{ Dashus:land }

Yippy!!! It's my birthday!!!

I'm headed to Rehoboth Beach for the weekend. This is the BEST way I can think of to spend my birthday. SO READY! RJH and I feel just like this, y'all!

A real reason for a Fourth of July celebration...

The power of 23.

My idol.

To my guy...

Happy Birthday, Ashby.

I love you.

The many meanings of nine eleven...

Today, September 11th, is my Dad's birthday. I'm such a huge fan of my Dad. I'm named after my Dad and he is a man that I look up to immensely. My father is still such a rock for my family. He may come off rugged and quiet but he is one of the most sweet, caring and joyful people that I have in my life. All of my Dad's actions come from his heart. He is not a man of pretension. If you treat him well, he will treat you well. His manner is very simple and that it was why I've learned so much from him. So many people I've witnessed in my life thrive off of drama. To see someone so completely disconnected from that trend can teach you a great deal. Dad - Happy Birthday. My wish for you is that this year is filled with more health, love, friends, family and good times than you know what to do with. I love you.

Today is also a day that has become a day of remembrance. The attack on our soil was one that drove a stake in to the heart of our country. Having been in New York during and after 9/11, I have seen a city that has grown and risen from such deep wrenching fear and loss and become a more cohesive place. I know I will never truly get over the feeling of that day. The madness, the panic, the unsureness and the absolute feeling of helplessness is something that you cannot shake. Each year I think different things about the events of that day and how it has shaped me, my friends, my city, my country. I look at how the events that took place on that morning brought out the best in this country and sadly the worst. I saw the heroic and the willful in my fellow New Yorkers as they risked their health to work at Ground Zero directly following the attacks and then we saw our own politicians use the terror warnings in the years to follow as a voting tools. There is so much good that came out of that day in regards to our recovery and then so much negativity that still lingers 8 years later. That day's events crushed families, broke spirits, confused our faith and at the same time it inspired hope, taught perseverance and strength and brought a Nation together for a moment. As Friedrich Nietzsche said "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." He couldn't have been more right.

Lastly, today is an important day to me because it is the 3rd birthday of this here blog! Dashusland is three! I began writing Dashusland on September 11th 2006. I had just gotten home from a fabulous week in Rehoboth Beach and I wanted to create some sort of artistic and cathartic outlet for myself. I love music and poetry and fashion and photography and art and I wanted a place where I could just document the things in my life that caught my eye. This blog has become some what of a living online journal of mine. This post will be my 1,507th post that I have written on this site since that first day. As this blog took off and I really found my home here, I made a promise to myself (and to you) on January 1st 2007 that I'd post at least one thing daily and I haven't missed a day yet. Whew! I look back at my HAHAHA posts that are filled with some funny videos, quotes, and photos that have caught my eye and I still laugh. I love my posts on ART, or the photos that I have snapped with my Blackberry and now with my iPhone that are part of my DASHUS:MOBILE series. I love my Quote related posts in my YOU CAN QUOTE ME ON THAT series featuring quotes and sayings that I found interesting or inspiring or provocative. I'm also enjoying the new set of photos that I'm calling UP FROM DOWN which is my vantage point on the city I live in looking up at all the skyscrapers that I adore. This blog is fun for me and I hope that you find it fun sometimes, too. I really enjoy writing it and keeping it current. The things I feature here are just things that I dig. Dashusland is my lil' outlet and my communication with you. I hope that you'll continue to visit me here. Please continue to comment on the site and to send me things that you think I'd find interesting. I LOVE that. Here is to 3 more super duper years of Dashus goodness. I promise ya. xox.

Happy Birthday, Justin.

To the King of cool, calm and collected - I send to you all my respect, admiration and undying love. Keep being the amazing man that Rebecca and all of us LOVE. 

33.

Today is my 33rd birthday. I really like the sound of that. The number just feels right. Thankfully I'm happier and healthier than I've ever been. I'm blessed to have an amazing guy that I get to spend my time with, phenomenal friends that still astound me with their devotion and inspire me with their actions and a family that I learn from everyday.  For those youngins who doubt it - life truly does get better with age. That statement is true if you want it to be true. My friend Jason is always talking about gratitude. He lives and breathes that philosophy. In keeping with his keen guidance I decided to list the top 33 things that I am grateful for in no particular order today. I'm sure there are a hundred more things that I can list but I think 33 is a fair start. For anyone else having a birthday today, cheers to you. Here is to many many more.

