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welcome to the hole

Once upon a time, I kept a LiveJournal account, gryphons_hole, a deep, dark, comfy little hole in my brain where I kept notes on my life and queerness.
This is the archive to that account, mostly password protected, adult, queer content, stripped of photo content after the site restructured its photo hosting feature. I hope to restore that content as well.
If I know you, ask for the password. If I don’t, hope for a generous mood.
08.18.24 I have realized a need to continue in this space. A kink reawaking if you will, with content that may range into inappropriate for my other blog spaces.
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Protected: Last Night’s Married Man
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Strolling Through the Files
I have been strolling through the files of my brain this evening. Mostly concerning my art. (And yes, I was smart enough to write most of the stuff down as I first thought of it and file it in a proper file, heaped about the tragic thing that should be my filing system…
I have this thing about my art. Part of the production process, I guess. Whenever I am producing a set of images, most likely during the rough sketch stage, I am mostly likely to spring forth a line of other (usually) great ideas. I then stop, grab a pad and jot some quick notes, then on with the sketches. Most the time these lists will even make it to a Word file and get printed to the bitching bitch (that is what I call the old mule of a laser printer I have…) and done up in a brand new, labeled folder… Then onto the growing heap.
Bear in mind, this typically happens during every set. Let’s assume in a good year, I can produce three or four sets ranging from 5 to 10 (or 12) images. That work may generate notes on an additional three to five per set, making that as many as fifteen concepts, but most like around ten or twelve…
So I have this huge, growing pile of things that a small part of me would like to have down to nothing by the end of my life. Ha. Ha. I know, funny. It is the one step forward, two steps back kinda thing, but I do really appreciate not lacking the concepts.
I am glad to have recently rediscovered the pile. Sometimes, I tend to forget it is there. I know, how do I do that? There are some great ideas in it, and I am glad I am maintaining some sort of patience with it. Lately, there has been some pay-off. If I hold an idea long enough, I figure out a way to combine it with another concept or two, crossing up to three thoughts off the list and making a far greater set of images overall. You know, layers. Like an onion.
Sorry for the vagueness of this post. I am avoiding the discussion of the content of the concepts on purpose. I felt a bit burned once by admitting too much too soon. I am already doing that on the Tarot project, I think, but I am betting that the added thought of making it autobiographical will keep it mine. Anyone else crazy enough to tackle the Tarot, be my guest!
I did come across the pile of roughs I eked out during chemo. They are so slick! Very hot! Unfortunately, They are all parts of various sets, all very much incomplete. I think I must have started roughs from seven different series during 6 months of treatment. That’s how shot my focus was. The Gearheads were part of that bunch… and they’re almost finished. Since I have proven I need much more study time on the Tarot project, I should dig back into the pile…
My Tribal Muses are in there. All but one (of ten) have finished roughs. Two of them even have the inks started. I would much like to move to them after the Gearheads are done. They are beautiful. They might also become somewhat redundant and unnecessary if I do the Tarot first, since I set them up as a study for the bigger deck project. Some of the Tarot will be composites of two or three of the Muses…
There is a slight concern of redundancy in my impending sets, but honestly, isn’t an artist allowed to obsess on a topic of two?
Also in the chemo pile is a mix-up of wacky doodles for a naughty bunch of nursery rhymes. I was clever enough to re-write the rhymes when very much whacked-out on drug side-effects. They are wrong in just the right way… With any luck, I would like to add ten twisted fairy tales to the ten rhymes and make a book. Got the perfect name too. Sorry, yeah! That paranoia thing again. Deal.
Of course, I still have some idea folders from the first year of doing the erotic thing. Some of them are just waiting to evolve to meet me tomorrow. One of them is about to get tweaked in the right way… See? This is the art-geek in me. I got off on this stuff. Sometimes, literally.
Okay, time to stop rambling. I think I feel the urge to actually tackle the file pile and return it to a passable filing system…
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On the Topic of Memories…
In recent posts, I have made realization and reference about the concept of letting go. The most prominent being here and here.
I have been relatively quite since those entries. To me, annoyingly so. I keep thinking to my memory. My ability to remember more than any specific memories. Sometimes I do not understand the concept of letting go and still remembering, but that is little matter. Mostly, I have always found great insight in the little things.
I used to get so angry about that book. That damned book! Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff (And It’s All Small Stuff) It would infuriate me. To my eyes, it taught people not to be courteous. It said ignore small social niceties. So on. I know that wasn’t the point of it. More so, it frustrated me because it taught people how to fall subject to get big trauma and drama in their life. I always found that if I pay attention to (not sweat, but just watch) the small stuff, when big huge events come along I can just sidestep them and let them pass by.
