The Sublime Roundabout

I love these guys. This song just makes me smile... ;-)

This song always reminds me of Lara Preston. She sang it in our high school production of Oliver. She did a much better job than this lady... :-) Lyrics: ROSE SELLER Who will buy my sweet red roses? Two blooms for a penny. Who will buy my sweet red roses? Two blooms for a penny. MILKMAID Will you buy any milk today, mistress? Any milk today, mistress? ROSE SELLER Who will buy my sweet red roses? MILKMAID Any milk today, mistress? ROSE SELLER Two blooms for a penny. STRAWBERRY SELLER Ripe strawberries, ripe! Ripe strawberries, ripe! STRAWBERRY SELLER Ripe strawberries, ripe! MILKMAID Any milk today, mistress? ROSE SELLER Who will buy my sweet red roses? KNIFE GRINDER Knives, knives to grind! Any knives to grind? Knives, knives to grind! Any knives to grind? Who will buy? STRAWBERRY SELLER Who will buy? MILKMAID Who will buy? ROSE SELLER Who will buy? OLIVER Who will buy This wonderful morning? Such a sky You never did see! ...

Chapter 13 is an interesting one. There are two beasts - terrible chimerical beasts - which represent Satan and kingdoms he controls. The first beast rises up out of the sea, has seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on the horns. Each of the heads bears the mark - blasphemy. Blasphemy is a terrible sin. It has at its root a disregard for sacred things. The dictionary defines blasphemy thus: 1 a : the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God b : the act of claiming the attributes of deity 2 : irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable The etymology of the word stems from the same as "to blame", perhaps indicating that we place the blame on God for things. It was anciently considered such a terrible sin that it was worthy of the death penalty. Proper respect and reverence for sacred things is engendered not by a fear of God, but of an appropriate deference to His greatness, might, and power. This can be seen in the D...

1. Five syllables fill Line one. Seven come next, then Five finish the verse. 2. The rose blooms briefly Its fragrance is sweet and good But it does not last 3. Day breaks to the east Chasing darkness far away The earth wakes anew 4. Truth is found within Strength stemming from confidence God is my shepherd 5. The tears from my eyes Are so joyful and peaceful My heart is brimming 6. A true Friend reaches Touching heart, mind, body, soul Eternal loving

...because I am alive. ...to kneel with my family each morning and night hearing sweet voices praise and adulate our Father. ...knowing that He hears me and my family. ...kissing sweet faces - even my son who's getting a little too old for it. ...holding tight the ones I love. ...hearing those same voices reading the words of the Lord in the early morning hours. ...hearing my daughter's footsteps coming down the stairs in the morning. ...feeling her crawl into bed between me and my wife. ...singing to her about Rock Candy Mountains and Sunshine and Old Cowhands and Yellow Submarines. ...looking into the eyes of beloved friends and seeing God's glory there. ...watching the sunrise over desert places. ...quiet moments of reflection and pondering. This is where God exists for me. ...feeling clean. ...to love others. I just love people. Really. ...a good joke, a witty remark, an intelligent conversation, a well-crafted opposing viewpoint, defending a...

I'm not sure if I've posted this before, but it bears repeating even still. I love this hymn. It is so very powerful, so rich, so infused with meaning and truth and praise. Nothing shall destroy my comfort. Nothing. Lyrics: Death shall not destroy my comfort, Christ shall guide me thro’ the gloom; Down He’ll send some heav’nly convoy, To escort my spirit home. Oh, hallelujah! How I love my Savior! Oh, hallelujah! That I do; Oh, hallelujah! How I love my Savior! Mourners, you may love Him too. Jordan’s stream shall not o’er flow me, While my Savior’s by my side; Canaan, Canaan lies before me! Soon I’ll cross the swelling tide See the happy spirits waiting, On the banks beyond the stream! Sweet responses still repeating, “Jesus! Jesus!” is their theme.

