NEW YEAR

 NEW YEAR'S, MAN THE WORDS ALONE BRING SO MUCH HOPE.
  IF YOU LISTEN CLOSELY YOU CAN ALMOST HEAR THEM, THE
THOUGHTS OF MANY PEOPLE HOPING THIS WILL BE A BETTER
                                                       YEAR...

     WHAT DOSE YOUR NEW YEARS THOUGHT SOUND LIKE?
               DO YOU WISH YOU'LL HAVE A BETTER YEAR
DO YOU WISH THIS UPCOMING YEAR WILL BE AS GOOD AS THE
                                                        LAST.

         OR MAYBE YOU WILL WISH SOMETHING GOOD FOR
                                           SOMEBODY ELSE...

A NEW YEAR ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAVE SO MANY POSSIBILITIES
   FOR A NEW START, THE SILLY THING IS WE CAN START NEW
                                         ANYTIME WE WANT!

           MY WISH IS THAT ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS
WILL RISE ABOVE ALL THEIR EXPECTATIONS OF A NEW YEAR...

Manners

Rise above people, just keep on telling yourself rise above. if I don't the next person I hold a door open for and says nothing to me is getting a free lesson on the way things work!

JUNKYARDS

THIS IS ONE OF THE SADDEST PLACES FOR MOST MEN, BUT YET IT'S ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING PLACES FOR MEN TO GO.
WHEN WE WALK IN TYPICALLY WE ARE LOOKING FOR PARTS FOR A CAR WE ARE RESTORING OR A CAR WE NEED TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD.

BUT WHEN WE WALK IN WE ALL SEE THE SAME THING.
BROKEN DREAMS...
FROM CARS THAT WERE SOMEBODY'S VERY FIRST,
TO CARS THAT SOMEONE DIED IN...

CARS THAT DROVE YOU TO YOUR FIRST DATE, AND CARS THAT DROVE YOU TO YOUR LAST DATE.

CARS THAT SOMEONE WAS BORN IN.

CARS THAT SOMEONE WAS MURDERED IN.

EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN STORIES THAT NO ONE KNOWS EXCEPT FOR THEIR
PAST OWNERS.

WHEN I SEE CARS IN A JUNKYARD I SEE POSSIBILITIES.
MOST ARE JUST TWISTED METAL THAT DONATE THEIR PARTS TO OTHERS.
BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF CARS THAT JUST NEED TO RISE ABOVE
THE MUD AND DIRT. WITH A LITTLE HELP, THEY CAN COME BACK
LIKE NEW AGAIN.

OR BETTER...

REWIRED

ARE YOUR WIRES EXPOSED OR ARE THEY HIDDEN?
TAKE ME FOR INSTANCE MOST PEOPLE THINK THEY
KNOW ME BUT I THINK MY WIRES ARE CONCEALED...

VERY FEW PEOPLE GET TO SEE MY WIRES.

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE I THINK I HAD MY
WIRES TO EXPOSED AND I BROUGHT THEM BACK
IN FOR SAFETY...

THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS IS MOST PEOPLE
DON'T REALLY KNOW ME.

WHEN YOU HOLD BACK FROM WHO YOU REALLY
ARE PEOPLE ONLY KNOW PART OF YOU.

THEY MAY SEE A GOOD PART OF YOU OR A BAD
PART OF YOU DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR
HOLDING BACK FROM...

I'M TRYING TO RISE ABOVE BAD WIRING.
AND ORGANIZE JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF EXPOSED WIRE

HOW ARE YOUR WIRES...

NOT A BAD DAY

IT STARTED OUT GETTING UP LATE RUSHING TO GET MY BOYS TOGETHER FOR SCHOOL...

PACKING THEM IN THE CAR TURNING THE KEY AND HEARING NOTHING BUT A CLICK IT WAS A  DEAD BATTERY...

OH WELL WHAT TO DO?
DUST OFF THE OLD PONTIAC, DROP THE TOP,
THE BOYS WERE SO EXCITED OFF TO SCHOOL WE WENT...

AND THEN I REALIZED HOW BEAUTIFUL THE WEATHER IS NOW,
THE TOP WILL PROBABLY NOT RISE ABOVE US UNTIL THE END OF WINTER...

FAMILY

I'VE BEEN THINKING HOW MOST OF US ARE SURROUNDED BY FAMILY
YET WE SEEM TO TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT WE HAVE THEM...

FOR SOME REASON WE LET THINGS LIKE GREED AND JEALOUSY
GET IN THE WAY.
AND FORGET THAT WE ARE FAMILY...

WE STOP TALKING TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE SOMEBODY DIDN'T
CALL YOU BACK OR THEY NEVER RETURNED SOMETHING.

SO IN REALITY THIS WORD SOMETHING BROKE UP YOUR FAMILY.

I'VE PROBABLY BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS A LOT LATELY BECAUSE
9/11 JUST PASSED AND I'VE BEEN THINKING OF THE FAMILIES THAT
DON'T HAVE THE CHANCE THAT WE HAVE...

ALSO, THE FAMILIES THAT ARE LOSING SOMEONE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE AT WAR, FOR US! THE PEOPLE NOT TALKING TO OUR FAMILY BECAUSE
OF SOMETHING?


BUT NO MATTER HOW WE LOSE SOMEONE, I JUST WONDER WHY
IS IT THAT WE FINALLY SEE ALL THE GOOD STUFF IN THEM
WHEN THEY'RE GONE...

WE SHOULD RISE ABOVE US AND NOT MISS WHAT
WE ALREADY HAVE, SOMETHING,  GREAT FAMILY...

NEVER FORGET

ON THIS DAY IT ALL COMES BACK
IF YOU LIVED IN NEW YORK ON 9-11-01
YOU KNEW SOMEONE WHO
LOST THEIR FREEDOM "LIFE"...


I COULD TELL YOU ABOUT WHERE
I WAS WHEN IT HAPPENED. BUT
THE BIGGEST THING I REMEMBER
IS DRIVING TO WORK EVERY DAY
FOR MONTHS AND SEEING THE SMOKE
COMING FROM GROUND ZERO.

SEEING THE FUNERAL PROCESSIONS
ALMOST EVERY OTHER DAY FOR
OVER A YEAR...

AND PEOPLE BREAKING DOWN
IN TEARS FROM SOMEBODY IN
THE ROOM JUST MENTIONING 911...

KNOWING EVERYONE AROUND YOU
LOST SOMEBODY THAT DAY...

THAT FEELING WILL NEVER GO AWAY.

AND I WILL NEVER FORGET.

AND WE WILL RISE ABOVE...

LIFE IS GOOD

WELL THE RESULTS ARE BACK
I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO DIE...

BUT NO ONE KNOWS WHEN.

