I Have Gas!!!

Spent $62 to fill up my vehicle yesterday. OUCH.

As a finance major, I understand markets. I understand the supply and demand theory and how it affects all of us on a daily basis. I understand the futures market since we play with that at work every day.

Yea, I understand all of that.

I’m also against government interference in business matters unless it relates to diplomacy or national security. I truly believe that the private sector can manage itself much better than any government oversight or bloated army of stuffed suits looking over someone’s shoulder.

BUT……………

This oil thing is getting way out of hand.

Not big on conspiracy theories, but have to admit that it surely seems as if we have sold our collective souls to Big Oil. And our government seems to be complicit in these matters through the lack of regulation and the apparent blind eye that is turned towards the profits that are being made.

Refinery capacity and increased demand in China has sent the price of crude oil spiraling and that translates into higher gasoline prices at the pump.

But the jobbers are getting rich too.

The oil companies are so very flush with cash – which in the current environment in Washington, DC translates into more and more lobbying – which seemingly guarantees that Big Oil can continue down the path of rape and pillaging the consumer.

Do you have any idea what’s going to happen when (not if) a hurricane comes into the Gulf of Mexico and disrupts drilling or threatens the refineries around Houston?

We’re talking European prices – maybe $6-7 per gallon.

Then we’ll see what the Republicans do………..

OK, sorry for the rant. I’m just in shock.


On to more happy matters – does anyone have the new Rush CD entitled “Snakes and Arrows”? It’s pretty damned good.

Starts off strong with a song called “Far Cry”. Neil Pert wrote all the lyrics and he’s about a cool a guy as I’ve ever seen. Motorcyclist just like me. Rides his bike from concert to concert. What a life. Anyway, the lyrics are wonderful on this CD and here’s a sample from “Far Cry”:

Pariah dogs and wondering madmen
Barking at strangers and speaking in tongues
The ebb and flow of tidal fortune
Electrical changes are charging up the young

It’s a far cry from the world we thought we’d inherit
It’s a far cry from the way we thought we’d share it
You can almost feel the current flowing
You can almost see the circuits blowing

One day I feel I’m on top of the world
And the next it’s falling in on me
I can get back on………
One day I feel I’m ahead of the wheel
And the next it’s rolling over me
I can get back on……….

Whirlwind life of faith and betrayal
Rise in anger, fall back and repeat
Slow degrees on the dark horizon
Full moon rising, lays silver at your feet

You can almost see the circle growing
You can almost feel the planets glowing

One day I fly through a crack in the sky
And the next it’s falling on me

I can get back on
I can get back on………….


So maybe you can see how this “higher rock” can trigger the thoughts of geopolitical suicide that I’m thinking we’re in right now.

I pray for a better tomorrow.

Please vote – early and often

Peace.

Bob Dylan Revisited - A Tale of Going and Coming

My love is no fan of Bob Dylan. She says his music is not to her liking and it doesn't help that she doesn't understand what he's either saying or if she can understand what he's saying, she has no idea why he's saying it.

Which is how Bob is taken in the world. You either love him immensely or you don't get him.

I hold her no ill will for her position.

Case in point though - we were headed down to the beach late on Friday night. We had been talking and talking about all kinds of stuff while listening to the Sirius radio. When about 90 miles into our trip, Bob's voice came through the speakers singing my personal favorite - "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)".

So I start softly singing all the words and after a few minutes I look over at my love - yep, she's snoring. Went right to sleep just as soon as Bob started singing.

I just smiled and kept on singing.

I have quit trying to make her understand Bob. It's just one of those things I'm not going to worry about.

Now fast forward to the return trip on Monday afternoon:

We haven't been going but about 10 minutes when Bob came on again. He started singing "Positively 4th Street" and I braced for her to ask me to change the station because it was in no way nite-nite time.

But instead, she just sat there, listening.

Then she started laughing.

Then she laughed more and more and more.

She listened to the end of the song and declared that she had never heard a song like that before and she might just like her some Bob Dylan if he had anymore like that one.

I just beamed thinking (to myself) that all any of us ever need is just a small trickle of Bob before we are hooked.

So stay tuned, and I'll let you know how this all turns out...............

In the meantime, I'll include the lyrics from that song - which happens to be the angriest song ever sung (at least until Allanis got out her "jagged little pill").