This is one of my favorite chapters in all of the scriptures. It begins with the great wonder in heaven. The Doctrine and Covenants in several places, and in Isaiah and other places throughout the scriptures, refers to the "marvelous work and wonder" that will take place shortly before the coming of the Lord. This marvelous work and wonder is the restoration of the Gospel and the establishment for the last time on the earth of the Lord's Kingdom. Thus, the woman who is the great wonder in heaven, is the Church and Kingdom of God on the earth. It says that she is clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, having a crown of twelve stars... Twelve, the number, is a symbol of power and authority, meaning the priesthood. It is interesting that she is a woman. She has a child, whom the great red dragon wishes to destroy. That child is Christ. This child rules the nations with a rod of iron - see 1 Nephi 11 for the meaning of the rod of iron (the word of God). T...

The scene I mentioned in yesterday's post...

One of my favorite movies is Joe vs. the Volcano. It has a certain existentialist theme that I find quite enjoyable. The movie opens with the song Sixteen Tons and has people in drab clothes trudging in to their weary jobs in the factory that makes undesirable medical supplies. As they enter, they do not notice a daisy (my favorite flower, btw) that has grown up between the cracks of the sidewalk. In fact, the opening sequence ends with someone stepping on it. Joe, after having his existential epiphany, is able to see the flower. He gently picks it up and straightens out the petals, restoring some of the former beauty. We know that this will be a futile effort, but he takes the time to do it anyway.... It is a beautiful moment, a symbol of what is and what should be. We are often caught up in the world and our lives, missing the beauty that is all around us. Literally all around us. We need to wake up and learn to appreciate and love LIFE for what it is and for what we've been...

I heard about this video on NPR. I laughed. Out. Loud. HA! Enjoy. Have a blessed weekend.

A little disco for your Friday morning... Every time I go to the car wash I think about this song. Got the car washed last night, so this song has been stuck in my head... ;-) It also reminds me of that scene from Cool Hand Luke.... Mmmmmmmm......

I remember being young and learning about the end of days. I was so scared. I learned about all the destruction and death and devastation... It was too much. I think I was about 13 or 14 - old enough to know that such things were real, but not yet mature enough to put it into any kind of proper perspective. Images of bodies hitting the ground before their bones, images of flies on rotting carcasses, images of great natural upheavals... All of this filled my mind and caused me great distress. Two things haunted me: first, how could God, our loving and kind Heavenly Father, allow such destruction? And second, how real are these things, anyway? I mean, how literally should we take them? The first is an almost unanswerable question. It is a paradox that has troubled philosophers and thinkers for millennia. How can one reconcile the apparent disparity between good and evil in the presence of an all powerful and benevolent God? If God is benevolent and all powerful (which He is - those...

Sweet Darkness When your eyes are tired the world is tired also. When your vision has gone no part of the world can find you. Time to go into the dark where the night has eyes to recognize its own. There you can be sure you are not beyond love. The dark will be your womb tonight. The night will give you a horizon further than you can see. You must learn one thing. The world was made to be free in. Give up all the other worlds except the one to which you belong. Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you. ~ David Whyte ~

She opens her eyes For the very first time Seeing the light that exists In the world She's amazed She's only been breathing for just a few minutes Her lungs full of air Marveling at the sensation of the breath in her mouth And throat and lungs She begins to cry But she wants to sing Holding tight to her daddy's hand She reaches with her other hand Out to her mama Eager and happy and excited The hand is right there, just beyond the reach She finds she needs to let go Stretch herself just a little bit Move one foot in front of the other She slowly, tentatively raises her tiny foot Placing it just a few inches further Letting herself be by herself Unsupported but not unloved She finds her first stride And she is powerful And she wants to sing Wheels move underneath her As she pedals her way down the road The training wheels are put back on the shelf They weren't on for very long anyway The perfect balance of speed and courage Has led her to...