I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE I SPENT
ALL THAT MONEY ON THOSE
TEST WHEN I COULD OF HAD
MY BAGS REMOVED FROM
UNDER MY EYES...

BUT I DID GET THESE REALLY
COOL X-RAYS.

LIFE IS GOOD IT'S TIME TO RISE ABOVE...

WHERE IS YOUR ENERGY GOING?

WELL MY LIFE HAS BEEN PRETTY BUSY LATELY
I HAVE NOT BEEN FEELING GREAT.
I'VE BEEN GOING FROM DOCTOR TO DOCTOR
THE GOOD THING IS THEY HAVE NOT FOUND
ANYTHING ABNORMAL...

THE FUNNY THING IS WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL
GOOD, AND YOU LOOK AROUND IN YOUR LIFE
AT ALL THE THINGS THAT WORRIED YOU,
YOU THINK IF I JUST USE ALL THAT ENERGY
IN MY OWN PERSONAL LIFE INSTEAD OF
WORRYING ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE AROUND
ME. I PROBABLY BE IN A BETTER PLACE...

ANYWAY ONE MORE M.R.I. TONIGHT AND
AFTER THAT, IF ALL IS GOOD?

I, AM, GOING TO RISE ABOVE AND PUT THE
THE ENERGY BACK IN MY LIFE...

A GOOD THING...

 OK SO I SPENT THE DAY IN THE HOSPITAL, BEING POKED AND PRODED.
THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, NOTHING "LIFE THREATENING " ANYWAY,
 WHICH IS A GOOD THING. NEXT UP IS GOING TO THE NEUROLOGIST AND
                THEN AFTER THAT I'LL HAVE A CLEAN BILL OF
            HEALTH AS LONG AS THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING

                                RISE ABOVE OUR HEALTH...

CHOICES

    I'M ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO TO
                              "RISE ABOVE US"

WELL HERE I SIT REALIZING THAT I'M NOT EVEN REMOTELY

                   LISTENING TO MY OWN WORDS.

I'VE BEEN GOING TO THE DOCTOR LATELY BECAUSE I HAVE
SOME UNUSUAL THINGS HAPPENING LIKE PAIN IN MY RIGHT
                       HAND AND IT'S SWOLLEN.

  THINKING THAT THIS WAS JUST ARTHRITIS NO BIG DEAL...

BY THE WAY IF YOUR WONDERING BUDDY IS DOING GREAT.

ANYWAY WITH THE OTHER SYMPTOMS I HAVE IT TURNS OUT
          THEY THINK I MIGHT OF HAD A STROKE...

  I KNOW IT'S CRAZY THE PICTURE OF HEALTH THAT AM
        THAT'S A JOKE IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW ME.

IT TURNS OUT THE EASIEST WAY TO FIND OUT OR SHOULD
                     I SAY THE FASTEST WAY...
   IS GOING TO THE HOSPITAL SO THEY CAN DO ALL THE
       TEST RIGHT AWAY STUBBORN THAT I HAVE BEEN
          AVOIDING GOING TODAY I MADE THE CHOICE
                  TO RISE ABOVE ME AND GO...
 
  HOPEFULLY I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

Strong grip

You could have all the strength in the world but if you don't have a good grip you've got nothing RISE ABOVE and work on your grip...

BUDDYS RISING UP

I WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW HOW BUDDY IS DOING,
HE STILL HAS HIS COUGH BUT HE'S GETTING STRONGER
EVERY DAY.

NOW HE IS OUTSIDE PLAYING WITH THE OTHER DOGS.

I THINK HE'S RISING ABOVE HIS WOUNDS WELL...

WHAT HAPPENED TO BABY ON BOARD?

I WAS JUST WONDERING TODAY I SAW A CAR WITH A BABY ON BOARD SIGN AND
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THEM BUT WHEN THEY CAME  OUT THEY
WERE A BIG SUCCESS.

EVERYBODY THAT HAD A BABY PUT ONE IN THEIR CAR WINDOW,
IT MADE SENSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

MAYBE PEOPLE WOULD DECIDE NOT TO HAVE ROAD RAGE AROUND YOU...

http://www.babyearth.com/safety-1st-baby-on-board-magnetic-sign.html?gclid=COLymIu72aoCFRp2gwod3FIM8A HERE'S A LINK WHERE YOU CAN GET THEM.

I JUST HOPE THE REASON IS NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE THE LOOK...
IF SO WE NEED TO RISE ABOVE THIS ONE.

LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?

BUDDY UPDATE

JUST AN UPDATE FOR ANYONE WHO IS FOLLOWING THE STORY ON MY BUDDY
HE SEEMS TO BE DOING WELL.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS HE'S GOT KENNEL COUGH RIGHT NOW WHICH SHOULDN'T
BE A BIG DEAL.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PHOTO HE'S THE ONE IN THE BACK. GETTING ALONG
GOOD WITH ALL THE OTHER DOGS NO FIGHTING OVER FOOD.

I ACTUALLY CAUGHT SOME OF THE DOGS SLEEPING IN THE SAME BED WITH BUDDY.
I THINK HE LIKES IT HERE...

DOGS DON'T NEED TO RISE ABOVE THEY HAVE GOOD SOULS...

RISE ABOVE ME

                                                               SO THIS IS WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE
                                                               WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING
                                                                 THE RIGHT THING AND RISING
                                                                 ABOVE THE LAZINESS AND GO
                                                                               CUT THE LAWN...

WELL THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE

TO RISE ABOVE AND IN 110 TEMPS

IS NOT THE TIME TO DECIDE TO

RISE ABOVE YOU!

RISE ABOVE U: IF SHE CAN RISE ABOVE WE CAN TO

RISE ABOVE U: IF SHE CAN RISE ABOVE WE CAN TO: "I RENTED THIS MOVIE THE OTHER NIGHT FOR FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT. THIS GIRLS STORY IS TRULY UNBELIEVABLE, TRAGIC SAD, BEAUTIFUL, AND INSPIRATION..."

IF SHE CAN RISE ABOVE WE CAN TOO

I RENTED THIS MOVIE THE OTHER NIGHT FOR FAMILY 

MOVIE NIGHT.

THIS GIRLS STORY IS TRULY UNBELIEVABLE, TRAGIC

SAD, BEAUTIFUL, AND INSPIRATIONAL...

A TRUE STORY ABOUT A GIRL WHO'S ON TOP OF THE

WORLD GETTING SPONSORED BY A BIG COMPANY

FOR SURFING THE ONLY THING SHE WANTS TO DO

IN LIFE. 

THEN HER LIFE CHANGES WHEN SHE GETS

ATTACKED BY A SHARK...

• 
  

                                   THIS IS A MUST SEE MOVIE...

                                   AFTER WATCHING YOU WILL TRULY KNOW

                                   THE MEANING OF RISING ABOVE YOU...

IT'S CRAZY

I SIT HERE AND WRITE ABOUT THINGS THAT

I THINK ARE NUTS OR JUST NOT RIGHT.

O BY THE WAY BUDDY IS DOING DOING WELL.

IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING?

I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE I WRITE THIS STUFF AND PEOPLE READ IT.

NOT MANY  BUT  PEOPLE DO READ IT!

LIFE IS TO SHORT TO SIT AROUND

THINKING ABOUT STUFF SO I WRITE IT...

FUNNY RIGHT...

I LIKE WRITING ABOUT WHAT I THINK.                                                                                            

LETS FACE IT IF NOT IT WOULD JUST BE

STUCK IN MY HEAD...

THAT WOULD BE A BAD WORD...

SO I RIGHT AND I RISE ABOVE THE BAD WORDS

DAY 3

OFF TO WORK EARLY FOR ME TODAY.
SO I FIGURED I'D LET YOU KNOW HOW
             OUR BUDDY IS FEELING.

  I THINK YOU COULD TELL FROM
THE PHOTO HE'S DOING VERY WELL.
   HE'S VERY ALERT AND HAPPY...

HE' RISING ABOVE HIS WOUNDS

GOOD BOY

WELL SO FAR OUR NEW FAMILY MEMBER STILL HAS NO NAME HE WALKS AROUND

LOOKING CONFUSED TO HIS NEW ENVIRONMENT. 

ALTHOUGH IT'S SAFE HERE IT MUST BE SO SCARY TO HIM...

TRYING TO FIT INTO HIS NEW FAMILY THAT HE HAD NO CHOICE

HE WAS GOING TO GET.

HE MUST BE THINKING WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE THROWING 

RANDOM NAMES AT ME..

I JUST CALL HIM BUDDY AND FOR THE MOST PART HE SEEMS TO LISTEN TO ME.

SAD IS NO ONE KNOWS HIS STORY DID HE COME FROM A GOOD OR BAD HOME?

DID HE HAVE SOME HORRIBLE LIFE. 

OR IS THERE A CHILD SOMEWHERE CRYING RIGHT NOW 

BECAUSE THEY MISS HIM...

I DO KNOW ONE THING SOMEBODY HAD HIM BECAUSE HE'S WELL BEHAVED.

AND HIS LIFE CAN ONLY GET BETTER FROM THIS POINT ON

FOR HIM AS LONG AS WE CAN GET HIM HEALTHY...

HE WILL RISE ABOVE ALL AND LIVE THE GOOD LIFE...

RESCUE THE PERFECT PET

SO WE RESCUED ANOTHER DOG YESTERDAY.
       HE'S QUITE THE SAD SITE RIGHT NOW
           JUST A BAG OF BONES AND HAIR...

         ALL THE OTHER DOGS ACCEPTED HIM
    IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY FEEL BAD FOR HIM
 THEY KNOW HE'S WEAK AND SICK RIGHT NOW...

I JUST WISH PEOPLE WOULD ADOPT MORE OFTEN...

IF YOU GET A CHANCE CHECK OUT THIS LINK
IT MAY OPEN YOUR EYES THEY NEED OUR HELP...

RISE ABOVE AND RESCUE...

@PetRescuePollsH.R. Hunt

." Animal Rescue Where is our money going?petition2congress.com/3690/animal-re… PETITION TO #CONGRESS for investigation of #ASPCA #PETA #HSUS

21 minutes ago via webFavorite Retweet Reply

http://www.petition2congress.com/3690/animal-rescue-where-is-our-money-going/

PROMISES

  YOU EVER WONDER IF ALL THE PROMISES THAT YOU NEVER KEPT ARE THE
     REASON EVERY TIME SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN IT DOESN'T...

JUST A THOUGHT MAYBE WE SHOULD RISE ABOVE US AND KEEP ARE PROMISES.

GREATNESS

MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING THAT IS GREATNESS...
  WE ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO RISE ABOVE US AND MAKE
                                               GREATNESS!!

FIRM FEET

I THINK THE WORLD IS UPSIDE DOWN MOST OF THE TIME.
   AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR FEET FIRMLY ON THE
       GROUND YOU ARE MOST LIKELY GOING TO TRIP....

                             RISE ABOVE THE STUMBLE.

LIVING

SO TI'S BEEN A WHILE . LET'S SEE WHERE DO I BEGIN
 FIRST OF ALL MY SONS ARE ABOUT TO DEAL WITH
                                       REALITY...

 THAT'S RIGHT SUMMER ENDS IN LIKE TWO WEEKS
  REMEMBER THAT FEELING MAN IT'S LIKE A PAIN
           IN YOUR GUT YOU CAN'T GET RID OF...

     IF WE CAN ONLY MAKE THEM KNOW WHAT
   IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE TO WORK EVERY DAY
   THEY WOULD FEEL A HECK OF A LOT BETTER.

 IT'S BEEN A GREAT SUMMER I GOT A CHANCE TO
GO BACK EAST TO THE LAKE I LOVE SACANDAGA
   RELAXED FOR TWO DAYS WITH MY BUDDIES

 AND THEN TOOK A ROAD TRIP TO CALIFORNIA
                     WITH MY WIFE AND BOYS
    WE WENT TO ALL THE AMUSEMENT PARKS
   BUT MY FAVORITE WAS GOING TO LAGUNA
     BEACH WE STOOD RIGHT ON THE BEACH
               FOR FIVE DAYS. IT WAS GREAT...

      SOMETIMES YOU FORGET ABOUT LIVING
 UNTIL YOU STOP AND SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE
                                      WE LOVE...

   I SPENT 17 DAYS ON VACATION IT MADE ME
   REALIZE LIVING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
              LIFE IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.

THAT MEANS WORK HAS TO TAKE A BACKSEAT
 TO LIFE SOMEHOW LIFE BEING WORK THAT IS.

 I NEED TO RISE ABOVE AND MAKE MY WORK
                                       LIVING...

    
                             

WORDS TO LIVE BY

   i heard something disturbing today that made me think of these words to live by

            LIVE TO TELL THE STORY, NOT TO BE THE STORY TOLD...

if you find yourself in a bad situation and it's possible you can get hurt in some way.                  
                                   just RISE ABOVE the bad and leave...

SCHOOLS OUT

WOW! ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR GONE THIS MEANS SO MUCH TO MY BOYS.
REMEMBER THAT FEELING THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL COMING HOME KNOWING
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING BUT JUST HANG OUT AND HAVE FUN...

SO I'M SITTING HERE AND I'M THINKING HOW GREAT THE BOYS DID THIS YEAR.

AND THEN BAM IT HIT ME EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAVE TO WORK
IT'S LIKE I HAVE THE SUMMER OFF.
I DON'T HAVE TO GET UP EARLY TO TAKE THEM TO SCHOOL
NOW I'M WALKING AROUND WITH A SMILE...

AND THEN I'M THINKING OH MY GOD IT TOOK ME THIS LONG TO REALIZE
THIS IS WHAT MY PARENTS FELT WHEN I GOT OUT OF SCHOOL!
I NEED TO RISE ABOVE THE THOUGHT THAT I COULD SLEEP A EXTRA TWO HOURS
AND REALIZE THAT I NEED TO FIND SOMETHING FOR MY SONS TO DO ALL SUMMER!

IS TODAY THE END

IF THIS WAS YOUR LAST DAY
WOULD YOU BE ON FACEBOOK?

WOULD YOU TELL SOMEBODY
SOME DEEP DARK SECRET THAT
YOU NEVER TOLD ANYBODY...

WOULD YOU BE ON TWITTER?

WOULD YOU GO OUT AND SPEND
ALL THE MONEY YOU DON'T
HAVE ON SOMETHING CRAZY?

BY THE WAY THAT'S THE
ONE I WOULD DO!

WOULD YOU TAKE TODAY OFF
AND SPEND IT WITH YOUR FAMILY?

WOULD YOU PANIC EVEN
THOUGH IT WOULDN'T HELP?

WOULD YOU EVEN REALLY
WANT TO KNOW...

I SAY WE RISE ABOVE AND LIVE
LIFE LIKE TOMORROW IS THE END...

BECAUSE THE ONE THING I DO KNOW
FOR SURE IS IT WILL BE THE END
TOMORROW FOR MANY PEOPLE
WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHO WE ARE...

LIVE LOVE AND RISE ABOVE.

POSITIVE IS

   THE WAY YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ONES YOU LOVE.
THE WORD YOU BEEN WAITING TO HEAR FOR YEARS.

POSITIVE IS ELECTRIC, ENCOURAGING, DANGEROUS!

      IT'S WHEN YOU FIND OUT WITHOUT A DOUBT
                 AND NEED TO MAKE A DECISION...

                                     POSITIVE IS
                  WHAT THE WORST DISEASES ARE.
                                           AND
                          WHAT THE BEST CURE IS!

                    POSITIVELY RISE ABOVE YOU...

WORDS

WORDS ARE EVERYTHING.
I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT
WORDS CAN MAKE YOU
FALL IN LOVE AND THEY
CAN MAKE YOU HATE!

WORDS IN ADVERTISING
CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND
EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T
KNOW IF THEY ARE TRUE!

WORDS DIRECT YOU ON
WHERE TO GO AND WHAT
TO DO EVERY DAY!

TO HEAR
I LOVE YOU.
I MISS YOU.
IT'S A BOY.
IT'S A GIRL.
DADDY I LOVE YOU.
MOMMY I LOVE YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS YOUR GRANDPARENTS...

I CAN GO ON WITH SOME BAD WORDS
I'M SURE YOU GET THE POINT...

AND THE REASON FOR THINKING OF WORDS TODAY.
I WAS THINKING OF THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE DEAF AND BLIND...

RISE ABOVE YOUR CHOICE OF WORDS
THEY MEAN MORE THAN YOU MAY THINK...

CREATIVITY IS IN ALL OF US

THE LIFE YOU WERE GIVEN IS LIKE A BLOCK OF CLAY!
ONLY YOU CAN MOLD IT IN TO SOMETHING GREAT...

THIS IS SUCH A TRUE STATEMENT.
THE ONLY THING IS MY BLOCK OF LIFE HAS BEEN
REMOLDED SO MANY TIMES I WORRY I WON'T
FIND MY GREATNESS...

BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY THE POINT.
THE POINT IS TRYING TO BE A BETTER PERSON!
WHICH IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING.

I THINK IN REALITY I KNOW I HAVE A GREAT LIFE!
I JUST TRY TO DO TOO MUCH AT LEAST IN MY HEAD THAT IS...

ASK YOURSELF DO WANT TO BE A REPLICA OF OTHERS
OR DO YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR OWN MOLD...

SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY HAVE NO TALENT.
LITTLE DO THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF A GREAT SCULPTURE...

RISE ABOVE YOU.
AND WORK ON YOUR GREATEST MASTERPIECE!

BAD WATER

OK I KNOW IT IS A GOOD THING THAT BIN LADEN IS DEAD...
BUT IT KIND OF SCARES ME.
FIRST OF ALL BEING FROM NEW YORK AND SINCE I WAS
THERE ON 911
I KNOW HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO SO MANY PEOPLE
FINALLY SOME KIND OF CLOSURE....

ONE OF THE SCARY THINGS IS YOU REMEMBER I LIVE IN
THE DESERT IN ARIZONA. AND I WENT TO WORK ON 5-2-11
AND NOT ONE PERSON MENTIONED THAT WE GOT HIM!

THAT ALONE IS SCARY...

I THINK MOST PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT DIRECTLY AFFECTED
BY 911 DON'T EVEN THINK TWICE ABOUT IT.

ANYWAY, I THINK ABOUT ALL THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON
IN THE WORLD SINCE 911 TORNADOES,TSUNAMIS,HEAT
SNOW STORMS, THE ECONOMY,OIL SPILLS...

AND IT MAKES ME THINK OF A BOOK THAT SAYS
THIS STUFF WOULD BE HAPPENING...

AM I A BELIEVER ?

THIS BOOK SAYS THAT OUR WATER WILL BE CONTAMINATED
AND WE HAD THAT BIG OIL MESS BUT NOW AFTER BIN LADEN
HAS BEEN BURIED AT SEA I'M THINKING YOU CAN'T GET
ANYMORE CONTAMINATED THAN THAT....

RISE ABOVE AND DON'T SWALLOW THE WATER...

TALL PINES

TALL PINES THEY RISE ABOVE US LIKE PROTECTIVE UMBRELLAS
                               TO ALL THAT IS BELOW THEM.

        THEY SHOWER US WITH SHADE ON HOT SUMMER DAYS

               THERE AROMA OF PINE IS COMFORTING TO US

        WHEN THERE NEEDLES DROP THEY COAT THE GROUND
                             LIKE A BEAUTIFUL COMFORTER
                FOR ALL THE WILDLIFE BELOW TO REST ON

 JUST SOME WORDS ON THESE TALL TREES THAT RISE ABOVE US...

                     
                                                              



BAD HAIR DAY

OK SO TODAY I DECIDE TO TRY NOT TO SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE FOR A WHILE.
THE DAY WAS GOING GOOD THE USUAL COFFEE, BACON, THE NEWS PAPER.
I'M THINKING IT'S EARLY I'LL GO GET MY HAIRCUT.

I GET THERE AND THE GIRL THAT CUTS MY HAIR IS NOT THERE
OK DON'T EVEN THINK ANYTHING NEGATIVE JUST ROLL WITH IT...

