Florence, Italy

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After just a lovely time in Venice, I traveled to Florence via the Eurostar Train network, the European answer to the Japanese bullet trains...though still not as fast. However, in a matter of 2.5 hours, I traversed 165 miles more comfortably than in a plane. It was a great and fast trip. Upon arrival, I went directly to the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth Convent on Via Michelangelo, and checked in. It’s a different experience than staying in a hostel or hotel to stay in a convent. It was very clean, regimented...almost institutional. Yet, as I expected, there was a real peace and stillness about the grounds. By far, this was the most beautiful of all my accommodations - including the Carnival Freedom. Breakfast was included in my accommodations...as were table assignments and a German-speaking tablemate. Turns out that all of the nuns and most of the guests were all German-speakers. Just when I feel like I'm getting a little more comfortable with my buongiornos and no parlo italiano...I have to switch to gutenmorgen and no sprechen zi deutch. My brain hurt. And they'd have none of this Spanish business either. Actually, the nuns did speak Italian and we were able to come to an understanding. They were especially 'understanding' when it came time to settle up the bill ☺

So, after getting settled into my cloister, I headed for Il Duomo...basically the main church at the center of downtown Florence. Although I caught a bus downtown, I was consistently amazed by how many people were walking from place to place. Of course, there was the occasional Vespa (which I now understand means "wasp" in Italian) and the gas-crises' answer to the automobile, but for the most part people just walked from point A to point B. That also probably has a lot to do with why the only overweight people I ever saw were the tourists...getting in and out of their air conditioned busses and being led around by the nose by their Disneyesque daisy-wielding, Brittany headset-wearing tour guides. I walked around old Renaissance Florence and was completely enamored by the romance, history, and rhythm of this ancient city. While being carried along by these heady currents, I was swept into a small store and got a small...very small...bowl of pistachio and coconut gelato. After I had paid my €6 and continued down the street, once again in current of the Italian Lazy River, I realized that I had paid $9 for about 1/3 of a pint of ice cream. I laughed at the irony of the effort I had exerted to find the best deals for disposable thrift store clothes before I left, only to drop a ten-spot on two scoops in Italy.

I found my way into the Medici Chapel and saw where they're buried...along with Michelangelo's sculptures to honor them. Can you believe that I actually wept when walking around looking at those sculptures? I was actually reading Irving Stone's, The Agony and the Ecstasy...the fictionalized version of Michelangelo's life, from age 13 to his death. Perhaps that's what got me all verklempt. But I had the same overwhelming experience in Venice while riding the vaporetto at sunset down the Grand Canal.

The next day I had reservations at both the Accademia and the Uffizi, two of Italy's most popular museums and galleries. These were two other spots were reservations ahead of time saved me HOURS of standing in long lines. In the Accademia, I saw Michelangelo's original David. Although I've seen copies in other cities before, I am nevertheless always astounded at the sheer beauty of this sculpture...the perfection and artistic craft that went into freeing David from his block of white marble. I also went into the Santa Croce church, and saw the burial sites of Machiavelli (said, "the end justifies the means"), Marconi the physicist, Dante Alighieri the poet, Galileo the astronomer/scientist, and Michelangelo the artist - too sobering to walk among the final resting places of these HUGE men of history. Oh, yeah...I also saw John the Baptist's little finger. There's a picture of it if you're curious...and you know you are.

My last day in Florence, I took a leisurely morning just sampling espresso at any number of bars around the old city...actually, that's really no different than any other morning I spent in Italy...and then went to a half-day cooking class in a 1000 year old castle in the hills of Tuscany. I had originally signed up for the full day class, which included a tour of a winery - Oh yeah, it’s Italy. They even drink it for breakfast. - and sampling of olive oils. I changed my plans and opted just to meet up with the group later at the castle. While I waiting for them to arrive, I went to the top of the tower and looked out over the beautiful hillside. According to the owner of the castle, it was used by the Allies in WWII as a lookout post because of its great view. My host left me with a pair of binoculars and a hammock to rest until my other "cooks" arrived. While I was waiting, I noticed all these fresh herbs that they were growing on the roof of the tower. Upon closer inspection, I noticed one particular herb that is more commonly used in "baking." You'll have to just look at my pictures. We made homemade raviolis, filled with spinach, parmesan, and ricotta cheeses, and also fettuccini. After making our pasta, we cooked them and had lunch. The class and lunch were wonderful.

