The one with the ego

I've been watching a lot of Scrubs lately. I particularly enjoy J.D.'s narrations...

"Ego effects everything. Without a healthy dose of it, you can't trust yourself to do what you really want. Of course, with too much ego you can end up losing something you wish you still had. But with the right amount, nothing can get in your way."

I also enjoy Oscar Wilde’s words in The Portrait of Dorian Gray…

“Humanity takes itself too seriously. It is the world's original sin. If the cave-man had known how to laugh, History would have been different."
- Chapter 3

My point? Laugh. Laugh so hard it makes you cry. Laugh so hard it makes you cough. Laugh so hard it makes your abs hurt so you can skip out on the next yoga class. Take the time to laugh. That’s my plan for the next few days while I’m on the road with my Little Baby Bald Eagle.

The One With Smart Cookie Yoga

This morning's words from yoga were, "If you want to be a smart cookie, you cannot have a crummy attitude." Maybe I'll bake some cookies today. After a nap of course... Namaste.

The One with Clementines and Goo Goo Dolls

   I always think of my friend Katie Knight when I listen to the Goo Goo Dolls or when I eat Clementines. This time it's because of the Goo Goo Dolls. Love them and love her. 

Name- Goo Goo Dolls
And even though the moment passed me by
I still can't turn away
Cuz all the dreams you never thought you'd lose
Got tossed along the way
And letters that you never meant to send
Got lost or thrown away

And now we're grown up orphans
And never knew their names
We don't belong to no one
That's a shame
But you could hide beside me
Maybe for a while
And I won't tell no one your name
And I won't tell 'em your name

And scars are souvenirs you never lose
The past is never far
Did you lose yourself somewhere out there?
Did you get to be a star?
And don't it make you sad to know that life
Is more than who we are

We grew up way too fast
And now there's nothing to believe
And reruns all become our history
A tired song keeps playing on a tired radio
And I won't tell no one your name
And I won't tell 'em your name
I won't tell em' your name
Oooh, oooh, oooh
I won't tell em' your name
Ow!

I think about you all the time
But I don't need the same
It's lonely where you are
Come back down
And I won't tell 'em your name

 

The one with 'Great Misfortune'

Parable: ‘Great Misfortune’

There was once an old man named Benoni who had known great misfortune through life, having lost his wife and children to poverty, disease, and war.  The many lines on his face betrayed his pain, and his heart was filled with sorrow and regret.  Indeed he barely had the strength to carry on.

But there was one who had drawn alongside him in his sorrow.  His comforter was the village blacksmith, a strong but caring man who exhibited a gentle, humble, and charitable way of life.  People knew very little about this blacksmith, as he was a quiet man who had moved into the town only a few years before.  Yet he was well liked by the community and would often be found sitting on the porch of his workshop, enjoying the midday sun and passing the time by engaging strangers in conversation.  His face was strong and full of character, betraying both a depth of spirit and a breadth of experience.  But it was also a kindly face that was set alight by his compassionate smile.

When Benoni lost his first child, the blacksmith called round to his home, put his hand on Benoni’s shoulder and with greate affection said, “I am so sorry that yo uhave suffered this grave misfortune.  If you will allow me, I would like to stand with you at this time of hardship.”

Ever since this first encounter the blacksmith had called round to Benoni’s house most evenings, sometimes to sit and chat, sometimes to listen, and sometimes simply to leave food and other provisions.  As each new calamity befell Benoni, the blacksmith would be there to speak and cry with.

One day when Benoni was particularly depressed he went to visit a pastor who lived in the heart of the city, so as to talk through what had taken place over the traumatic years and try to make sense of it.  The pastor listened to what Benoni had to say and then, after a little thought, replied, “Well my son, in order for great fortune to take place one must first suffer great misfortune.  The suffering you have faced is the price that has had to be extracted for strength of character, and a spirit forged in the fires of hell.”

So Benoni returned to his home alone, lit a fire in an attempt to take away the evening’s chill, and contemplated the words of the minister.  Perhaps he is right, thought Benoni, maybe I should take some comfort from these words.  But it is cold, I am alone, and words can offer no shoulder to rest on.

Just then the blacksmith knocked on the door and Benoni, as always, welcomed him in.  As they sat together they drank whiskey and talked long into the night.  That evening Benoni shared the words of the pastor with his friend, adding. “Perhaps now that I have been given these words to comfort me, you no longer need to visit as you have done this last year.”

The blacksmith simply looked at the floor for a few moments and then replied, “My dear friend, if what the elder has said is true then I am needed all the more, for if you had to suffer such great misfortune in order to find strength of character and wealth of spirit, then this is in itself a great misfortune.”

And so they sat late into the night bringing comfort and warmth to each other through the sharing of their lives.

-Peter Rollins, The Orthodox Heretic

The one with Leo DiCaprio

My Heart Will Go On- Celine Dion

Every night in my dreams

I see you, I feel you

That is how I know you go on

Far across the distance

And spaces between us

You have come to show you go on

Near, far, wherever you are

I believe that the heart does go on

Once more you open the door

And you're here in my heart

And my heart will go on and on

Love can touch us one time

And last for a lifetime

And never let go till we're gone

Love was when I loved you

One true time I hold to

In my life we'll always go on

Near, far, wherever you are

I believe that the heart does go on

Once more you open the door

And you're here in my heart

And my heart will go on and on

You're here, there's nothing I fear

And I know that my heart will go on

We'll stay forever this way

You are safe in my heart

And my heart will go on and on

   So, I watched Titanic with my mom and dad tonight. We had planned to watch it yesterday for Mother's Day, but life and friends were a pleasant interruption to the day, and we watched it today instead. I will forever love that movie, and Leo DiCaprio.

The one with pico de gallo

It was Cinco de Mayo, and I was down on the bayou

With my good friend Venus de Milo,

We were watchin' Hawaii Five-O

She wanted some French fry-o's, or maybe apple pie-o

And I said why, oh, why-o? We got pico de gallo!

- Trout Fishing in America

Hope everyone enjoyed their 99 cent margaritas; I know I did!

The one with Theresa and Toby's Wedding Reception

Last night was Theresa and Toby's wedding reception. It was good to be with such a fun group of family for a few hours. Between multiple spilled beers, drunken dances, slurred gratitudes, and cake it was possible to laugh until my eyes watered and my sides ached. After the wedding and before bed, Dad watched Love Actually for the first time. That movie is lovely and always reminds me of when my love for Joni Mitchell began...

Rows and flows of angel hair

And ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere

I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun

They rain and snow on everyone

So many things I would have done

But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now

From up and down, and still somehow

It's cloud illusions I recall

I really don't know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels

The dizzy dancing way you feel

As ev'ry fairy tale comes real

I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show

You leave 'em laughing when you go

And if you care, don't let them know

Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now

From give and take, and still somehow

It's love's illusions I recall

I really don't know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud

To say "I love you" right out loud

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds

I've looked at life that way

But now old friends are acting strange

They shake their heads, they say I've changed

Well something's lost, but something's gained

In living every day

I've looked at life from both sides now 

From win and lose and still somehow 

It's life's illusions I recall

I really don't know life at all

I've looked at life from both sides now 

From up and down, and still somehow 

It's life's illusions I recall

I really don't know life at all

Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell