When Possibilities Became Opportunities

It has been a couple of days since I returned from my trip and I am still sort of clearing my head. It was jam packed and when I think about it I end up smiling because it is proof that sometimes you can turn possibilities into opportunities.

That is of especial interest to me for a whole variety of reasons not the least of which is that it validates a personal theory of mine.

The outcome of some of the things that took place during my time abroad will have a significant impact upon my life, regardless of what happens.

But the good news for me is that there is only upside to be seen.

In related news I have decided that I really need to save a couple of bucks for an iPad. It would have been quite useful on the plane and is something that I will use daily.

So just in case the iPad fairy is listening, you know where to send one.

Things you might enjoy reading:

Lessons for Being Human

Things you might enjoy watching

Mobile Blogging

This is a post from my mobile phone. If there are numerous grammatical errors or spelling mistakes please forgive me.

To be perfectly honest, I'm testing this out to see how it works.

This is my first time using the mobile app.  But as Yoda says there is no try.

I did not bring my laptop with me, so I am almost completely disconnected.

It is kind of refreshing to be like this. But as you can see, I haven't let go of the collective yet. Or maybe it's the opposite way around. :)

Where the Hell is Matt? 2012

Been posting these videos for as long as Matt has made them. Always fun to watch.

All My Bags Are Packed- Father's Day Post

Spent a chunk of the day packing, sorting and sifting through things. We're one step closer to launching the next tour of the Traveling Jack show.

Most of the prep work has been done- ticket has been purchased, clothes have been selected etc. Got a few days before launch and I am excited.

It is good stuff that I am looking at but I would be lying if I said anticipation wasn't making me a little bit crazy. Yet because I am a walking contradiction there is a piece of me that is a bit nervous.

Reminds me a bit of Bruce singing Cautious Man. A couple of sections of the song come to mind:

"Bill Horton was a cautious man of the road
He walked lookin' over his shoulder and remained faithful to its code
When something caught his eye he'd measure his need
And then very carefully he'd proceed" 

and

"On his right hand Billy'd tattooed the word love and on his left hand was the word fear
And in which hand he held his fate was never clear" 

If I have learned one thing in life it is that you can't ever get to where you are going if you aren't willing to walk through the doors that open. Sometimes door number one is the path to glory and sometimes it is not, but you can't figure it out while standing on the outside looking in.

So I am rolling the dice and giving in to chance and choice to see what happens. Ain't life grand.

Changes and Travel

Won't be very long before the Traveling Jack show hits the road again. Got the word today that a big trip is coming and am sort of excited about it.

Can't say much and won't say much other than if things go the way I expect there will be some pretty big changes. I am excited about it but a bit nervous.

The unknown offers so many possibilities. I choose to look at all this in the most positive way but that doesn't mean that my head isn't spinning a bit with the possibilities.

I like possibilities because they open us up to opportunities and that is a good thing. Life isn't stagnant and you can't ever force time to stop. Can't move backwards so you can only walk forwards into the future and do the best you can to make it what you want.

Got to admit though that I am not as big a flyer as I used to be. Truth is airplane travel wears on me a bit but I am sure that I will get used to it again.

Parents Take The Law Into Their Own Hands

This story caught my eye. Two excerpts here:

- A Texas father caught a man sexually assaulting his 4-year-old daughter and punched him in the head repeatedly, killing him, authorities said.

and

Asked whether they would press charges against the father, the sheriff responded, "You have a right to defend your daughter. He acted in defense of his third person. Once the investigation is completed we will submit it to the district attorney who then submits it to the grand jury, who will decide if they will indict him."
Harmon described the dad as "very remorseful," adding that he didn't know the man was going to die.

Follow that up with this video

In concept we aren't supposed to take the law into our own hands but when you involve children and heinous crimes things can change dramatically.

Worth a Watch

A few videos that caught my eye. Still working on the redesign here.

Meet Me In The Echoes Of The Future

I was going to run this on one of my other blogs but decided to post it here instead. It is a blend of fiction and reality that I may go back to.

Los Angeles is home. It is where I was born and where I have lived my entire life. I have been privileged to travel all over the U.S. and to many different places around the world. I have seen a lot of cities and been through a lot of towns. 