After saying so long to the Sisters of Saint Sassy, I was on my way to Siena...the hill country of Tuscany.

Venice, Italy

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Venice was so beautiful...my pictures don't really even do it justice. I've wondered which of the cities I visited in Italy was my favorite, but that's a tough question. Each city has its own character...qualities that make it so different from the other. Venice was definitely in its own category. A city made of islands, the only motorized transportation permitted are the water taxis and vaporettos, the motorized boats that zip the city's inhabitants and tourists around the island by way of the Grand Canal. Of course, there are the gondolas, used mostly by tourists and by locals for special occasions and weddings. I thought about dropping the €80 to ride around in one for an hour or so...but when I pictured myself, alone in a gondola in Venice, being serenaded by a confused and embarrassed gondolier...well, it was a scene I thought best kept to myself.

On the land portion of the island, the only way to get around is on foot...and you had better have two very capable feet to get from point A to point B. There are over 400 bridges spanning each of the little waterways around the island, some by slope and some by stair. Perhaps the smartest €3 that I spent my entire trip was on a map of Venice. With so many waterways, bridges, corners, etc., you cannot imagine how easy it is to get lost in such a small area. The map saved me numerous times when I ended up in blind alleys or in parts of the city that I couldn't identify. Fortunately, with so many blind corners and recessed doorways, I was able to "disappear" for a minute off the grid of very narrow pathways and reorient myself. Second only to ordering my coffee, I learned Italian for "Excuse me, please. Where is (fill-in-the-blank)?" without having to think about it. Even though I'm describing getting "lost" down dark alleyways, I never felt endangered or fearful. I was on an island, after all. As long as I wasn't underwater, I felt like my momentary misplacement of Michael would work itself out.

The city, itself, was beautiful. There were various piazzas around the city, filled in the evening with parents and children, lovers, and consumers of gelato. The most famous piazza was St. Mark's Square, the home of St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, and The Cafe Florian - a restaurant opened in 1720 (...that's a restaurant that is 56 years older than the United States) in St. Mark's Square that is reputed to be the first place in all of Italy to serve the glory known as Coffee. The also have a 5 piece string ensemble playing arias across the square...glorious.

The most astounding place I saw while in Venice was St. Mark's Basilica. It was filled with beautiful artwork, incredible sculptures, and priceless religious pieces...including the bones of St. Mark, the apostle, and various body parts from saints from around the world, called "relics." I'm not sure what it is with Italians or Catholics...but this was only the beginning of what became my personal interest in each of the churches I visited. In each church, I would look for the most unusual or bizarre relic I could find. I took pictures of some, but was mostly forbidden to take pictures out of respect for the sanctity of the "holy items" I was observing. Because St. Mark's is so popular on the tourist circuit, there was a line around the building, down the block, around the corner, and over what seemed like at least 200 of those 400 bridges. Thanks to Rick Steves, I read that large bags were not allowed inside the church...in the event one wished to abscond with the jaw of Lazarus, I suppose. Consequently, I checked a bag in this unmarked location near St. Marks and was given a small card with a number to reclaim my bag. Once I returned to St. Marks, I went directly to the door - to the head of the line - and walked right in by just flashing my numbered card to the doorkeeper. That little trick and the 3 hours it saved me (and no small amount of pleasure at seeing the confused look on the faces of those ill-prepared-line-waiting tourists as I walked past them into the church, hallelujah) was worth the price of admission.

