May starts and it's freezing!
Now Playing: Finally Woken by Jem (buy the CD!)
OK.....this is nuts! It was 30 degrees this morning and the calendar said May 2nd. I'm tired of being cold, and I'm not a guy who's prone to being cold very frequently.

On to a real topic now......it's time to end this school year! I'm down to 15 days of teaching left and normally, I wouldn't mind if it was 50, but as many of you know, this year is one that has been the aberration and not the rule. I've still got a great attitude about things, but I see this year as a passage for me. I think I am transitioning in my life on many levels. I've gone through another growth spurt and I'm looking to process the learning as best I can and summer presents the best opportunity for me to do so. Jem's song, Finally Woken, really relates to me right now.....sure, I'll give you the lyrics!

Finally Woken, Finally Woken

I've been thinking 'bout things
For a long while
I'm feeling so calm
I've got a big smile
I have a view of the sun
Right over the sea
And now I can feel
Life is flowing through me

You see I've finally woken
From a long sleep
I'm ready to jump
To make that blind leap
Coz I now believe
I have the power in me
I've got the faith baby
I can truly be free

Finally Woken
Finally Woken

Child don't worry it's ok
The sun is out for another day
And I say it'll be alright
(be alright)
Today's the first day of the
Rest of your life
Remember, remember,
Remember this, remember

Child don't worry it's ok
(I've got a big smile/I feel good)
The sun is out for another day
(someone's shining on me)
And I say it'll be alright
(be alright)
Today's the first day of the
Rest of your life
Remember Remember
Remember this Remember

Child don't worry it's ok
The sun is out for another day
Today's the first day of the
Rest of your life
And I say it'll be alright
(be alright)
Remember, remember,
Remember this, remember

Finally Woken
(I've got a big smile/I feel good)
Finally Woken
(someone's shining on me)
Finally Woken
(I've got a big smile/I feel good)
Finally Woken
(someone's shining on me)
And I say it'll be alright, be alright
And I say it'll be alright, be alright

Erased!
Now Playing: One Day by Barenaked Ladies
Topic: Random ramblings
That left a mark!

I'm in the English department office the other day and a student teacher is looking to do some observation hours, so she asks myself and another teacher if she can sign us up. So, she signs up my friend and then 'pencils' me in for 7th hour. Just as she finishes, my boss, the department chair, says, "I teach 7th hour!," and immediately, the student teacher (without even blinking) flipped over the pencil and erased my name.

I now know, without a doubt, what my spot in the pecking order (at least in my department!) is.

Don't try this at home!
Now Playing: Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
(Crazy news story...I'll interject my take in italics


Reuters
Updated: 3:22 p.m. ET April 25, 2005


YANGON, Myanmar - Hla Htay has three hungry infants to feed these days ? a seven-month old baby boy and two Bengal tiger cubs.Three times a day, the Myanmar housewife goes to the Yangon Zoo where she breastfeeds the hungry black-striped, orange-brown cubs rejected by their natural mother. (Now we know how Roy- of Sigfield and Roy fame- was really raised)

?It?s not scary at all,? she said of the 45-minute feeds. ?I needed to do something for the cubs because I felt really sorry for them." (I don't know- pet them, buy them some trinkets, how about a saucer of milk?)


Three cubs were born at the zoo in mid-March, but their mother killed one (maybe clamped onto her nipple too hard?) and refused to nurse the others. Veterinarians rescued the other two but had little success bottle feeding them. (They shouldn't have used the Jack Daniels bottle- that was poor judgment)

?They had some difficulties sucking the nipple on the bottle. When we tried to get the cubs to suck a lady?s breast, it was alright,? said a veterinarian. (So, why doesn't a company design a life-like nipple bottle...the bottle can be shaped like a breast....patent that....millions to be made)

The zoo says the breastfeeding will stop by the end of April or when the cubs start teething ? whichever comes first. (Once bitten, twice shy.....look mom, I sprouted my first incisor today.....did it hurt? That's quite the primal scream you have, mom)

Text messages
Now Playing: Aerosmith- Big Ones
Topic: Random ramblings
The dinosaur who just recently caved in and got a cell phone now realizes the value of text messages. It's funny to see my friends bang out these long messages in such a short amount of time. I'm definitely pretty slow at it, but I have learned the value of the text message.

