Big Leather Couch

Going to try this again as Blogger decided not to post it yesterday and I was in meetings all day and never noticed...


A look at the headlines around the globe...

Fla. dad sorry for storming school bus, threats
His daughter was harassed on the bus and to stop it, dad went onto the bus and screamed at young teeagers. I get the wanting to protect your child, but by becoming a child himself, the father ended up causing himself more trouble.  Contact the school..contact the police...just do not stoop down and play in the mud...especially when you are an adult and the others are kids.

Al-Qaida claims kidnapping of 5 French in Niger
French? Ummm...does anyone really care, I mean they are French!

Republicans block bill to lift military gay ban
They did try to pass a vote to allow gays in the men's rooms where they work though...tap tap tap

Japan officials delay Paris Hilton from entering
But North Korea wants her to visit soon

Girl posts public birthday party invite on Facebook, gets 21,000 replies
I never get invited to nuthin I say nuthin'

Study: Teacher bonuses fail to boost test scores
But the teacher's parking lot is now filled with more luxury cars

Ga. execution delayed after suicide attempt
Wait? You telling me this guy wanted to commit suicide and they stopped him...JUST SO they could give him a lethal injection??? Someone PLEASE tell me what is wrong with this picture

OK, I know...I really stink at this stuff, but I will continue trying until I get it correct...or until the remaining 5 readers get bored and leave with the rest of those who have already...

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.