If you meet a girl at a bar and invite her for brunch with your
friends you've only got it half right.

Basically, if you're smooth enough to pick her up in the first place
you've got some skills. But take a moment to make sure she knows what
brunch is all about.

We give her bonus points for showing up at all. But then everything
broke down. She's here, get her away from your friends and get to
know her a little better before exposing her to their Sunday morning
zaniness.

Otherwise when we run into her later at a coffee shop she'll say "Can
I be frank? Was that weird? That was weird right?!"

And I'll be reduced to chatting her up to reassure her we aren't a
bunch of goofs. Which went well. Almost too well. Well enough to make
me feel awkward.

Cool chick, too bad my friends have such poor social skills.

Of course as I write this I'm supposed to be talking to these same
friends as we walk Greenlake. One of them is doing a Rubik's cube the
other is texting and I'm writing this post.

I just don't understand why we have such great first runs and then end
being so toxic towards new people.

Hmmm...

Thanks to the volcano in Alaska, Brand New got stuck in Seattle and
was good enough to put on a special acoustic set.

Frankly I enjoyed it more than most concerts I've seen in quite a while.

It's a mark of some great musicians that even wearing borrowed clothes
and playing borrowed instruments, they can still put on an amazing show.

Well done boys.

This erupted from inside earlier. No excuses offered.

Right now, I have a brief moment of free time after crossing an ocean-sized stretch in which I had none at all. I was supposed to spend the time working on a new CD, but this meant more to me. As usual, it applies to all of you, and none of you, in equal measure.

It's funny when you realize
that the biggest key to happy living
is in knowing and forgiving

It's hard to comprehend that making the road seem not so long
Is being sure you own the seeds you've sown

Don't deviate from your right path
Don't hesitate to correct your way

Claim your rights and claim your wrongs
Trust the one to whom your heart belongs

Without their trust there can be no love
Without their love life can't be enough

Don't relegate your dreams regardless of the offer
Don't mediate a compromise you'll only end up lacking

Share your rights and share your wrongs
Guard the one to whom your heart belongs

It's funny when you realize
that the biggest joy you'll find in living
is in the knowing and the forgiving.

Hope you liked it. If you didn't that's cool too. Drop me a line and let me know.

My fiends were getting married tonight. I've known them for years and
it was good to see them so happy.

The pastor who performed the ceremony was also a friend who'd seen
them grow even longer. His message was insightful.

"The thief comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. But I have come
that you might have life. And might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

In our lives and especially in our marriages there are lots of
situations and people who will try and steal our happiness, our faith,
our integrity. Personally I strive to find the kind of partner who
understands this and works with me to make sure we are united against
these things.

Congrats to the happy couple.

Watching the surfers take to the water made me realize something about
my own approach to life.

Every one of them paused for a few moments before entering the water.
Some looked over the waves. Some were watching other surfers. Some
took time to stretch and loosen up. Regardless of the activity, the
common thread was the pause. That brief respite they each grasped
before diving into the water.

Something so common. So obvious and pervasive came from somewhere.
There is a reason for it, even if they aren't consciously aware of it.
I'm not sure why or where but it's clear the impact it makes.

When I considered the same in my life I came up devastatingly short.
I'm known as a bit of an ambulance driver. It's the gas or the brake
but it's all the way down. No hesitation, just quick think and dive.

Mostly that works for me. I have my share of failures and pain, but
generally I'm surviving as well as the next kid.

Which made me wonder. Would I do better if I made more time to pause?
If I grabbed a brief respite before rushing headlong into the fray,
would I claim more successes? Would my wounds be less severe?

Or perhaps this is my quiet moment? Here and now between the
skirmishes and forays, walking down the beach music rushing in,
soaking in the sun, mind adrift and swirling, here is where I stretch
and loosen up.

Either way, some change can clearly be welcome.

I see the couples squirming and smiling, laughing and loving, reading,
relaxing, frolicking and having fun.

Yeah, if that's what you find in the pause, then you can count me in.

Thanks to @debono being home I felt it appropriate to choose an original piece and post it. Wouldn't want him thinking I slacked on my emo duties just because of him.

I wrote this one some time ago but it seemed to fit my mood and the activities of the day.

On this day, some years ago, one of the two most beautiful creatures in the world was born. I sang her Happy Birthday this morning. What a blessing.

---

Next time I won't encourage
When cupids cab at last comes round for me
I'll watch my words and hold my flapping tongue

It only takes a moment, a push, a prod,
A gentle poke to place me on the proper path

Hands up and waving, arms flailing, flagging down this taxi
Taking me toward tomorrow and inescapably away

You couldn't change, you can't correct your course and so

I'm standing still and sober, somber inside, sunshine out
Allowing time and a taxi to take me inescapably away

Next time I won't encourage
When cupids cab comes round for me
I'll watch it leave and hold my own heart and hands

- The Next Taxi

Watching the people crowd this airport, ordering their coffees and bagels, I find comfort in the anonymity. I see those flying full of fear, and those with anticipation near to bursting. The collective energy just washes over me and so I smile.

Then my phone dings with a tweet from @dsummer. It's obscene and hilarious and makes me laugh out loud.