Chemo was my ringing truth of thing. It was disgusting how easily I passed through treatment. Most of the nursing staff agreed. And this light demeanor about treatment let the nurses to fight over who got me on their rounds…
Again, to the point. I am finding myself curious about this letting go. I currently have seemed to manage a release of stress and worry unlike anything in the past four years. Honestly. Although it may just prove to be a calm before another spasm. Still I have these crazy-accurate memories. I have always had memories that seem more dreamlike than anything else. (You know, the dream where you sit outside of yourself and watch things happen) Many of my dreams seem unaffected by my own personal preferences. Unbiased if you will. Some not so much.
And still I find an importance to memories. I remember odd little things about folks. I make no judgment of them really, as a person, but I may slow down my approach as I get near to them, looking for other signs or signals. This is how I keep myself safe from harm, or safe from perceived harm… It may or may not prevent me from living. I suspect only in minor ways on occasional intervals.
I am not sure if this is leading to a point like I may have first thought, but then, I don’t much care if it does… That is very much my brain these days.
I like that I can see huge power in tiny exchanges of words. Sometimes, no one around me seems to see them. I used to try to point them out. Now, I try to simply wait until someone asks me, which is certainly rare. Very few can learn from outside of themselves. People these days wield power like nothing, mostly because I think they are clueless to its effects or even existence. Word have power and people with good word usage have lots of power. A shame to think this may become a lost awareness for most. They hurt and offend when they think they are offering an olive branch. I cannot often explain it well. So now, I try to just sit back and let it wash over me.
My memories will help me to remember to whom I should warm up and for whom I should carry caution. I hope. If not, perhaps I forgot what I meant to remember.
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Protected: The Weekend Print Job and the Upcoming Stuff
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Wow!
Todd just scored a couple free spots to Starlight Theatre tonight. It’s good to keep in touch with old fuck buddies.
I have been long overdue for more gayness in my life. Big, gay, musical theatre will suit just fine. (Yes, dearests, I know that gay musical is redundant.)
Dubious show for sure, I don’t know the reviews…
Tommy Tune in Dr. Doolittle.Big glittery bugs and such…
That should be just gay enough. -
Protected: On the Topic of Letting Go
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OPA
Hello…
My name is Gryphon…. (Hey, Gryphon…)
(Long embarrassed pause.)
And I’m addicted to Otter Pops.(Yeah, sure. They are actually Flavor-Ice Plus as per the label, but Otter Pops just sound more deviant. I like deviant.
Sure they were around in my life as a child, but I never noticed them that much. I was a bigger fan of the bigger popcicles. I hate to admit that. A size queen at such an early age.
Then it happened. During chemo, I was reintroduced to the opiate of the children. At that point, not much food had any real flavors to me, most of my taste buds being knocked out by the treatment. Then one day, Mom went with my to Costco. There it was on a corner display… The big huge jumbo sized Costco box. 200 count. Holy hell! And I just knew that those sickly sweet frozen concoctions would have enough zing to break through the flavor-blasting power of chemo. In the cart they went.
I thought they would never freeze fast enough! Dammit. I want one NOW! I need it. I cannot live without it.
I was hooked before I even had my first one.
They didn’t last very long. Of course, David didn’t get too many. He tried to point that out once, too. But really, who will take your side going against a chemo-infested cancer victim who lost his mustache and pubes? Really. I was shameless.
Somehow, I survive last summer without answering their siren call. I don’t know how.
Now, I am in the studio, trying desperately to not run up huge electric bills with the A/C. And then it hit me, I heard their call all the way from midtown, calling to me. “Lick us. Suck us. Swallow our juicy goodness.”
I was doomed. That was just last week, already the box is mostly gone. I am so ashamed! They lure you in with the promise of only 25 calories per pop, then fifteen minutes pass and I am devouring number 15.
Holy Crap, why is this stuff legal?
Soon, they will be gone, but so many more sit there in that warehouse dimension of hell, sit there waiting for me. Calling to me. How can I hope to withstand their tease?
Sadly, I have already devoured five Pops in the time of typing this post.
I know it seems maybe not so bad, but I only stopped there because the next batch is not yet fully frozen. Damn me and my poor attempt at portion control.
I try to be all smooth about it, discussing them like they are merely a food stuff and not crack. “Oh, Strawberry is my favorite. Yeah. The pink one. Oh, grape? No, that’s my least favorite.”
I try to pass that off on some lame excuse, but really, grape is my least favorite because of the color and the most obvious tongue stain, painting my scarlet letter purple for all to bear witness to my crimes…
Oh, I am so ashamed. I cannot do this alone.
Oh, wait. I think the next batch is solid now.
Nevermind.
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Protected: From Darkness, The Insight
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Protected: Today’s Enlightenment
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