There is no need to worry about calling someone too late. Just text them and if they can talk they can either text back or call you. Also, if you're in a loud venue (and provided your contact realizes you've messaged)you can get your point across without repeating it 50 times or screaming at the top of your lungs.

So, now do I not only have (and use) the cell, I actually text friends now and again. Maybe within the next ten years, I'll be close to keeping up with the order of the day!

White smoke?
Now Playing: Love Shack by the B-52's
Topic: Random ramblings
Since this material can only be used when there is a new pope, I'd better strike while the iron is hot:

Ok, let me get this straight: A bunch of men in red robes (dresses, if you will) congregate in an enclosed room and decide who their next leader is. If black smoke comes out the chimney, they party on. If white smoke comes out, they found the good stuff, stop smkoing, and name the new pope, who takes off the red dress for a brand new white one.

Once this is done, the pope comes out onto the balcony where thousands of groupies come out to see him give a royalty wave. Maybe they ought to play a rousing game of Simon (popey) says! Popey says: kneel! Popey says: bend over!.......: grab your ankles....oops you lose!

OK, I'm laughing out loud....likely nobody is laughing with me, so that's it for today!

Too serious
Now Playing: Gingko Boloba (instrumental/relaxation)
Topic: Random ramblings
Today I want to ramble about a quote I made up: "Beware the person who takes him (her)self too seriously."

I have seen many people who take themselves too seriously. They fall into a few different categories, but I'll focus on two today:

1) The politics-loving know-it-alls (that's my allotment of hyphens for the month!). These people really think they are the only reasonable voice on every issue. They believe that they are 100% right and anyone who disagrees is a moron. They are often guilty of the things they accuse others of, such as being intolerant (they are far more intolerant than those they chastise). These are often (I'd say always, but it's not right to use absolutes) mean- spirited (oops- two more hyphens)people who try to come across as caring and nice, and they are, until you disagree with them, or God forbid, their candidate loses a major election. When that happens (lost election), the 'chicken little' act starts, as they say we're doomed, the world is going to hell, or some other outlandish claim.

(Off the subject for a minute: I learned that the Rocky Mountains actually go outside of Colorado and even venture into, of all places, Cananda!....things really do exist outside of America....Wow!.. ;) )

Ok, I'm back.....

2) School teachers (but, in reality, any place of work): Being one myself, I see this often. Teachers who think that the school would not go on without them. These people really think that their students would be worse off on life had such students not been assigned to their class. These people believe that they are above the crowd and have all the answers. They pressure administration into touting them, even though they are no better than most of the other teachers in the building. How are they dangerous? They are often willing to make others look bad, so that they feel elevated. They also kiss butt, so that they get more opportunities to place themselves in the public consciousness. I already know that I will never win any teaching awards, but I don't want them, because I'd rather spend my time improving my craft instead of getting the 'crowd' to cheer for me.

What's my point? Know that you are probably very good at something, but be willing to give everyone else their due. Everyone can win in their own way. We don't have to keep others down- there's no future in it.

(Kind of) Wild Night
Now Playing: Rock the Casbah by The Clash
Topic: Random ramblings
It started out pretty simple: Poker Tourney at Tork's house. Usually (more than half of the time, I end up at the final table), but it's been a while since I've placed in the top 3 (I have had a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, (2)5th, (2)6th, and 7th place finish in the 15 tournaments I've been in.) Anyway, I tried to play a little more loose than usual and I was short stacked an hour into the tournament. I made a move and tripled up with a pair of queens to get me back to 70% of my original bankroll, and then I was ready to get back in the fray. I get dealt a 5-6 and I decided to gie it a shot and see the flop: the flop comes up 5-K-6. PERFECT! I know the guy playing me has a King. I bet....he raises (I knew he would), then I re-raised all of my chips...he called. He turns over Ace-King...PERFECT (again). The fourth card comes up an 8....still PERFECT....the fifth card (at this point, he has a 9% chance of beating me), and you guessed it.....ACE, and I'm done for the day. Oh, well....maybe next time. I always say I'd rather be lucky than good. The analogy I used was: I set the bait, the fish bit it, I started to reel it in, then a piranha ate the whole line (fish and all).

