Miracle Myx Bends It

.
"GOOOOAAAALLL!"

"You fancy yourself a soccer player now?" Actually I was happy to hear Myx's enthusiastic response.

We had found this soccer ball trapped in the ice among thick courses of reeds. After several careful attempts, I got MIRACLE MYX firmly established atop the entrenched ball.

"Myx, have you ever thought of putting your skills to any athletic use?"

"GOOOOAAAALLL!"

"Myx, I get it--you're imitating those enthusiastic--or some would say, annoying--soccer sportscasters from other parts of the world."

Whenever someone scores, one of these tenors sings the word "goal" longer than a finalist on American Idol could.

"At least you're not complaining about being out in the cold," I said.

"Huh? Well, I ... GOOOOAAAALLL!"

Sigh.

Miracle Myx

Dave's MySpace!

Miracle Myx Gets Iced

.
"You and your metaphorical questions!"

"Myx, I thought it was an interesting proposition." I said.

"You and your metaphysical questions!"

I wasn't going to get very far on this one--even I knew that. Myx was miffed (hey--I like that!), and this time, he had a point.

"OK, Myx, I apologize. I'm sorry you took a tumble--it was the wind."

"You just took too long and you didn't widen my base enough--AND you had to fool around taking a movie of it while you asked your stupid question."

I thought this beautiful ice fountain was the perfect backdrop for MIRACLE MYX. After I took a couple photos, I switched to movie mode on the camera and just posed the question "What does this ice fountain remind you of metaphorically or metaphysically?"

Right in the middle of it, the wind tossed Myx off the stone column. Myx was angry I didn't stop and run right over to help and soothe his bumps and bruised ego.

"At least no one is going to see that," Myx said.

"They're not?"

"Errr ... you wouldn't!"

Myx's Ice Fountain Tumble!

Miracle Myx

Dave's MySpace!

Miracle Myx Meets Courtney

.
"See--now that's what I'm talking about!"

Myx sounded happy. Always a relief when we're out on yet another adventure--looking for a fun and interesting setting.

"You actually liked posing with Courtney?" I might as well give Myx a chance to verbalize his contentment. It might even carry over to future photo shoots and cut down on his incessant complaining. Maybe Myx would even look forward to going out when I pull him off the shelf as I leave the house.

"Like it? Of course I liked it! She was all over me!" Myx said.

"Myx, Courtney graciously agreed to pose with you. She's really looking forward to reading all about your exploits in Miracle, Massachusetts."

"Did you see how she's holding me?"

Myx could let his imagination run ahead of him a bit sometimes. But, with his synesthesia--his mingling of senses to give him different perceptions than most of us have--who knows what he was feeling.

"Holding you ...? Yeah, like a book ... I mean talk about tattoos, Myx." Courtney had some beautiful tattoos, and I chose to showcase the one on her left arm.

"Huh? Oh yeah--in MIRACLE MYX, tattoos play an important part of the story--and really are clues to the whole thing."

"See how easy that was," I said.

"She was all over me!" Myx whispered.

Miracle Myx

Dave's MySpace!

Miracle Myx Gets Flagged

.
"What do you know about the Massachusetts state flag, Myx?"

I thought one way to keep Myx in a good mood was to give him a chance to show off his encyclopedic synesthetic memory. If he ever saw or heard something--be it in a book or a chance conversation--a word-for-word recitation was only a millisecond away for Myx Amens, youth turned sleuth.

"On a white field is a blue shield emblazoned with the image of a Native American, Massachuset. He holds a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. The arrow is pointing downward representing peace. The white star represents Massachusetts as one of the original thirteen states. Around the shield is a blue ribbon with the Latin motto: 'By the Sword We Seek Peace, but Peace Only Under Liberty.' Above the shield is a arm and sword, representing the first part of the motto," Myx droned with a museum-guidelike presentation voice.

"You made that up," I kidded.

"Maybe I should design a flag for Miracle," Myx said.

Miracle, Massachusetts was where Myx lived--and where all the trouble happened in MIRACLE MYX.

"Everyone should have a hobby." I knew the moment I said it that Myx would take it as a challenge.

"Maybe my hobby could be telling what I know about you, Dave!"

