Big Leather Couch

Did The Woz get eliminated? What about Steve O? Was Jewel worth listening to? Any other celebrities end up in an ambulance? All you need to know about the Dancing With The Stars Results Show can be found by checking out TRAVIS of "Trav's Thoughts".

WOOOO...Please do me a favor, and head over to wish JULIE of "Julie's Jewels & Junque a most wonderful BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

Julie is a wonderful friend and she brings joy into the lives of those she meets.

She also likes MILK DUDS! more than anyone I know...

Also, head over to my niece's blog (though she rarely posts there anymore), and wish her a big old HAPPY BIRTHDAY! She is AMELIA from "Mad Moons & Tarnished Spoons" fame...

Happy Birthday AMELIA!!!

Friendship is that road we travel that is, all at once, paved with new blacktop, pockmarked with small depressions, littered with garbage left behind by past relationships, destroyed by large craters left behind by those who have passed this way...and finally, at times, completely unrecognizable as a road and more closely resembling a forgotten trial of rocks and fallen limbs.

Yet, as humans we are drawn to friends. those we have known for so many years, those we have met in recent years, those who have just entered our lives and - in the 21st Century, those we have never met before and only know from words on a computer screen.

About 3 years ago, I became a member of a large group of fans of one Mr. Taylor Hicks from the show American Idol. As many of you know, this was the beginning of my blogging life, as I wrote - first on the AI site, and then here - weekly reviews of the shows and the contestants. Think Travis with DWTS only without the flowing literary style.

That experience brought me to all y'all here on blogger. Many people I feel like I am close to, but whom I have never met. As I work on the invite list for my wedding, I am going back and forth between family (only close relatives this time), and friends (real life and cyber life) and trying to decide who goes on the list.

I honestly thought about just saying if y'all want to come let me know and I will send an invite!

You see, this is more a party than it is a 'wedding ceremony'. Both Nancy and I have done the big thing and we just want to enjoy our guests this time.

There are some of my AI friends who I am still very close to and I am hopeful to be able to include as many of them as possible. Then there are some who I was very close to and over the years, that closeness has disappeared into one of those pockmarked craters I mentioned above.

I think about why it has happened and it confuses me. I try not to discuss the disagreements, even when they allude to it constantly when they write posts or emails. I sit and wonder "Should I still invite them?"...because I would like the relationship to be better, I really would. But I am also not going to allow someone to come to the party and make me wish they were not there.

A year and a half ago I had a 'disagreement' with someone on the web over a silly bet. I was furious at the person for a long time, because I felt like I was disrespected by them. Then, things happened in their life and I wanted to accept them as a friend because it made the most sense.

With little fanfare, we were able to put aside our differences from that one bet and now I consider this gentleman a friend.

I am not perfect. I am not the perfect friend. I do things that a good friend should not at times. I do believe I am a loyal friend and I will go out of my way to assist a friend in need.

But I am also not a person to take a slap lightly. If I bring up a point and people want to disagree, that is great.

It is when they refuse to accept my side of the situation seriously, because they are always in the right, well then, I seriously consider walking away from it all.

A wonderful Wednesday Ramble...

It does not settle whether I invite this person or not...but it gives me something to contemplate...I do know that your life can move forward without your having to close the doors of your past...IF YOU WANT. It seems some think they are mutually exclusive...I am not one of those.

To begin, Mom Joan & Dad Vince are back from their 5-day cruise and had a terrific time. One of their party played in the Texas Hold'em tournament and won a free cruise to play for $100,000.00! WOOOO

Mom sent this to me via email and asked me to share it with all y'all:

Hi Vincent,

Your birthday Blog was truly creative. It brought back wonderful memories.

Your thoughtfulness was always one of your better qualities, among many. I love you and thank you for your tribute. I am proud to be your Mother.

Thank you to all friends and family who left comments on the Blog. Tea and cake sound like a good idea. I'm available. Now, you all know Vincent does not get his writing ability from me.

Stay tuned for the next big one "80". Ugh.

MOM

Wanted to alert you to a new blog linked on my sidebar. This is a new blog by my niece Amelia. The blog is called Mad Moons & Tarnished Spoons. She is 18-years old and goes to college along the Hudson River in NY.

Now, this is Amelia's sister Adele, who danced with the San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet. Adele is in the yellow, so she is easy to pick out. I grabbed these off the photographer's website, thus the watermark you see on them all. The photographer's name is Sharen Bradford and her site is called The Dancing Image. (Remember click any to enlarge)

My niece and nephew, the twins, Candice and Joseph have selected their college. It ends up they will both be heading to the University Of Scranton. This was Candice's first choice of school, but Joseph had been heading to SUNY New Paltz. His plans changed when the swimming coach at New Paltz resigned, so he will go swim at U of S.

Scranton is a nationally recognized Catholic and Jesuit university in Pennsylvania’s Pocono northeast region. The University offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate programs with a total enrollment of almost 5,000 students.

I received this from my sister Lynn this week, their H.S. Graduation photo. Gosh we are one damn fine looking family, aren't we? LOL

Also had a long chat with Matt this week and he has made a decision that I support 1,000%. He is going to continue to work toward his degree in Psychology, but has decided to take the exam to become a Police Officer in his hometown in New Jersey.

This is something he has always considered, but never really was sure about. After a long talk with one of the Sargent's (whose son Matt instructs in baseball), he has taken the plunge.

He must first take the written test and if he does well there (which I fully expect he will), then he will take the physical test. At that time, he also has a number of people in town who will go to bat for him to get the job.

This will allow him to continue going to school, continue working for Power Pitching & Hitting (you can see their staff listing HERE), acting as a coach for the American Legion team in town and playing on the two competitive teams he is starting catcher for at this time.

So, my most wonderful guests, send some good thoughts his way that he can make this a reality.

GOOD NEWS: Lindsay Lohan does not look up to Paris Hilton as a role model.

RIP
CHARLES NELSON REILLY

1931 - 2007

He passed away of pneumonia on Friday.
Reilly was the flamboyant celebrity seen on
"Hollywood Squares" and "The Match Game" in the '70 & '80's.

But, did you know....?

My friend read the thoughts from you, my guests, last week
They wanted all y'all to know how much they appreciated the support.

All plans for a mass gathering to cause some hurt are on hold...



Will the ramblin' ever stop????



CREDITS:

RAMBLING
Marshall Tucker Band
Composer: Toy Caldwell