So now it's only 4:00 and I've got nothing to do. Fortunately for me, my friend got knocked out at 5:15 and called me to see if I wanted to hang out. Thank God, because I had nothing on the docket for the day as it was. First we go to Buffalo Wild Wings to eat. As always, we laughed until it hurt..well, actually it hurt Jason more than me, as he knocked over his beer glass and cut his hand while trying to catch it. He was really a trooper, as he stuck it out (I thought he needed a stitch or two). He'll be in some pain today, I suppose.

We then go to a bar to see a live band called Coppersnake, though we preferred to call it Whitesnake (people in the bar didn't appreciate it). Jason was pretty chatty with the clientele, but he was in a bit of a mood. Some guy in a wheelchair (I'll refrain from the classless joke here)tells Jason to leave people alone. It escalates and I'm realizing that if something goes down, it very well could be 10 on 2, so I do what I have to do...I step in and quickly de-fuse the situation and get Jason out of the fire. I'm glad I'm skilled at settling people down.

So then, it's off to the bar across the street. I asked Jason about all of the motorcycles in front and thought it might not be the best idea, but he said it was not a big deal. We walk to the door and there are about 8 bikers there who say, "There is a private party inside...do you guys mind?" Well, I already knew the mood Jason was in, so I had to step forward and handle it- which I did..and that was a night. Of course, Jason text messages me to tell me that there vests said "Hell's Angels" on them, so I'm really glad I got us out of there. I told Jason that we will never hang out in Frankfort again!

Perspective
Now Playing: What About Love by Heart
Topic: Random ramblings
I work around hundreds of people every day and I have the opportunity to see every type of attitude imaginable. I have learned a few things:

1) If you smile at people, most of the time, people will smile back at you- that is unless you had one of those creepy 'slasher movie' type smiles.

2) No matter how much you want to believe it, very few people care about other people. Oh sure, people might ask how you're doing, but usually, it's become little more than today's idea of small talk.

3) (Just in case this hasn't sunk in yet)....Everyone, yes and that means you too, is repalceable and to go even further, you won't really be missed all that much either. I have seem some dynamic people leave situations in which they were a veritable icon and within a mere matter of weeks or months- poof!- their name is hardly heard anymore.

These three observations seem to be, at best, mildly related, but I think it goes deeper....

The smile can be returned, but does it mean anything more than just saying, 'Hello' to someone? Does the fact that someone asks how you are (generally or specifically), mean they really care? Will you really be remembered when you leave a place?

These questions (when answered) seem to invite a negative spin on life, but I think that if we learn a lesson here, we can make this a positive, and here's how:

You are totally responsible for your own happiness. You have the ability to choose joy, and that is a choice that you have to make daily, if you want a happy liefstyle. When you count on others for your happiness, you are making a mistake. People can make you feel happy, but you need to combine it with your won self-worth to make it real. It is all right that you will not be remembered by those places you leave as long as those places see you making a positive difference today. Smile at people, be fair to them, and give yourself your best shot every day. Live your life, don't let life lead you. It is yours to lead. Also, there will always be bad things going on, so don't forget to choose to be happy each day!

Wednesday blahs!
Now Playing: Never by Heart
Topic: Random ramblings
I'm totally unmotivated to write today, maybe I'll add to this as the day goes on.....writer's block...who'd have thought?