"Errr ... maybe that wouldn't be a good idea," I said a little breathlessly.

Miracle Myx

Dave's MySpace!

Miracle Myx Is Keyed Up

.
"Tickling the ivories?" I asked.

"They kind of hurt--not that it would make any difference to you," Myx said.

"Do you really believe your comfort and safety mean nothing to me?"

"Comfort--no ... safety, sure because ...?"

I knew Myx wanted me to finish his sentence just to point out what his value and worth were to me. He often went out of his way to "teach" me lessons.

"Because you're my only copy, and without you this blog would consist of me talking to myself and just photographing inanimate objects," I said with just the right amount of passion and heartfelt sincerity to fool even Myx.

"You are soooo full of it! Plus, isn't it kind of chilling that you made that statement to a book?"

"Let's not get into my mental health again. You know it sends me--"

"Hey, this is a great piano!"

Myx always knew when to interrupt.

"Keys are a big part of MIRACLE MYX. You use your synesthesia to--"

"Maybe we shouldn't say too much about that. You know I blush easily," Myx said. That was twice he interrupted me; just about average for him.

"Does you cover change shades when you blush?"

Miracle Myx

Dave's MySpace Emporium!

Miracle Myx Cools Off

.
"Tell the joke," Myx said.

"No--it's inappropriate," I said.

Myx was teasing me to tell a joke that had to do with our subject matter in the photo today. Instead, I wanted to drive him toward another, and in my opinion, much more interesting association the picture brings up.

"Myx, doesn't this remind you of something in our mystery, MIRACLE MYX?"

"I'm just lucky you're not firing this thing off at me to get a better shot."

"Hmmm ...."

"Err ... yeah--in the story there's one scene where a fire extinguisher is used: once in its usual role, and then again as a shield!"

"Good! But, maybe a spray from that thing would--"

"Tell the joke, Dave."

"OK: A woman walks into ...."

Miracle Myx

Dave's MySpace!

Miracle Myx Slings 'N Sings

.
"So--who's your pal, Myx?"

To this question, Myx just started singing. I recognized the song; it was from the cartoon:

"Spiderman, Spiderman,
Does whatever a spider can
Spins a web, any size,
Catches thieves just like flies
Look Out!
Here comes the Spiderman!"

OK, Myx, I get it, but we have to--"

"Is he strong?
Listen bud,
He's got radioactive blood.
Can he swing from a thread
Take a look overhead
Hey, there
There goes the Spiderman."

"Hey, you sound great ... and isn't that Tobey Maguire's voice you're imitating? But, we really should--"

"In the chill of night
At the scene of a crime
Like a streak of light
He arrives just in time."

"Myx, our readers want--"

"Spiderman, Spiderman
Friendly neighborhood Spiderman
Wealth and fame
He's ingnored
Action is his reward."

I knew I wasn't going to win this one, so I joined Myx--and on a cold January day, in the midst of a busy outdoor mall, we both sung it loudly to the end!

"To him, life is a great big bang up
Whenever there's a hang up
You'll find the Spider Man."

Spiderman Song!

Miracle Myx

Come Visit Dave's MySpace!

Miracle Myx Reproduces

.
"You're not gonna turn this thing on, are you."

"Only if it would make for a better picture," I said.

"In April, there'll be plenty of copies of me to go around; I don't think you have to subject me the the white hot light of the copier," Myx said.

"It may be bright, but I don't think it throws an awful lot of heat."

"You're not the one flat on the glass, brother." Myx used his Hulk Hogan voice and delivery.

"I thought I was your daddy--not your brother," I said.

"You 'can't pick your relatives' comes to mind. I could have had a worse author ... I guess."

When I wrote MIRACLE MYX, I gave Myx Amens many interesting quirks and traits; in the mystery, they all worked to make a unique and memorable character. Out here--on tour with Myx--they tested me daily.

"On second thought," Myx said, "hit the button and make some copies of my ass!"

"A book has an ass?"

Miracle Myx

MySpace--Dave Style!

Miracle Myx Steps Out

.
"Better get used to the stares!" I said.

Because of my emphasis, I knew Myx would catch on. Whether he would play along is always a day-to-day thing.

