Chip

Chip
For Chip: He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. —Unknown

Monday, September 23, 2013

Happy Birthday Jeff

Reposted from 9/2011

James and Kumar
The idea of moving sounds tedious but if I was starting my life in California it would be more appealing.  Today is moving day for James.  Not a move to his new apartment but a move to a friend's apartment.  He must leave the current apartment to make room for a family that is forced to relocate for a while.  Luckily James has a long-time friend that is allowing him to stay until his apartment is available at the end of the month.  It will be exciting for him finally to get settled.  He purchased the existing furniture already in the apartment from the tenant. 

I got an email from a friend about stroke risks related to diet.  The first thing on the list was crackers.  Crackers and canned soup are big diet risks in contributing to stroke along with most foods I consume.   No smoked lunch meat, red meat, or muffins should be eaten.    What was left to eat?  I was beginning to wish I had received an angel card that I needed to forward to ten people if I wanted all my wishes to come true.  Maybe smoking would be a safer choice.

I thought about my cracker fetish and how Jeff and I had almost eaten an entire basket of crackers recently at a seafood restaurant.  Carla had held her hand up to show how high the crackers were in the basket before we started.  I realized that we had definitely eaten many crackers.  When I looked down I was slightly embarrassed at all the empty wrappers.  I tried to tuck them away but they are made out of a slippery material and they seem to float easily.  I thought about shoving them into my new baby blue lined outlet Coach bag but decided they might fly out as I left the restaurant.  I wondered if it was some kind of genetic deficiency causing us to eat so many crackers.  I thought about my Dad and his eating habits.  He always started ordering at a restaurant by saying "Can you bring me some crackers".   I asked James if he liked crackers and he said that he loved them.  I thought about most hospital tests I had experienced and the nurse always asked if you wanted a drink and a cracker.  Should they be informed of this dietary risk sending us over the edge?

Happy Birthday Jeff
Today is Jeff's Birthday.  Most people would say that Jeff  is an admirable person.  He is kind, compassionate and a steady and dedicated employee. He is a singer songwriter, excellent guitar player, and pianist.  His band has played at most of the familiar clubs in Deep Ellum and Edgefest.  I was surprised that he remembers that George Michael was one of my favorite artists when he was young.  His  grandparents rewarded his musical interest with a guitar when he was around 12.

When he was growing up most information about birth order showed that the middle child could be a problem and not well adjusted.  That does not apply to Jeff.  He is the most stable and easy going person.  He has a lot of traits like my Dad in that he always has an amazing smile and is caring.    Like  James he is about to embark on a new and exciting journey of his own.  I am proud to have him as a son!  Much Love and Happy Birthday Jeff!  I've added U2 for you.   Now let's have a cracker.


I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I have climbed highest mountain
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you

I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her fingertips
It burned like fire
This burning desire

I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I believe in the kingdom come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
Well yes I'm still running

You broke the bonds and you
Loosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame
Of my shame
You know I believed it

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for...












Paul McCartney - I've Got A Feeling (Live)


Sunday, September 22, 2013

Mercedes Revisited

It had been a year and Mercedes returned to the dingy restaurant she used to visit frequently.  She had   used it as a safe haven to be alone.  She had contemplated her life many times in that restaurant and always shed tears as she examined her life.

However, now things had changed and she entered the little restaurant with a new outlook.   She was renewed and engaged in life.  She wanted to experience and see everything possible while on earth.  She had many friends, but wanted more.  She wanted to travel all over the world. Spirituality had surrounded her now and she did not worry as much as she had in the past.  There was always an angel nearby that protected and guided her.  The angel could be her father but she was not sure.  She just felt the presence and was never alone.  The chains had been released as the song says and she felt like a new person.  She surrounded herself with positive friends and refused to talk about the past.  She stayed focused on the future.


Amazing blessings had been given to her.  She was puzzled as to why God had given her so much.  She now experienced hope, faith and love of friends.  Mercedes had never had friends, but they had come to her.  She was blessed with more things than she could imagine.

Mercedes picked up a flower from the table and realized it had a scent.  She had felt numb before, but now she noticed the beauty of the flower and realized that God was there.  She realized that love for oneself is the key to happiness.  Everything she had been given had changed her life and she was in awe of a spiritual presence.  She was finally at peace.

Shakira - Hips Don't Lie ft. Wyclef Jean


Michael W Smith - Heart Of Worship


IRON & WINE Essential Songs


Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Fast Car





“Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.” Zig Ziglar

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

The IPhone 5S

This is the phone I wish I had.



I bought one of the original IPhones at the most prestigious mall in Dallas, and stood in line  for several hours.  I made friends and had a great time visiting with soon to be first time IPhone owners.  As I left with the $500 IPhone, Apple employees clapped.  It was quite a rush.  

So who will buy the IPhone 5S?  It comes out 9/20/2013.  My preference for buying the phone is to stand in line at the same mall in Dallas, and purchase from the relocated Apple store.   I have bought every IPhone there on release day.   Is the larger pixel camera a plus  including better pictures?  I personally could care less about better pics.  They  are all coming off a phone, so what.  What about IO7?  Will that really make a difference for me?  Not really.  

Do you want a colored piece of plastic in lieu of the solid IPhone Not me.  I like the colors of the 5C, but the plastic seems a little hokey and cheap.  Give me the solid new IPhone.  I skipped the last upgrade for the first time after seeing a futuristic video of a phone with a hologram styled keyboard.   I have been disappointed with every IPhone release, and the fact that Steve Jobs is no longer around.  

However, what did sell me on the new IPhone is the fingerprint access at the home key.  Now that is pretty cool.  It will release info just to me instead of punching in a code for access.   The information from my fingerprint will not go through a server or be given to Google.  Google is becoming annoying because it knows so much about me.     I will foolishly stand in line at the mall as Apple employees serve coffee and pastries. The thrill of walking through the door and picking up a new phone is my high.  

I just bought a big screen TV that was 62 inches in size,  but I got little satisfaction.  I purchased a Maytag washer and dryer combo that gave me a bit of a buzz because of the gray color.  I also bought a kitchen table that is glass with etched zebras and it is rather unique.  However, nothing excites me like newly released technology.  Yes, it sounds ridiculous but the thrill is there and it lasts for several days.  Here's to the new IPhone 5S not 5C.



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Henri 7 - "The Cat is Sat"


Jason Derulo - "In My Head" Live At Billboard Studios


The Stand - Michael W. Smith and Hillsong