I always believed that good photoshopping occurs when the subject looks like his or herself but does not look like his or herself at the same time. Make sense?

Prime example, Kate Winslet on the latest InStyle magazine cover.

It has been 5 days since I have returned home, and I haven’t done a lot. I have been keeping myself busy watching tv, playing videogames, helping around the house, and going on little walks. I hope to get some substitute time working at the library ‘cause I could use the money.

In some ways, I feel like a teenager again. Especially when I walk around the old neighborhood, which has changed quite bit yet still has the same feeling.

The most awkward thing to experience are the random encounters with people who went to the same high school as me. Oddly enough, many of the old faces remember who I am. But sadly, the memory is not shared in most cases. It is hard for me to remember people who were not in my small social circle in high school or those with whom I did not share memorable experiences.

I think in small tribute to White Center, the “high crime” area that I call home, I will start taking random snapshots of the area. My reasoning is that nobody really documents this area and it changes so quickly that I fear people will forget the old town. I can see 20 years from now, this town will be a yuppie breeding ground.

Until then, take care and thanks for reading.

P.S. The photo above was not taken by me.

Well in my email inbox, I received the following message:

Hi Marcus! 
 
 
 
 
 
 I'm happy to announce that you've won second prize in the poetry 
 category in this year's World's Muse writing contest, AND third prize in 
 the essay category. We'll be publishing your pieces  in the next issue 
 of our journal, "The World's Muse". 
 
 
 
 We have two small cash prizes to send you as well: $25.00 for second and 
 $15.00 for third prize, for a total of $40.00.   
 
 
 
 
 
 If you'll reply to this letter and send me a street address, I'll ask 
 the university to mail you your check. 
 
 
 
 Thanks so much for participating in our contest! 
 
 
 ------------------------------------ 
 
 
 
 The World's Muse is like most literary contests, but the difference is  
 that the submissions are "work conceived and executed in languages other than English." 
 I was surprised to get anything for the contest because as much I love writing, 
 I never placed in a contest before.  In other news, I am back in Seattle for the summer.  
 Only thing, I will miss is a special somebody (you know who you are.) But it's good to be 
 back in the hood! :P

A month ago, I decided to take a very hard step. After years of lies, I finally told my momma the truth over the phone. It went a lil’ somethin’ like this:

Mom: (knowing it’s me calling) Yyyess?

Me: Hey ma, how you doing?

Mom: I’m good, how are you?

Me: I’m alright. Ummmm mom, I um. Remember when you asked me somethin’ and ummm.

Mom: Uh?

Me: (stammering like a motherfucker) Like… well… when… you… asked me um… after you met my um… friend?

Mom: (in her classic mom voice) Boy, just spit it out!

Me: Well, okay. Mom… I’m… gay. I’m gay.

Mom: Yeah, well I knew that.

Me: Yeah I know you did.

Mom: Why did you wait so long to tell me?

Me: I don’t know. I was scared.

Mom: Well it’s your life son. You have a right to make your own choices. You know I love you.

Me: Yes, I know.

Mom: (slight chuckle) Boy, I knew you were gay when I met your one friend from San Francisco. I always suspected you were, but that confirmed it.

(We both laugh and continue to talk about it.)

Yes, I finally did it. Now I ain’t gotta lie about trivial BS anymore. I am not an advocate for coming out at all, but if you can do it, then go for it. I probably will not don a Gay flag bumper sticker anytime soon, but I am certainly pleased with my decision.