RECOMMENDED READING

•The Holy Bible

•The Valtorta Enigma by Jean-Francois Laverne (in book form or Google search “The Valtorta Enigma.pdf” free download)

•Poem of the Man-God by Jesus and Our Blessed Mother Mary (5 and 10 volume book set or Google search “Poem of the Man – God.pdf” free download)

•Book that’s both entertaining, and edifying (Morally/Spiritually wholesome)

•Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary

•New York Times + Crossword Puzzle

•Books on hobbies, creativity…

•Book on things you and your family can do for free or that cost very little.

•Book on traveling, and seeing the world at an affordable price

•Book on how to own your own home in 10 years or less

•Book on basic car maintenance – starting with your own 🤠 (while we’re on the subject, book on basic home repair)

•Book of your choice on a new language

•Book on Basic Human Anatomy

•Journal – write your own Book

•Book on the Id, the ego, and the super ego – (inner-child?). It’s good to have a basic knowledge of how we function, what we’re comprised of, and how to maintain all facets 9f our (innerverse or innerspace)

•Books on our rather fascinating Universe, or as I like to call it (outerverse or outerspace)

•Book on medical issues affecting the human body (Mayo-clinic). Get familiar with atleast symptoms of common medical issues!

•Book on basic wellness, exercise, nutrition…

•Book on what you want to be when you grow up

•Book on learning to play an instrument

•Book on child-rearing

•Book on basic finances

•Book of Basic Etiquette

•Learning how to build and fly your own kite

•Book on “What to do in case of an emergency”. Some common issues: Heart Attack; Choking; Drowning; Poisoning; Overdose; Arriving @ the scene of an accident; Snakebite; Stabbing/Shooting; Severed artery; how to stop a nosebleed…

•Book on basic knowledge of the law

•Book on human interactions I.e. keeping your Love alive

•Book on building and maintaining a structured life

•Book on basic knowledge of the principles by which the country you live in operates and abides by

•If you or anyone you know is having issues with addiction get a copy of: 1) The Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, 12 steps and 12 traditions, or Narcotics Anonymous Book, or A Program for You: A guide to the big book’s 12 steps for living, Alanon Book, Alateen Book…

*try to read atleast a couple books a year to keep your mind active

💕 LOST IN LOVE 💕

Ana and I first met July 19th, 2008. We fell in lust, and eventually in Love. I learned so much from her and grew perhaps even more through the pain of our struggles together and by being apart. I’ve known a lot of women throughout my life. Many of which I’ve told I loved through the years, and now I cannot even remember many of their names – (Please forgive my broken sentences this is not easy for me).

All I can say is that I had never really met a woman who truly understood or appreciated me like Ana did. It was frightening, the experiences and the things during the era we grew up in that we could share and relate to with one another. A number of things I did out of habit that reminded her of her father – things he also did. Some of my not so adorable character traits she absolutely loved, because her father had the same ones – things that many other women I had been with in the past absolutely loathed.

One of the things I love most about Ana is the little girl in her – her playfulness. There were these little things she would say and do that just made me fall in love over and over and over again (Chito and Chita were the names we gave to our little boy and girl). In so many ways too, she was selfless and thoughtful. Very personable around others as well. She could walk into a room with that genuinely sincere smile, gentle tone, and fit right in – she rarely made any waves unless you really pissed her off. And she also knew where, when, and with who to get pissed off (well maybe not so much the where and the when, but certainly the who lol). I guess it’s been 5 years now since she went back to her husband – we have remained friends during this time, but my feelings for her have not changed or slackened one bit in spite of “that fact” (nor many others… for that matter).

Based on this experience, I must contend (or concede 🤔) that true love never does die. Prior to this I could not say that or even believe it. I think many of us experience something that isn’t really love. You see, there are many different kinds of affections we human beings are capable of. Desires too can have a tendency to cloud things. As I began to fall for Ana more and more, I had not the slightest interest whatsoever in looking at another woman. Having gone through this experience I think I understand a little more now what true love really is. Especially since I have so much experience in my background regarding what it isn’t (one can never truly recognize or appreciate a negative until they’ve experienced a positive).

