Back to Basics

Well ok, I admit it. I confess. I have been out there seeking other spiritual nutrition besides Neale Donald Walsch. I finally got to meet the man in person and spent a little quality time with him over the weekend of July 24th/25th, and then I spent the rest of the summer off behind his back, hunting down other material, listening to other so-called Channelings, but you know what, it always comes back to Conversations with God.
Yesterday I had to go bring the WECCE book back to the library because it had become severely overdue, and didn't even belong to my local library branch, but was borrowed from another town. So, I go bring the book back, mostly unread, and pay the forty cent fine. I print off some forms that my bank needs in order to modify my mortgage, (I use the library or the career center's printers since I don't have one of my own), use the ladies room and start to head out. But something told me to see if they had any interesting audios or videos and wouldn't you know, coincidentally, I happened to notice CWG Book 3 on cassette, read by NDW, Ed Asner and Ellen Burstyn. I could hardly believe my luck! With the fall leaves starting to change, my two obligations out of the way for the day, and a growing Powerball jackpot (tickets can be purchased in NH but not in MA) I suddenly realized I was going on a road trip! Gorgeous sunny day, full tank of gas, something amazing to listen to for what I hoped would be hours, and I was on my way. Well just the sheer synchronicity of that entire library trip had tears pouring down my face by the time I got back in my car. And even though cassette 1 had not been properly rewound prior to being returned, I went ahead and jumped right in on side 2 knowing I had read all of this material before anyway and could most likely listen to it out of chronological order and still be ok.
Well the tears continued to flow as I listened and drove, and revelation after revelation kept sweeping over me like waves, to the point of needing to actually turn off the beloved material so I could ponder my own thoughts for a bit and follow them off on whatever tangential paths they were inspired to take.
I came home fully inspired to start spreading this material more aggressively than I already have, because now more than ever we need the answers that have so lovingly and generously been provided therein.

This is the week for meeting famous people

Well I had already planned on going to Amesbury this Friday night to meet my favorite author, Neale Donald Walsch. I was thinking maybe I would bring one of my Conversations with God books for him to sign. Not sure whether I need Neale's autograph or not, I think meeting him might be enough. But one person's autograph I definitely DO need, and may have a chance at getting, finally, tomorrow night, is Joey Kramer, drummer for Aerosmith. If you've read my blog about my two prized possessions, then you know that four out of the five members of Aerosmith have already signed my concert tee from a few years back, 6 years back or more now I guess, and the only one I had left to get was Joey. Well, he's going to be in Hingham tomorrow night to sign copies of his books. Now, I realize sometimes at these events, they are only "allowed" (duh! by whom?) to sign the book and nothing else. But I have also seen with my own eyes Joe Perry signing many other pieces of memorabilia besides the book or CD we were there to purchase and have autographed. Of course, Joe is not Joey. And there's no telling until I get there. So the suspense and exhilaration of even the possibility of having him sign it are delightful! And the not knowing makes it even more delicious!

I know if I don't get it tomorrow night there will be other chances, and I have never worried about completing the shirt, I've always known it will one day be complete, but right now I feel like I am Very Very close to having it done! Hooray for me! I will let you know what happens...

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Edit 07.24.09
OK, so he didn't sign my shirt. It seemed to be Barnes & Noble's policy more than Joey's personal choice, but they were adamant about it so I didn't even ask. But I did have the presence of mind to ask if, the next time I meet him, he would and he said "sure". Anyway, he did sign my book, and I did get to pose for a picture with him, and I am pleased with the way the picture turned out, and now I still have something to look forward to in the future.

Meanwhile, meeting Neale Donald Walsch and getting to hear him speak in Amesbury for free tonight not only lived up to but in fact actually exceeded my wildest imaginings of how good it could be. He was funny, he was poignant, he had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand, and I swear I got the best seat in the house. Unfortunately I left my Dark Side of the Moon hoodie behind, but the good news is, I requested and have been granted a scholarship to tomorrow's full-day intensive, so I get to go back and spend the whole day with him tomorrow! I am so glad I was inspired to ask if they had any reduced rate or scholarship programs, because I really cannot afford the $249 to get in the door, but I really REALLY did not want to miss spending the day with him! I am so happy I get to go back! Thank you, God!