More numbers today. Chapter 8 begins with the opening of the seventh seal. This is the big one. Doctrine and Covenants Section 77 talks about how the Lord created the world in seven days, and the seventh day in particular was of significance because it was the day that the Lord finished His creation and made everything finalized and complete. He then blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. Thus, the seventh seal and the seventh time period entered into at the opening of the seventh seal is important and parallels may be drawn between what happens here and the activities going on in the previous seventh time period (after the creation of Adam). If that's a little confusing I understand. Just keep in mind that the first seventh day (at the end of the creation) was a time of rest and peace, while the opening of the seventh seal unleashes the scourges that will prepare the world for the millennial reign of Christ, when the earth may rest again. It will begin a second Sabbath for...

"...what I’ve learned about temples and sacred places is the only spirit you find there is the spirit that you bring with you. The point is, we go to temples to be reminded of the divine part of ourselves..." - Scott Moore (Genius, Artist, Yogi, and All Around Great Human Being) I love public displays of affection, particularly when they are not physical. I love to see love notes from and/or between two classy people desperately in love with each other. Scott and Celeste are like that. It recharges my soul and makes me want to do the same. Scott posted this for Celeste on her Facebook, with just the simple dedication - for you... Scott, you ROCK, coz! Thanks for the ray of sunshine. Lyrics: Come to me I'll take care of you Protect you Calm, calm down You're exhausted Come lie down You don't have to explain I understand You know That I adore you You know That I love you. So don't make me say it It would burst the bubble Break the char...

Scott was a guy in our last ward in Utah. He spends his summers running a lodge in Canada, and his winters in Utah/Nevada/Colorado/Idaho doing Mountain Man presentations at elementary schools. I am still not sure how he gets his money... He's an amazing man and a FANTASTIC story-teller. His book is great - if you're looking for a fun read.... http://www.scottgrizzly.com/blog Here's a sample: Letter from Gilda in Westminster, Colorado Posted by Scott Grizzly - February 24th, 2011 Hello Mountain Man, My name is Gilda and your stories inspired me to try an experiment to see what kind of food bears like to eat. I decided the best way to do the experiment was to have a taste test. So I took my four-year-old brother Petey (better known as Stinky Pete), into the woods and tied him to a tree with a Twinkie in one hand and a Ding Dong in the other hand. Petey began to whimper and whine like he always does, which attracted a black bear, a brown bear, and a polar bear. The ...

Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? - Jeremiah 8:22 Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work’s in vain, But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again. There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul. If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul, You can tell the love of Jesus and say, "He died for all." There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul. Don’t ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend; And if you lack for knowledge, He’ll never refuse to lend. There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul.

Sometimes I wonder why we are invited to read/study/ponder the scriptures every day. I've read every word of the scriptures, with the important passages getting a thorough review frequently. Yet daily scripture study, both as a family and as individuals, is key to our relationship with the Lord. I have come to realize why we are asked to do this - even though the bed is warm and comfortable at a quarter to six... Do you ever get a song stuck in your head? Do you ever find yourself humming a long to a tune that you haven't heard for hours, yet its catchy melody haunts you? I think this is the reason why it's so important. As I fill my mind with sweet, wonderful, and light-giving messages, I find that my day is also filled with sweetness, with wonder, and with light. I find myself happier, more gentle, and more wise. My day seems better, the air is sweeter, and the sunshine is warmer and brighter. My interactions with people are also tempered and improved. And life is g...

Some blue-eyed soul on a Tuesday afternoon... I just want to celebrate another day of livin' I just want to celebrate another day of life I put my faith in the people But the people let me down So I turned the other way And I carry on, anyhow That's why I'm telling you I just want to celebrate, yeah, yeah I just want to celebrate, yeah, yeah Another day of living, I just want to celebrate another day of life Had my hand on the dollar bill And the dollar bill blew away But the sun is shining down on me And it's here to stay That's why I'm telling you I just want to celebrate, yeah, yeah Another day of living, yeah I just want to celebrate another day of living I just want to celebrate another day of life Don't let it all get you down, Don't let it turn you around and around And around and around Well, I can't be bothered with sorrow And I can't be bothered with hate, no, no I'm using up my time by feeling fine, ...