I have wandered through villages and hiked across mountains that captured my eye and captivated my mind. These places I have seen are part of why I want to live to be a 1,000. 

I want to be more than a tourist. I want to do more than just pass through town. I don't want to be the daddy blogger who lives his dreams solely between the pixels, pictures and posts. I want more. I need more. But to do that I have to shake it up. I have to mix it up. 

I have to take all that my children have know and turn it upside down and inside out. That doesn't have to be a bad thing. It doesn't have to be wrong. It could be good. It could be great. It might be the best thing that ever happened, but I can't say for certain because I am not prescient.

++++++

I remember the day you said you loved me and I remember the day you said that we had bad timing. I remember the day you said that you would never forgive me for not finding you earlier. 

You said it during a telephone call so you didn't see me nod my head in agreement. It really wasn't my fault or anything that I could control, but I nodded my head because I liked making you happy. 

It was easy to do and I liked the way your eyes would light up when you smile. I liked the way your I could hear your voice smile. I liked all those things and more. 

You told me that when you were done you were done. You said that it wouldn't be possible to go back. I told you that I didn't believe those things nor did I accept them. You said that I didn't have a choice and to some extent you were right. 

I couldn't make you do anything or feel anything. 

All I could do was try to open your eyes to possibilities. Possibilities. Opportunities. Potential.

I said that I didn't want to go back in time because I am not who I was and you aren't who you were either.

We can't be who we were together or apart. But I am good with that because I know things. I asked you to meet me in the echoes of the future. You said ok and then later on you said I couldn't hold you to your promise. 

That is true and I am ok with that too. 

All I can do is try to open your eyes...again. Possibilities. Opportunities. Potential. I see a time in the future where you'll walk into the room and then take my hand. I'll smile and we'll walk through the door and find out what those echoes of the future look like...together.

++++++

These decisions and choices are based upon a combination of gut and informed decision. 

I can't say what will happen nor can I tell unless I try. Risks have to be assumed and chances taken because that is how it works. 

Reward doesn't exist without risk. Change is followed by more change and permanence is but a temporary fantasy.

 I tell my children that though I wish I could protect them from all that is painful I cannot. I can't and that is why I have to push them into some things that are uncomfortable because that is how they will learn to deal with the hard moments. 

It is not easy this job, but to quote Superchicken I knew the job was dangerous when I took it. Big risks can lead to big rewards Sometimes it takes a leap of faith. That leap is part of the search for the things that bring you joy. 

What do you think?

Spring Cleaning For Summer

Just took a hard look at the blog and realized a serious Spring Cleaning is long overdue. Since my focus is elsewhere I haven't paid enough attention to how this place looks and it has turned into a serious dump.

It is cluttered, chaotic and in need of some T.L.C.

I suppose it is fair to say that I need to figure out what I want to do with this place.I am not ready to shut it down or close up shop. This is where it all began and I like keeping it around for sentimental reasons.

I expect that I will start by changing templates and tweaking a few things.

What sort of changes would you like to see?

Father's Day Gifts

Ok kids I just signed up for Google Affiliate Ads and decided that I am going to use this post as a sort of test to see how it works.

If you want a regular post scroll down to the one below this or hang on and I should have something new up a bit later this evening.

What you are going to find here are a series of ads for different products that I think would make a good Father's Day Gift.

Are you ready? Let's turn this sucker on and see what happens:

Televisions: We have two models to choose from:

.



Computers: One lap top and one desk top





You can never have too much storage:



Kindle Fire


How about a camera:





Exercise equipment





Flashlight

Monday Night Music & Reading

We have an assortment of music and reading material for you tonight. First the music:

Ring of Fire- Johnny Cash
In My Life- Johnny Cash
For Emily Whenever I May Find Her- Simon & Garfunkel
April Come She Will-Simon & Garfunkel
Gone, Gone, Gone- Robert Plant & Allison Krauss

And now some reading material:

• 69 Reasons Why Fathers Make Better Lovers
• Don’t Be Like Inigo Montoya
• Bad Friends, Cluttered Design & Father’s Day
• What Happens When The Rabbi’s Daughter Sleeps With The Priest’s Son
• Better Than A Three Hour Tour- Shipwreck Not Required

Goodbye Richard Dawson

Dear Shmata Queen,

I told you he was gone. Don't argue with me, I know things. ;)