Venice was really a beautiful city and a great place to experience. Later in my journey, I ran into a couple in Rome (actually from Dallas) who had been engaged in Venice just a week earlier. I could totally see that happening. Italy just seems to bring that out in people...at least from what I could tell as an outside observer. My coffee and I, however, had a lovely time together. ☺ On to Florence!

Pisa to Cinque Terre, Italy

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Well, there were no problems getting off the ship in Livorno. The cruise continued on to Rome, but I opted to "debark" the day before, enabling me to begin my trip in the northern part of Italy and working south to Rome. In retrospect, I am *thrilled* with this decision, if for nothing more than avoiding the process of being herded like cattle off the ship with the other 2,999 people.

I worked my way through Livorno - just a stopping point for cruise ships - and eventually got to Pisa. My little Welcome To Italy package waiting for me was a little scheduled transit strike. No problem for those with cars, but for those relying on the public transportation system, just a little glitch. Fortunately, however, when I was needing to use the train to get from Livorno to Pisa, the bus system was on strike. Then, while touring Pisa, the train was on strike. By the time I was ready to continue by train to Cinque Terre, the strike was over and I continued on my merry way.

Once I arrived in Cinque Terre - a very rustic, undeveloped fishing village, declared an International Historical Site a few years ago - I didn't have a room reservation but was confident that I would find a room pretty easily. I think I've got a couple of pictures of my room...including the Mamma Mia across the way lowering a bucket of who-knows-what to Pappa Mia. Cinque Terre translates as Five Lands in Italian, because it is a collection of five small villages built into the side of the mountain right on (and in many cases, over) the water. I wish I could convey to you the experience I had as I got off the train in Riomaggiore (ree-oh-mah-JOR-ay), the first of the five small towns. I was enveloped in a cloud of the scent of fresh honeysuckle, wild lemon and fresh rain. Can you imagine that? Now, take that and combine it with the realization that you're in Italy, have a committed budget for the trip, and don't have to wash dishes or pay a bill for a month. Yes...THAT feeling.

OK, so no hotel reservation. I had read in my travel books that rooms just have a way of finding you in Cinque Terre. Sure enough, Simone walked up to me and asked if I had a place to stay. I told him that I didn't and he led me up some stairs, then a hill, then some more stairs, and then a small slope, around a corner, up some stairs, to a steep slope up, to my new home for two days...on the third floor. Elevator? Yeah, sure. It was actually a great place, hot water, and a view of the sea for about €30...like $45 a night.

I spent that night exploring Riomaggiore and planning my next day hiking around the other four towns. There is actually a path built alongside the mountain that connects the five towns, complete with a Tunnel of Love. That night I had a great dinner and met Manuelo, the local gelato vendor. Manuelo was to introduce me to my first Italian gelato. Upon his recommendation, I had a fresh crepe, cooked in front of me and topped with fresh lemon juice, powdered sugar, and two scoops of gelato limone - their homemade lemon gelato. Sensory overload. The next morning I found myself lying alone in the middle of the street, powdered sugar all over my face and smelling lemony fresh. OK, not really. But it was really almost too much of a good thing...but not quite. It was actually so good, I went back to see Manuelo again the next night for a repeat performance.

The next day was lovely, walking leisurely from town to town, stopping in each town to run into the local bar for un doppio nero (a double espresso, black) and just wandering aimlessly. In Vernazza, the fourth town, I had lunch in The Castle Restaurant, up some stairs, around a corner (hello, kitty), up some more stairs...you get the idea...and then hanging out above the georgeous turquoise water. I told the waiter to bring me what he wanted, which turned out to be fresh fettuccini and muscles, homemade bread, and then homemade (OK, from now on, just consider every food that I mention is 'homemade') tiramisu and, of course, un doppio nero. Cinque Terra was a beautiful experience and a nice, soft way to enter into the Italian experience. On to Venice....

