60th, which you totally deserve. Re my image, Steve talked about winter in his gallery...ie, driving in snowstorms, heavy snow in April, the whole bit. So to cheer him up, I made a "Summer's Coming Right Around the Bend" image. It was supposed to be "Summer Coming Out of Winter's Night," but I'm not sure that's clear. (Go along with me folks, I haven't done art in months.) What I wanted to do was a Poser piece---in Steve's honor---but if you ever saw my Poser pieces, you'd weep. They're almost criminal. (In fact, I've been indicted by several Poser groups...) So Steve, you're stuck with another of my phantasmagorical, whacked-out, color-saturated abstracts. I tried to put Zlata in there, but she burnt her feet. So...it's just an abstract. Put some coffeemate in it, it'll taste fine... I met Steve via our dear, passed Lars (LBJ2), and it was a total delight. He works with models of course, but he's got this sharp, funny, sometimes dark, sometimes riotous, and always creative magical way. It's his 'touch', the way he adorns interiors, the expressions on his models, the attention to detail on their clothing, jewelry, even nail polish, his sinister scenes with a loads of winking humor, the wonderful cartoon-like scenes, his big splashy magazine covers (this guy had to have printing and layout in his background, 'cause he's got all the points down), and his very touching images of love, respect and gratitude. I always leave there with delight...Always. But he's also one of those people who's like a Rock of Gibraltar, he has this big hearted way of embracing his friends here with total affirmation, a brother. He helps everyone greet the beginnings of weeks, the hump days, the ends and all holidays with the feeling that we're all with him on a journey, or sitting with him in a neighborhood tavern, sharing into the night. That's a big gift... Happy 60th, Steve! And many, many more...and thanks for all your humor, macabre wit, your wonderful sense of invention, and your warm and loving ways. In the time I've known you here, I've seen you to be a jewel, and I'm extremely grateful to be one of your fans. Here's to a year filled with warmth, love, creativity and joy: You deserve them all! A wonderful blessed 60th!!! mark (once again, it's huuuuuge: Better zoomed...) ----------------------------------------------------------