Peace


POSITIVELY 4th STREET - Bob Dylan

You got a lotta nerve
To say you are my friend
When I was down
You just stood there grinning

You got a lotta nerve
To say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on
The side that's winning

You say I let you down
You know it's not like that
If you're so hurt
Why then don't you show it

You say you lost your faith
But that's not where it's at
You had no faith to lose
And you know it

I know the reason
That you talk behind my back
I used to be among the crowd
You're in with

Do you take me for such a fool
To think I'd make contact
With the one who tries to hide
What he don't know to begin with

You see me on the street
You always act surprised
You say, "How are you?" "Good luck"
But you don't mean it

When you know as well as me
You'd rather see me paralyzed
Why don't you just come out once
And scream it

No, I do not feel that good
When I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief
Perhaps I'd rob them

And now I know you're dissatisfied
With your position and your place
Don't you understandIt's not my problem

I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment
I could be you

Yes, I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is
To see you

Birthday Week - Over at Last!

I spent a wonderful birthday weekend at the beach with my love. And it was amazing.

We did pretty much absolutely nothing.

Which was the goal and prime objective.

My girl spent hours in the sun (compared to my 10 minutes over three days). Sure, she laughs at my whiteness - but I’m Irish and supposed to be white!

It’s hard to remember that as a competitive swimmer I used to spend 4 hours a day each summer in the outdoor pool from age 6 to 23. Of course, the winter was spent in an indoor pool – but Summer, well that was for OUTSIDE. And then all those years of being the head lifeguard at the Racquet Club baking, no, roasting, in the sun. We didn’t use sunscreen back in the day, we used OIL to darken our hue.

So in answer to her question – “Yea, I can get REAL brown”.

But at some point, it got to be a problem. Lots of sun spots and freckles and then the realization that if I didn’t stop I would turn into something hard and leathered.

So I just said no to the sun.

But I do so love the beach. We were 200 feet in the air and would open the sliding glass door and listen to the waves wash ashore in the night. We walked on the beach and let that cold-ass water hit our feet and legs. We laughed, we loved and we just WERE.

And isn’t that the best. Just “being”.

I think so.

It’s so good to get away and have some adult time with absolutely no distractions what so ever.

And it sure is good to be away with someone you L-O-V-E!!!

My love and I are very comfortable together now. And like anything else in this world, it’s been a process.

With something as complex and all consuming as love, it is not unexpected that people move slowly – not quite trusting that it could really be this good. We’ve all been burned and it’s only natural to think that nothing lasts.

But when it’s the one, when it’s real……..well that’s a whole new ballgame.

As seriously flawed humans, we know that ego wounds heal very slowly and so we’re very careful not to extend too much.

But when you find that one person that you can really give yourself to – everything is different. It’s brighter and more colorful. We stop thinking about defeat and failure as a sign that we’re not loveable enough for anyone. We can finally stop analyzing everything and everyone we associate our love with.

We can simply “BE”. We don’t have to pretend anything and we can just let it all hang out (to borrow an overused 60’s phrase).

I have learned that nothing in our love can justify the attempt to analyze or anticipate things that may go wrong or not go our way. All you have to do is wait for something to happen and deal with it in a loving manner and you find that everything works out fine.

Love is patient and love is kind. It’s actually true.

That’s not to say that the people who love each other don’t get mad at each other. But no score is kept. No one holds something against the other one. It’s simply life and how it is lived that matters.

The quality of life is amazing when you love.

So I hope everyone else enjoyed my birthday celebration week as much as I did. My girl got me a beautiful ring and told me that we were officially “going steady” now.

So count me as happy.

Hope you are too!

Peace.

The Day After

Well, I survived my birthday.

I felt loved and cherished and I'm not sure what else a boy could ask for.

My girl got me a very cool ring and asked me to go steady.

I accepted!!!

As for the rest of my "birthday week", I am taking her to the beach this weekend for some adult time and some rest and relaxation.

Among other things.....................

Finally got the barn built in the back yard and now I can CLEAN out the garage and park cars where they are supposed to be.

I know that I'm all boy, because for me, that barn is one of the coolest thing EVER. I can see my love's eyes glaze over as I excitedly talk about it and plan for it and go in and out and in and out of it with "stuff".

But she will learn to love it just as soon as she see's how clean the garage will become and how organized all the stuff will be!!!

So that's all the news that is news.

Live, love, pray and be thankful today.

I know that I am!

Do YOU Feel Lucky Today? Well, Do Ya Punk???

Crispy On The Outside

I was looking for a way to express my feelings about Jerry Falwell............