Vacation.Cruise3

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OK, finishing up the cruise pictures. We made a few stops along the way. After leaving Sint Maarten, we took five days to cross the Atlantic. Gotta tell ya, even on a ship that is the length of three football fields and taller than the Statue of Liberty, one does run out of things to do...at least things that one would want to do. I'd heard about the tendency of that salt air to "shrink" the passenger's clothes. Knowing that, I spent a fair amount of time in the gym on the treadmill and then also committed to taking the stairs rather than any of the readily available elevators. Now, you'd think there wouldn't be that many stairs on a ship, but the Carnival Freedom had twelve decks...and that's a lot of stairs. My cabin was starboard, aft...in the far rear of the ship on the right. My daily restaurant and the gym were port, forward...front of the ship, on the left. That was a hike everyday. A couple of days, I went to the 24 hour pizzaria on board, ordered a pizza and took it back to my room. I thought to myself, 'if I were at home, I would have had this delivered!'

Anyway, the ports...after arriving in Europe waters, we first stopped on the island of Madeira, Portugal, in the city of Funchal. Madeira is just off the northwestern coast of the continent of Africa...within eyshot of Tangiers. I knew this going into it, but the frustration of being in a new country for only 8 hours is beyond comprehension. You know, they don't even stamp our passports?! Not sure how Homeland Security would feel about that. However, if you ever need to relocate annonymously, just go on a cruise and get off the ship and don't get back on. You can just disappear into the masses. Of course, not speaking Portugese might be a problem. Funchal (foon-CHAHL...the cruise director insisted on pronouncing it FUHN-chul...grrrrr) was a beautiful city. In each of the ports, I opted to not go on the we'll-hold-your-hand-and-spoonfeed-you-what-we-want-you-to-see-and-then-charge-you-eighteen-times-what-you'd-pay-if-you-did-it-on-your-own excursions that the ship offered nauseatingly frequently. Did I mention how I felt like I was trapped in a bad rerun of the Home Shopping Network? Everyone was very nice on the ship, the crew I mean, but if they got the sense that you were one of those who wasn't there to shop, they moved on to larger fish. Anyway, I went to the botanical gardens, rode the cable cars up and down the mountains, walked through a market. 'No, no thank you. No goat testicle for me today.'

Back aboard ship, my friends and I had made reservations to dine in the Sun King Restaurant, the "6 Star Restaurant" available to those who were willing to pay (here come's another favorite cruiseism) "a nominal fee." At least prices were still in dollars on the ship. Have you met my Euro? Wow...more about that later. The restaurant was truly phenomenal. Probably the finest meal that I have ever eaten. You can see some of the pictures in the blog. It was difficult, but I did manage to consume my entire 24 ounce porterhouse steak, medium rare, with bleu cheese. Man, was it awesome.

The next day was a sea and about midnight we passed through the straight of Gibralter. The closest thing that anyone could make out were the very faint lights of northern Africa...its the black picture that I have. We then stopped in Malaga (MAL-a-gah), Spain. I think I'm the first of my family to go to Spain. You know, I didn't have to spell my last name once while visiting?! Wow...what incredibly beautiful people I am finding both in Spain and in Italy. Without exaggeration, 90 percent of the people look like they walked right off of the pages of a magazine...from cab drivers to the homeless to business people to students. It is really amazing. I think they must do live airbrushing in Europe like we tan in the States. I was off the boat early (still couldn't shake that rocking sensation) and headed for the Picasso Museum, the birthplace of Picasso, coffee, coffee, coffee, walking the street, and cafes...just being in Spain. It was a beautiful day. I've actually had quite a few of those. That's enough blogging for now. Next stop, Italy!

