This is deep...

I strongly believe that life is what you make it. I googled that line to see what would come up and I stumbled across this... DEEP!

Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've every had.
It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.

Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they'll love you back! Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart but if it doesn't, be content it grew in yours.

It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real! Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.
Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.

Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a tear. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

by: Anthony Missico, Jr

And tomorrow

So many times I have heard others comment, "tomorrow will be a brighter day." And they fantasize of wonderful things to come their way. They wait with great anticipation for tomorrow to come. For tomorrow will be their salvation from pain and suffering.

Yet, tomorrow comes and nothing has changed. Disappointment sets in, followed by anger, disgust and more suffering.

See, tomorrow does not bring a new beginning nor does it free us from all our pain and suffering. Only through acceptance of reality can we begin to free ourselves. The more we resist dealing with whatever is bothering us or the obstacle on our path, the longer the suffering lasts.

Currently on my mind....

I can't change others. I can't change the way they act, talk, behave, etc. I also can't sit and wait around for others to change because I may wait forever. I can only hope to inspire them to change through my actions and words. I must be and act like the change I want to see take place.


Peace, love and happiness.

My Grandfather

I'm unsure of what to say. I feel shocked and speechless. My grandfather had a heart attack last Thursday and has been in the ICU on life support. His chances of survival are slim. I have gone on through my days like he is still here with us, because to some extent he is. But I have also come to gripes with the possibility of losing him.

(07-02-08 -- I had began this blog entry a while back, over a month ago. My grandfather has sinced passed away, may he rest in peace, he was 71. He is survived by his loving wife, 12 daughters, 2 sons, 41 grandchildren, and 8 great- grandchildren.

What I will remember most about my grandfather is his hard work ethic. He worked from sun- up to sun- down, and worked tirelessly. My aunts and uncles told him many times he no longer had to work, but he knew of no other life style and wouldn't have it any other way. So many times I stumble across the saying, "I won't stop 'til I collapse." I can honestly say my grandfather lived his life accordingly. He enjoyed and took pride in the work he did.

If we wanted anything in life we had to work hard for it, do things the right way and everything else would take care of itself and that's a lesson he has passed on to us. My grandfather is my hero because he never gave in to his age and fought with all he had to keep his dream alive. There was no quit in him. So I will always remember him for his tenacious work ethic.)

Peace!

Now that the course has come to an end. I just want to thank everyone that posted comments on my blog entries, especially blogdog for being a regular on this here blog.

To all those that enjoyed some of my poetry and thoughts. I'll continue to post blog entries. Feel free to come back and visit my blog.

Thanks all and peace.

Bliss within a Storm

As the birth of my second son approaches, about 90 more days, I can't help but be excited. Let me just say, I have so so so much respect for mothers out there. Delivering a baby is intense and EXTREMELY painful, I witnessed it first hand once already. For me it was probably the hardest thing I ever had to witness, just because of the amount of pain my wife was in and knowing I couldn't do anything to take the pain away. In the end, holding the baby in your arms is the single most wonderful feeling in the world. I wrote the following poem after the birth of my first son. (WARNING: it does contain some graphic details.)

Bliss within a Storm

(Dedicated to the birth of my son)

She arch's her lower back, squeezes the bedside rail.

Her fingers and knuckles turn yellow from the firm grip.

Her neck snaps back, jaw drops, her mouth wide open, she screams at the top of her lungs, grrrraaahhhh.

I sit at her side, reach for her arm.

DON'T TOUCH ME! She yells out, glances at me quickly then throws her head back again.

He he he whooooo he he he whooooo. She turns her focus on each breath.

Drops of sweat rest at her forehead.

Tears run down her rosy cheeks.

Her eyes squint shut as she grimaces in obvious pain.

Her legs bent at the knees and open, ready to push

Laura I need to check your progress, says the nurse in her pink hospital clothes.

NOOOO! She screams out in my direction.

Don't let her check me, please. She cries unrelentingly. Only pauses to catch her breath in between each cry.

You're dilated at 8 cm. The baby will be here soon. Comments the nurse as she removes the white latex gloves from her hands.

You hear that, just a few more pushes and he'll be here soon. I say to my wife in clear excitement, my eyes well up with water.

I manage to choke back the tears.

DON'T… TALK!!! She shouts out to me. Brings her chest and head forward.

He he he whoooo he he he whooooo. She continues to pace herself.

Two long hours of screams, howls, and shouts, an epidural shot lodged in her lower back, and cheers from the nurses and doctor in the room welcomes an 8 pound 7 ounce, 21 inch long baby boy.

Aiden Anthony Zapien.

She whispers,

holds him in her arms,

gazes into his eyes,

he stares back at her calmly,

he never cries.

At last jubilation sets in and numbs her every bone.

She exhales deeply, closes her eyes, and grins.

"Media and the Military"

With the recent class discussions about the Pentegon and media coverage of the war. I went back to an entry I wrote for the media literacy course I took during the fall semester and found this,

Another thing that stood out to me from the readings was the article Regulating in the “National Interest”: Media and the Military. What made this article so interesting was how the Military really does regulate coverage of military action. Everything is either censored or eliminated from news coverage. This article brought back to light the past few years with everything going in Iraq. The American public wants to know the truth about the war, but the Military and the White House keeps insisting there is light at the end of the tunnel. I can also understand the Military is trying to prevent what happened during the Civil war when generals were using newspapers to gain information.

Not only is this happening with the military, but it also happens in sports. NFL teams do not disclose the real nature of injuries. Other times teams do not release information on players who are injured during the week. Teams do this for a number of reasons. Teams want their opponent to prepare double fold. For example if the quarterback is hurt and the opponent is not sure whether he’ll play in the game or not, then they have to prepare for the back up quarterback and the injured starter. Another reason is because of gambling. They do not want gamblers in Las Vegas to know who is starting, because teams feel they will have an edge. Other times is because they don’t opponents to target the injury of the player to get him knocked out of the game.My thing is how do balance what is right information to publish and what should not be published? How do we tell the truth from the beginning without putting anyone in danger?