Think I could do it?!? HA! VCA 2010 RACE RUN from changoman on Vimeo .

The king of the world is not a man The king of the world is a dog Who brings the dog his food? Who works for the dog? Who obediently goes to work to earn the money for the dog? Who picks up the dog's mess? Who gets to stay home all day? Who sleeps whenever he wants? Who gets rewarded for taking care of his business outside? Who offers only a lick on the hand, but gets the world handed to him? Yes, truly, The king of the world is a dog.

From the ice-age to the dole-age There is but one concern I have just discovered : Some girls are bigger than others Some girls are bigger than others Some girl's mothers are bigger than Other girl's mothers Some girls are bigger than others Some girls are bigger than others Some girl's mothers are bigger than Other girl's mothers As Anthony said to Cleopatra As he opened a crate of ale : Oh, I say : Some girls are bigger than others Some girls are bigger than others Some girl's mothers are bigger than Other girl's mothers Some girls are bigger than others Some girls are bigger than others Some girl's mothers are bigger than Other girl's mothers Send me the pillow ... The one that you dream on ... Send me the pillow ... The one that you dream on ... And I'll send you mine

But still smiling!

So... back to the numbers... ;-) This chapter - chapter 7 - begins with an exposition of the four angels in the four corners of the earth. This phrase - the four corners of the earth - has always been interesting to me. The earth, of course, is a spheroid and therefore has no corners. But if you could lay the earth flat, as in a map, then there would be four corners. Yet, if the four corners were wrapped appropriately around the globe again, the four corners would meet and the angels would all be at the same place, probably somewhere in Tibet. But I digress. Everyone knows what is meant by the four corners. I'm just being silly.... They have the four winds, which Joseph Smith explained (in D&C 77:9) represents the everlasting gospel. Thus, the gospel will go forward, rushing like the wind and covering everything. Next we have a detailed explanation of the 144,000 who are sealed in their foreheads, 12,000 of each tribe. Except Dan. Dan does not have any representatives in ...

These guys seriously make me laugh. I mean, seriously. I don't know how they come up with this - just GOLD!!! http://www.theonion.com/articles/microsoft-word-now-includes-squiggly-blue-line-to,19739/ PS - For the record, Sisyphus was the guy in Greek mythology who had to push the rock up the hill, only to have it roll back down the other side. He was stuck doing this until he could get it to stay on the top, which would never, ever happen. So for all of eternity, he has to push the rock up the hill, thinking that - this time, baby, it might MIGHT stay!... Thus, a Sisyphean ordeal (quoted in the picture) is a task that is repetitive, boring, pointless, and eternally frustrating with no real objective or possibility of completion. PPS - Isn't Sisyphus a great word. Come on, say it with me - SISYPHUS!!! LOL!!!

I told you we'd see the number seven again. In this section, I read about seven lamps, which are the seven servants of the Lord - similar to the seven stars. This causes me to remember that the servants of the Lord are to be a light to the world, put on a candlestick and not under a bushel. There also appears a book sealed with seven seals. The purpose of the seals seems to be that the book may only be opened by One who is worthy. At first, there doesn't appear to be anyone who is worthy, but then the Lord appears on the throne and opens the seals. It was Him who makes us kings and priests, who redeems us of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people by His own sacred blood, and who was slain. Worthy the Lamb! There are four beasts, who act as angels and messengers before the throne. While it is unclear what kind of beasts they are, the role they play is indicative of their ability to comprehend what is going on, to speak, and to give instruction (see D&C 77:2). The beas...

