SPEECH TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY- SEPTEMBER 2008
Every single one of us today has been inspired by our heroes. I'm lucky, because many of my hero's interact with me daily. My father, great uncle, and several of my friends are all survivors. Unfortunately, there are those who I refer to as champions, my grandfather is a champion he lost a long battle to cancer. But it is not for these great people whom I dedicate these efforts to, rather I dedicate these efforts to our sons and daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, nieces and nephews.
Today, I have some new heroes. Thank you mom for supporting and loving my dad during his battle. Thank you grandma for loving and fighting with grandpa. Thank you Kathy Sewell, for working to save other men and women from cancer. Thank you Dani Grady, for riding your bike 4,000 miles to make a difference. And most of all, thank you -- all of you -- for showing America that we can meet, we can treat, and we can beat this horrible disease.
It was more than a quarter-century ago that America first declared war on cancer. We are here today because we want to be the first generation that finally wins that war. I want to talk to you for a few minutes today about what we are doing to redouble our commitment to make it happen.
As any cancer survivor will tell you: the power to fight cancer comes from the heart and from the soul. But most of all, it comes from being able to imagine a day when you are cancer-free. I want to begin today by asking all of you to imagine a day when America is cancer-free.
Imagine waking up tomorrow morning and reading that not a single American died today from cancer. Imagine waking up in a world where not a single child has ever heard the word "chemotherapy." Imagine waking up in a world where children at the local kindergarten start the school year with a nap, a flu shot, and a routine cancer immunization. And imagine how it would feel to visit the Smithsonian and see a radiation machine next to an iron lung as a relic from the past.
Make no mistake about it: this dream can happen in our lifetime. But to get there, we have to continue to make cancer research a priority today. And it's time: because this disease has haunted this land and hurt our families for too many years.
In America today, more than 40 percent of us will be diagnosed with cancer, and 20 percent of us will die from it. If you're wondering what that means, visit the Vietnam Memorial in DC when this rally is over. If we were going to build a monument to all the Americans who die from cancer this year, it would take ten Vietnam Walls.
Like all of you, when I hear the word "cancer," I don't think of statistics, I see faces. I have spoken often about me and my family's tragic experience with this disease in the past. We have all seen what cancer does, and we are here today because we hope for a day when it doesn't happen to anyone else.
Thanks to your work, and the breathtaking advances in science, we are closer to a cure than we have ever been. As we meet here today, vaccines are being tested to prevent prostate cancer, colon cancer, cervical and breast cancer are being tested. You know, I have run the Relay for life and chaired it in ADA County, and I love that race. But one of the happiest days of my life will be the day that none of us have to run it again.
First, we need to be sure these advances are used to improve treatment for people with cancer. We are just a few years away from the complete sequencing of all the genes in the human body. Today, we issue a historic challenge to the scientific community: as we unlock the genetic code, let's make sure we develop new diagnostic techniques for every major kind of cancer by the year 2010 -- so we can catch it at its earliest and most preventable stage. History shows: if we crack the enemy's code, we win the war. We are going to win this war for America's families.
Second, let us do more to improve access for patients to cutting-edge clinical trials. We won't cure cancer if only three percent of America's cancer patients are enrolled in clinical trials. Today, we are directing the National Cancer Institute to speed up the process, to allow patients to be enrolled on the spot with no wait. We are also calling on Congress to pass our proposal to cover the patient care costs for Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in clinical trials. America's seniors make up more than half of all cancer patients. They deserve to have the latest weapons to fight it.
Third, we need to continue to improve quality breakthrough medications and treatments for cancer. Two years ago, we launched an historic effort to speed up the drug approval process while maintaining quality.
In just two years, we have more than doubled the number of approvals for new therapies. Today, we have a new weapon in the war against breast cancer. The Food and Drug Administration approved a brand new, cutting-edge drug to treat breast cancer. This will help some of the 1.6 million women who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. There is one more thing we can do to advance this fight.
Third, we need to make sure that these advances are used to improve the quality of life of cancer patients. As we crack the genetic code, it should be used to improve treatment, not increase discrimination. No person should have their health care or their job put at risk because they are genetically at risk for cancer
Some people say it's impossible to find a cure for cancer. But 100 years ago, they said the same thing about smallpox. Sixty years ago, they said the same thing about polio. They were wrong then -- and they are wrong today. The beauty of this battle is not just that all of us have come together to conquer cancer. The beauty of this is that our lives and our stories prove that yes, we can conquer cancer.
When people say that we can't make prevention work, we say, "YES WE WILL." When people say we can't find a cure, we say, "YES WE WILL." When people say we can't get people involved, we say, "YES WE WILL." When people say no we can't, we say, "YES WE WILL."
