Post your commentaries!List of Articles commentaries 2009. Man what a year! I'm convinced my pneumonia in 2010 is just some form of supernatural hangover from 2009. It's over. It began with a promise of my life changing. It ended with my life changing more than I wanted. Change is good; that much change is not so good. We went from an Obama-nation to.. an abomination. I went from being "too ugly to talk to" to being featured in 2 New York City style magazines. I went from being alone to being loved to.. being alone.. to being loved by an entire group of people. I went from boring clothes to style beyond my imagination.I met, already knew, and made deeper connections, with some of the most amazing people in 2009: Naomi, April, Jessika, Amber, Ric & Layla, Robert & Shasta, JSun, Claire, Howard, Z, Thor, Michael & Paula, Jeff & Yvonne (and kids), Eric, Jimmy, Brian, Stefan, Amanda & Andreas, Derek, Richard, Tom, Steven, Donna, David Dellman, Sasha, Billie, Laura & Kith, The Steampunk Family, Will, Kylla, Pennie, Sean, Erica & Cornelius, Dave, Lori Beth, Moejj, Edward, Josiah, Montana, Daniel, Dylan, Phil, Loyal, Arwen, Alyssa, Diane, Phoebe, Mark Hardware, Patrick, Jon, Christopher & Tracy, Sean Proper, Nuno & Vera, Muffinhead, Shien, Austin & Brit, Karen, Kevin, Kirby, Z, Michelle, Sarah, Mo, Cheri & Justin, Annie & Ravn, Russ, Goth Russ, Chloe, Steve, Steward, The Emperor Justinian, Fabian, Rachel, Marti & Michelle, Laura, Andy, Lex, Michael, Nathan, Noc, Mauritz, Johan & Daphne, Chris the Hugger, James..Ib, Jo..Larry..One quick note: 2009 was the first time in several years that I literally spent time in all three of my official homes: New York, London, Scandinavia..So let us begin, now with visual aides!JANUARY:<img src=http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1077/3169954738_71e21f0700.jpg>It started right off the bat with the Chrononauts Winter Stroll and my first affirmation of my style transformation, as Forrest puts me in an official Gothic Dreams pic.. with SASHA!! It wasn't long after that, and one Munch later, that I was off to Denmark for the first time in years for Green Light District Festival, having the most wonderful time in one of my three official homes..FEBRUARY:<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3492/3287255832_8a12094a46.jpg">The Month of Red. I wore more red this month than I have ever done so before, and it was fun! Fun Red! Ok, except of course for Kele-De's birthday celebration, when the Great Sasha orders us all to wear.. ALL WHITE?? http://www.flickr.com/photos/nordic_metalhead/sets/72157613269567359/MARCH:<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3439/3377719139_72978125d8.jpg">My first of three sojourns to The Great City of New York, and all three were for the same reason: Dances of Vice! http://www.dancesofvice.com What a dreamy, wonderful time at Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) and my first time ever wearing a top hat.. I also had one of the tastier (and stranger) Munches that month being Afghan (and that strange wedding?) and what may turn out to be the last Freak Bowling event..APRIL:<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3554/3440643588_d9364b71cd.jpg">Who would think that my life would take such a dramatic turn - in ways I never dreamed it ever would - by a chance encounter with someone who would literally transform my life for what would turn out to be a tragically short period of time? No I'm not talking about Mohawk Adam hehe though he started my month.. Oh yeah and also ran into the awesome Naomi who would be - and continue to be - most instrumental in keeping me sane..MAY:<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/3547464715_a8096b6295.jpg">The Victorian Museum Crawl has become one of my most memorable events, even though it was one of the smallest attended, because of the most fantastic memories associated with it. I wore what has become to be one of my favorite outfits (the all-black Victorian gent), and the most awesome random encounter with Larry who publicly acknowledged me to his friends with him - and in front of my new friends Laura & Kith - I will never forget as long as I live. Also, the transformation into "style dude" continues as, for the first time in my life, I become stalked by paparazzi. I kid you not. Everywhere we went a small crowd of photographers captured our every move.JUNE:(sorry no pics) Not a good month. Nearly lost my job. Went looking for another job. Constant fights with one of the managers. It was hell on earth in June. This was the month that Larry, Naomi, Ib, Jo and others did not see a happy (or stylish) Phil.JULY:<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/3715370793_5336bc7595.jpg">The Victorian Summer Stroll. That was a magical, wonderful, fulfilling event full of beautiful people, bonsai, herbs, gardens and Corinthian columns. Oh yeah, and there was also Cornerstone:(Sorry my Cornerstone 2009 photo album is on my Facebook page - good excuse to friend me!)