Born to Win! 9:07 AM

It’s not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena‚ whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph, and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly‚ knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory nor defeat. —Theodore Roosevelt

War is what stirs the blood of all born to win. Those born to lose build the bunkers and dig the foxholes. The winners run to the front, pausing only to secure the latest weapons, slowed only by the need to load en route to a rout. They are not checked by traps or mines, for the blasts only propel them further forward to the front. Their only fear: that the enemy will retreat at the sight of their desire and there will be no battle. Their only disappointment: quick victory. Their only need: more battles. Their only Hero: the Champion of All. Such are those born to win. —General George S. Patton

Pretty much, I love you! 7:37 PM

(Not listed in order of importance) Jeanine, Leila, Lainey, Tasha, Setty; I love you all so much! Thanks for the great weekend! You are all so beautiful; you have my heart.
Thanks for the cuddles, the smiles, the laughs, and all we share.
Me ah love, me ah love, me ah love you!

PS 3:07 PM

I'd like it better if that abbreviation stood for "post scriptum." But that is not the case.

Thank You, Jesus, for bringing me thus far and putting me through this time of purification and strengthening. It's only by Your grace that I could ever make it, and I only want to go forward, ever forward for You. Thank You for stripping away, and for continuing to strip and tear away anything that would come between us.

I love the relationship we share; it's beautiful, strengthening, wonderful, comforting, enlightening, and empowering. I know it'll only get better as I grow, change, and mature in You. Sometimes I forget and neglect what we share, but You're always around to remind me of my need for You.

You complete me, for without You, I am useless, broken, lonely, dead, empty; a body without its soul. You are my Life and all that I need to survive and thrive. You are enough.

There's no "ph" in "stuff" 8:04 PM

It's been a busy week, it has. I really haven't worked on my novel; it's just sitting there crying, feeling my neglect. I plan to give it some love tonight, even though I won't have it completed by next week's deadline. At least I got it started.

I've found my prose muse again, and I'm writing up some stuff and hoping that I won't be afraid to let the world see. I used to be more bold, but I'm tired of feeling like I'm shouting in an empty room. I've taken a walk outside, I've breathed clean air and felt the sun on my face. I'm ready to write, stronger and better than before. It feels good to break out of the conventional way of doing things.

My family came to visit this week. It was great to see them all again, they're growing up so fast, changing so much in such a short time it seems. I'm proud of them for the good changes they made, and praying for them for the challenges they face.

I'm working on a short story titled "My Dear Child." I know I'm supposed to be working on The Familiar Stranger, but the inspiration for this story just hit me and I was compelled to devote myself to it. I like this story, it's coming out in an informal style with a bit of irony, mystery, and sorrow.

Tomorrow, I'll Love You Tomorrow 2:44 AM

You knew that someday I'd come to the inevitable and frightening realization: I like being alone.

I love long walks by the beach. I love the thrill of perching myself high atop a man-made or natural elevation. I love to sit and watch the sun set until the full moon bathes the world in an ethereal glow.

I love to breathe the cool night air and listen to the music of the eventide. I love waking with the sun to treasure every sliver of light it sends my way. I love to stroll aimlessly around town, through parks, in and out of buildings; past groups of giggling girls, old people, couples, children, everyone, no one noticing me.

I enjoy all these things, and I enjoy them alone.

I never give it a second thought. Company is a luxury. I go about my day in the manner that I always have, and I can say that I feel complete when the day is over. But at night, lying alone in bed, nature turns on me, and all my confidence is banished. I think of you, and I realize how I unwittingly brush you aside, and in the process, hurt you.

Please look inside. Deep down, beneath all that I am outwardly. Reach out and bring it to the forefront, make me see the truth. Could I really live this life alone?

Thank you for standing beside me. Even when I ignored you, even when I forgot you, you never gave up on me. Persist another day, because I can't keep turning my head away. One day you'll triumph, and we'll both win. On that day, I will love you.

I'm going to be a novelist! 3:38 PM

To all of you who ever encouraged me to write a book, I hope you will be pleased with these news.

I will be writing a novel for this months' National Novel Writing Month. The novel is based on an idea that's been in my head for way too long now. You may have heard me reference an allegory of mine titled The Familiar Stranger. Well, I have the plot outline, main characters, and some research done, but I've never actually written a first draft. I guess my tendency to procrastinate and the pedantic handling of my creative endeavors has hindered me so far. No longer! Tonight, I write!

I'm not quite sure if I'll be able to finish my novel before the given deadline, as I began writing about a week and a half late. What I am writing is a very rough first draft, so I don't imagine I'll be releasing it to the general public. I'm pretty psyched about writing this novel, even though it's based on a dark time in my life, and some parts are somewhat painful to put on paper. The general genre I'm aiming for is Gothic/Mystery.

And now it's time to start writing away.

Adieu 8:41 AM

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." - Robert Frost