But as I was looking at stuff this morning I found this little item on Slate and decided that this guy did it so much better than I could.

So here it goes:

God, they say, is love, but the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who died May 15, hit the jackpot trafficking in small-minded condemnation.

The controversies Falwell generated followed a predictable loop.

1) Falwell would say something hateful or clownish about some person or group associated with liberalism.
2) A public outcry would ensue.
3) Falwell would apologize and retract the offending comment.
4) Falwell would repeat the comment, slightly rephrased.

For 20 years, evangelicals have chided the mainstream media for treating Falwell's ghastly pronouncements as news; Falwell, they often confide in private, ceased being a significant figure well before he left his signature political organization, the Moral Majority, in 1987.

If so, someone forgot to tell Sen. John McCain, R.-Ariz., who as a presidential candidate in 2000 condemned Falwell's intolerance ("The political tactics of division and slander are not our values, they are corrupting influences on religion and politics, and those who practice them in the name of religion or in the name of the Republican Party or in the name of America shame our faith, our party and our country") but last year, as a presidential candidate positioning for 2008, made peace with Falwell and gave a commencement address ("We have nothing to fear from each other") to the 2006 graduating class at Falwell's Liberty University.

On news of Falwell's death, McCain said in a statement, "Dr. Falwell was a man of distinguished accomplishment who devoted his life to serving his faith and country."

Nonsense.

He was a bigot, a reactionary, a liar, and a fool.

Herewith, a Falwell sampler.

On Sept. 11: "The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way—all of them who have tried to secularize America—I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.' "

On AIDS: "AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals."

On homosexuality: "I believe that all of us are born heterosexual, physically created with a plumbing that's heterosexual, and created with the instincts and desires that are basically, fundamentally, heterosexual. But I believe that we have the ability to experiment in every direction. Experimentation can lead to habitual practice, and then to a lifestyle. But I don't believe anyone begins a homosexual."

On Martin Luther King Jr.: "I must personally say that I do question the sincerity and nonviolent intentions of some civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mr. James Farmer, and others, who are known to have left-wing associations."

On Martin Luther King Jr., four decades later: "You know, I supported Martin Luther King Jr., who did practice civil disobedience."

On public education: "I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again, and Christians will be running them."

On the separation of church and state: "There is no separation of church and state."

On feminists: "I listen to feminists and all these radical gals. ... These women just need a man in the house. That's all they need. Most of the feminists need a man to tell them what time of day it is and to lead them home. And they blew it and they're mad at all men. Feminists hate men. They're sexist. They hate men; that's their problem."

On global warming: "I can tell you, our grandchildren will laugh at those who predicted global warming. We'll be in global cooling by then, if the Lord hasn't returned. I don't believe a moment of it. The whole thing is created to destroy America's free enterprise system and our economic stability."

On Bishop Desmond Tutu: "I think he's a phony, period, as far as representing the black people of South Africa."

On Islam: "I think Mohammed was a terrorist. I read enough of the history of his life, written by both Muslims and non-Muslims, that he was a violent man, a man of war."

On Jews: "In my opinion, the Antichrist will be a counterfeit of the true Christ, which means that he will be male and Jewish, since Jesus was male and Jewish."

Rest in peace, you blowhard.

Timothy Noah is a senior writer at Slate.

So there it is..................

I am a very devoted Christian and a man of an unashamed heart. And it makes me sick to my stomach for the Christian "point of view" to be hi-jacked by people like Falwell and Pat Robertson.

I used to laugh at Oral Roberts and his antics but in today's world of media bullshit you just can't laugh at them anymore because they take themselves so seriously and declare that they speak for everyone and that anyone that doesn't agree with them is going to Hell.

Damn Baptists and Fundamentalists.

There is a place in this world for everyone - even people that don't look or act like we do. Each person has the right to live his life as they see fit. We are not called to condemn them because they don't do it like we want them to.

And it seems to me that it's horrible to say "good riddance" to someone that just died. But GOOD RIDDANCE DR. FALWELL.

That's truly all the venom I can spray so I'm going to hug someone.

I wish you Peace today.

Friends for Life

I love living in the town in which I grew up.

I know so many people. My girlfriend reminds me often that I can't go anywhere without stopping to talk with someone.

And I love that. I know who does what and who does who. I am old enough to have survived all the stuff and seen the good, the bad and the UGLY.

I've been to tragic funerals of my contemporaries that give you pause to reflect on your own life.