"Do you expect me to rail against this?"

Good--looked like he was jousting. The bad part is, you could never outdo Myx in any word game because of his lightning-quick mind and immediate recall ability of a ka-gillion words, definitions, pictures, etc. I found it was best to engage him and then move on quickly.

"How do you think it will feel when you do get stared at once you're published and you're out in the stores and in people's homes?"

"Less embarrassing than the looks I get when you set me down in yet another God-awful place where I don't belong and then leave me alone and defenseless while you back away and take your time to fish out that credit card-sized camera and fiddle with it like it was the first time you ever saw it and finally fire it up and pretend to know how to aim it and thank goodness press the damned shutter button."

Myx was out of breath from the exertion of that last tirade-elongated sentence. By the time he finished, I had captured this glorious photo.

"At least it's warm in here!" I tried to end on a positive note.

"Yeah," Myx replied, "better than being out on the steppes."

Miracle Myx

Dave's MySpace!

Miracle Myx Goes To The Dogs

.
"She's gonna bite me."

"She's not even looking your way," I said.

"I think she's growling."

"Myx, Queenie is being very nice to you. Look how she's sitting there--all tame and docile."

My brother's dog had just been running and jumping, circling and wagging--a dynamo. He had gotten her to sit and was just out of camera shot, trying to get her to stay for a few seconds.

Did I know for sure that she wouldn't gnaw on Myx, carry him around in her slobbering maw, or use him as a target urinal?

Nope ... but, I was willing to take that risk. After all--it wasn't me down there!

"Why are we doing this?"

"I want to show how you're good with animals, so the animal-loving readers will want to bring you home to their pets too," I said.

"Other than that making no sense whatsoever, it sounded good," Myx said.

"Hold still," I said as I snapped the pic.

"Don't worry about that," I thought I heard Myx mutter.

Miracle Myx

Dave's MySpace!

Miracle Myx Reflects

.
"You think you're pretty clever, don't you?"

"Myx--I have no idea what you mean!" I said with just the right amount of indignation.

"Yeah, right. You getting your bald head in this blog. You just couldn't stand being left out any longer--especially after Laura shined her pate at my loyal followers," Myx said.

"Isn't that our loyal followers? And--what evidence do you have of any loyalty? And ... pate?"

"Look it up; I'm tired of being your reference library, Dave"

Speaking of reference: we were just yards away from the reference desk at the Framingham Public Library, one of my favorite haunts (and Myx's too if he would admit it--which he wouldn't--just to be contrary, obstinate, and ornery--but, in a nice way!).

I thought I'd give a little explanation of my photo choice just to appease Myx: "When I saw the reflection, I thought it would make a very interesting and appealing shot. Any other complaints, Myx?"

"Hey ... I'm backwards!"

Miracle Myx

Dave's Amazing MySpace!

Miracle Myx Is Safe

.
"This isn't what I had in mind," Myx said.

"I told you we were going to take a pic with a cone," I said. I tried to sound matter of fact.

"Yeah--I was thinking the ice cream variety."

"Then--that would make you wrong, wouldn't it?"

For some bad reason, I was in the mood to antagonize Myx a little bit today. That never turned out well for me, but on some occasions--the words just slip out.

"What else do you think of when the word 'cone' comes up, Myx?" Maybe I could obfuscate (heh, heh!) before Myx came up with yet another way to verbally jab at me.

"Cone: a surface generated by a straight line, the generator, passing through a fixed point, the vertex, and moving along the intersection with a fixed curve, the directrix."

Myx had drained all the pitch and tone out of his voice and sounded almost like a robot. Good--he was into the diversion. Myx welcomed any chance to show off his synesthesia, his photographic memory; any book he saw, he remembered word-for-word. This was just another example of some dictionary from his past.

"Didn't you know a directrix, Dave?" Myx asked suddenly.

"That was Mistress Mandy, a dominatrix--I mean ... no ...I don't know anyone like that!"

"Still, here I am next to this stupid safety cone."

"At least nobody is going to trample you," I encouraged.

Miracle Myx

Dave's Wondrous MySpace!

Miracle Myx Meets The Bald Chick

.
"I like her," Myx said.

"You haven't stopped saying that," I said.

