Some pics

Here's some recent pics.

Also, for anyone who isn't on Facebook, I HIGHLY recommend joining. It's the easiest way I've discovered to keep up with friends. I post photos there all the time because it's the easiest way to share them, and my friends and I can all keep track of each other much easier.

Hard lessons to learn

First off, because I have so many wonderful friends who care (and I mean that in the most sincere sense possible), my friend is out of the ICU and doing marginally better. Justin and I fly to Washington, D.C. to see her next week, and I'm practically jumping out of my skin because I want to be there NOW. I'll try to contain myself.

I've learned some pretty tough lessons this week. I may or may not have cost myself a couple of friendships, hopefully not but if I did it was my own fault.

I'm so glad to be reminded that I'm a human being, a work in progress, and thank goodness for divine forgiveness. At least He forgives me, even if my (also human) friends can't.

I guess the day I stop learning is the day I die.

Desperation

I have faith. And I believe in miracles. And more importantly, I believe in the power of good over evil.

And so, I apply my faith, and my beliefs, to my friend Kaihea, who is, as we speak, in the ICU in Washington, D.C. Not only is she fighting this horrible, evil cancer, but she had to have surgery to replace a kidney stent over the weekend. And as if that weren't bad enough, she aspirated fluid during the surgery. Which landed her in the ICU. Because fighting the cancer isn't fucking enough, I guess she needed to have her strength taxed even further fighting stupid fluids in her lungs.

Despite the bleak outlook, I have faith that God will heal her. I believe that the hour before dawn is the darkest. I hope like hell this is the darkest hour. Please, God, let this be the turning point. Please shrink the tumors. Please heal her lungs. Please, God, please, let my friend live. She's only 34 years old. It is not her time. The gifts she has for this world are many and wondrous.

Please, God. I'm on my knees, asking for your mercy. Hold her in your arms and shine your healing light upon her.

Please.

Kindness

Thumper had it right: "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

Ok, so that was Thumper's mom.

But still, this advice and the good old Golden Rule have it right.

I think the key to happiness is to be the best person you can possibly be.

Don't worry about other people's behavior. Just yours. If you treat everyone else in the highest regard possible, then good things will come your way.

And if they don't, they were not meant to be.

I'm so smart...it only took me 31 years to figure this out (or to rediscover it).

:)

Geography

Yes, I know there is something to be said about old, long, established love. There's an attraction to knowing someone so well you can finish their sentences, and the perfect gift to give, etc.

But let's face it, there's a certain dynamic attraction to the first few heady days of falling in love. Or falling in lust.

Now, before you all go freak out on me, I'm thinking about this because I'm watching Pretty Woman. I'm not cheating on Justin. :)

But watching Richard Gere and Julia Roberts fall in love with each other, kiss each other on the lips for the first time, Richard teasing Julia with the diamond necklace box....

the allure of fresh possibilities, the promise of new experiences, is just as attractive as the person you are sharing it with.

Is it possible to have that with someone you've known for 10 years?

I think so, and I'm setting out to prove it.