33 THINGS I'M GRATEFUL FOR TODAY.

1) My Health

2) My Mother and Father

3) RJH & his family

4) My bro, his wife and his magical girls

5) My Friends 

6) Alice 

7) Music

8) The home I've made here in NYC 

9) Dashusland

10) The breeze on my balcony 

11) Laughing with him 

12) Trips out of town 

13) Meaningful quotes 

14) Photography 

15) My growth over the years 

16) Aging with style

17) Warm weather

18) Learning

19) Skyscrapers

20) The cool side of the pillow

21) A smart cocktail

22) Dancing

23) The # 23

24) Poems

25) My past

26) Dusk

27) Optimism

28) My work ethic

29) The memories of friends and family I've lost 

30) Fresh starts

31) Clarity with distance

32) The Future

33) You

{oxo{w+j}oxo}

Happy Birthday, Ariel.

Join me in celebrating Ariel by reading all of her amazing writing HERE. 
You can also shop her amazing vintage clothing online boutique -  OMG VINTAGE. 
It's full on hotness - just like her. xox.

L.A. Birthday Boy.

Dear Jason...

JWH 60

It's the laugh. It's the smile. It's the love. It's the kindness. It's all those things that make us love you, Judith! (AKA Cackles!) Happy 60th. 

Born in 1969.

To my lady...

Birthday Boy!

To one of the best people I know. Hope you have a fabulous birthday, handsome.

To my Mom. 60 Years.

Happy Birthday, RJH.

I LOVE YOU.

Nine Eleven.

September 11th has always been an important day for me. My father was born on this day and that means everything to me. I'm named after my Dad. I'm a Junior. I adore my Dad. My Dad who is recently retired is suuuuuuuch a character. My Dad is a little bit country. He's a bit of an old school athlete turned avid golfer. My Dad is a constant comedian. My Dad is a person that people in my family have always looked to for support. My Dad is simply, above all else, an amazing man. I strive to be as good and honest of a person as he is. Love. Him. Everyday. DSJ.



Another huge reason that September 11th is such an important day is the tragic events that took place 7 years ago. I wrote about that day very briefly last year on 9/11 and I still choose to only speak about it that way. Having been in New York City when this happened, it's still quite mind blowing to me. There was a sense of fear and of uncertainty and panic that I will never ever want to relive again. The terror that was inflicted upon folks that day was real. It sticks. It stings. Still. Nine Eleven. Many stories fell. Many stories grow.



The final reason that I look at September 11th like no other day is that my very first post was on Dashusland 2 years ago today. I have been writing this blog for the past 2 years and since January of 2007, it has been every single day. I haven't missed a day since January 1st 2007 and I'm loving every minute. This site is a creative release for me. It's a dialog with some of my friends and it's an introduction to folks that I've never met. I get comments from folks across the globe with opinions on things I've written about. I have people sending email to say that they love a certain something they've seen or to introduce me to something they thought was fantastic. I get so much back from writing this that I promise I'll be here to share a 3rd year of Dashusland with you. As of today, this will be the 965th post that I have done on this site. I've featured things about me, my friends, music, NYC, art, Madonna, fashion, photography, poetry, things that made me laugh - just simple things that caught my eye. I hope you have enjoyed even just a few posts. This is my online representation of things that influenced who I am, what I dig, what I loathe and what keeps me moving. Hang with me another year. It'll be groovy. Promise.

-S.

You Are Loved.

I wanted to send some super fabulous fierce rockin' 100% hotness givin' love to Ms. Suzi Wong who is celebrating a birthday today. I know he shares a birthday with a certain lil' guy named Dan who is equally as fabulous. It's my hope and wish that both of you are having a fantastic day. It's bright and sunny in NYC and that's all for you. Cheers to both of you. xoxox.

Another birthday celebration...

I wanted to send 30 super duper strong best wishes and good cheers to a longtime friend (and one of my most faithful readers!) who is celebrating his birthday today. His boyfriend is celebrating his birthday, too. Cute! I'm not able to attend their lil' soiree this evening cuz me and my boy are headin' out of town but we'll be toasting you from afar. Mark and Angelo - Happy Birthday to both of you. xox.

Happy Birthday!!!

I only have a very few people in my life that I know no matter how much time goes by, no matter how far away we live from one another or how different our paths have become that I can always depend on them to be absolutely fuckin' awesome and always there. Justin would be one of those people. He is amazing. His wife Rebecca sent me this fine photo from a NASCAR race (Yeeeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaaaaw!) and I had to share. Sorry to miss your party tonight! I'm there in spirit...or in the spirits you consume. Whatever.
Love you, bro. xoxox.

xox.

Word Wizard.

Happy Birthday to one of the most beautiful and talented people that I know! xox. Love you Ariel! Read all of her amazing poems that have been featured on this site HERE.

The Prince of Good.

Wishes sent...

xoxox.

We are looking forward to seeing you today. Cheers to you! 

Another Birthday to be celebrated...

Cheers, Dennis! Get your ass up to NYC and let's celebrate! xox.

Another Birthday Girl...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, REBECCA!

I love you! I'm so lucky to be able to call you a friend. Wishing you all the happiness you deserve. Now go get a drink! xooxxoox.