We had met Laura Duksta, a.k.a. The Bald Chick, on Friday at the Barnes & Noble in Framingham. It had started out with a typical New England "wintery mix" in the morning--but had turned in to an afternoon filled with brilliant sunshine.

But, the brilliance and the light had just started when we met Laura. She's a force of nature--smart, articulate, funny, and in tune with the universe.

"You didn't have to keep interrupting her, Dave."

"It was a conversation, Myx--Laura talked, I talked. It's what people do."

"Yeah, but she was interesting."

"Huh?"

"I like her," Myx said.

"I get it, Myx. What did you think about the success story of her book, I LOVE YOU MORE?"

"See--now THAT was special--and you kept droning on about your first book, and your temporary facial tattoo language, and your running. I was almost in tears," Myx said.

"I droned? A book can shed tears?"

"I like her."

Sigh.

Miracle Myx

Dave's MySpace

The Bald Chick's MySpace

Miracle Myx Has Company

.
"Who's the new kid?" Myx was using that tone.

We were at the Fatima Shrine in Holliston, a wonderful, restful, peaceful retreat from the outside world. At Christmastime, there was always a colorful display of lights that drew big crowds for a month. Walking the frozen grounds to see the outdoor displays was always a marvel, a hot cocoa afterwards--always a welcome delight.

I thought this was an ideal setting for Myx and his new friend!

"Actually, Myx, you're the new kid," I said.

"Huh?"

"I wrote GOD'S QUESTIONS many years ago after meeting Mark Victor Hanson and W. Clement Stone. I told Mr. Stone I wanted to write a book--he shook my hand, looked me square in the eyes and said: 'Dave, you can do it!' And, within a few months, it was done."

"Nice story, but isn't this blog about ME?"

I decided to continue with my nice story instead of responding.

"I later sent the raw manuscript to the great Og Mandino, who was from Natick here in Massachusetts, for your information, Myx."

"I know Og Mandino," Myx said, "he wrote THE GREATEST SALESMAN IN THE WORLD and other inspirational stuff. So what did he do--tell you it stunk and to get lost?"

"Err ... no, he actually called me up and said 'Dave, this has to be published!' So, finally it was!"

"And why exactly am I here with it?" Myx sounded weary--or acting that way.

"Enough people have asked me if I wrote anything besides my now famous MIRACLE MYX [would it kill you to play along here?], so I thought I would show them where they could get my other published book. So ... here's the commercial for it."

***********************
God's Questions: Prayerful Answers for Daily Life
***********************

"Can we get back to just me now?"

"Myx, from now on--it's all you all the time!" I almost convinced myself!

Miracle Myx

Dave's MySpace!

Miracle Myx Needs Hugs

.
"I thought you would like this," I said.

"This is more like it," Myx said. "Usually you have me posing in some cold, lonely, dangerous locale that I can't wait to get out of."

"Myx, I try to get some shots that are interesting and fun. You have to admit we have fun."

"I have to admit something? Even though you created me, Dave, sometimes I don't think you know me very well."

"I knew you were going to say that!"

Heh, heh! I was giving Myx a little mental jiu-jitsu to chew on. Trouble is--Myx is way smarter and recondite (yeah, I had to look it up!) than I am--so no advantage of mine ever lasts too long. What I usually follow up with, before he can intellectually checkmate me again for the umteenth time, is to distract him.

"Looks like she has a thing for you, Myx!" That should play to his ego and direct any thoughts away from his favorite target--me!

"If I weren't a book--I'd have a thing for her! Now, Dave--getting back to you ....

Uh-oh.

Miracle Myx

Dave's MySpace Wonderland

Miracle Myx Ponies Up

.
"You said I could ride," Myx said.

We were in front of a merry-go-round in the Emerald Square Mall. It twirled in the background while Myx got ready to complain. Sometimes I wondered why I even took MIRACLE MYX along with me--until, of course, I remembered yet again that Myx was the center of the activity.

Still, it was nice to think back to when I could just go out on my own and--

"Dave, you told me I could ride in the swan seat."

"That was to get you to pose nicely in front of the merry-go-round," I admitted. Myx could "see" your voice with his synesthesic abilities and tell if you were lying--so I had to be careful how I phrased things when dealing with him.