Anyways, the thought of sharing this today after God reminded me what day it was about an hour ago (16:52 p.m.). And the song “Lost in Love” by Air Supply almost immediately followed as the title for this post. It seemed only fitting then… So on the old YouTube I go, played it a couple of times. It was followed by “Send Her My Love” by Journey and the great Steve Perry. As the song was nearing its end I started wondering what to play next. The thought came to mind, “Feeling That Way” another great song by Journey – as the song was nearing its end, I was busy cleaning some DVD’s I had just purchased at the local bookstore – I didn’t have a chance to do a search for the song above I was thinking about. So guess what song came on after “Send Her My Love”? You got it – “Feeling That Way”. God always gives us what we need (provided we don’t interfere too much), and some of what we want too (provided it doesn’t take precedence over Him or what He asks of us for our own good). I decided to finish off my rather melancholy mood by listening to a song very dear to me that my cousin Tony had mentioned some 40 years or so ago* – he’s gone now but I often think of him when I look for it on YouTube. Well, thanks for listening. There’s some great tunes mentioned above if you care to take a listen. Bye for now. 🙂

P.S. Is your partner disposable? Replaceable? With regard to Ana, I would prefer that not be my only option at this juncture -> another facet of “True-Love” I suppose!

P.S.S. In situations like this most people generally have someone to turn to, someone to lean on. Most of my families either dead or scattered to the 4 winds due to our history of alcoholism and dysfunction. I think I’m holding up pretty well considering. I think I’m just gonna continue to go it alone. Unless God has other plans. Heard this a few times in an AA meeting – “You want to make God laugh, tell’em your plans” lol. I went through most of my life forcing things, things that have ultimately ended in failure – I heard a line from a wonderful movie called “The Verdict” starring Paul Newman – which pretty much sums up my attitude of late. “I can’t afford to invest in failure anymore Frank”. 😏 Or as Carlo Brigante’ so abruptly put it, “You don’t change, you just get too old to do the things you used to do”. That’s me!

*The song is “Alien” by the Atlanta Rhythm Section – song credits: Buddy Buie/Randy Lewis/Steve McRay.

•Title credited to Graham Russell (writer) – sung by Air Supply.

••Songs “Send Her My Love” credited to (Jonathan Caine/Steve Perry) and “Feeling That Way” credited to (Aynsley Dunbar/Steve Perry/Gregg Rolie) respectively.

•••Excerpt from the movie “The Verdict” credited to David Mamet (screenplay) and Sidney Lumet (Director).

••••Excerpt from the movie “Carlitos Way” credited to David Koepp (screenplay) and Brian De Palma (Director).

WHAT IN THE DEVIL…?

If satan were the one in charge of all of creation and beyond…. what do you suppose would be God’s fate at this time? Do you think he would be given a fair opportunity to save souls by satan? Do you think he would have any freedom or “Joy” (sp. pr.) whatsoever? Do you think He would even exist any longer? I’ll leave you to your own conclusions.

____________________________________________________________

If you had:

A boss that was ignorant.

A boss that was malicious.

A boss that was indifferent.

A boss that was benign.

How would each of these peoples attitudes, behaviors, and leadership qualities differ?

ORANGE PASSION (OR RAINBOW SHERBET? Mmmm…) 🥰

Never lose passion for the thing(s) you Love* (sp. pr.). Capturing God’s beauty has been one of mine for a very long time. I started taking pictures as a hobby in 1999-2000 with a Sony video camera. They had just come out with the “memory stick” and “snapshot” feature which I used to take the “white-light-experience” photo posted on the homepage.

Well, some years back I was doing some work for a (Painter) friend of mine, and just happened to bring the video camera along. After completing work, I decided to take some shots around his yard. I showed them to him and he told me, “You take some good pictures you just need a better camera”. This inspired me to later buy a medium format (camera), which I would later use for several years to come. Of course we Alcoholics gotta do things full-throttle (with one, or both eyes closed lol). He also gave me two pieces of advice: Get your work done before noon; and take lots and lots of pictures! And of course, being your garden-variety Alcoholic, I never took this most excellent advice! 😏

*It’s highly unlikely that, had I remained an active alcoholic, I would have ever discovered… let alone pursued this Passion – “Alcohol, now become the rapacious creditor, bleeds us of all self-sufficiency and all will to resist its demands.” (Excerpt taken from Alcoholics Anonymous text “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions” written by Bill W. “circa 1953”).

•Photo taken with Samsung S10+ “circa 2020”.

OPINIONS ARE LIKE… 🤷‍♂️

We all have our opinions on beauty – however, some things simply are!

•Photo taken with Samsung S10+ “circa 2020”.

••Title credited to Simone Elkeles and courtesy of… Harry Callahan – “Opinions are like assholes, everyone’s got one.” I Love it!! Harry too!! “Marvelous!” 😆 (writing credits shared by Steve Sharon/Duke Pearson/Sandy Shaw – both quotes taken from the movie “The Deadpool” circa 1988, and based upon characters by Harry Julian Fink).