WELL I MUST HAVE BOUGHT MY CALENDAR AT THE DOLLAR STORE
BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS NATIONAL BAD HAIRCUT DAY...

I MEAN THIS GIRL WAS LIKE HOW'S IT LOOK I HAD TO TELL HER FIVE TIMES
SHE MISSED SOME.

AND THEN SHE'S TELLING ME HOW BAD HER EYESIGHT IS. " REALLY "
ALL I'M THINKING IS THE PERSON WHO HIRED HER SHOULD BE FORCED
TO GET A HAIRCUT FROM HER...

WELL I DECIDED TO RISE ABOVE MY EVIL THOUGHTS
POLITELY SAY THANK YOU AND GO HOME AND RECUT MY HAIR...

THANK GOD IT'S ONLY HAIR AND IT'LL GROW BACK!
I AM GLAD I DIDN"T HAVE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR ANYTHING TODAY...

I THINK I DID PRETTY GOOD WITH NOT SAYING ANYTHING NEGATIVE.
ALTHOUGH SOME MAY CONSIDER THIS AS SAYING SOMETHING NEGATIVE...

OH WELL HOPE YOUR DAYS POSITIVE!

SUCCESS IS ?

I WAS THINKING ABOUT SUCCESS AND WEALTH AND WHAT MAKES IT SO ATTRACTIVE.
IT'S NOT JUST THE FACT THAT YOU COULD BUY ANYTHING YOU WANT...

SUCCESS TO ME IS THE FEELING OF ACHIEVEMENT, THE FEELING YOU GET FROM
SEEING SOMETHING YOU WORKED SO HARD ON. YOUR THOUGHTS BECOME REALITY!

SUCCESS FOR ME COMES TO ME IN MANY WAYS.
MY PAINTINGS, RESTORING OLD CARS, GOING TO WORK AND DOING A GOOD JOB,
I COULD GO ON BUT MY FAVORITE SUCCESS IS FAMILY!!

WE ARE ALL LOOKING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER...

SUCCESS MAY BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!

YOU JUST NEED TO RISE ABOVE AND LOOK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION...

CRYING OVER SPILT MILK...

I WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE,
YOU KNOW THE ONES
THAT AFTER LOOKING FOR THE MILK
FOR THEIR MORNING COFFEE
JUST TO FIND OUT THERE IS NONE
THEY JUST GO ON WITHOUT
MISSING A BEAT, YOU KNOW
I'LL JUST HAVE IT BLACK
OR BE RIGHT BACK GOING TO GET MILK...
I KNOW I'M BABBLING ABOUT NOTHING,
BUT WHEN THERE'S NO MILK
IT REALLY RUINS MY DAY
ANYWAY I WANT TO RISE ABOVE ME
AND BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
I JUST NEED TO STOP
CRYING OVER SPILT MILK...

HAPPY EASTER

                                                    I WILL RISE ABOVE ME TODAY.

                             AND THANK GOD FOR THE RICH LIFE HE HAS GIVING US.

GOOD CLEAN FUN

                   SO HERE I AM TRYING TO GET BACK ON MY BLOGGER TRACK.
                           I THOUGHT I'D SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU TODAY.
                            IF YOU READ MY BLOG YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS
                                 OVER AND OVER I SHOULD BE IN ADVERTISING..

                            ANYWAY THE OTHER DAY AT WORK WE GOT A NEW
                                            BATH PRODUCT IN CALLED STICKUMS.
                            BASICALLY SUCTION CUP SOAP DISHES AND HOOKS.

                    THIS IS MY ATTEMPT TO GENERATE SALES ON THIS PRODUCT.

                     I DON'T KNOW MAYBE I'M CRAZY BUT EVERYBODY SEEMED TO
                                                SMILE WHEN THEY LOOKED AT IT...

                                               TOO BAD I HAD TO TAKE IT DOWN.
        BUT ANYWAY EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT IT THE CORNERS OF MY MOUTH
                                                                    RISE ABOVE...

RISING ABOVE THE BLOCK

I'VE GOT BLOCK...
IT'S THE SAME THING AS WRITER'S BLOCK
EXCEPT FOR I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF A WRITER...

BUT TECHNICALLY I'M WRITING SO I GUESS I DON'T HAVE BLOCK?
ANYWAY TOO MUCH GOING ON IN MY HEAD TO GET OUT THE GOOD STUFF.

I WON'T BORE YOU ANYMORE.
I WASN'T GOING TO WRITE TODAY BUT I NEEDED TO RISE ABOVE THE BLOCK...

HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY I'LL HAVE WRITERS BLOCK!

MAKING IT HAPPEN

OH WELL. RESULTS FROM MY INTERVIEW ARE BACK DID NOT GET THE POSITION..
SO I SENT OUT MY RESUME TO A BIGGER COMPANY, NO REGRETS IT'LL HAPPEN!

ANYWAY IN MY MAKING IT HAPPEN MOOD I DECIDED TO GIVE MY LITTLE
SKATEBOARDER SON DEAN THE ROOM HE ALWAYS WANTED

I GOT OUT THE WOOD AND MADE SOME SKATEBOARD WINDOW SILLS.

SOME OLD SKATEBOARD PARTS, MADE A COOL SHELF..

A HEADBOARD SIGN.

THE LITTLE LADY PAINTED AND PUT UP NEW CURTAINS
AND NOW HE HAS A COOL SKATEBOARD THEME ROOM.

JUST RISING ABOVE AND MAKING IT HAPPEN...

THERE IS NO BETTER TIME TO BE HAPPY THEN RIGHT NOW

           WITH A NEW DAY COMES NEW GOALS!
 SO TODAY I DECIDE TO GO AFTER MY NEW GOALS..

              EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A GOOD JOB,
AND I INTERVIEWED FOR A BETTER POSITION THERE.
   I AM GOING TO APPLY FOR JOBS THAT I KNOW,
                         I WOULD BE GREAT AT!

    I NEED TO GET BACK TO HAPPY, HAPPY MEANS,
                  WORKING AT A JOB YOU LIKE.
MONDAY TO FRIDAY. NO SATURDAYS OR SUNDAYS!
                 YOU SHOULD BE WITH FAMILY...
                
      REMEMBER THERE IS NO BETTER TIME TO BE
                      HAPPY THEN RIGHT NOW!

                       IT IS WHAT WE MAKE IT...
       RISE ABOVE AND GET YOUR HAPPY BACK!

SUNRISE

         THE ONE THING WE COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON IS A BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE...
    BUT FOR SOME REASON,LIKE MOST OF US I CANNOT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME
                                  I ACTUALLY WAITED AND WATCHED THE SUN RISE.

                                         ANYWAY TODAY I LEFT EARLY FOR WORK
               AND PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WATCH THE SUNRISE.