"Carousel--it comes from the Spanish 'carousella' and began as a contest between Arabian and Turkish riders in the twelfth century. It was a sport that finally became a ride."

Myx's photographic memory led him to spout odd facts at me at odd times. He probably flipped through some book full of arcane knowledge once and all the facts and pictures stuck with him.

"This ride requires a ticket, which requires money. Our blog budget is ... let me think ... ah, yes--ZERO! So no merry-go-round or carousel or whatever-other-word-you-dredge-up ride for you," I said.

"I'm not leaving till I get my ride," Myx said with that tone I knew too well.

Miracle Myx

Dave's MySpace Fun 'N Facts Page!

Miracle Myx Relaxes

.
"What's the object of this blog?"

Myx seldom asked a question of this type he didn't already know the answer to. He usually asked to make a point or to uncover some deficiency in my motives, personality, or skills.

"It's to show you off in exciting places doing daredevil stunts that will amaze your fans!" I gave it a little extra "rah-rah" to encourage Myx to cooperate before we drew the inevitable curious bystanders.

"Then why do you insist on taking a pic of me against such a dark background. You know the automatic exposure is going to wash me out. ME--the star of the shot!"

So, it was the skill thing he was dinging me on. Myx might be playing a bit with that "star" comment--but I knew his almost arrogant self-confidence made it a real reflection of his opinion of himself.

"You'll look fine. I'm an expert at this stuff." Sounded good, anyway.

Myx thought that over and finally said, "Put a buck in--like you promised."

Miracle Myx

Dave's Amazing MySpace!

Miracle Myx Goes Hollywood

.
"I'm king of the world!" Myx yelled.

"What are you trying to tell me--that because you're on top of some water that you're like that Lenny Daprice?"

"Leonardo DiCaprio."

"I got you close," I said. "What will it take to make this go smoothly?"

I thought Myx would be happy--we were inside, nice and warm--and he was on a flat surface, free from the danger of falling. These conditions always brought out a playfulness in him, which made my job much easier.

"Make me an offer I can't refuse," Myx said in a muffled, gurgly voice.

"Another movie quote? Don't you want to be good and get this over with?"

"Frankly, Dave, I don't give a damn!"

With Myx, once a pattern was forming--it just kept forming.

"If you don't behave--back on the shelf you go." Myx would call my bluff, no doubt.

"Make my day!"

Told you. And he was still quoting.

"Hold still, I'm taking the picture." As I snapped it, he got in one last jibe.

"Here's looking at you, kid!"

Miracle Myx

Dave's Famous MySpace!

Miracle Myx Gets Shady

.
"You're looking at me," I said.

"It's an optical illusion," Myx said. "Just like when you're in a museum and you look at a painting, and the eyes are on you. Then you move to the other side of it--and it still looks like the eyes are on you. That's all it is."

"Still creeps me out sometimes--to have your eyes follow me. Feels like you're watching me."

We were in front of a sunglasses store; I often wondered how these places could stay open. I mean--how often do people have to buy sunglasses? At least these in the window were $10. But, some of the boutiques sold sunglasses at what I thought were extravagant prices.

"I have a pair of Armani's," Myx said. There was a little pride in his voice.

"Yeah, it's in the book, Myx ... how you got them."

"You don't have to get mad about it."

"I'm not mad. It's just that you state the obvious," I said.

"Obvious to you, not to our readers, Mr. Know-it-all Author. And another thing ...."

"What's that?" I asked.

"I am watching you!"

Miracle Myx

Dave's Prize-winning MySpace Page (except it really never won any prizes!)

Miracle Myx Stands Alone

.
"Now, this is just silly," Myx said.

"Why would you say that, Myx?"

"Because the people watching think it's silly."

I had to admit that the small crowd that stopped their travels from store to store at the outside Wrentham Outlets Mall to watch a handsome bald man (hey---lemme have some fun, willya?) back away from a lone book placed in the center of a 4-columned space (what the heck was that for?) did seem kind of odd. [Note: no consonants or vowels were hurt during the crafting of the preceding overly-long sentence.]

"It gives me a chance to talk about you, and how you'll be published soon--and how they can get a copy of you for their very own!"