You don't avoid feces because you're afraid of it, but because it's dirty. - Korean Proverb

As I sit here in my living room, waiting for the laundry to finish its cycle, I find myself reflective and pondering. Maybe that comes as a surprise to you; but then again, maybe not. Life is interesting. Sometimes I think it is that way on purpose - that in order to keep things interesting the Lord gives us curve balls, just to see what we will do and how we will handle it. As Tevye says in Fiddler on the Roof , sometimes when things get too quiet up there, perhaps He looks down and says - I wonder what kind of mischief I can play on my friend Tevye... Elsewhere Tevye is led to exclaim, I know we are the chosen people, but once in a while could you choose someone else?!? Sometimes it can feel that way. It may be encouraging, then, to think that the Lord, the Master of earth and skies, has taken a personal and abiding interest in our (my) life. There is so much that I simply do not understand, so many things that seem patently unfair. I find myself giving my hope and faith and co...

For some reason this song reminds me of Anthony Michael Hall and Molly Ringwald.... ;-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_Nz9B1XFio&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Look at all those fancy clothes, But these could keep us warm just like those. And what about your soul? Is it cold? Is it straight from the mold, and ready to be sold? And cars and phones and diamond rings, Bling, bling, because those are only removable things. And what about your mind? Does it shine? Are there things that concern you, more than your time? Gone, going. Gone, everything. Gone, give a damn. Gone, be the birds, when they don't wanna sing. Gone, people, all awkward with their things, Gone. Look at you, out to make a deal. You try to be appealing, but you lose your appeal. And what about those shoes you're in today? They'll do no good, on the bridges you burnt along the way. And you're willing to sell, anything? Gone, with your head. Leave your footprints, And we'll shame them with our words. Gone, people, all careless and consumed, gone Gone, going, Gone, everything. Gone, give a damn. Gone, be the birds, if they don'...

The weirdness continued. As much as I was freaked out by the thought of sitting on top of a bunch of nuclear weapons (quite literally), I was even more concerned by Janice's behavior. She had always been very warm and loving. This was exactly what I needed in my life. After my first wife died, I felt lost and adrift. I wondered frequently how a kind and merciful God - the God I'd grown up believing in - could inflict this kind of pain on me. I knew, of course, that God has a plan. Or at least, I found comfort in the idea that there may be a higher purpose in life than what we can now perceive. Our current view is so limited and constrained by the here and now, I found solace in the idea that there was a hope of a continuation beyond the grave. But all of this seemed to ring hollow when I found myself alone. I was not really alone. I had friends and family who loved me. But the physical and emotional intimacy I had craved with my wife was gone, gone forever. It was terri...

So when I do, you know it's significant.... I'm talking about posting another's post. Check it: http://happyregardless.blogspot.com/2011/03/happy-91-do-something-good.html Text follows: "The surest way I know to feel better in almost any situation is to do something good. "There are events, circumstances, and people who will show up in your life and create unfortunate difficulty in your world. Staying focused on these things (or these people and their actions) will bring more of the same into your life. "So take an action to counter and offset the negative. Tip the scale. Do something good, something positive. "Energy follows thought and matter follows energy. One thought in a positive direction will lead to another and a positive action has the power to create the change for good you desire. "This is hard to do in times of difficulty. Believe me, I know... "But it's the only way to create change for the better. "...

I'm not sure why, but these made me think of you...

Mighty! Mighty!

I love Ska. Bim Skala Bim is the BEST!!! Here's a couple of my favorites, for no particular reason and in no particular order...

I was able to be a part of the American Fork Marching Band in 1990 (fall of my junior year of high school). It was probably the most fun thing I did in high school. It was tough but so much fun! The coolest thing was how everyone treated me. Even though I was from a different high school, they accepted me into their group. Geeks do that, see... At the end of the year, we all got together for a final time. This song was played. I'd never heard it before, and I've never heard it since. But I remembered it, thinking about some of my friends and how life moves in interesting and unpredictable ways. It's been 21 years since then (Whoa!) but I can still remember how it feels to enter the field with the cheers from the crowd filling your ears and your heart. I can still remember how good I felt, surrounded by good friends with strong morals and standards, performing fun music (I am still a huge fan of John Williams) and making cool designs on the field also occasionally used for...

