Thursday Thought - Birthday...

Birthdays are always a good time to reflect on the year that is ending and to look forward to the year ahead. Taking the time to stop and put everything in perspective helps to clear the mind of the daily jumble of things that tend to crowd out the bigger picture. Taking pause and considering all that is... helps.

As I stand at the threshold of this new year and consider where I am, I realize that I am beginning this new year with a challenge. Which is pretty normal. Ha! As I stand here and take account I realize I am starting this year with less the $5.00 in the bank, a month behind in bills and with utility disconnect notices. This is enough to get anyone down. But, I can't be down and out.

As I look forward I see a picture and a life where I am together with my family... all of us!! That gives me hope and the courage to forge ahead knowing that as a team we will make it no matter what life throws at me.

I am looking forward... with hope, excitement, maybe even a little apprehension at knowing this year is the year I am poised to conquer.

Guy's Rulez for Girl'z

(Borrowed from Miguel Dieter, as borrowed from "a Guy")

The Guys' Rules

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down. Finally, the guys' side of the story. We always hear "the rules" from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side. These are our rules! Please note... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.
1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really.
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or monster trucks.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round is a shape. Thank you for reading this.

Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; but did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping. Pass this to as many men as you can - to give them a laugh. Pass this to as many women as you can - to give them a bigger laugh!!

Bible Code

So one more Tuesday has come and gone with no update on Olya's visa approval. BUMMER!!!

On another note I was watching a documentary on the Bible Code phenomena and so started doing some research online and ran across a site where you can conduct your own searches. Check it out by clicking here. 

As a joke I ran started running names, and when Olya's first and last name came up in the same grid I decided to see how far it would go. I then added the word "Russia" since that's where she is from, and found it also. I then added Alex and sure enough he was there, Julian wasn't found in that text but his nick name was, Juju. Besides if you ask him what his name is he will argue till he is blue in the face until you call him Juju so I guess it counts. 

So I have all three of my Russian family members in the same text. Cool! I decided to throw in the word Texas, you know just to confirm that they would all be living there with me... and was I surprised when I found it.  

My name Gabriel was not found in that text with them but Gabe was... So I am convinced my family will soon be home altogether in Texas. 

To see our matrix with our names in it click on this link.

I am Xenophilic...

I know, I know I am idiosyncratic in my search for unusual words. It all started when I was about 9 and my dad taught me how to use a dictionary. I found atypical words fascinating even though there was not always a chance in everyday usage for the words that peaked my interest. I still look up definitions and here is a list of some of the words I have come across in the past week.

xenophilia
n. an attraction to foreign peoples, cultures, or customs.
xenophobia 
n. an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange.
poppysmic 
n. refers to the noise produced by smacking the lips together.
sesquipedalian  
n. A person who uses long words.
n. A long word.
adj. long; polysyllabic.
adj. Pertaining to or given to the use of overly long words.
quidnunc
n. One who is curious to know everything that passes, and is continually asking “What now?” or “What news?” hence, one who knows or pretends to know all that is going on in politics, society, etc.; a newsmonger.
zedonk 
n. The hybrid offspring of a male zebra and a female donkey.

Keep Going...

Anytime you're afraid to try something new...just remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic. -David Drake

Thursday Thought - Blogging...

"Orange phoenix" by Vitaly Alexius Samarin 

 ...has been something I enjoyed the few years I was consistent with it. I feel that I ran the gauntlet of public opinion in "the time before" Facebook here on this blog although that was not the intent of this blog. I created this blog back in 2006 at a very trying time of my life, a time of immense personal growth. The only commitment I made when undertaking this project was to myself, (yes I know you thought I was writing this for your benefit, Ha!) and that was that whatever was posted here would be positive. What better way to combat the negative than with something positive right?

 Well those of you who were regulars here may have noticed the diminishing posts and probably figured that life just happened and that there was more pressing things to do with my time. Which it did in fact happen. That sadly was not the reason I stopped blogging. I stopped because in my eyes my life situation became quite difficult to find something positive to post about. I went through a series of failures, legal battles and health problems during the past 20 months. For not having kept up with this blog, you can call it what you will, lethargy, self-pity, downright negativity and you would probably have me pegged.

 Recently a dear friend was telling me that the miss reading here and it got me thinking... that then led me to revisit here and I spent sometime reading through my archives and came back to the understanding of why I had blogged so fervently before... and I started to miss that part of me that had died. The desire to seek that positive moment in each day no matter how hard a day has been, and when finding it to take the time to write it down, to record it and to throw it up here on the site and send it out into the world, not knowing who it might find or what it might mean to them.

 I choose the painting above to try and capture the feeling I have as I try to regain that part of me that has been missing. The part that strives always to be positive. I have always had an easy time seeing the funny things in things and sharing them with others. I remember sharing with a group of my friends back on New Year's eve of 2000 that along with being known for the funny things I was going to make it my goal to be known for being positive as well. I truly did become that person... then lost that part of me these past two years.