Can we save lives? Can we save families? Can we find a cure? Working together, marching together, fighting together, I know we will. Thank you.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Uncle Butch
I found out today that one of my uncles found out his cancer has returned. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few years ago and thought it was under control. But it looks as though it is back. I wanted to reaffirm my plight to end cancer within my lifetime.
I hate this disease and we may keep loosing battle, we will win this war. But only if we are all committed to the fight. One in every three Americans will be diagnosed with this atrocious disease.
I beg you to join in the cause. Donate time, money or just commit to educate yourself about the many precautions.
I beg you not on my behalf, not on the behalf of Uncle Butch, but on the behalf of all those beautiful children that are in this world and those yet to come.
Please Visit cancer.org, American Cancer Society, Livestrong, or any other organization commit ed to this worthy cause.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Winter Time
Well to say that I haven't had time to write in my blog is probably very incorrect. I just haven' made the time.
Winter Sucks! I am so tired of the snow. All is do is drive so the winter months make that a little treacherous and alot less exciting.
Since moving back to Bear Lake to do some lobbying work for several clients that I have known my entire life, I have joined the Rendezvous Chamber of Commerce and made Vice President, The Montpelier Rotary Club, I have to attend the Bear Lake and Rich County Commissioners meetings, each meet twice a month. I also am asked to go to the City Council meetings for Garden City, Utah. In idaho, I go to a once monthly meeting for
St Charles, Bloomington, Paris and twice a month for Montpelier.
I am also working with the City of Montpelier on several economic development projects that keep my busy.
And I am also hosting the first BEAR LAKE VALLEY LEGISLATIVE RETREAT in June. This event is HUGE! All state legislators from Idaho and Utah are invited along with state agency heads and the Governor and State Officers. Its been a real chore. But will be worth it.
For fun... I built a luge... It was a disaster that resulted in a broken tailbone. haha. I went to the symphony at Abranavel Hall. It was amazing!!! My date, Bailey Lake was fun, smart and Gorgeous. My buddy Colton Ward came and I set him up with my friend Kambri Simmons from Terreton. It was a way fun night. I went to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City and that was fun. The "reception" was ok, my date Bailey was a great sport. Been doing alot of work and some fun stuff when it comes up....
Lifes pretty good :)
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Twin souls
"...And when two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one's dreams would have no meaning..." -Paulo Coehno
I did not write this article... I put together the material put together by others much smarter than myself. I hope it gives you some food for thought. -Jesse
It is said that Soul mates are from a unique group that was discharged aeons ago from the Source. They cohered and were merged for ages as they descend through all the realms down to the physical. The older and wiser groups would have stayed together longer and the more similar they would be, because they would have shared more characteristics when they are together. They would have imbibed through osmosis so many peculiarities, traits, and tendencies from one another. When the 128 souls are distributed throughout the 7 billion citizens of the world, the chances of many soul mates meeting per incarnation are fairly slim. From all the many acquaintances and friends that we meet and know in this life, how many have turned out to be close friends? No more than a handful. Normally it is only one or two. This number would be the same for soul mates.
How do we recognize our soul mates? The best way is to improve our own soul quality in order for our mates to appear. That means we would recognize the soul in the person. When we meet a soul mate, there is an instant liking. Then as we come to know them better, we find that there is agreement in things that are important. Our attitude towards life situations is the same, although our interests may be different. The quality of our soul level is very similar: we have compassion, empathy, and realize that the purpose of life is to let go. There is no jealousy arising, and the harmony and love that are flowing to and fro would make us happy in each other’s presence. The love energy between two soul mates can only be surpassed by the love between twin souls. The love of twin souls is always with the opposite sex.
Alone, the single soul cannot find its way back to the Source. They can only find their way back when joined as the original group. The group is now greatly enlarged because of its cargo of love and wisdom, although the numbers are the same as before. One can see the joy and happiness of the whole group joined together as a cohesive whole, bubbling its way back to the Source, joining up with other groups on the way up.
As a group the karma earned must now be shared by all. When one soul goes astray, the entire group has to pay for it. So one soul may delay the cross over and ascent of the whole group. However, as some of the souls in the group have done well, so the entire group would also enjoy the fruits thereof.
The love between two soul mates is very intense and strong. In fact quite a few of these love affairs have been written up as famous love stories e.g. "Wuthering Heights," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Gone with the Wind."
That means when soul mates marry, they appear as if they are twin souls, but the discerning can pick up certain telltale signs, which can differentiate one from the other. Although their love and harmony are usually of a grand affair, there will still be fuel for spiritual growth. Fuel in this instance means fodder for disagreements and misunderstandings leading to fights and even separations. In every crisis, if one is willing to learn from the mistakes that accrue from the crisis, then it becomes a spiritual lesson.