SONNET 17 Who will believe my verse in time to come, If it were fill'd with your most high deserts? Though yet, heaven knows, it is but as a tomb Which hides your life and shows not half your parts. If I could write the beauty of your eyes And in fresh numbers number all your graces, The age to come would say 'This poet lies: Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces.' So should my papers yellow'd with their age Be scorn'd like old men of less truth than tongue, And your true rights be term'd a poet's rage And stretched metre of an antique song: But were some child of yours alive that time, You should live twice; in it and in my rhyme. SONNET 107 Not mine own fears, nor the prophetic soul Of the wide world dreaming on things to come, Can yet the lease of my true love control, Supposed as forfeit to a confined doom. The mortal moon hath her eclipse endured And the sad augurs mock their own presage; Incertainties ...

At least I'm not in the obituaries... or the police beat... HA! http://baytownsun.com/communities/mont_belvieu/article_677b1432-4f78-11e0-9cde-001cc4c002e0.html I can't get the whole article. And he's citing my other, profession-oriented blog. But good times, eh? PS - I'm not sure where he lifted that old, low resolution picture. I wish he'd asked me for a more recent, better resolution one. Ah, well. Here's the text I could get... Posted: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 12:00 am Is Mont Belvieu the new hub of Chambers? By BEN TINSLEY Baytown Sun MONT BELVIEU – If initial 2010 census figures are any indication, at least one out of every 10 Chambers County people lives in Mont Belvieu right now, an official asserts. Numbers recently released by the 2010 U.S. Census paint a fascinating portrait of potential growth in Mont Belvieu, City Planner Bill Cobabe wrote in a recent blog post . (UPDATE: I scanned in a bit of the story from today's paper. ...

(Love, love, love) (Love, love, love) (Love, love, love) There's nothing you can do that can't be done Nothing you can sing that can't be sung Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game It's easy There's nothing you can make that can't me made No one you can save that can't be saved Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time It's easy All you need is love All you need is love All you need is love, love Love is all you need (Love, love, love) (Love, love, love) (Love, love, love) All you need is love All you need is love All you need is love, love Love is all you need There's nothing you can know that isn't known Nothing you can see that isn't shown There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be It's easy All you need is love All you need is love All you need is love, love Love is all you need All you need is love, all together now All you ne...

When is a dream just a dream? Sometimes I have dreams that are too amazing to be real. I wake up feeling inspired and delighted and happy, yet just a little sad that it was NOT real, after all. There are some dreams that are so wonderful that I want to go back to sleep and try to recapture the feeling I had. It never works... Alas! Sometimes I have dreams that are very distressing, dreams about loss or pain or fear. Dreams of sickness or accident or death. These dreams wake me up sad and depressed, yet I am grateful to wake up and it was only a stupid dream. Most dreams I can't remember much beyond just a few minutes, just simple impressions. Some dreams are seared into my memory. Some dreams have meaning that is specific and of import, while others are silly and frivolous. Some dreams are in vivid and surrealistic colors, while others are gray, black and white, and drab. Some dreams are hyper-realistic, each detail popping out to my senses such that I can perceive every grai...

Sonnet 18 Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate; Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date; Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd; But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st; Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st: So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. –William Shakespeare

This was the last single to be released by the Fab Four. It was released even after they were broken up. It was a kind of last gasp effort to save something that was truly phenomenal. Alas, the divisions were too deep, and the effort was in vain. I like the plaintive tone of this song. While all of the Beatles were accomplished singers, Paul is the best at the ballad. This is a very personal song for him, very real and full of emotion. It reminds me a lot of the earlier song also sung by McCartney - Yesterday. Too bad it was not effective at keeping the band together. Let It Be When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be And in my hour of darkness She is standing right in front of me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be Let it be, let it be Let it be, let it be Whisper words of wisdom Let it be And when the brokenhearted people Living in the world agree There will be an answer, let it be For though they may be...