..and Larry taking me to his hometown of Philadelphia:http://www.flickr.com/photos/nordic_metalhead/sets/72157621813307924/..oh, and got kicked out of my church for added flavorAUGUST:<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3827669719_edac7bdaba.jpg">The month began with unbearable heat but a time of lots of unbridled fun, that which belied tragedy which would befall at the very end of the month.I went for the second time to The Great City of New York, again for Dances of Vice, this time their 3rd year anniversary party. This time I went for an Edwardian-meets-Jazz formal look and was delightfully surprised to see Fabian for the first time in a long time (who now apparently lives up there). Wonderful time with music my late brother would have deeply digged (actually, Larry would've also loved it and I tried to get him to go)..The Victorian Menagerie was fun but way too hot.. this was one of the few Victorian events I went to in 2009 I did not host.. SEPTEMBER:<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2457/3942260381_bf8a005edd.jpg">The picture represents the only weekend in September I was able to say I had a good time: Robert & Shasta's wedding on Saturday followed by Renn Faire on Sunday (Sept 18 - 19). The rest of month was so painful, so tragic and so horrible for me that I literally sought professional counseling for the first time in my life. Death is never enjoyable; when it's someone who transforms your life, it's beyond unbearable. I will never recover from this.OCTOBER:<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3495/4027972994_bca4e65b11.jpg"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/4069960463_4214a28fcc.jpg"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2752/4069994355_3fe75e9dbd.jpg">This month was so full of activity it warranted more than one picture. It began with my birthday in a 100-year old cathedral and ended on Halloween in a 1000-year old church. The annual Goth Day at the Cathedral again reaffirmed my new style status as I was featured - this time solo - in Gothic Dreams (http://www.gothicdreams.org ). Then after that, literally it was like this:2nd week: Unified Underground: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nordic_metalhead/sets/72157622497861671/ - I got to host a seminar and a fashion show!!!3rd week: London (Destruction Fest): http://www.flickr.com/photos/nordic_metalhead/sets/72157622597532753/ - Finally, back in The Great City of London for the first time in several years and it felt right at home! Staying at Jo's ensured I felt at home! Just a fantastic week in London that was supposed to only be a few days but it worked out for the best in the end, and besides, I've already completed my official home tour since Denmark + New York occurred earlier in the year..4th week: Oslo (Nordic Fest): http://www.flickr.com/photos/nordic_metalhead/sets/72157622597532753/ - Changing plans and flew immediately from Stansted to Oslo Torp to go straight to Nordic Fest again this year.. also known as: Quality Time With Eric, Jimmy and Ib! I'm so blessed to know these people and so covered in prayer from everyone from Jon Andre to Rickard to Ida to.. Norway is amazing!! But that Church!!! WOW!!!!NOVEMBER:<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2737/4089182512_36ff04b99c.jpg">The Cemetery Potluck. This event has become a legend in the DC Scene not for anything I could have done, but because it was the largest-attended event in the history of Those Who Mourn. No official tally but estimates range around 40 people. Other records were shattered: people traveling the farthest (New York), music (courtesy of the Steampunk Family), even the weather was one of the warmest in early November in years.. and I got to try shisha for the first time!!<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/4127307170_c34d21320a.jpg">The final Dances of Vice of 2009 in, again, The Great City of New York, was the near culmination of style and glamour for at least myself, if not others. The sweating over the arrival of the custom-made jacket courtesy of Pink Label Corsets (http://www.pinklabelcorsets.com ) was more than worth it when it arrived (literally on time!) and off I go.. three days of outfits, cruises, bellydancing, fencing demonstrations, seminars, fashion shows, music, puppetry, vendors, friends, outfits, outfits, outfits.. and then the ultimate: Days later I find out pictures of me are featured in not one, but two New York City style magazines: MetroMix and The Village Voice. This is the highest honor ever bestowed upon me from a style perspective in my life. Yes, I went from "too ugly to talk to" to being featured in 2 New York City style magazines, meanwhile being loved, cherished, chased by paparazzi and making (and losing) friends along the way!DECEMBER:<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4229658878_5429ab1a7e.jpg">I began this year with a Chrononaut's Winter Stroll in style. I end the year with.. another Chrononaut's Winter Stroll.. in style! What a great time and yes, G. D. Falksen, sir, you are truly the consummate gent about town to organize such finery! A fantastic time was had by all and well-dressed to boot on Boxing Day! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------I do not know what 2010 will bring other than I would pray for a quick end to my pneumonia (antibiotics are fun), and just perhaps be a bit gentler than 2009. I mean change is good, but..Phil
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