Vacation.Cruise2

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We left Sint Maarten last Tuesday...Wednesday? I'm not sure. All these days are running together. After we left, we began our 5 days at sea, crossing the Atlantic. I cannot believe how calm, beautiful, peaceful the ocean has been...the entire trip. The seas have been calm and the weather outside has been in the low 70ºs. The sun has been warm, the breeze cool, and the sky clear. After getting on the open seas, we began having to change our clocks one hour every night to prepare for the 6 hour time change (for me) once we arrive in Italy. Each night, before going to bed, I make the rounds and move all my clocks forward 1 hour. So, instead of going to bed at 11PM, its actually 12AM...which has made for some very confusing mornings. Having an interior cabin has been wonderful. I haven't missed being able to see the ocean or have sunlight in the least. At night...or for that matter, at 2 in the afternoon, my room is as dark as pitch. When I wake up in the morning, I literally have no idea what time it is until I look at my watch. Then, add the time change on top of that, and it really messes up my internal clock.

Life aboard ship has been fun, interesting, entertaining. Traveling alone...combined with wearing my sunglasses and my iPod turned *off* has made for some very interesting observations of people, their behavior, and their conversations. I think people are basically complainers at heart and this trip has really confirmed that. It is amazing to sit and listen to folks on a luxury cruise, spending and eating what 95% of the world will never experience, and yet still finding things to complain about. Its been very convicting to me. I´ve found myself trying to be more patient, express gratitude to those around me, and find even the smallest things to be thankful for. I´ve loved the reminder of how blessed we are, no matter how much or how little we have. You'll be proud to know that I've only pushed the worst complainers overboard.

I continue to find all manner of ways to get into trouble on the ship. James, one of the cruise directors, convinced me to participate in The Dating Game...a game I even avoid in real life. I was the selecting Bachelor...and my oh my, what a selection I had to choose from. My "choice" was a little less than choice: a 3 time divorced grandmother of God knows how many his, her's, our's. Then, dream of dreams, we were awarded an excursion in Madeira to visit the wine country and numerous vineyards...all with tastings, of course. And this was to occur today, May 5, ironically my 2 year anniversary of when I quit drinking. The Lord certainly has a sense of humor. I graciously declined the "opportunity" and gave the excursion to Granny and her (heretofore absent) NASCAR boyfriend. There's certainly a wide range of passengers on board the Carnival Freedom.

I've met some fun people...even a few barbershoppers who were excited to hear that I sing with the Vocal Majority. They were mainly excited because they wanted to tell me how we're "ruining the society with our non-barbershop music" along with some lovely things to say about some people that I respect. Yes, of all the oceans and all the ships, I find a KIBber infestation on my ship. Also met some fun folks from NYC. I had a spa day, got my teeth whitened, am playing volleyball and minature golf, and now am heading back out to the streets of Madeira, Portugal. We'll be in Malaga, Spain, on Wednesday, and then land in Livorno, Italy, on Friday. Can't wait!

Love you all. Thank you for your emails, comments, messages, prayers, etc. I miss you and think of all the fun things we would enjoy if you were with me. Of course, the invitation is still open to join me in Italy from 9-23 May! Michael

Vacation.Cruise1

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Greetings, all! I’ve been aboard the Carnival Freedom since Saturday, April 26. We just hit our first port-of-call this morning, Sint Maarten Island. The trip is going wonderfully! I love cruising! Most of the people on the ship are either couples or significantly older than me. For the most part, the general reaction upon hearing that I’m taking 1. my first cruise; 2. a 14 day transatlantic cruise to Europe; 3. and I’m doing all this alone; is generally, “wow…that’s really wild. It’s the first cruise that you’ve ever taken, and you’re taking a 14 day…alone?!” I guess after the 5th or 6th person saying this, I’m finally getting the hint.