Limitations
Now Playing: If I Could Be Like That by Three Doors Down
Topic: Random ramblings
It's a really big world we live in, but it's infinitely smaller than it was fifty years ago. As a matter of fact, the world was so big for the first 5900 years of recorded history that very few people ventured more than a few miles from where they lived. If you were born in a small area, you worked there, only knew people from there, and really didn't even know there was more of a world elsewhere.

The basic differences of today's world are that we have awareness of world events, we can travel and see new and (exciting?) places, and interact with people (business and pleasure) all over the world, but as much as we are a global community, do we really let that thinking affect our daily life? My general answer is 'no.'

Let me get to my point in a roundabout way: We put all types of criteria on what is acceptable- at work we will only settle for a certain type of job, usually in a pretty localized area, and each person adds their own set of needs. In relationships, people often want to date people of a certain height, weight, look, and other people consider the potential partner's career, finances, clothes, and possessions. They also are willing to only meet people who live a few miles away. This sets up my point a bit.....

In this world that is full of possibilities, why do we limit ourselves to the same existence that previous generations had to live with? Why do we feel that if we step out onto the edge, we will only experience a precipitous fall? I believe that we are caught in the snare of tradition that has a firm grasp on our hearts and souls. We fear the worst when we meet someone who is from afar, but are they any more dangerous than the person who lives in our own backyard? Actually, the people we live by are far more dangerous than the person from elsewhere. I have learned that a very high percentage of bad things that happen are done by people who had prior knowledge of us.

We live in a world of faith. It takes faith to get behind the wheel of a car or to board an airplane. It takes faith to give any level of trust to any person, because no matter how well we know them, we have no clue what they're capable of. The faith is what makes live an adventurous journey. If we didn't step out and try the seemingly impossible, how would we ever experience the highest of highs? Yes, I know there is a backside...the lowest of lows, but we can't have one without the other.

Here's my summation: We all need to live our lives and take as many risks as we can, because we only have one shot at life. If we do not take the risks, we do not take advantage of the world we live in and we would then live in the world of our ancestors (with many more luxuries to be sure). It's an exciting world, but most of us will never know that. Be willing to step forward and live life full measure, what do we have to lose?

Today in the news
Now Playing: Loser by Three Doors Down
Topic: 'Crack' commentary
I've always wanted to take a news piece and interject some comedy, so why not use this forum to do just that. I will be pasting in a new piece from the 4/11/05 Chicago Sun Times and adding my comments in ( ). Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-dance11.html

'Dirty' San Jose State dancers suspended

April 11, 2005

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- San Jose State has suspended its dance team after a sexy routine at a basketball game triggered a confrontation involving an elderly alumnus and a 20-year-old (Dialogue- Old Man -OM- 20 year od -20-) (OM- Quit shaking your arse, my arrhythmia is starting up. 20- Quit looking at my arese, old man, you perv. OM- You should be ashamed of yourself, you harlot. 20- Don't tell me, back when you were in school the cheerleaders did the dance of the seven veils. OM- Those were decent women back then. 20- (flashes her chest at him) Well, is that decent enough for you? OM- Whore!....20 year old jumps on the old man and slaps him senseless, causing him to go into cardiac arrest...back to the story)

The team is suspended until it develops guidelines to represent the university "at the highest possible standard." (Ok then, we will follow the decency standards of network television in this school from now on....oh, wait a minute...)

The confrontation, captured on videotape by a parent (World's funniest videos has a $10,000 check ready for you!), erupted after a dance during a March 5 home game to the raunchy (Yeah, baby!) lyrics of "Move Somethin" by LL Cool J (Yep, they moved something alright...I would have thrown out a hip if I moved like that!).

"It was vulgar," said Ray Silva, 74, a major university booster (Major University buzzkill to you!) . "It was like a burlesque, with bumps and grinds (Burlesque...yep, let's show just how far the generation gap is here). I just came unglued (In your shorts?....are you sure that wasn't goo and not glue?...I thought it was weird when he was covering his eyes with his hand, but the fingers were spread apart!)."