Blindingly white Clean and pure Against the deep azure sky Reaching for the stars The mountain stands Stands against the changes of time While changing every day Reacting to the winds of time Ever decreasing in volume Ever increasing in beauty Beauty not of the physical alone But of the soul-stirring power Of the massive, inspiring heights Rooted deep in earthy foundations At which can only be guessed Guessed at are the sources of the mount Guessed at are the reasons why Unseen are the powers brought to bear That would lift mere rocks To such lofty heights Heights where man finds himself tested Where man can find himself broken Unable to go on But also where glory is found From tasks achieved Achieved by many Understood by few But each summit gained Offers an amazing view Of eternity Eternity can only be attained by one And each experience is unique Yet how much more glorious the attainment When shared with one you love Hand in hand, looking at ...

My brother Josh is getting married on Saturday. I have been up here in Utah spending time with him ahead of the great event. I am very proud of him. We went to see The Adjustment Bureau. Great flick! You NEED to see it. Seriously. Like, tomorrow.

We were walking Just the other day It was so hot outside You could fry an egg Remember you were talking I watched as sweat ran down your face Reached up and caught it at your chin Licked my fingertip Wasting time Let the hours roll by Doing nothing for the fun Little taste of the good life Whether right or wrong Makes us want to stay, stay, stay For awhile Later on the sun began to fade Then the clouds rolled over our heads And it began to rain Oh we were dancing mouths open Splashing tongue taste For a moment this good time would never end You and me You and me Just wasting time I was kissing you You were kissing me love From good day into a moonlight Now a night so fine Makes us wanna stay, stay, stay, stay for awhile Wasting time I shall miss these things When it all rolls by What a day Wanna stay, stay, stay, stay for awhile Hey love ... Stay a while Come on love Wanna stay, stay, stay, stay for awhile http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJWxoKk85...

I hate airports and hospitals. I know, hate is a strong word. I use it advisedly. There are simply no redeeming qualities associated with either. The whole process is demeaning. From the ridiculous lines you have to go through, like a lab rat for the cheese, to the taking off of belts and shoes, there is a kind of invasion of privacy and autonomy and sense of being a dignified human being. They all smell the same - stale coffee and sweat and dirt and floor wax and stress and greasy fast food. You are crammed into a space, even just within the terminal, and try not to make awkward eye contact with strangers who are desperately trying not to make eye contact with you... So here I sit, killing time, waiting for my flight. I have about another hour before the plane leaves. Killing time.... Such an appropriate phrase, and such a waste, too... At least I am wending my way home to loved ones. Otherwise this kind of thing would be unbearable. And to think - i pay for this privile...

                     56   Sweet love renew thy force, be it not said   Thy edge should blunter be than appetite,   Which but to-day by feeding is allayed,   To-morrow sharpened in his former might.   So love be thou, although to-day thou fill   Thy hungry eyes, even till they wink with fulness,   To-morrow see again, and do not kill   The spirit of love, with a perpetual dulness:   Let this sad interim like the ocean be   Which parts the shore, where two contracted new,   Come daily to the banks, that when they see:   Return of love, more blest may be the view.     Or call it winter, which being full of care,     Makes summer's welcome, thrice more wished, more rare.

This song RULES!!!

I love to feel alive. I love it when I am aware of how my eyelids sweep across my corneas. I love to see the bands of yellow pollen surrounding puddles on the ground. I love the smell of the soil coming alive with green growing things. I love to see new flowers pushing their heads out of their brown pillows and reaching for the light. I love to see people in shorts and short-sleeved shirts and flip flops. I love to drive around with my windows down. I love to see fresh flower buds on pear trees and red buds and even the hated chinese tallow. I love driving in the rain through huge puddles that make gigantic waves. I love to walk in the rain sharing an umbrella. Or just getting wet. Or both. I love it when the sky is gray, but then breaks up into dazzling azure and white. I love the warm breezes off the Gulf, like a warm embrace from an old friend. Or a new friend. Or a lost loved one. I love stepping out with bare feet onto warm concrete and crunchy grass. And...