 So at the core of this blog my promise to make it positive will remain. Since I am trying again to find the joy in myself that I used to have, I have decided to take up this blog once again. And although I am maintaining this blog for myself... I am doing it here to share with you in hopes that I can bring you a smile. And the only promise I will make to you... is that this blog will be like it was and hopefully that might bring you a smile.

 P.S. Don't forget to leave comments...

Staging A Comeback...

I have been thinking for awhile now about this blog and reflecting on what it meant to me in the past. When I started it it was to help me have a place to record my journey into the new life I had found myself in right after my divorce. I wanted to have a record of the new me. I was able to do that for some time, I met some amazing people, and have developed some eternal friendship all within these posts.

Then I was introduced to.... Facebook.

And this blog died...

In Facebook I have found the social satisfaction of getting in touch with former friends and meeting new ones, of getting in touch with relatives and meeting new ones. I have gotten lost in it's world of quizzes and games and have had fun along the way, and I have probably wasted more time there then I would like to admit to.

However I haven't experienced there the depth that I felt here, I almost feel as if a year of my journey is gone. Which is sad as the journey has been a good one with lot's of up's and down's, good days and bad days. My journey has been filled with love and laughter, with a new wife and more kids. It has been a story worth telling and keeping a record of.

So I would like to announce the comeback of this blog. I hope that it can be what it once was and that no matter what your reason to stop by and visit you will enjoy seeing this side of me. If you don't then I wish you well on your journey as you experience yours.

Thursday Thought - The Mind

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too. Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

SpaceBook and MyFace...

... I have come to the conclusion that MySpace and Facebook are more of a continual online chat with hundreds of people. It is a constant struggle to block, accept or ignore the multitude of apps that I get sent daily. Some of which I got caught up in, like giving smiles, virtual gifts, pillow fights and answering stupid questions about whether "I would want to see a particular person naked" just so that I could find out who answered the same stupid question about me.

While I have enjoyed using Facebook to reconnect with multitudes of childhood friends and acquaintances, I don't like how in the long run I have neglected the maintenance of this blog. I started this blog with the intent of it being like an online journal of my life and the things in it. A few months ago when my HD crashed I lost 4 years of photos of my kids, that was tough. I am very happy though that I kept this blog for 2 1/2 of those years as I still have of photos of them here.

Yet while cobwebs grow here the number of my friends on Facebook continue to grow. I need to find the balance. The one line post's or updates are much easier to handle in Facebook, yet I miss the more in depth thought out content of this blog, along with the foolishness and relaxation you can also find in it's pages. So all that being said, I really want to keep up with this blog and do better at actual writing my online journal. You got to take time for the journey or life will go right on by and one day you wake up to find... you have Alzheimer's disease.

Thursday Thought - Standing alone...

I was reading on Anj's blog yesterday and came across this post in which she says,
"Sometimes you have to stand alone in order to understand how deeply you have been loved."

I agree with her and would add to it that, sometimes you have to stand alone in order to understand or find out who you really are.

No one likes to be alone and thank the Lord with Him in our lives we never are truly alone, we have Him to turn to and he is always carrying us through even if we feel alone.

That being said I have found that in moments when I have felt alone are the moments I really see who I am, what I have become. This is done by how you make decisions in all areas of your life, from what you do to survive to what you do to have fun and relax.

Each decision you make defines who you are.

Once while in an rocky relationship, I was trying to make lots of changes to try to save the relationship, my partner finally told me something like, "Gabe you have been trying to make so many changes that you have completely forgotten who you are. It's like you don't even have an identity anymore." She was right.

Don't fear being alone... it's the greatest time in the world to find out who you really are and what your made of. You will start to see yourself in a different light. And with the Lord's help and yielding to Him you will become who you are supposed to be.

Birthday coming up...

...yeah it's getting close to that time of the year again, My Birthday!

Bruni, asked me today what I wanted for my birthday and I didn't know the answer. I am a simple guy with simple joys, it doesn't take a whole lot to make me happy, I guess it's cuz as a child my parents drilled into me the verse about "being content in whatsoever state I am in." I am glad they did it has really helped me a an adult.

So I started thinking about it today and I like birthday gifts that involve lots of people so I think I came up with a good one, I would like to get this blog up to 50 followers by the end of May. For that I need your help. So if you like this blog and would like to give me a b-day present just click on the "Follow" button on the tor right hand side of this page. Let's see how far we can take this.

Have a good day.

Seven Pounds

I don't usually put up posts about movies as it is such a touchy topic with some. Some people are very strict in what they see others have no guidelines at all. So to recommend or not recommend a movie can become a fast way to paint a target on your back from either side. So by not posting about movies you can avoid the whole issue.

Today I am stepping out of the norm to recommend the movie Seven Pounds with Will Smith in the leading role. If I had to give an age recommendation I would put it at YA's and up maybe Sr Teen if seen with a Shep and really discussed. The movie has certain elements that we don't promote as a Family in general. And that is the extent of my disclaimer.

I have not watch a movie in the past few years that had a bigger impact on me, a movie that really got me thinking about my life, what I am doing for others and the reasons I am doing it for. Each one of us wants to have a life that counts, that makes a difference and one that would really affect the world, even if that world is only a handful of people. The choices that are made in this movies shows how each life can touch another, how each decision makes a difference and how we influence others.

