July 9, 1937: Happy birthday, David Hockney! The celebrated British artist, who lived most of his life in California, has also designed sets and written several books. He turns 76 years old today.
I spent several months working and living among the indigenous peoples of Uganda, mostly in the conflict stressed regions around Gulu, Kitgum and Lira in the North. These are regions devastated by the notorious warlord Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). He remains at large to this day. Victoria Falls is a scene from my new novel, UNDER THE SKIN, due for release August 2013
“Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with dry, uninspiring books on algebra, history, etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the ‘creative bug’ is just a wee voice telling you, ‘I’d like my crayons back, please.’”
Even with three flutes of champagne balanced on a small silver tray this man had an appeal beyond his looks. At best they were sufficient, not extraordinary. It was the masculinity, it oozed from every pore. About six feet of muscular male; trim, slightly unshaven, mid length curly black hair and body language that screamed virility.