Being among couples and older folks – more than a few crotchety, line-cutting, complaining, and puffy older folks – makes for more of a solitary experience, but that's not all bad. I'm having some good, daily, time with God, which was part of my goals. Also, meeting a few people who are nice, calm, normal…like me ;-) Good thing that I enjoy myself...because I'm having a lot of Michael Time...God help us. Of course, I'm (unsettling naturally) finding all manner of ways to "work the cruise" and find good deals, unintentional bargains, and even a little spending money. It’s becoming a daily ritual to collect food to take back to the room and store in the fridge for lunch at the ports, rather than eating food on the island. I always enjoy a picnic on the beach more anyway. Likewise, I take a daily walk through the casinos to see which slot machines have been "abandoned" with credit still on the machine. After waiting at least 30 seconds for someone to return...an eternity, I assure you...I cash out and take the bucket of quarters to the cashier to exchange into dollars. So far, its turned into about $40. In the Carnival Spa they charge more than a full set of dentures to whiten your teeth…but they also give away seemingly unlimited samples. So, if I use one free sample a day, that equals the same as a full treatment…and I’ll just pay myself! Hey, I've got to entertain myself some way?!

The food is beyond description. Y’don’t find this stuff at the Grocery Clearance Center, for sure. To counteract the sheer volume of available food, I’m taking the 11 flights of stairs everywhere I go – my room is on one end of the ship and the restaurant on the other end. Likewise, they’ve got a great gym on board where I’m going every morning. Found out that a coffee pot on board the ship is contraband…so, of course, I’m using it surreptitiously, storing in my suitcase under the bed, locking the Starbucks coffee in the in-room safe…appropriately…and sneaking the grounds out by cover of night. Seems like a lot of work, but the coffee on the ship is the “F” word…Folgers >:-(

There are some fantastic shows at night: comedians, a ventriloquist tonight, some awesome dancers, singers, and a full orchestra. There are movies available, an open sushi bar, about 324545 pools and hot tubs, an outdoor movie screen, a waterslide, free helicopter rides to India…just checking to see if you’re still with me J

So, I’m just taking a few minutes to clean out my email box, upload some pictures and narrative to my blog. Here are a couple of fun links for you:

My Blog - http://www.michaelspain.blogspot.com/

Carnival Freedom Webcam/Global Position - http://www.seascanner.com/schiffsposition.php?schiff=Carnival+Freedom

OK, back to shopping and then to the ship. Hope they don't leave me. We're back to sea tonight and will be in the open water for 5 days/6 nights. Next stop, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. Love to all!

Michael

Campaign Finance Reform

Love Creates Love

The more you love, the more love you are given to love with.

~ Lucien Price

With love comes promises of sentiment as rapturous as fall's splendor of color and as delicate as a crystal of snow. Love empowers us to handle the struggles that bind us, the struggles that stretch us to grow. The familiar sights and muffled sounds of each moment vibrate with greater intensity when we're giving and receiving love.

We're deluded to think the love of others will complete us, so we strive for it; we long for it. But we receive love only when we're unselfishly offering it. It is one of life's wonderful mysteries that we must first give love away if we hope to get it.

Loving another tests our patience, strength, and security. Love spurned is dreaded and perhaps too familiar, but we must risk it once again if we are to find the love we deserve.

To Be Loved...Love

If you would be loved, love and be lovable.
~ Benjamin Franklin

We all desire to be loved. Our common human characteristic is our need to count in someone else's life. At least one other person needs us, we tell ourselves, when we feel least able to accept life's demands. How alike we all are. The paradox is that our own need for love is lessened when we bestow it on others. Give it away and it returns. A promise, one we can trust.

The reality about love and its path from sender to receiver and back again is often distant from our minds. More often we stew and become obsessed with the lack of love's evidence in our lives. Why isn't he smiling? Why didn't she care? Has someone more interesting taken our place? Choosing to offer love, rather than to look for it, will influence every experience we have. Life will feel gentler, and the rewards will be many and far reaching.

Loving others promises me the love I desire. But I can't expect it if I don't give it first.

Oops! My cell phone is in the toilet!

Description of article: Help me! I dropped my smart phone in the toilet. What can I do to dry it out? My life is on that thing.

http://www.komando.com/tips/nl-tips3487.asp

Grief as a Path to Connection

Grief may be a pathway to our deepest connections.