The Importance of Breathing

Many texts have instructed me to pay more attention to my breathing but none got through to me the way Michael Sharp's work did. Michael never comes out and says "You must quit smoking" but everything he does say about breathing, maintaining a healthy physical unit, and acting consciously with the highest good of all concerned in mind clearly points to this necessity. Not to mention, cigarettes are becoming damned expensive! So now of course it is necessary for me to quit and I intend to work towards that but in the meantime, I am busy giving every breath, smoke filled and not, over to God. I have been giving each day to God for several years now, but Dr. Sharp's work has made me realize, in a more profound way than the Conversations with God material, that every breath can indeed be an act of Communion with God. I have given over my life to him, now I dedicate to Him every individual breath. He has done an amazing job in delighting me with this life I have handed over to Him, now let's see how far he can take me now that I am devoting every breath.

AeroMo 06-28-09

What can I say? I lucked out. I did not want to spend $180 for my ticket. If I was going to spend that much, I wanted to at least WIN some of that money, it was, after all, a casino. I certainly did not want to LOSE any money, and then purchase a $180 ticket on top of that. But that's exactly what happened.

First time I went to the box office, they wanted to put me BEHIND the stage. I said screw that. Box Office is open til nine. I will check back. So at approximately 8:36 I walked up to a different box office window and asked the young woman, "whaddaya got?". She circled with a grease pen section 16, not bad, and then she said, but I do also have two on the floor. Section 2. I said, did they just become available? She said yes. I said, give me one. And so I was in Section 2, Row B (third row actually because they started with AA), seat 16. But I did not sit in my seat. I got seated, made friends with the two guys seated between me and the catwalk, spotted Ellen and struck up a conversation, and then with the coaxing of my two new friends and the confirmation from Ellen that it would be ok, I walked on over to the catwalk, where I stood for the entire show. This spot was nearly the same as the best seat I'd ever had up until now, which was Row L at the Dunk in Providence, also on the catwalk. But that was about ten people back. This was about half as much. And at the Dunk, there were two catwalks. Last night, there was just the one. Closer to the stage were security, Ellen's friend (who caught Steven's shirt and harmonica, I think he and Ellen just became friends last night), Ellen, Lisa, Kristin, two other girls, and then me. And then more security. Security told me no video, but I misinterpreted what he said and thought he was saying no camera, so I put it away for almost the rest of the show. Near the end of Round and Round I asked the kid, "everyone else has their cameras" at which point he told me still shots were ok, it was just video that was not allowed. So I repeated what he said, twice, and then thanked him, and proceeded to take what would be the equivalent of one of the largest rolls of film available today, about 40 more than I had already taken before he told me to put it away. OMG I might not have a job or any money, but seriously, that concert ticket was possibly the best two hundred bucks I've ever spent. The memories, pictures, and one tiny little piece of video I did manage to capture will last me the rest of my life. Not to mention sharing in everyone else's delight who was there, and knowing that I had one of the absolute prime spots in the entire arena, and possibly being able to see my own ugly mug in other people's shots. I am in heaven right now, and no one can possibly steal this joy from me!

Edit: 12/12/09 ~ With the fate of the band now a total unknown, this Aero Mo show and the Mansfield one become MUCH MUCH more valuable experiences for me.

Aerosmith at Comcast, 06.16.09

The band appeared, the crowd went wild, and as the first few notes resounded through the stadium, I found myself wondering why I ever started to stop liking them, and feeling enormous relief and gratitude that I chose to go to the show. I had been feeling disillusioned with the Boyz, there's been no new material in ages, and their last hiatus lasted 20 months, and naturally they have been beset with health issues, as they are all in their late fifties and early sixties at this point. But they did so well last night, and the audio quality was I think the best I've ever heard at any show, and even though Joe never beat his guitar with his shirt, and even though they ended prematurely (10:50PM), it was probably among the best money I have ever spent for anything, and having been unemployed for the last four and a half months, the things I choose to spend my money on are few and far between these days!!