Silva said he shouted at the dancers: "Trash, that's trash. Get off the court (Never mind that the basketball team was down by 30 and that was the real trash!)."

Dancer Tarah DiNardo confronted Silva at the end of the game, gesturing emphatically (with her hips and breasts!) as the two shouted at each other (geezer....whore). John Glass, an associate athletic director, stepped between them and grabbed DiNardo's arm, apparently bruising it (Watch out for my vericose veins, you bastard!).

Don't touch my daughter (She can do that for herself)

Her angry father has hired an attorney. (An attorney- in America, what a concept)

"I don't want people to lay hands on my daughter," (she can do that on her own, she doesn't need any help.) said businessman and ex-Marine Joey DiNardo. "There's too much dirty dancing going on," he acknowledged, but added: "You don't grab anyone (why not?) or call the girls trash (Trashy girls need love, too)."
AP

Red Bull
Now Playing: Outside by George Michael
Topic: Random ramblings
I'm a pretty energetic guy (OK, understatement of the year!) and I guess everyone around me knows that. My friend (Jason) and I are chatting and watching the baseball game and having a drink or two (I'm not much of a drinker, so 'a' drink is about right). We were talking about my time in Vegas and the fact that I went out of my comfort zone and drank more than a few over the course of the few days in the desert. I told him that I was able to do it by rotating a drink with a red bull and Jason had the best follow-up line: "Oh, yeah, like you need any more energy." What do I say to that except, "Good point."

In terms of my insane energy level, I always wondered what comes first: Does the energy drive the positive attitude or does the positive attitude or do they feed off of one another or are they mutually exclusive of each other? Personally, I think (at least for me) that one feeds off of the other. I'm almost always 'up,' and I wouldn't have it any other way, as long as I don't become annoying in the process. I know of people who are always up, but drive people crazy.....no thanks to that gig. All said, I'm really glad that I have such great energy, because it allows be to enjoy life the best way I can.

Gotta run....stuff to do..back tomorrow!

The three day weekend
Now Playing: Blessed silence (for once!)
Topic: Random ramblings
I always wondered why businesses (loosely using the term business to speak of any place of work) that could get all the week's work done in four days didn't go to the four-day work week. I thought that employee morale would be up and people would definitely prefer to get the weekly hours completed in the shorter week. I've always believed in the concept of 'less is more.' I believe that I can get better productivity out of a person who (in an hour of work) worked for 50 minutes and took a ten-minute break as opposed to someone who worked for the hour straight.

I realize that there are times when I am guilty of oversimplifying things, but I don't think that is the case in this scenario. I also understand that the retail and restaurant industries need to be open all week, so my suggestion only relates to such places that would not take a financial hit to utilize this plan.

Anyway, that's my rant, and wish someone with the requisite power were able to get the ball rolling on this idea.

Beat up today, but I learned something
Now Playing: This Kiss by Faith Hill
Topic: Random ramblings
First thing's first--- I wore my butt out today. I found a new elliptical machine and I tried to go for my usual hour with a five-minute cool down, and I barely scraped out 55 minutes today. This machine left me whining like a puppy afterwards. Of course, I'll be ready to get back at it tomorrow, but it was, indeed, a formidable foe.

What did I learn today? One of my students was giving a presentation on Viet Nam and he informed all of us that the currency is called the DONG. Whoa! Imagine telling someone in the states that 'the dude has more DONG than he knows what to do with!' We could take that the other way, too. A girl might say that her man was a little short on DONG last night. Ouch....maybe he needs Viagra! Imagine the confusion....

Dr.: I heard you were having DONG problems.
Man: Who isn't?
Dr.: Well, myself included, I could name a few people.
Man: How do you make sure you've always got plenty of DONG?
Dr.: Well, I can write you a prescription.
Man: Where would I go to have it filled, a bank?
Dr.: What do you mean, a sperm bank?
Man: What the heck are you talking about?
Dr.: Look, you've got DONG problems- go to the pharmacy, take a pill whenever you feel frustrated and see me in a month.

