Rome...

When in Rome, you do what Romans do. So far, I guess that means, become a street urchin, sell rip off designer purses, sunglasses, or pretend you don't know English, so you can suck my last Euro away when making change. But, actually, this is a very romantic city! Trevi fountain, the place where hearts are sealed is simply beautiful! I caution you though, be careful when you drink from the fountain in the Pantheon, for I mistakenly drank some Holy Water! So much amazing architecture and artwork! The Sistine Chapel was a disappointment however, oh yes, Michael Angelo's work was there, but the feel was strange, dark, and the guards were constantly clapping and shushing the whispers. I don't think I was ready to see the ghoulish, demonic characters in all the art through out the Vatican. And, I certainly made friends with two of the Swiss Army warriors who guard the joint. They didn't find my offering to give a "Mormon" perspective tour of the St. Peter's Basillica humorous, and when I asked them of the pope was lunching on Holy Mackerel, well, let's just say that they put me into a "timeout", until my friends came for me. Gilatto on the street is refreshing and great, but the $8 euro coke in my hotel suite was abit much, especially given that it was only the equivalent of some 5-6 ozs! Ah, Rome, no wonder thou hast fallen so many times! Dining in the outdoor cafe's was terrific! Another favorite site was the 10-11 year old boy playing, singing, dancing, entertaining in Piazza Square, boy, talk about soul and antimation! Adiou Rome, I shall remember thee with wistful thoughts, and glad I came, but once, I shall not return. (Do I sound romantic and perhaps a tad Shakespearian? No? Ok, well, I tried)

Time should never be your enemy...

Once I heard, "If a business deal is good, then time must always be your friend. It's ok to run out of money, but never ok to run out of time." If you think about this concept as it relates to most of the important things in life; family, friends, relationships, schooling, career choices, where you live, how you life, etc., then that couplet makes alot of sense. All we really in life is our time. We all die broke, we can't take a damn dime with us when we leave this life. A friend of mine said, "We are the sum of our relationships, and it is those that we take with us when we return to God." Do you really think God cares if you are a farmer of corn, or a havard business school grad, or manage some fast food joint? No. All he cares about is that you did your best, that you were honest, kind, giving, caring, and generous. The world is full of so much hate today. Sad isn't it? I believe that the "man in the mirror" can make a change, but I have to want to make THAT change.

the new PJ cd...

so i got the new PJ cd yesterday, and its alot of anti-bush/war stuff, but i am ok with that, because i think the great part about being american and living in the USA is our "right" to believe, speak, and live as we wish. so to the boys in PJ, i say, "ok. i get your view." i hope they acknowledge that in me and others are like john mccain, and joe biden. [its good what we are doing to bring democracy to IRAQ] although, i hate war, and it's awful consequences. anyway, back to PJ. i rather like this song: If I keep holding out Will the light shine through? Under this broken roof It's only rain that I feel I've been wishin' out the days Oh oh oh Come back I have been planning out All that I'd say to you Since you slipped away Know that I still remain true I've been wishin' out the days Please say that if you hadn't have gone now I wouldn't have lost you another way From wherever you are Oh oh oh oh Come back And these days, they linger on, yeah, yeah And in the night, I've been waiting for A real possibility that I may meet you in my dreams I go to sleep If I don't fall apart Will my memory stay clear? So you had to go And I had to remain here But the strangest thing to date So far away and yet you feel so close I'm not going to question it any other way It must be an open door for you To come back And the days they linger on, yeah Every night I'm waiting for The real possibility that I may need to end my pain Sometimes you're there and you're talking back to me Come the morning I could swear you're next to me And it's ok It's ok, it's ok I'll be here Come back, come back I'll be here Come back, come back I'll be here Come back, come back Oooooooo Oooooooo Oooooooo Oooooooo - enjoy it! i am... bigdog

When a HorseFly bites a Stallion...

I once heard someone say, "When a horsefly bites a stallion, the fly doesn't become the stallion. The fly remains the fly, the stallion is still the stallion." So true. Sometimes how we are effected by the actions of someone else is really tough on us. That just means you are sensitive, and it's ok to feel hurt. But you shouldn't lose perspective. Look at it this way... Take love for instance... We all want to be loved, it gives us something to love for. But when that love is withdrawn, the vibe dies, it doesn't mean we have lost ourselves. Life goes on. So should we. I met a man in New York. A very bright man. We became friends. He and I were contemplating doing some business together. This man had had throat cancer. He had perspective. He had a successful pal who had hit a bumpy patch in his career. He lost some regulatory licenses, and was nearly unable to make a living. My friend asked me to work with this pal of his. My friend said to me, "Dan, you will like my pal. He's had trouble. The trouble made him smarter, not dumber. He didn't lose any brains by making some mistakes, if anything he grew from it." What an amazing approach. Very thoughtful I thought. Another time I heard this comment, "Teenagers are as smart as they ever will be, for they THINK they know more about life than anyone else." When I was a kid, I sure thought I knew everything. Didn't you? Today at 52, I am so clear that 35+ years ago, I knew quite alot about nothing that mattered. Too bad I didn't know the Stallion/Horsefly theory then, right? Oh yes, one more thing... Those dawgone horseflys bite all the time! They are relentless, aren't they?