But this life is as warm as a third-generation quilt on a cool evening. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.

In thinking about all my friends that have done well, I think the most surprising of those is Robert St. John.

Everyone loves Robert - always have. I swear to you that I don't know one person that has an adverse opinion of him. He was always a good time party boy. And the first one of us to go into rehab.

And that was something like a hundred years ago.

And he came out and became the most successful of all of us. He has several very successful restaurants and publishes books like I trim my nose hair (which is to say much more often than I used to). If you ever get the chance, just go to the Purple Parrot in Hattiesburg, MS and order the chef's tasting menu (with paired wine) and expect to be amazed.

So I want to invite each of you to follow Robert in his blog at:

www.nobodyspoet.blogspot.com

Granted, this is published in something like 50 newspapers all over, but you can get it here each and every Monday before it gets published anywhere. I think you will find him entertaining and enlightening.

And which of us doesn't need a little of that each week.

Yep, friends forever.........

Peace

Mother's Day

Had a very interesting Mother's Day.........

Went after church to take my mom some lunch (KFC, her favorite) at the nursing home. When we got there, the street was blocked with fire trucks and ambulances.

Oh great.

They were pushing old ladies out in the street on their beds.

Oh great, great, great!

Luckily, it didn't last too long.

It seemed that an air conditioning unit in the C unit shorted out or something and smoke was coming through the ventilation system.

Great excitement.

My mother was on the porch waiting for us and since she lives in A unit, it wasn't too big a deal for her but those poor nurses and techs were running around like chickens with their heads cut off!

Anyway, my mother got some nice flowers and a good meal which she ate, and ate, and ate. Took her an hour.

I finally "excused" my love and her little girl so they could escape. I stayed and finished up and said the appropriate goodbyes.

Then it was on to NAP TIME.

I love naps on Sunday afternoon.

So take my advice and have one every chance you get.

Peace.

Weekend Antics

Well, it's Monday and a brand new week. But more importantly for me, it's an entire week of celebration for ME!

Yep, it's my Birthday on Thursday so I get to declare an entire week of celebration. People often ask me why I get to do that........well, it's easy to explain - it's MY Birthday so I can do what I want to do and I want to declare an entire week of celebrating ME.

Of course, it's hard to get others involved because mostly, people don't give a shit. But I do, and since it's MY Birthday I CAN!!!

Friday night, my love went with her youngest daughter to Girl Scout Camp. Although it sounded more like a concentration camp to me - they swear it was actually a Girl Scout Camp.

It was only for one night so it wasn't a big deal - but one night in the woods with little girls can seem like a lifetime to an adult.

So after they got back Saturday afternoon I asked how things went and got the usual stories of giggling girls and late nights.

But there was one story that made me LAUGH.

It seemed about 1:30 in the morning a little blonde headed girl came up to my love's bunk and wanted her mommy. So my love told the little girl to get in bed with her. The little girl said that Aunt Tina was her mommy. My love says "no, I'm your mommy - now get in the bed" (as only a sleep deprived mommy can do)

So my love pulled on her arm to get her in the bed and the little girl pulled back and said NO, I want MY mommy.

Not sure how long this went on - but it turns out that it was another little blonde-headed girl looking for her mommy and not my love's little blonde-headed girl after all.

So they found the right mommy.

And I've got another story to file away and use at the right time.

I love my life!!!

THISWEEKSUCKED

It's been quite a hectic week. Not even sure why as I sit here at work on Saturday morning. Maybe the fact that I'm AT work on Saturday will give me a clue as to the nature of the hecticness.............

Anyway, last night, my baby went with her baby to spend a glorious girls night of camping at Girl Scout camp to be accompanied by some horse back riding today.

Can't wait to see the results of those two activities.

Let's just say I'm preparing for her not to be in a good mood when she returns!!!

But anyway, we have a HUGE wedding to go to this afternoon at 5 and I can't wait. I'm one of those boys that's a sucker for weddings. Especially the reception part of it! The reception will be at the convention center and I'm sure it will be magnificant.

And no, I don't have anything either witty or philosophical to post - this week has just sapped all my strength and my mental capabilities.

So I'll beg your patience and ask for grace. My most favorite thing in the world!

Peace.

Tattoo Nirvana

Just sat in a chair under intense lights and had pain inflicted on me of biblical proportions.

Was I a prisoner or war?

No.

Was I being interogated by the CIA?

No.

Was I in rehab?