(One month passes)

Dr.: Well, how are the DONG problems.
Man: What DONG problems?
Dr.: You know, the one I treated you for last month.
Man: Oh, those problems....well, I took your pills and when I was walking down the street, some guy gave me his business card.
Dr.: Did you call him?
Man: Of course, and he hired me right away to make dirty movies, and now I have more DONG than I know what to do with.
Dr.: I'm sure the women say the same thing.
Man: Huh?
Dr.: Oh, forget about it. I'm glad I solved your problems.

ZZZZZZZZZZZ
Now Playing: Something Like That by Tim McGraw
Topic: Random ramblings
I can't say it enough: routine is necessary in many aspects of life. Take, for example, the sleep routine: follow it well and it will serve you well. Screw it up for 10 days and feel its wrath for an extra week. I'm in day three of the wrath right now and I have to tell you, my blood has been sludge for these days. The daily workout: sluggish. Daily thinking: sluggish. Emotional response: well, you get the idea. Writing a sentence has been laborious, being funny loses its edge when you stumble over words.

Now, from what we've learned, ("Gee, Mr. Wizard) we need to get some sleep!

I hope to provide more meaningful writings as the sludge turns back into blood!

As funny as it gets
Now Playing: Signs by Creed
Topic: Random ramblings
This is a real (I edited the fluff out) invitation that was sent out for a party. The only thing you need to get the whole thing is the connotation of the 'cornhole' as being the anatomical posterior!

NOTE: I'll interject my commentary in () throughout the text.....Here goes....

Hey, Gang:

I'm counting on at least enough hearty souls to arrive between 4:30 and 5:00 to begin the celebration with a roaring "Cornhole" competition (Yep, the cornhole can definitely roar, I've played poker with the boys many times!). Chuck has the platforms (shoes? crossdressing? Whoa!) ready to go, As you may know, this game is the current rage on college campuses everywhere (I'm sure it is, especially in the Greek houses).
There's an American Cornhole Association with very particular specifications, rules, tournament forms, the works (Spartacus, to the front. We will have the cornhole rules for our fraternity now!). This is serious sport (Oh, behave!)!! So, chilly weather or no (maybe we can wear chaps if it's cold...heck, even if it's warm), we're hoping for a great game to warm us all up for the evening (I can already feel the heat!). There will be all the Texas Chili anyone can possibly eat (Heavy on the beans, please), with stacks of tortillas to sop it up with (What exactly is getting sopped up?--no, don't tell me, I don't want to know); there will be cold beer and jug wine (Beans and beer, can a cornhole have it any better?). Oh, of course, I also have plenty of marshmallows for roasting (Be careful- human gas has butane in it- those marshmallows might get toasted something fierce).

(Back to me writing) What more do I really add to this that wouldn't detract from the hilarity of the message?

Hope you had a good laugh....back at it tomorrow!

Monday after spring break
Mood:  d'oh
Now Playing: Ocean music (different than the Odyssey CD)
Topic: Random ramblings
First of all, I know I don't get (nor do I expect) any sympathy when mentioning that I have to come back from spring break.

This was probably the best spring break I've ever had, and as much as I'm kind of tired after ten days off (I'll bet some of you can relate to the concept of needing a vacation from the vacation), I'm also pretty wired up and giddy. I laughed hard (more times than I could remember), played hard, and met some wonderful people.

(Later) last night, my friend and I decided to make a last minute run to a local establishment to go watch the Yankees/Red Sox game. We had some big laughs, but the best one of all was (politically incorrect humor alert!!!) over an employee who looked to be moonlighting from a job as a jockey. We kept making jokes about him mixing his restaurant job with the traits of being a good jockey. Pretty silly stuff, but the laughter was roaring.

Anyway, I have to tackle the senioritis that my students will be proudly displaying for the next eight weeks. I'm sure I'll have some good stories as the days and weeks unfold.