Something about the lighting when they first appeared last night, made me so incredibly grateful for my sense of vision and the more I thought about it, the more I realized an Aerosmith concert is the greatest opportunity to appreciate my physical body and all of its accompanying senses. I don't have the greatest sense of smell, but it was hard to miss the marijuana permeating the crowd, I even smelled a seed! My ears were working perfectly and my voice, although a little rough this morning, came through for me last night, especially when cheering for (Thank God he's recovered) Tom Hamilton, the one I met most recently. Brad was not there last night, and they did not play You See Me Crying, but I have all of Big Ten Inch Record on video, and that I believe is the first time I've ever seen them do that one live. I will post my pics and vid on Facebook pretty soon.

Poker Poker Poker

I haven't been blogging much lately because I have been so busy playing Texas Hold 'em poker in every format imaginable. I play online every Saturday at noon and Sunday at 3. Sunday nights I play in real life at a place called the Tavern in Framingham. Monday nights I play at the Lazy Dog in Marlboro. Tuesday nights I play at the Original Sports Pub and Pizza in Framingham. Wednesdays I either play there again or at Finnegan's in Hudson. Thursdays and Fridays I don't have poker unless there is a home game. Plus I play online through Facebook every chance I get, either Zynga Texas Hold 'em or Poker Palace.

The people I've met at cards are very very nice. I have made some good friends there. I am happy to have started back up with poker, after taking a two-year hiatus. I used to play at Tin Alley Grill in Framingham, from February 2007 through May 2007. I do not remember why I stopped but I think it is one of three things. Either someone pissed me off, or I didn't like not being able to smoke and play at the same time, or the weather warmed up and I found other things to do. I really think it is the middle one, though. I think I got my home game going specifically so I could smoke and play at the same time, like in the old days at Cam's. I really do like to smoke whenever I gamble, for me the two go hand in hand.

Happy Easter!

This has been the greatest 8 days for me. It started last Saturday night when I saw Gilmour's Breakfast at the Knights of Columbus in Westboro. Sunday I played poker at the Tavern and lost. Monday I played at the Lazy Dog and came in second to Victor, which meant I won the certificate. Tuesday I played at the Sports Pub in Framingham and came in first in the first round. Wednesday I went back and came in first in the second round. So I won a certificate three nights in a row, and my points for April and the second quarter started out with a bang! Gotta go check the leaderboards at some point. Thursday we had the first home game we've had in a while, and only the second since I lost my job. Friday morning, Paul sent me down to the casino which turned out to be a bad idea but at least I had fun. Plus it was a beautiful day. Friday night, more Gilmour's Breakfast but first I had dinner with Amy and we watched "What the %^&*@# Do We Know" together, Down the Rabbit Hole version, pausing for discussion. I always enjoy the time I spend with Amy and am very glad we met! The GB show in Connecticut was amazing, they had a girl singer come onstage to scat the Great Gig in the Sky and it is no exaggeration when I tell you my eyes got moist listening to this woman belt out this beautiful song. She did an amazing job. Amazing. I've never heard anyone besides Claire Torrey sing that song so well. I hope they invite her back to do it again! Yesterday I played in my first monthly tournament and came in twelfth out of 29, not bad for a first attempt and starting with so many fewer chips than most contestants. Today has been extraordinarily relaxing and I am gearing up for yet another week on the job search. Hopefully etfile calls me back in pretty soon, I don't want to lose hope with them but fear I may be too expensive, time will tell.

Edit 05-18-09: Easter Sunday was a very good day for me. After the monthly tournament on Saturday, I had sent out a couple of Facebook friend requests. Sunday around noon-ish, one of them was accepted and some communication started up. That friendship has blossomed and I had a very good early spring because of it. And to quote Forrest Gump, "and that's all I have to say about that."