                                                         IT WAS TRULY BEAUTIFUL...
                                                    LIKE IT WAS GOD'S GIFT TO ME.

                               IT FELT GOOD WATCHING THE SUN RISE ABOVE ME...

KIDS ARE FUNNY

BOYS WILL BE BOYS, TODAY AFTER I PICK UP MY SONS FROM SCHOOL.
WE PULL IN THE DRIVEWAY AND GET OUT AND MY ONE SON IS TRYING
TO GET OUR ATTENTION.

YOU GUYS HAVE TO SEE THIS IS ALL HE KEPT ON SAYING. OVER AND OVER.

SO WE FINALLY GO TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, AND HE SHOWS US THIS.
CHECK IT OUT. A DEAD BUG. COOL RIGHT? I'M THINKING OK.

BUT THE FUNNY PART IS. HE SAYS THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE
LOOK AT THIS.

HE GOES LOOK AT THIS THAT BIRD DEFINITELY HAD TO GO NUMBER TWO.
YES THAT'S BIRD POOP! AND YES IN THE MIDDLE IS A NUMBER TWO...

ANYWAY, NOW WE ARE GOING TO RISE ABOVE THE POOP AND
LOOK FOR MORE NUMBERS.

47 YEARS

 THE WAY I FIGURE IT, THAT'S HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO OPEN MY EYES,
 TO WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND ME, I'M NOT SAYING I WAS COMPLETELY
        BLIND TO EVERYTHING JUST MOST OF THE IMPORTANT STUFF...

 SO MUCH HAS CHANGED LIKE MOVING A COUPLE OF THOUSAND MILES
      AWAY FROM EVERYTHING THAT MADE ME FEEL COMFORTABLE.

        IT'S THE CLOSEST THING I COULD IMAGINE TO BE LIVING IN A
                                               FOREIGN COUNTRY!

     YET IT'S BEEN SUCH A POSITIVE MOVE, DEPENDING ON NOBODY
                                 LEARNING TO FEND FOR FOR MYSELF.

LIFE IS GOOD! AND I KNOW I'VE SAID IT BEFORE BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT
      AGAIN YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW WHICH DIRECTION TO LOOK!

     I AM NOT SAYING EVERYTHING IS EASIER NOW, I JUST KNOW WHAT
  I WANT TO DO AND WHERE I WANT TO BE, AND I AM DOING IT A LITTLE
         BIT AT A TIME, AND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS I AM GOING IN
                                               THE RIGHT DIRECTION...

     THIS IS A GREAT FEELING, TO RISE ABOVE DOING WHAT EVERYONE
          ELSE AROUND YOU IS DOING, AND BECOMING INDEPENDENT,
               GOING AFTER YOUR GOALS IN YOUR OWN DIRECTION!

YOU SHOULD

FOR YEARS I HAVE BEEN PUSHING MY THOUGHTS ON PEOPLE.
             YOU SHOULD DO THIS, YOU SHOULD DO THAT...

    I THINK BACK AND IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN COMING OFF AS
                                         Mr KNOW IT ALL.

     BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I INTEND, I WAS TRYING TO GIVE
           ENCOURAGING WORDS LIKE YOU SHOULD GO FOR
           THAT JOB YOU WANT, YOU WOULD BE GOOD AT IT...

     I THINK THE PROBLEM WAS I WOULD START BY SAYING
                                            IF I WAS YOU.

  WELL SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT
                                         YOUR OWN LIFE.

              I HAVE BEEN LOOKING REAL HARD AT MINE...
    FOR THE LAST YEAR, IF I SAD TO MYSELF "YOU SHOULD"
         I DID! AND IT'S WORKING I'M IN A BETTER PLACE...

                I JUST INTERVIEWED FOR A JOB AT WORK
 NORMALLY I WOULD SAY, I WISH I COULD HAVE THAT JOB.
AND NOT GO FOR IT. BUT THIS TIME I PUT MY NAME ON A BIG
            LIST OF PEOPLE HOPING FOR THIS GREAT JOB.

 I STILL DON'T KNOW THE OUTCOME YET, BUT THE PAY OFF
   FOR ME WAS OUT OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE ON THAT LIST
         ONLY SIX PEOPLE QUALIFIED FOR A INTERVIEW.  

            THAT MADE "YOU SHOULD" FEEL REAL GOOD...

                   I GUESS WHAT I I'M TRYING TO SAY IS,
         YOU SHOULD RISE ABOVE YOU AND GO FOR IT!

DON'T BE CHEAP

can we talk about landscapers for one minute, these people are the best investment you can make. i mean for gods sake on my day off do i really want to be mowing, trimming, raking, digging, you know what i mean. and what dose god sake mean anyway? oh well all i can say is smart moves in life having a professional fix your teeth and getting a landscaper need i say more!!

                           RISE ABOVE AND SPEND MONEY WHEN YOU NEED TO
                                                 AND YOU CAN SMILE DOING IT...

MY CRAZY THOUGHTS

OK SO AGAIN, I ALWAYS SAY I WISH I WAS IN ADVERTISING
BECAUSE I THINK OF FUNNY CRAZY THINGS....

ANYWAY A SHORT STORY "KIND OF"
YESTERDAY WAS MY DAY OFF SO I DECIDED TO
WASH MY OLD CONVERTIBLE I NEVER CLEANED IT
AFTER WE DROVE TO VEGAS LAST. IT'S BEEN
SITTING IN THE GARAGE ALL DIRTY...

ANYWAY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD YOU ALWAYS SEE THESE TEENAGERS
RIDING THERE BIKES DRESSED IN WHITE SHIRTS BLACK TIES TRYING
TO RECRUIT PEOPLE FOR THERE CHURCH...

THERE I AM IN MY GARAGE CLEANING OUT SOME OLD STUFF
AND TWO YOUNG MEN COME PEDALLING UP AND THEY START TALKING
TO ME ABOUT CHRIST.

SO I'M LISTENING TO THEM AS I'M LEANING ON MY BOW-FLEX.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THIS PIECE OF GYM EQUIPMENT...

 

I SPOKE ABOUT IT ONCE BEFORE,

THAT'S IT THE ONE WITH ALL THE JUNK ON IT!
ANYWAY I FEEL LIKE I'M DRAGGING THIS ON, I HOPE I DIDN'T LOSE YOU YET.
SO I HEAR THEM OUT. GIVE THEM BOTTLES OF WATER CAUSE THEY LOOKED
AWFULLY HOT! REMEMBER I'M IN THE DESERT...

THEY THANK ME FOR MY TIME AND LEFT...

NOW FOR THE CRAZY FUNNY PART, AS I AM LISTENING TO THEM AND
LEANING ON MY BOW-FLEX ALL I COULD THINK IS

PROBABLY THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE, FAITH IN YOUR GOD
AND KEEPING HEALTHY ARE THE HARDEST THINGS TO DO!