No.

I was sitting for 4 1/2 hours in a barber chair getting a tattoo. I finally got my "dad memorial" tattoo on my right arm.

It's a cartoon picture someone drew of him in his Green Beret uniform with all the requisite gear. At the top it says "Wild Bill" (which is what they called him in Vietnam) and on the bottom it says 1930-1995. It's very classy and I'm very proud of it.

I wish he could have seen it.

I always wonder about the psychology of tattoo's. It hurts. It hurts so very badly. This one is on my bicep from the top of my arm to the bend of my elbow (so it can still be hidden by short sleeved shirts!) and went around on the TENDER part of my inner arm. Just pinch yourself there and see if you don't jump. Now envision millions of puncture wounds concentrated in that one location.

Maybe you too can wonder at the psychology behind it.

They are very meaningful to me. They are rebelious. They are a status symbol in the worst of society.

So why, oh why, do I love them so much.

Maybe for the same reason I still want to be in a rock band.

Maybe for the same reason that I feel sorry for the downtrodden of our world.

I'm really not sure.

All I'm sure of is that I'm glad this one is over because it hurt really, really bad.

And yea, I ditched work this afternoon to do it. I had a 6pm appointment scheduled but I wanted to spend Friday night with my baby so I snuck out at lunch and didn't return. But don't worry - I'll be there bright and early Saturday morning to pick up my pieces.

So for tonight, I will bask in the glow of pain well spent, and along with a very strong white russian I will sit on the couch with my "good" arm around my girl and thank the Good Lord that I live in a country where I can do as I please.

And I hope you do the same.

Keith loves Paige............

Peace.

It's A Matter Of Trust

My favorite Billy Joel song is "It's a Matter of Trust". And for some reason, that just sounds lame right now. I was reading an article yesterday that Billy just doesn't have it in him to write "pop" songs anymore.

And I know he's burned out and fat and bitter in his old age. But as I remember the late 70's and early 80's - he was quite a force in popular music. And it was good music. He had something like 33 top ten hits on the Billboard charts.

I'm sure that getting dumped by Christy Brinkley had to have a massive effect on his life. When they got married I remember thinking that they were an odd pair - but how cool was it for him to have a woman like that!!!

I feel the same way, my girl is amazingly beautiful and everytime I look at her I feel like the luckiest boy in the world.

And in my life, it truly is a matter of trust. I trust her completely. No matter how stupid it may be or how badly I screw up (and I do that, you know) she is always there for me, trusting and loving.

Which really and truly does make me the luckiest boy in the world!!!

Trust is based on faith. When we entrust our hearts to someone else, we assume that they will never, ever deliberately attempt to hurt us or make us feel less than we are. We count on the people we love to be honest, reliable and just. And we also believe that they will always be responsible because they have our hearts in their pockets!

But we are all imperfect and vulnerable. Especially to those that we love. There are millions of people in the world that could abuse me and say nasty things to me and I wouldn't give a damn one way or the other. I simply don't care what others say or think about me because I am very well grounded. But if my love were to say the same things to mr I would be totally and compeletely devistated.

So it's simply a matter of trust for me. I believe that she has my best interests at heart and I will do whatever I need to do in order to make that come true each and every day.

I find that trust implies forgetting the past and moving forward, or even trying again when it doesn't work the first time. And with the knowledge that if my effort is imperfect or out of bounds, that it is still worth it. Because love is all in the effort.

My goal, has never been godliness because I'm not that good - but my goal is simply humanness. And what that means to me is that I am available at all times for her, emotionally and physically and to try to be the best I can be. When I fail, I get up and try harder next time.

And because she has faith in me, I am able to do those things with complete confidence.

So I guess this rambling is my way of saying THANK YOU to her for being all she is for me and letting her know that I appreciate and relish each and every opportunity to manifest my love for her on a daily basis.

And in closing, I want to include the lyrics to the Billy Joel song that I referenced in the title of this post because I feel that music can express our thoughts and feelings in such a way that we are unable to. And that's just so cool! And it says all I feel about my love. It really is a matter of trust........