Sometimes a person--always a woman--would ask what the hell I was doing.

"Yeah, they're always real happy they've asked, aren't they?"

Miracle Myx

Dave's MySpace!

Miracle Myx Gets Groomed

.
"Lotsa product," I said.

We were again at Stella Dieci Mini Spa. At one of the stations in the salon portion of the spa.

"Do you think I need it,"Myx said.

"No--hardly a hair on your book cover ever moves--even in a stiff wind."

"The mirror reminds me of the first scene in the book."

"You were in Mrs. Walker's bedroom. At night. While she was sleeping ... with her husband," I said.

"Well--I was looking for something that she had taken from me. It's the mirror here that reminds me of that."

"If I remember right, you used her hairbrush to brush your own hair before you left, " I said.

"That's when I was looking in her bureau mirror and saw--"

"Myx, maybe we shouldn't say any more about what you saw. It'll be a secret until you're published. Still, it was a bit cheeky to use someone else's brush while they slept just feet away from you."

"You know how well-groomed I am!" Myx seemed pleased.

Pre-Order Miracle Myx

Dave's Myspace!

Miracle Myx Goes Batty

.
"HOLY BESTSELLER, Myx!"

I thought this was a rather interesting shot. Myx had other opinions.

"Let's just hurry up and get outta here," said Myx.

"Don't you like being part of a crimefighting team?" This was rather enjoyable for me--seeing Myx alongside the Dynamic Duo.

"I like to think of myself as kind of capable in that crimefighting part," he said.

"Yeah, in MIRACLE MYX, there IS a crime to be solved. But how about your, let's say, less than law-abiding behavior in it?"

"Everybody's gotta have a hobby." Myx smiled. "Batman and Robin--do you think ... yanno?"

"What? That they had ...ummm ... an 'unnatural' relationship? He's the Dark Knight for God's sakes!" How dare Myx tread on sacred ground!

"Unnatural? How about our relationship?" Myx was egging me on again.

"You mean me carrying a book around and talking to it?" I asked.

"Yeah--THAT!"

"Seems fine to me," I said.

"Me too," Myx agreed.

Miracle Myx


Dave's Myspace

Miracle Myx Looks Parched

.
"Bubbler," Myx said.

"What?" I'm always on top of things, aren't I?

"Up here, in Massachusetts, we call this thing a bubbler."

Myx was playing nice for a change so I thought I'd add to the conversation while focusing the camera: "My friend, Janee, laughed at me when I called it that this past summer. She calls it a water fountain or a drinking fountain--I can't remember which."

"Kohler," Myx said.

"What?" See how good a conversationalist I am.

"Kohler invented the bubbler in 1888. It used to shoot straight up and look 'bubbly.' Then they arced the stream like it is now. Other companies copied it and called it 'gusher' or 'gurgler'--stuff like that." Myx was showing off.

I asked the question I usually asked, "How do you know all this?"

"Saw it in a book."

Myx had synesthesia--a mingling of his senses--and that gave him a photographic memory. He could glance at something today, and recite it verbatim years from now. Some would be humbled by such an ability--not Myx.

"Hurry up before I get wet here," said Myx.

Miracle Myx

Friend Dave on Myspace!

Miracle Myx Origin

.
"Wanna hear how you were born?" This was a completely rhetorical question, and I wasn't going to give Myx a choice.

"Do I have a choice?"

See!

"When the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, there was all that 'curse of the Bambino' stuff going on up here in Massachusetts," I said.

"Is this a long story?"

"It's a story about you, Myx."

"Oh--then take your time!"

"After the Sox won, there was this headline in a local paper: YOU CAN ONLY BREAK A CURSE WITH A MIRACLE."

"Must have been before my time," Myx said.

"Just barely--now listen. After reading that, I sat down and said to myself 'miracle ... miracle ...Miracle, Massachusetts!'"

"Your point being ...?"

"The setting of MIRACLE MYX, your home town is Miracle--that's how it all started!"

"You mean it didn't start with ME?"

I'd use the ol' Diotalevi charm to make Myx feel the center of attention--again!

Miracle Myx

Get a "Where's Myx?" banner on Dave's Myspace!