SO I'M THINKING WE SHOULD HAVE GYMS WITH CHURCHES IN THEM.
SO THAT WE COULD BE FAITHFUL AND HEALTHY AT THE SAME TIME...

THEIR SLOGAN COULD BE,
PRAY WHILE YOU WORK OUT, THE STRONGEST CHURCH ON EARTH!

I KNOW I DEFINITELY NEED TO RISE ABOVE THIS AND GO TO CHURCH...

TO BE YOU

LIFE HAS A FUNNY WAY OF SHOWING US HOW GOOD WE REALLY HAVE IT!

        SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO FALL AND BREAK YOUR FACE JUST TO,
                              REALIZE HOW BEAUTIFUL WE REALLY ARE...

                    WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS IN YOUR LIFE,
                          ALL YOU WISH FOR IS TO BE YOURSELF AGAIN.
                                                NOT SOMEBODY ELSE!

                        RISE ABOVE YOURSELF AND BE WHO YOU ARE...

TUNNEL VISION

YOU KNOW THOSE THINGS THAT THEY PUT ON HORSES
SO THEY CAN'T SEE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT ONLY STRAIGHT.

I BELIEVE WE ALL NEED SOMETHING LIKE THIS, TO BAD THEY
DIDN'T MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR US THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE...

WE TRULY NEED TO LOOK STRAIGHT THE LOOKING
LEFT AND RIGHT STUFF IS GETTING IN THE WAY!

FOCUS PEOPLE!

LIFE IS TO SHORT TO BE LOOKING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION...

REMEMBER LIFE IS GOOD YOU JUST NEED TO LOOK IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION!

RISE ABOVE AND LOOK IN THE DIRECTION THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY...

JUST SAY IT

HELLO, WE SAY IT TO ARE FAMILY AND FRIENDS PROBABLY
BECAUSE WE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THEM?

BUT A STRANGER, GOD FORBID THIS IS LIKE VOODOO...
DON'T GET ME WRONG I KNOW THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS
READING THIS RIGHT NOW WHO LIKE TO SAY HELLO TO
EVERYBODY, THAT IS IF ANYBODY IS READING THIS!

BUT REALLY, ARE WE AFRAID WE WILL MAKE A FRIEND
OR SOMETHING CRAZY LIKE THAT?

I DARE YOU TO SPEAK TO ALL THE PEOPLE YOU COME IN
CONTACT WITH AND I BET YOU WILL FEEL GOOD THAT DAY!

WE NEED TO RISE ABOVE THE UNKNOWN HELLO...

RISE AND SURVIVE

TRYING TO SURVIVE IN A WORLD THAT IS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN...
AND THE ONLY ONES WE HAVE TO BLAME ARE OURSELVES!

LIFE SHOULD BE SIMPLE.
YOU SHOULD WORK TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE
LIKE ARE PARENTS USE TO DO...

INSTEAD WE WORK HARD TO PAY FOR THE 22 INCH CHROME RIMS ON  OUR SUV!

WE WENT FROM SURVIVAL, TO TRYING TO LOOK GOOD.
I ALWAYS SAY THIS, I WISH WE COULD GO BACK TO ( ON AND OFF )
ALL THE GADGETS ARE GETTING IN THE WAY!

TODAY IF YOU'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING CRAZY,
IT SEEMS YOU DON'T FIT IN!

WE NEED TO GO BACK TO SIMPLE TIMES,
WHEN WE SAVED MONEY FOR THINGS WE NEEDED
LIKE FOOD AND WATER, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN...

BACK WHEN PLASTIC SURGERY WASN'T SOMETHING
A GIRL GETS FOR HER 16th  BIRTHDAY.
INSTEAD YOU GOT IT BECAUSE YOU HAD A BIRTH DEFECT!

TODAY YOU LOOK AROUND AND YOU SEE A LOT OF FAKE...

WE NEED TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO BE THEMSELVES!
NOT TO MIRROR OTHERS...

LIVE, LOVE AND RISE ABOVE

RISING ABOVE IT IS WHAT IT IS

WELL I HAVEN'T BEEN WRITING LATELY BECAUSE I DECIDED
TO PRACTICE WHAT I PREACH!

SO INSTEAD OF WRITING ABOUT RISING ABOVE ME....
I GOT OFF MY BUTT WENT OUT GOT SOME HANDYMAN
JOBS... REMEMBER IT IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT!

GOD GAVE ME THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH MY HANDS.
AS LONG AS WE ARE HEALTHY WE ALL HAVE THAT
SAME ABILITY!

THAT'S HOW THIS WHOLE THING STARTED YOU KNOW.
EVERYTHING AROUND YOU WAS PUT TOGETHER
BY SOMEBODIES HANDS...

IF YOU NEED TO WORK IT'S OUT THERE IT MAY NOT
BE THAT BIG PAYING JOB. BUT ALL THOSE
LITTLE JOBS ADD UP!

SO AFTER HEARING PEOPLE SAY ( IT IS WHAT IT IS )
AND I WOULD STOP THEM AND SAY
NO! ( IT IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT )
I PROVED TO MYSELF THAT ( IT IS WHAT IT IS ) IS
JUST A WAY TO GIVE UP!

SO AFTER WORKING THOSE EXTRA JOBS.
I TOOK A COUPLE OF DAYS TO SPEND WITH MY FAMILY
DID SOME FUN THINGS FOR MY KIDS WENT
OUT TO EAT AND DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
THE MONEY...

I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS HARD WORK PAYS OFF.
RISE ABOVE YOURSELF IT IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT...

ONLY

OH MY GOD THIS WORD!
ONLY...
I CAN NOT BELIEVE EVERY
TIME I WALK IN A STORE,
OR PICK UP THE PHONE,
SOMEONE IS TRYING TO
SELL ME SOMETHING.
THEY STILL THINK BY SAYING
ONLY, IT'S GOING TO WORK.
I STILL CAN NOT AFFORD A
CAR PAYMENT THAT
IS ONLY $600. I DON'T
CARE HOW MANY ONLY'S
YOU THROW AT ME!
THE ONLY THING WORSE IS,
ONLY FOR A LIMITED TIME...
OK, I WON'T GO ON. JUST
NEEDED TO GET THAT OUT.
I WILL ONLY RISE ABOVE THIS
BECAUSE I HAVE TO!

LONG DAY

MY MIND IS BLANK TONIGHT AND I REFUSE TO WRITE ANYTHING NEGATIVE...
                               BECAUSE I CAN! WHY IS THAT SO SIMPLE?

                      ANYWAY I WILL RISE ABOVE ME AND GO TO SLEEP.

WORKING IN BAD CONDITIONS

I DON'T MEAN HEAT, SNOW, RAIN...
WHAT I MEAN IS YOU ARE DOING A JOB
AND THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE WORKING FOR
IS STANDING OVER YOU THE WHOLE TIME...