People often say, "I don't want to burden you with my troubles, you have enough to worry about." Yet sharing our troubles with our close friends or family lightens our burden and restores our balance. Telling someone our experiences and how we feel about them helps us find and create the meaning that lurks behind them, even though they at first seem only crazy and random. Sharing with others pulls us out of isolation and brings our loved ones into the circle of our lives.

We may be surprised to feel the knots in our stomachs loosen when we tell our stories and recount our worries or grief. Grief may make us feel more alone than anything. But it may also be a pathway for our deepest connection with each other. When we reach out and talk with those we love and those who love us, we break down the wall of isolation and build bridges that connect us.

Full List of Stuff White People Like « Stuff White People Like

Full List of Stuff White People Like

...maybe one of the funniest things I've ever read. Enjoy.

Love is Something if You Give It Away

...love grows by service.
~ Charlotte Perkins Gilman

When we shower someone special with much needed attention, or maybe flowers, or run an errand for a friend, or volunteer to do a favor for an unnamed person, we benefit in many ways. We're appreciated; we feel good about our own behavior, and we've tightened the connection to another person that fosters personal human development.

Most of us long for more signs of love from one another. Yet we fail to understand that our own expression of love to that special someone will release the love we long to feel.

Love multiplies with frequency of expression, whether stranger-to-stranger, friend-to-friend, lover-to-lover, parent-to-child; and everyone is the beneficiary.

Love's expression spontaneously generates more of itself, thus promising each of us that which we all desire.

I Wish I Were...

I wish I were big enough to honestly admit all my shortcomings.

Brilliant enough to accepts praise without it making me arrogant.

Tall enough to tower over dishonesty.

Strong enough to welcome criticism.

Compassionate enough to understand human frailties.

Wise enough to recognize mistakes.

Humble enough to appreciate greatness.

Brave enough to stand by my friends.

Human enough to be thoughtful of my neighbor.

And spiritual enough to be devoted to the love of God.

~ Author unknown ~

Who cares?

Clinton rally set for Oak Cliff Friday
3:09 PM Thursday • Feb 21, 2008

Hillary Rodham Clinton will speak at 9 am. Friday at a get-out-the-vote rally at the Bank Tower parking lot, 400 S Zang in Oak Cliff. Then she'll travel to downtown Fort Worth to speak at 11 a.m. at the corner of 1st and Main Streets.

A Life Informed by our Beliefs

I am living out my life in accordance with my faith. ~ Ruth Casey

Does faith in God guide your actions as it does Ruth's? It's certain our actions are guided by some set of beliefs. If our memories of past situations are troublesome, maybe it's because we allowed our behavior to be controlled by certain beliefs that did us harm. How might we define our beliefs for a friend today? Are we at peace with them?

Belief systems don't simply occur in our lives mysteriously. We consciously choose that which we adhere to, whether we realize this or not. Sometimes our families foisted their beliefs on us, even when they weren't comfortable to us. Until we were old enough to decide what fit us better, we may have had little recourse. Later, we may have adopted beliefs that matched those of our peers - even though these beliefs contradicted our personal ethics.

Acknowledging the existence of an underlying set of values gives us both security and relief. It means we don't have to spend many valuable hours worrying about the right thing to do in every situation. The actions that fit our belief systems will be obvious. Let's be willing to monitor how our beliefs impact the lives of those around us. It's never too late to consider changing them.

First Love

All our loves are first loves. ~ Susan Fromberg-Schaeffer

When we fall in love with someone, it is a unique thing that comes from deep within us. Any relationship is the creation of two people who open themselves to each other and share themselves beyond the usual boundaries. That is the excitement of true love. Two people give each other the keys to their private world, just as we might share the key to our home, trusting that it will be used with care and respect. This intimacy isn't usually instantaneous. It builds on experience together.

In an intimate relationship, we have the responsibility to be good stewards of the trust given us. Looking at our partner's role is always so much easier than looking at our own, but we need to resist that easy temptation. Our first questions should always be - Do I make it safe for my partner to be open with me? Do I take my partner's vulnerability as a trust that I do not abuse? Am I gentle and respectful with the key my partner gave me? Do my words and responses invite conversation, trust, and intimacy?