The married soul mates must work up their relationship into a state of unconditional (soul) love. This love does not ask for any return, thanks or gratitude, but the one would always place the needs of the other above his or her own. After achieving this type of love to our soul mates, we then learn to do the same with the rest of the family. This commodity of divine love should then be spread to whoever comes into our acquaintanceship. And in this way we should be able to treat everybody as if they are our soul mates even though they are not from the same soul group.
Twin souls have the same vibrations. They come form the same mould, although not from the same womb. They are like one person cut into two, but not one soul divided into two. Therefore, even after millions of years of separation, when they meet they know instinctively that that this is the twin. Their vision, feeling and purpose are one. They see the same vision from the same spot, unlike two other people with two different sets of eyes, which see the same scene juxtaposed with one another. These two often wake at the same times. Often share the same feelings. The twin souls see the same scene with their combined third eye. The scene arouses the same feeling in both, although both are of different personalities. In fact what they see may even be complimentary. This must be the case, as they are now brought together for a single purpose. The feeling for each other is nothing less than divines love. One does not love the other despite the other’s faults; one loves the other for the other’s faults as much as for the other’s virtues.
The love of twin souls is an ideal to be copied by all. The harmony and care do not allow of envy, irritation or exasperation for the other. Pain and suffering are not allowed to emerge from either party. If there is any infliction of pain it is due to an error of omission or lack of awareness. There is absolutely no intention to hurt.
The First Meeting
As mentioned by Omraam Mikhael Ivahov, twin souls meet about twelve times in our human incarnations. That means there could have been at least eleven previous meetings. Every meeting would have been melodramatic, memorable and electric. According to Sufi teachings, twin souls are like two Roman rings interlocking with each other. They may come very close when they enter a relationship in an incarnation, which means the two rings almost superimpose. But when they separate due to disagreements or reincarnating in different countries, the rings try to break away, but it is not possible. They remain inter-linked throughout their sojourns on earth and during intermissions in spirit. There is always a varying amount of common space between the two rings. During any twin-soul encounter, it is bound to be hypnotically momentous. A special feeling of energy seems to pass from one to the another beyond their control. This passage of energy is both nice and exciting. This is twin soul recognizing one another without involving the intellect. These twin souls encounter the same feeling and the same quality of love and it means the end of their loneliness. However, not all meetings of twin souls end well. Some cannot even get together. Some divorce after marriage, and they die without fulfillment. Of course, these are not their last incarnations.
Now in the last meeting before their ascent to the spiritual realms, both twins are either enlightened or nearly so. Therefore at this stage the recognition must be mutual. As they are so developed their mission in this last incarnation has a common purpose. Having the same aspirations, both would be working for the good of humanity. Their same intensity of love and compassion would make them persistent in their common pursuit. One could be the leader or innovator whilst the other is the steady workhorse. Both must be preferably, in either in arts or in science. So that the effort is not dissipated by one being in the arts and the other in science. However, this fact is not essential. Their common goal is generally to uplift and enhance the quality of humanity. Both could be in the healing profession or in the promotion of arts etc. Even if they do not work in the same place, having the same vision their work could become complimentary, since they have the same preferences, tastes and predilection. Their mental capacity is of the same order. Their tastes in food, music and sense of humour are all the same. Both will either like the mountains or the sea. Their handwriting and the lines on their palms are similar. At this stage of development, they both possess a polished sense of humour and are good-natured. One could go on ad nauseam. You have to meet a couple of twin souls yourself to see how much in unison they behave. Of course, as human beings there may be twin souls who still have some differences and friendly competition may ensue. The outcome is the betterment of humanity. The so-called fight would not last long and the make-up is the sweeter. Sometimes twin souls appear to be doing the same thing at the same time, e.g. writing letters to one another at the same time.
Before the meeting, the twins usually can sense that the time is coming near for them to meet. Then when they meet during the last incarnation, the charged electricity and explosion would indicate in no uncertain terms that ‘this is it’. However, this is not the end. Rather, it is the beginning of an ongoing process in this last incarnation. Both have still to develop and practice. Both have to continue to work at themselves so that their perfection will entitle them to journey in the spiritual realms forever never to return to earth.
When they do meet, the age difference is of no consequence to them. The disparity could be as much as fifty years, but it is totally of no importance to the twins. They do not try to change each other for both accept each other as they are. Both are usually in the same state of health: both are either healthy or both are in the same state of incapacity. Both normally have strong telepathic linkages, and if one is sad so is the other. Conversely, happiness in one very often infects the other even though they may be thousands of miles apart. Lastly, both tend to incarnate into similar social circumstances; otherwise some difficulties may arise due to the disparate social status.
