As many alert readers know, over the past year or so I've spent some quality time photographing the Bend fire performancing troupe Fyreflyte.



Over and over, they've impressed me with their warm generosity, joyful spirit and strong sense of togetherness. Their free performances in downtown Bend on most Friday evenings have delighted and awed not only their loyal local followers, but also scores of passerbyers and tourists.

Now there's finally a small way I - and YOU TOO can give back to them. On Friday, April 6th, they are holding a fundraiser for one of their members. Michael writes:

"Fyreflyte will be performing at the Mirror Pond Plaza again on the 6th of April at 8:00 PM. Yes, it's first friday April!

This show is a BIG one, for several reasons; We are trying to raise a good amount of money for a benefit for Tricia Roth. Tricia, the sister of our own family member Rebecca, was in a serious accident in September last year and since then has been needing a high level of care and support as she learns to adjust to life on four wheels. Rebecca, a charter member of Fyreflyte and local acupuncturist has been travelling regularly to the Bay Area to provide that care and support for her sister for the last six months.

We want to help! With the love and support of the performing arts community here in Bend we are putting together a performance unequalled by anything Fyreflyte has done previously. We have involved all the members of the fire dance community and the musicians with the groups Coyo and Ubuntu have joined the cause to provide us the music to move to. The goal is to raise money to help with the long term care, but also to show a distant family member that we love and care about her through our support and energy.

This show will be a musical and visual treat! Please come support us in this endeavor. Whether a donation, purchasing one of many great items at our silent auction or just coming to show your support for our family... Thank you, and we hope to see you there.

So spread the word, folks. But most importantly - show up, enjoy the performance, and put a few bucks in the hat. I know I will.

This is a note to the whimpy dimwit who anonymously (not like you had the balls to actually leave anything but an IP address ...) keeps writing hateful comments all over my blog:

Go ahead.
Write up a storm, you asshole.
See how far you get.

It takes me about 2 seconds to delete those words you obviously so laboriously conjured up...

Can you please tell me what the holy fuck is going on?

No really. I mean it.

What's this bullshit where one day it's 65 degrees, the sun is shining, there are fucking birds chirping everywhere - and then the next moment, there's half a foot of damn snow outside, the roads are undrivable, and I have to break out the Sorels and the parka again.

If I remember correctly, I had roughly 6 inches of snow in my driveway last week - the forecast calls for 67 degrees on Sunday. It's March for crying out loud.

I realize we (humankind) seriously fucked up with the whole global warming thing - but come on, no reason to be so goddamn bitter about it.

What's it gonna be - Siberia, or L.A.? I wish you would just make up your mind, for fuck's sake.

Btw - does this post contain the word fuck enough? Or do I need to use it some more to really highlight my frustration with the current weather pattern?