My date with my favorite person started with a few rounds of shopping, dinner, and then to a concert I have anticipated for almost 20 years. The opening act by The Bravery was forgettable. Almost hurting to the ears that we both left our seats and had a few beers. The main attraction started with a magnificent display of production engineering at its best. The first beat of "Pain That I'm Used To" brought the audience to their feet and stayed there until the last note of the night. Their new album reminded me how dark yet original this band is. With all the imitators, there is not one out there like them. Their music and words are seamlessly in synch with the musicians. The new songs are a complete relief from the lesser appealing "Exciter" which was almost unnoticed in 2001. "Precious" how precious and "John the Revelator" proved that they still have what it takes.
There are a few of songs on the "Playing the Angel" album that I wasn't too keen of, coincidentally, both were sung by Martin Gore. I guess my ears are just biased to Dave Gahan's voice. I almost cringed when Martin sang "Somebody" which is one of my favorite DM single. The old hits bought back fresh memories of old school hangout and escapades. "I Just Can't Get Enough" almost brought the house down but I stopped breathing for "Personal Jesus". This song is up there on my top 10 list. This is the first album that I bought and they sang it like it is the best song in synthetic music history. This made up for all the hits that they didn't play. The fans raved for two encores and stayed to applaud a few minutes longer than usual. For a band which is continuously recreating itself, they know that the alternative synthetic style is how they can bowl their fans over.
As Dennis drove us to the bar to meet our donors singing the wrong words and a terrible rendition of "Personal Jesus" I knew he enjoyed it as much as I did. Thanks Nic and Jen for the tickets! And thanks Steve for babysitting!
As the priest lit the candles on the Advent wreath, I reflected on what Advent is all about. I remember my favorite song as a child that goes, "It is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark." Advent is about preparation. Preparing for a season of joy as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Though it is so much better to light the candle of change and preparation, it is so much easier to curse the darkness. It is easier to live the life of hatred and anger rather than changing the situation. To my great friends, good friends and not so good friends, this Christmas candle is for you. May there be peace in your home, love in your hearts and good health to us all.
As I felt the first chill of the season, I knew AUTUMN is here. Otherwise known as the season of Fall, it is my favorite. The sudden burst of the colors matches that of Spring, not with the flowers, but with the leaves. This is the time when God's supporting cast in nature shows their majestic elegance. The reds and golds that I have read about couldn't hold up a candle to witnessing its beauty in person. The best of the season can only be observed in two short weeks. Then the trees succumb to temporary death. But however parched and lifeless the trees look, there is a feeling of hope that they will soon awake in the glory of spring. Fall speaks in volumes and if we listen carefully, we may even learn a thing or two.
We go through life looking for our ideal person. And sometimes we find them. We love them and for a while they will love us back. But as seasons change, people change. When we lose the person we love to something or to someone else, we find ourselves sad, helpless and even devastated. Rejection is not an easy thing to live with. It causes turmoil with the human emotions. Some lose sleep, some would rather die, and some are driven to insanity. Loneliness can be a scary thing. No one wants to go through life alone. But there is a reason for everything. There is a plan and everyone has a purpose greater and bigger than ourselves. Love and life doesn't end with one person. Life doesn't end with the last leaf that falls. Hope awaits and it will be there when we are ready. And when we are ready, Love finds us.
We may not realize it, but we need to lose some to gain some. We get weak so we may get stronger. We lose love so we learn to love better. Our ideal person may not be so ideal after all. We only see these when we let go of our personal guidelines and go with life's flow. Faith in fate is a beautiful thing. The surprises it brings and the lessons we learn are precious, just like the season of Fall. - This blog is for my good friend and brother Russel.
I learned early that there is a reason for everything. I also learned that there is a loving God who listens to me. An older relative told me when I was a little girl that I am close to heaven, meaning God is so close he hears what is in my heart. Things happen to me, some good, and some bad. My life while borrowed from my children is an opportunity to give back to those who have given me so much. Each day is a celebration. Every tomorrow is an effect of what I do today. Each event is a cause for something greater. I may not completely understand, but with faith, I have peace of mind.
Fate has a funny way of working itself out. Looking into the future is tricky, yet looking back explains everything. My mother's death made me very bitter at nine years old. But this is why I am so close to my father, brothers and cousins. It made me realize how precious family and friends are. It also made me wiser with my decisions in life by always considering what would make her proud. Now being a mother myself, I want to have a relationship with my son I wish I would have had with her had she been alive. It is sad to hear some friends complain about their own mothers. Some even learn to hate. Once I asked a friend if she would trade mothers with me if she dislikes hers that bad. Had she said yes, she can have my dead mother.
Friends and family are assets that cannot be traded nor sold. Petty arguments and unnecessary bickering are wasted emotions. Pride and anger, both cardinal sins, make us easy targets. It destroys relationships and burn bridges. All the worldly wealth cannot buy us love, or even peace of mind. Usually, we do not realize what treasures we have until we lose those whom we love, family, friends and even enemies. It is only in death that we speak of their value. They are in our lives for a reason. Fate has a funny way of working itself out.
They are all kids sent to die meaninglessly. I have yet to see a 75 year old soldier whose time has come to die in Iraq. I get weekly emails of 5-15 kids who died the week before. I pray for, email and support their mothers. And for those who are still making it, I sent packages of phone cards, stamps, candy, holiday items, blank greeting cards, and items to remind them of home. I support 18yr olds who email me not knowing why the hell they are still in Iraq for, I tell them stay strong and pray hard. What I really think is that the lives and money already spent is not worth it. But that is just me. I am sure the president is aware of his own agenda but sons and daughters are dying each day for a cause not their own nor believe in anymore.
I am anti-war yet I do not know the solution. WAR CASUALTIES
Today is April Fools' Day. First death anniversary of the single most influential person in my life. Before age and smoking defeated him, he reminded me that in the event of death, we grieve only for ourselves for we are no longer in the company of those whom we love. Today my heart grieves. Today I look into my son's eyes and hope that one day he grows up to be at least half the man I named him after. Papa Ton, you will never be forgotten.
For the nth time tonight, I have been told that I am so lucky I ONLY work at home. I have a full time job that operates out of my home. I am also a full-time mom. My day began at 9am and I have been working nonstop til, what time is it? 3:39am EST. Since hubby had to work 12 hours (end of the month sales), I had to do both our share of chores. Three loads of laundry, beds to make, cleanup a little (I do not cleanup a lot), breakkie, lunch, dinner, snacks in between, trips to karate classes, endless ringing of the phone, fax machine is never done and six clients to take care of. My son has a friend sleeping over, gave them a snack, read them a book and tuck them in. Hubby comes home close to midnight, I heat up the food and spend some time catching up. He sleeps while i finish some work with the rare peaceful time. Can I be reminded again how lucky I am? Little toes just snuck in my office to tell me I can't possibly love him more than he loves me. I am not lucky, I am blessed.
My date with my favorite person started with a few rounds of shopping, dinner, and then to a concert I have anticipated for almost 20 years. The opening act by The Bravery was forgettable. Almost hurting to the ears that we both left our seats and had a few beers. The main attraction started with a magnificent display of production engineering at its best. The first beat of "Pain That I'm Used To" brought the audience to their feet and stayed there until the last note of the night. Their new album reminded me how dark yet original this band is. With all the imitators, there is not one out there like them. Their music and words are seamlessly in synch with the musicians. The new songs are a complete relief from the lesser appealing "Exciter" which was almost unnoticed in 2001. "Precious" how precious and "John the Revelator" proved that they still have what it takes.