The Vocal Majority - Some Interesting Statistics

A few of you have asked how it is that I spend my time while singing with the Men of the Vocal Majority. With that in mind, I thought I'd share some interesting statistics with you. While singing with the Vocal Majority just in 2007, I have...

...Attended 54 separate rehearsals;
...Rehearsed approximately 200 hours;
...Rehearsed 75 different songs;
...Performed 17 times, singing 54 different songs...all by memory:
3 shows in Denver, Colorado;
3 Spring Shows in Richardson, Texas;
3 Fall Shows in Richardson, Texas;
1 High School performance;
4 Private Shows;
1 Funeral;
1 Wedding;
...Sang 15+ Singing Valentines with a quartet;
...Completed our most recent Christmas Album, Believe;

What is even more impressive is that there are more than 120 men that did the same or more than me, all on a voluntary basis. We receive no direct compensation for our work, other than the joy that comes with singing, performing, and being the "best in the world" at what we do...according to some. And besides that, its an absolutely freaking blast, in every way imaginable...which still does the experience an injustice.

Thanks for your support...and patience with my little hobby ☺

What You Attend to Typically Expands in Your Life

Bill O'Hanlon, M.S., Possibilities

223 N. Guadalupe #278, Santa Fe, NM 87501

PossiBill@aol.com ~ www.billohanlon.com

This era has been called "The Age of Attention," since so many things are vying for our attention (television, radio, the Internet, video games, movies, family, work, etc.). Your attention can be a powerful force and it behooves you to manage it wisely. Where you put your attention often expands that area in your awareness and in your life.

Many years ago, there was a rumor going around in a certain Western state that there was some pollutant in the air that was causing pockmarks on car windhsields. A panic set in and investigations were begun. The investigators measured pockmarks on windhields in the state in which the rumors were rampant and in a state with a similar climate and level of pollution in which there was no concern. They found the exact same number of pockmarks per square inch in both states. The difference was that once people heard the rumor, they noticed the pockmarks for the first time or they noticed them much more. This same phenomenon can be used in a positive way in your life.

Find a focus

Decide an area of your life you would like to have expand. It might be more exercise, better eating, more time with your family, more leisure time, more creative work, more reading, being more responsible about spending money or something else entirely.

Record activity or attention to that area

Get a little notebook and carry it around with you for a week or two. Whenever you get a chance, as soon as possible after you notice it, write down anything you have done related to that area. If you have to wait until evening to jot it down, do that. At the end of the week, notice whether this area has expanded in your life.

Add a small amount each day to this area

Commit to spending as little as five minutes each day doing something related to this area. Commit to doing this for small time periods, such as a week or two. You can always continue it if it is working, but commiting to too long a time period may be a set up for failure.In spare moments, think about this areaWhile waiting for an appointment, while riding the bus or subway to work, while waiting for the bath to fill, while waiting for the kids to get bundled up and into the car, use these moments to focus briefly on what you would like to do or have done in this area.

Singing Valentines from The Vocal Majority

Make this Valentine's Day one that she - or he - will never forget!

Say "I Love You!" with a Singing Valentine package that includes:

♥ 4 Men in Tuxedos
♥ 2 Special Love Songs, Serenaded to your Beloved
♥ 1 Long-Stemmed Red Rose
♥ 1 Card With Your Personal Message
♥ 1 Vocal Majority CD (optional $10 extra)

For as little as $50, let a top-quality Vocal Majority quartet sing what’s in your heart to your special someone…at work, at home, or anywhere you choose in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area*. Guaranteed to get you some special attention when you get home that night .

Order online at www.vocalmajority.com or by calling 214.526.8686 or toll-free 800.867.6647.

Deliveries will be made throughout the day on Valentine's Day - Thursday, February 14th.

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