A Matter of Trust - Billy Joel

Some love is just a lie of the heart
The cold remains of what began with a passionate start
And they may not want it to end
But it will - it's just a question of when
I've lived long enough to have learned
The closer you get to the fire, the more you get burned
But that won't happen to us
Because it's always been a matter of trust

I know you're an emotional girl
It took a lot for you to not lose your faith in this world
I can't offer you proof
But you're gonna face a moment of truth
It's hard when you're always afraid
You just recover when another belief is betrayed
So break my heart if you must
It's a matter of trust

You can't go the distance
With too much resistance
I know you have doubts
But for God's sake don't shut me out

This time you've got nothing to lose
You can't take it, you can leave it
Whatever you choose
I won't hold back anything
And I'll walk away a fool or a king

Some love is just a lie of the mind
It's make believe until it's only a matter of time
And some might have learned to adjust
But then it never was a matter of trust

I'm sure you're aware, love
We'be both had our share of believing too long
When the whole situation was wrong

Some love is just a lie of the soul
A constant battle for the ultimate state of control
After you've heard lie upon lie
There can hardly be a question of why
Some love is just a lie of the heart
The cold remains of what began with a passionate start
But that can't happen to us
Cause it's always been a matter of trust

It's a matter of trust
It's always been a matter of trust..........

Got Digital?

Got a nice raise at work - and to celebrate, I went to the cable company and got my high-speed internet for the house and the digital cable with the HBO and stuff.

So my cable bill went from $50 to $130 - but what the hell, I can afford it!!!

We got it all set up yesterday and marveled at the speed of the internet connection but mostly marveled at the picture quality of the digital television. So clear that it almost hurts your eyes.

I've always had to wait and rent the Soprano's after the season was over and now I can watch it in real time.

I know, it's kind of childish - but I'm stoked!

Life - And How To Love It

I’ve been thinking about love. I know, that’s hard to believe for some of you. But during this time of stress with loved ones being sick and possibly on death’s door – I find myself looking at love and relationships and how very important they are in the context of our lives.

Even two people who are madly in love tend to be placated by that love and get lulled into taking things in the relationship for granted. And this is the very thing that we all have to fight on a daily basis.

I am so comfortable in my love for my girl that it completely encompasses my entire being and gives me a sense of peace that truly goes beyond understanding.

And with that said, it’s important for me to get off the couch and make sure that the love stays active and that I don’t take anything for granted.

I believe I do a pretty good job of that but I’m only human and I feel myself slipping into complacency from time to time. It’s at that point when I use my free will to get up and do something to either surprise her or to let her know that she is first in my life.

And I truly believe that it’s different for girls and boys. For girls, who are moms, there will never be anything more important to them than their children and us boys who are in relationships with them need to understand that from the start.

As for me, and most boys I know, we love our children beyond the conscious level – but as for the importance meter, well, it swings always towards the woman we love. She is the most important thing in our lives.

It’s not a competition – but it is a matter of perspective. I raised my children to be independent thinkers and doers and I let them go and do what they will. I am there for advice and support but they don’t need me meddling in their lives.

My experience with mothers is that it is different. They NEED to meddle and make sure that everything is going to their specifications.

And I have no problem with that.

I know my role in my love’s life and I’m very happy to be there. The alternative is unthinkable. We have been to that place before where I was removed from the day-to-day stuff and it almost killed me. And I will do whatever it takes in order to never have that happen again. I will always be the one that bends just so I can remain where I am because it’s the most important thing in my life. It truly is.

So I fight complacency at all times because I know that is the one thing that can kill what is truly special about the relationship. Symptoms of this complacency can include a dull acceptance of everything. The desire to remain “safe” by doing only familiar things and the undefinable feeling that something is missing.

The cure involves a willingness to step a little more boldly into paths that excite us so we can be astounded and renewed. There must always be risk in love and the ability to step outside of the normal routine.

Nothing is so fatal as predictability. And while there may be comfort in predictability, lurking beneath the surface is good old-fashioned apathy. Dull routines have a way of creeping into our lives and we are called to fight this at all times. The thread of habit is powerful and is woven into our makeup and we just have to fight it.

What we need is a serendipitous act, a surprise dinner, an unexpected gift, a little craziness in the lovemaking arena. All of these things are vitally important in making a relationship grow and flourish.

The very essence of love is surprise and amazement and to make love the prisoner of the mundane is to take away the passion that made it so wonderful to begin with.

So today, let us all vow to do something amazing for the one we love and just see how it works.

What have you got to lose?

Peace.

Good News

After 10 hours of surgery - my love's father came through like a champ. A triple by-pass and an artificial valve.

OK, so he's split from stem to stern but he's alive and that's all I was praying for.

So I'm off to the hospital now for a little visit to the ICU place - but I'm wishing peace for all of you.