What is going on? First Michael Jackson, and now Billy Mays are dead at 50!? Looks like the big 5-0 is a dangerous crossing. Thank God mine has been safe thus far.

Dean and I had a great time hosting a little garden party-pot luck fete at our home yesterday. Thank you to everybody who came or sent wishes (and sorry to miss those who could not make it). It was so good to see people from all the different parts of my life -- family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, poetry people, gay buddies, etc -- all together in one place. The youngest person there was 19 mos old, and the oldest was 91. It was HOT and SUNNY and I hope everybody had a great time. I know I had a blast! Some pics below (unfortunately the camera was misplaced about half way through, so we missed a lot of folks),

But first up, the prize for the funniest birthday card goes to Steve I., who could not make it to the party, but sent this via his partner Ralph. The inside says, "See, there are things more frightening than having another birthday." HAHAHAHA!