If you want to see a movie that will make you ask the Lord if you are doing what you can, a movie that will bring a tear (or many) to your eye yet at the same time bring warmth of a life touched, changed and saved. Then I would recommend this movie.

This is not a movie to go into lightly for entertainment as it will make you ask of yourself,

"What am I doing with my life?"

I hope that when all is said and done and my umber is called, I hope I can say that I have done all that I could and that I gave all that I had.

April Fools Day

Today passed uneventful enough, maybe because I am usually the one playing the tricks and pranks on people and it has just been way to busy lately for me to plan anything that would be good and interesting.

One of my all time favorites pranks from the past though was BBC's spoof broadcast of growing spaghetti from trees in Italy and Switzerland. I ran across the article a few years back but looked it up again for you all. You can find the article about it along with the video that originally aired by clicking on this link.

Self Motivation

I saw this video clip over on Angelina's blog of a little girls technique of self motivation. You should give it a try sometime esp if you feel like quitting.

Ange I hope you don't mind I borrowed the video without asking first, it's for the benefit of the world. Ha!

Tomorrow is...

...Friday the 13th.

Paraskevidekatriaphobia - or the fear of Friday the 13th is a very real problem for some. I personally think I am not very superstitious, but Ali (of Nathan) thinks I am. In seeing we have 3 Fridays that fall on the 13th this year, February, March and November I did a little looking into the origins of the supposed unluckiness of the day.

With the complete variety of the origins you have stories ranging from as far back as the Garden of Eden to as late as the book Friday the 13th about an economic crash written in the early 1900's. Some say it started with Norse Gods and others with the Last Supper. No matter where the story began the thing they all have in common is that Friday and the number 13 are unlucky, so combining them together and it's even worse.

Here's an excerpt of some of the superstitions taken from an article on UrbanLegands:

LEGEND HAS IT: If 13 people sit down to dinner together, one will die within the year. The Turks so disliked the number 13 that it was practically expunged from their vocabulary (Brewer, 1894). Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue. Many buildings don't have a 13th floor. If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil's luck (Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names). There are 13 witches in a coven. Never change your bed on Friday; it will bring bad dreams. Don't start a trip on Friday or you will have misfortune. If you cut your nails on Friday, you cut them for sorrow. Ships that set sail on a Friday will have bad luck – as in the tale of H.M.S. Friday ... One hundred years ago, the British government sought to quell once and for all the widespread superstition among seamen that setting sail on Fridays was unlucky. A special ship was commissioned, named "H.M.S. Friday." They laid her keel on a Friday, launched her on a Friday, selected her crew on a Friday and hired a man named Jim Friday to be her captain. To top it off, H.M.S. Friday embarked on her maiden voyage on a Friday, and was never seen or heard from again.

Studies have been conducted to see if there are more traffic accidents on Friday the 13th compared to other Fridays. Some show that more people stay home on that day due to superstitions so there are actually less traffic accidents reported, so driving should be safer. At the same time, studies have shown that there are more hospital admissions due to traffic accidents on Fridays that fall on the 13 than on other Fridays. One such study showed an increase of 52%.

Even my accident where I got hit by a taxi was on Friday the 13th, in July of 2007. For that story read the post by clicking here.

I will conclude this post by saying, Stay close to the Lord, claim the keys and you will be okay on any day of the week even if it is Friday the 13th.

Countless Miles...

Seems that in the past few years I have done a lot of driving on the open roads... a lot of the times I have been alone. That leaves for lots of time to ones own thoughts. These trips have been made for basically been for visa trips or fund raising, sometimes to see my kids.

I am taking another one of those trips now, this one will be different then the others in the reason for the trip. Before the trips were for what I needed or what was needed of me. This trip will be done for the purpose of someone else. After 8 years of living a certain way, I am changing for the one I love, doing things different than before.

When looking back over the countless miles its easy to wonder what was worth it and what was just filling time. I hope the end of my journey is as good as the journey itself has proven to be.

Sucker for Love

I know you have seen it before but this is my Valentines day word for you! Enjoy and have a good one.

Thursday Thought - Goals

If you never aim to hit anything you're sure to do just that.
Missing the mark is never the fault of the target.

Thursday Thought - Happy New Year

It's been taught all our lives that the new year is a time of reflection of the past year, a summing up of sorts on our lives. This also serves well as a time for setting goals and resolutions for the new year.

In a blog world it's a time when people get "deep" and "profound" which is always interesting to me. Since I am neither "deep" nor "profound" all I can offer is some simple advice for the new year.

If your outgo is more than your income then your upkeep will be your downfall.

Don't spend more than you have or borrow more than is what already owed to you.

I also want to share with you why the Lord doesn't let us win the Lottery. Just think of what ever currency you use when you read the following verse.

Psalm 91:7
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

I don't know about you but if money falls by my side and it won't come nigh to me I will go nigh to it and pick it up and put it in my pocket.

HAPPY NEW YEAR... may your hearts (and pockets) be full.

Big hug!!

Just a thought...

"As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more." Psa. 103:15,16

But I want to be a tree....