Lap of Love

I love this!

Happy Anniversary

Happy 12 Year Anniversary Stefan!

Wow!, who would have thought we would end up here with two boys living a great, albeit crazy, life. It's been challenging and I can't imagine doing this with anyone else. Though things do get dicey, at times, mainly me and the boys, you are the rock we lean on. Unless you're tired, then we send you to bed and make fun of your snoring.

"Daddy is part bear," says Gio.

"Part???" I say sarcastically. "He's all bear. A big, cute, cuddly one."

Life is a fun adventure with you. You're such a great partner, even though I do sometimes complain, it's really myself I'm criticizing. I think you're amazing, especially to be able to live with me day in and day out. I don't think anyone else is up for the challenge.

You make me laugh and you let me cry, those are probably my two favorite things about you. That, and I get to be myself with you, ever since day 1.

You're a great Dad. Wow. I couldn't have picked a better Dad for my boys. How exciting it must be for you to have to someone to play games and build legos with.

Sorry, I didn't know parenting would be life's biggest challenge, at least, at times. But I think with some deep breathing and exercise, you'll make it through with your sanity. I hope so anyways. How attached are you to sanity? Because I'm pretty much over it, myself.

I love you honey! You're the best. Yay! Hooray!

I'm ready for my present........


Disco haters love this song because they get hot & bothered
just listening to it. Ha!

Crush Me

I was standing in line at Costco, when I suddenly recognize the person standing in front of me.

"It's Robin Williams!" I shout to myself.

Wait.....No, but he looks so familiar. I know that face.

A second passes and I realize, "hey that's Bill......."

OMG! Is that Bill? I start feeling nervous, My heart starts to beat a little faster and my mouth is dry.

Could it really be him after all these years? As May Be Bill pulls out his Costco Card I attempt to get a look at his name. No luck. Then May Be Bill pulls out his ATM card. And there was yet another lost chance to see his name.

He suspiciously glances over his shoulder, while covering up the keypad as he punched in his pin.

"Really officer I just neeeeed to know if his first name is Bill!" I explain as they throw me in jail and drop off the children at protective services.

"Honestly, I wasn't attempting to steal his identity," I plead. "Why would I want to be 50 something-year-old man?"

Then I felt this deep urge to blurt out, "Is your name Bill?"

But the words would not come out of my mouth. My pulse racing. My heart pounding. My voice mute. All the while, a flock of dizziness circles my head.

Bill was my first crush when I was very young, probably 5ish. He lived across the street. He rode a motorcycle and played a guitar. He was so cute and I adored him.

In those days my favorite outing was going to get gas with my Mom. Why? Because Bill worked at the gas station, of course!

Who knew Costco lines could be time travelling machines, or better yet flashback inducing drugs. I had time traveled all the way back to my very first crush, and it felt great. And exactly like the other 1000s of crushes I've had since.

Ain't crush adoration grand?

Christian the Lion

I first saw this video several months ago, maybe the end of summer, after a friend emailed it to me.

Stefan and I were watching it together.

"Oh my gosh, is the lion going to eat them?" asks Stefan.

But I knew the person who emailed me this video wouldn't send me anything freaky and traumatic.

I love this story of the guys finding the lion cub at Harrod's of London in a tiny cage, raising him for a year or so, and returning him to the wild. But the icing of this story is the reunion a year later with the lion.

"Is that a true story?" asks Stefan. So I found an interview with the two men retelling their experience with Christian the Lion 35, or so, years later.

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This video is like a country song: I cry every time I watch it.

And it's a great reminder during the holiday season, when we all tend to get a bit stressed over things that, in the end, don't really matter.

What matters is love. Sometimes, love means overlooking the perceived faults of those we love, and more often over looking our own faults. It's about being with people and accepting them right where they are, even if it's obvious they ought to be somewhere else.

I have noticed when I'm at peace with myself, the weird things other people do, don't bother me and I can find compassion in myself for that person because I am experiencing self compassion.

Don't wait til life is perfect to enjoy it, just enjoy where you are, right here, right now. Yes, tomorrow may be better, but be here now. Sometimes, it seems being on Planet Earth, is a lesson in opposites. We can't know up, if we don't know down. We appreciate what we have, sometimes, when we have less.

New Sugarland Release "Love"

Sugarland released its third video, "Love," from their latest album, "Love on the Inside." If you want to watch the new video release, click here, as they wouldn't let me embed it on the blog.

All I have to say about that is this proves that God listens to other music besides country. Or, perhaps, after watching Kid Rock who is now Kid Country, and seeing the reggae band, the Wailers, backing up Kenny Chesney on the CMAs, maybe country isn't as country as it used to be.

When I was tivo-ing through the 2008 CMAs, I was surprised Sugarland sang, "Love." The U2esque "Love," which dives into the many facets of love, doesn't sound very country. My country friend told me, "they are probably going to release that song next." Lo and behold they did.

I believe this is their first attempt to crossover from the country market into other genres. Yay! Although I will listen to them in whatever genre they pick to sell records in.

I love their songwriting and the emotional depths to which they sing their songs. When I listen to Sugarland's new album, it isn't just an auditory experience, but rather an emotional journey through life. And the twang doesn't bother me one bit.

Seasons of Love

I want to share, "Seasons of Love," the theme song from the musical, "Rent." When it comes down to it, love is all that matters.

Black, white or purple. Straight, gay or bi. Big, medium or small. Male, female or something in between. Christian, Jewish or Islamic.

The bottom line is everyone wants to be loved and accepted as they are with all their beautiful flaws of perfection.