A saying for the ages...

"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."

What kind of arcane, macho bullshit is that?

My enemies? I want to be as far away from them as possible...wait, I don't HAVE any enemies, except of course, family members...but that's another discussion.

Carry on.

Here's a thought...

...sometimes you need to reinvent yourself in life. Other times you need to finely hone that which you have already created. And sometimes, maybe once or twice...you need to simply give everything up and see what sticks and what doesn't. If what's left is something you can work with...do so...if not...then it's time for the reinvention.

I'm far from perfect...I'll be the first one to admit it. I'm at turns impetuous, impatient, arrogant, and condescending. I try sometimes, to not be...and sometimes, I just give in to the seductive feeling that those types of behaviours bring forth. I don't ever think that I'm being "good" when I do, but that's irrelevant I suppose...because do it, I do. But I can always TRY...somehow, I feel that perhaps this time...I will make it...

I've had a lot of "stuff" in my life lately...actually...I've pretty well seen my whole world flip upside down and inside out until all I want to do is take Ruckus, load her in the car, and drive away. Leave everything here and just go. It's not to say that I haven't felt that way before...but this time...it's different. I think that I'm learning something here...and I'm learning it by thinking...and by talking. I've actually tried to not pull in on myself this time around. I've reached out to my friends for help...advice...shoulders and ears. Whoever started the notion that things like legs and asses and breasts were the greatest parts of human...well, we should most certainly make them part of the trio headed towards the Bermuda Triangle and call it a day...because without a doubt, the most treasured areas in my opinion are the ears into which we tell our pains and aches, triumphs and joys...and the shoulders that help us alternately to bear the burdens and cradle the head.

This is a poem that a dear friend shared with me today...it touched my heart and reminded me that I am myself...not defined by the partner by my side or the logo on the paycheck...but by my own actions, thoughts, and intentions. At any rate...here it is...and a thank you to her...

Love After Love

The time will come

when, with elation

you will greet yourself arriving

at your own door, in your own mirror

and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was your self.

Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart

to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored

for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,

peel your own image from the mirror.

Sit. Feast on your life.

~Derek Walcott~

Vacation Time!

For the Obamas, that is.

Ah, yes...a vacation...hiking, biking, relaxing...spending some time with the wife, the kids, the dog...and no matter how far away he goes...the SCREAMS of the Repubelicans...sigh.

Apparently, Mr. President should NOT be going on a vacation with the oil spilling into the gulf. We'll conveniently forget that the oil has slowed to a trickle now, and will most likely be done leaking altogether before the weekend is out...and let's ALSO forget that Mr. Obama could do nothing more than he has already. I'm unclear as to what they think he should be doing...should he don a wetsuit, dive down miles beneath the surface and stick his finger in it until the relief well is drilled in mid-August? Really?

I would like to pause and point out that the Repubelicans last favourite..."w the merciless," spent over 900 days at either Camp David or at his ranch in Crawford during his two terms. 900. That's just under HALF. Should we ask how many days he spent taking care of Katrina? Um...well...didn't "Brownie" have that covered? Oh! Right! He was too busy flipping through Quarterhorse Magazine...

I never really trusted any politician, and I don't truly trust Obama at this point, either. But I do still believe that his heart is in the right place, and that he is trying like hell to do what's right. It's unfortunate that congress continues to fight like 12 year-olds on the playground, holding up important legislation (hello! Unemployment benefits extension ran out on June 3rd and still hasn't been voted on!) so that they can posture and gain political ground. In some cases, these are peoples LIVES that they're screwing with. I'm talking about people that have to live in their cars now...

And they're bitching about a weekend in Maine? Really?