I was (kind of) all over the place today, but that sums up my mindset. It's not a bad thing, just an odd type of day! I think I'll stop writing for now.

Quote ananysis
Now Playing: Under Pressure by Queen
Topic: Random ramblings
I worked with my friend Gerry for ten years. We ate lunch together just about every day. Gerry was the best conversationalist I have ever met, as he can talk to anyone about any topic and he has an ability to segue that would make any politician proud. Gerry and I (on a normal day) would talk shop, talk about life, and laugh really hard. The friendship was so incredibly balanced that it was impossible for us to tire of each other's company. In addition to all that, I remember the quote that was posted on his bulletin board (it was there for a good seven or eight years and never lost relevance): "Each day, try to find some small way to improve yourself."

It seemed like such a simple saying, but it was really loaded, at least to me. I often think of that quote when I try to assess a period of time in my life. It's basically become the litmus test of life significance. I learned that I will not make substantial life improvements on any one day, but I can definitely be commited to becoming a work in progress. I don't mind making the tiniest of forward movements, just as long as they are forward. I have taken heed of this in my personal life, professional life, and my public life. It has served me very well.

When I was younger, I think that I liked the idea of taking it all instead of taking one bite, because it seemed to be a positively aggressive mindset. As I've moved through stages of life, I've learned to enjoy the journey, as I believe that the journey is every bit as rewarding as the destination. How many times have we achieved something without a difficult journey, only to find the result unfulfilling? I made quite a few mistakes because I didn't allow the process to happen. By trying to improve on something small each day, I can better appreciate all that life has to offer.

There are no coincidences
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: Ocean Odyssey (see previous posts)
Topic: Random ramblings
The more life experience I gain, the more I believe that nothing happens by accident and there are no coincidences. Everything in life has its place and is as it should be (I know that some of you will argue that bad things happening to good people cannot be 'as it should be,' but hear me out). We don't know 'why' anything really is a certain way, because as people, we are way too limited in our scope of thinking and we usually cannot see or accept that the world has to have good and bad to operate properly. We also are not always good at seeing that good can come from bad (before it slaps us in the face).

Back to my point (that there are no coincidences)- think about the random meeting of a person in your life. Your entire life brings you to a particular place (even if it is your workplace), just as it brings everybody else there. One changed decision at any previous age could have altered that reality. We can't dwell on how we got to that place- we always have to be ready to meet the excitement or challenges of that new day. That said, how many of us choose not to act on something because we think about it too much. Thinking is, indeed, critical, but it's also all right to feel that something is just perfect and go with it. We often take the safe route and only act on that which is practical. Where does that get us in life? Safe and frustrated is where that road leads. Put another way- questioning and unfulfilled.

Live the dream! Why not? Who is stopping us? Better to have lived and loved than to have never loved at all, right? Let your experiences fill your mind and soul. Give all you have to everything you do. Don't live life halfway or anything other than full measure. Be passionate....about something....about everything. Do it in your own way or take someone on the wild ride with you, but do it! Regret is terrible to live with, so when you make a mistake, try to make things right and then move forward.

Don't spend your life living in the world of 'what-ifs.' Live it in the world of 'tried it all!'

Changes!
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: Still....Norah Jones...
Topic: Double speak
Life's lessons are incredibly valuable:

Those who know me well know that I had been in an emotional pit for quite a while. If you read my writings from last October, you will see direct contradictions from 10/25 & 10/26 to 3/31 (BTW- the current sentiments are not as jaded as the older ones..sorry, I was really in a bad place back then!). This was the only extended depression I had ever dealt with. How can these changes in thinking be? Very easy:

This is a guarantee: You will learn more during the tough times of your life than you will ever learn during the good times. You will begin to believe the worst in those dark days and it can depress the best of us. Just keep swimming, as the shore will come sooner or later.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the good times and I can never have enough, but I also know that winter sets us up for spring. Think about it: if it was spring all year, it could get old, but when we get some blahs thrown in there, it's likely that we appreciate the beauty of the world.