THIS IS THE WORST CONDITION IN WHICH TO WORK IN.
IF YOU CAN DO THIS WITH NO PROBLEM, YOU MY FRIEND
HAVE RISEN ABOVE ...

LIFE IS GOOD

LIFE IS GOOD! THE ONLY PROBLEM IS YOU JUST NEED TO
               KNOW WHAT DIRECTION TO LOOK IN!

     JUST LOOK IN THE DIRECTION THAT DOESN'T HURT...
               AND YOU WILL RISE ABOVE THE REST!!

CRAZY PEOPLE

       I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER CRAZY PEOPLE.

        WHAT I MEAN IS BACK IN THE DAY YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD
        AND COME TO A STOP LOOK OVER AT THE CAR NEXT TO YOU AND  
                                SEE A PERSON TALKING TO THEMSELVES!

               OR WALK BY SOMEBODY IN THE STREET THAT IS TALKING
                                               OUT LOUD TO NOBODY...

        TODAY WITH CELL PHONES AND BLUE TOOTH THESE PEOPLE JUST
                                       BLEND IN IT'S A SCARY THOUGHT!

                                           CRAZY IS THE NEW NORMAL...

THINK ABOUT IT LOOK AROUND ARE THEY CRAZY OR JUST ON THE PHONE!

             I NEED TO RISE ABOVE THIS THOUGHT IT'S JUST TO SCARY...

OLD PEOPLE "REALLY"

OLD PEOPLE REALLY, IS THAT ALL THEY ARE TO US.
IT'S SAD THESE PEOPLE, THE ONES WE JUST SEE AS OLD.
NO MATTER WHAT THEY DID IN LIFE WE SEE, OLD PEOPLE!

THEY COULD HAVE BEEN INVENTORS, TEACHERS, MODELS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. THEY ALL HAD PERSONAL LIVES
THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE.

THEY ARE ME AND YOU! HOW DO WE NOT RISE ABOVE
THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT JUST OLD PEOPLE!

RISING ABOVE ME

THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I EVER HAD TO DO.
RISING ABOVE ME THAT IS!

WHEN I DECIDED TO WRITE THIS BLOG SOME 90 PLUS DAYS AGO
IT WAS TO RISE ABOVE ALL THE SILLY STUPID BAD THINGS
THAT HAPPEN EVERY DAY...

I WAS PUT TO THE TEST THE OTHER DAY WHEN I WENT
TO GET MY CAR WASHED, THEY ALWAYS ADVERTISE A 3 DOLLAR
CAR WASH. SO, I GO AND THE MAN SAYS 5 DOLLARS
SO I THINK OK IT'S OVER AND I PAY THE 5 DOLLARS

ANYWAY, THE REASON I'M GETTING MY CAR WASHED IS
I WENT THROUGH MUD. SO, I PULL UP AND THE MAN
POWER WASHES ONLY ONE SIDE OF MY CAR BECAUSE
ANOTHER WORKER IS POWER WASHING A PART ON THE
OTHER SIDE, I'M THINKING GREAT!

SO I BITE MY TONGUE, AND I RISE ABOVE AND GO THROUGH
THE CAR WASH. WHEN GET OUT OF THE CAR I START DRYING
OFF MY CAR. AS I AM DOING THIS ONE OF THOSE GUYS
THAT SPINS THE SIGNS WALKS BY,

AND THAT'S WHEN I SEE IT!
THE SIGN HE IS CARRYING SAYS 3 DOLLAR CAR WASH.
SON OF A ( BAD WORD )!

THAT'S WHEN I FELT THE NEW YORKER IN ME COMING OUT,
FROM THE VERY BOTTOM OF MY SOUL.
I WAS ABOUT TO LOSE IT!

THAT IS WHEN I THOUGH OF THAT GUY!
THE ONE THAT POWER WASHED ONE SIDE OF MY CAR.
IF I WAS TO COMPLAIN, THE ONLY PERSON THAT
WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN TROUBLE IS THAT GUY!

BY THE WAY, THERE WAS STILL MUD ON ONE SIDE OF MY CAR!

SO ONE BAD CAR WASH AND 2 DOLLARS LESS IN MY POCKET.
I ROSE ABOVE MY RIPPED OFF FEELING, GOT IN MY CAR,
AND DROVE AWAY....

THAT GUY DID NOT KNOW IT, BUT I MADE HIS DAY AND MINE!

I SURVIED

OK FIRST OF ALL CAMP IS DEFINITELY FOR KIDS!

DON'T GET ME WRONG I HAD FUN WATCHING MY SON
WITH ALL HIS SCHOOL FRIENDS HAVING FUN...

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

THE FOOD I'M NOT GOING TO SUGAR COAT IT.

BECAUSE IT STILL WOULD NOT BE EDIBLE!

THE ROOMS, WELL AS BAD AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
I DID NOT KNOW KIDS COULD SMELL SO BAD,
I THOUGHT THAT WAS OVER WHEN WE STOPPED CHANGING DIAPERS...

WELL I ROSE ABOVE IT ALL AND  HAD FUN. ENJOYED SOME DAYS WITH MY SON....

GOING TO CAMP

TOMORROW I AM GOING AWAY FOR THREE DAYS
I VOLUNTEERED TO BE ONE OF THE CHAPERONE'S
AT MY SON'S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE CAMP..

IT'S UP IN THE WOODS AND THERE IS ACTIVITIES
ALL DAY!

I'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
I'M IN CHARGE OF MY OWN GROUP OF BOY'S
EVERYTHING FROM MAKING SURE THEY
EAT, SHOWER, GO TO CLASSES AND SLEEP...

SO I HAVE TO TRY TO BE FUN AND STRICT
AND MAKE IT ALL WORK OUT!

IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING...

I'M SURE I'LL HAVE A LOT TO SAY WHEN I GET BACK.
I JUST HOPE I DON'T EMBARRASS MY SON!

IF ANYONE HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS, I.LL TAKE THEM!

ANYWAY I WON'T BE ABLE TO BLOG FOR THREE DAY'S
WHEN I AM THERE I WILL HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO TIME...

I AM GOING TO RISE ABOVE THE FACT THAT I SWORE
TO MY SELF I WOULD BLOG EVERY DAY!

ABOVE ME

THE WHOLE THING IS.
ALL OF IT, ABOVE ME!
I LIVE FOR OTHERS...
I RISE ABOVE EVERY DAY!
THIS IS WHAT WE DO
FOR PEOPLE WE LOVE....

QUENCH YOUR THIRST

ALWAYS THIRSTY NEVER SATISFIED!
THIS APPLIES TO ALL OF US...

THINK ABOUT IT, WE NEED TO RISE ABOVE THIS!!!