In closing, I want to emphasize that anyone who exposes themselves to these basic thoughts on soul mates and twin souls do so with a sense of caution. My thoughts and the writings of others mentioned herein are meant to create a sense of wonder. Please review the resource materials for this topic in this site. And always reach your own final decisions on this or any other spiritual subject by going to your heart for the final answers. It will never lie to you. The real God made it that way.
If you'd like to watch an excellent movie that describes the profoundness of the twin soul union and the passion for soul completion when two twins meet, rent the movie, Somewhere in Time, with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve.
"The supreme state of human love is the unity of one soul within two bodies" ~ Sri Aurobindo
I did not write this article... I put together the material put together by others much smarter than myself. I hope it gives you some food for thought. -Jesse
It is said that Soul mates are from a unique group that was discharged aeons ago from the Source. They cohered and were merged for ages as they descend through all the realms down to the physical. The older and wiser groups would have stayed together longer and the more similar they would be, because they would have shared more characteristics when they are together. They would have imbibed through osmosis so many peculiarities, traits, and tendencies from one another. When the 128 souls are distributed throughout the 7 billion citizens of the world, the chances of many soul mates meeting per incarnation are fairly slim. From all the many acquaintances and friends that we meet and know in this life, how many have turned out to be close friends? No more than a handful. Normally it is only one or two. This number would be the same for soul mates.
How do we recognize our soul mates? The best way is to improve our own soul quality in order for our mates to appear. That means we would recognize the soul in the person. When we meet a soul mate, there is an instant liking. Then as we come to know them better, we find that there is agreement in things that are important. Our attitude towards life situations is the same, although our interests may be different. The quality of our soul level is very similar: we have compassion, empathy, and realize that the purpose of life is to let go. There is no jealousy arising, and the harmony and love that are flowing to and fro would make us happy in each other’s presence. The love energy between two soul mates can only be surpassed by the love between twin souls. The love of twin souls is always with the opposite sex.
Alone, the single soul cannot find its way back to the Source. They can only find their way back when joined as the original group. The group is now greatly enlarged because of its cargo of love and wisdom, although the numbers are the same as before. One can see the joy and happiness of the whole group joined together as a cohesive whole, bubbling its way back to the Source, joining up with other groups on the way up.
As a group the karma earned must now be shared by all. When one soul goes astray, the entire group has to pay for it. So one soul may delay the cross over and ascent of the whole group. However, as some of the souls in the group have done well, so the entire group would also enjoy the fruits thereof.
The love between two soul mates is very intense and strong. In fact quite a few of these love affairs have been written up as famous love stories e.g. "Wuthering Heights," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Gone with the Wind."
That means when soul mates marry, they appear as if they are twin souls, but the discerning can pick up certain telltale signs, which can differentiate one from the other. Although their love and harmony are usually of a grand affair, there will still be fuel for spiritual growth. Fuel in this instance means fodder for disagreements and misunderstandings leading to fights and even separations. In every crisis, if one is willing to learn from the mistakes that accrue from the crisis, then it becomes a spiritual lesson.
The married soul mates must work up their relationship into a state of unconditional (soul) love. This love does not ask for any return, thanks or gratitude, but the one would always place the needs of the other above his or her own. After achieving this type of love to our soul mates, we then learn to do the same with the rest of the family. This commodity of divine love should then be spread to whoever comes into our acquaintanceship. And in this way we should be able to treat everybody as if they are our soul mates even though they are not from the same soul group.
Twin souls have the same vibrations. They come form the same mould, although not from the same womb. They are like one person cut into two, but not one soul divided into two. Therefore, even after millions of years of separation, when they meet they know instinctively that that this is the twin. Their vision, feeling and purpose are one. They see the same vision from the same spot, unlike two other people with two different sets of eyes, which see the same scene juxtaposed with one another. These two often wake at the same times. Often share the same feelings. The twin souls see the same scene with their combined third eye. The scene arouses the same feeling in both, although both are of different personalities. In fact what they see may even be complimentary. This must be the case, as they are now brought together for a single purpose. The feeling for each other is nothing less than divines love. One does not love the other despite the other’s faults; one loves the other for the other’s faults as much as for the other’s virtues.
The love of twin souls is an ideal to be copied by all. The harmony and care do not allow of envy, irritation or exasperation for the other. Pain and suffering are not allowed to emerge from either party. If there is any infliction of pain it is due to an error of omission or lack of awareness. There is absolutely no intention to hurt.
The First Meeting
As mentioned by Omraam Mikhael Ivahov, twin souls meet about twelve times in our human incarnations. That means there could have been at least eleven previous meetings. Every meeting would have been melodramatic, memorable and electric. According to Sufi teachings, twin souls are like two Roman rings interlocking with each other. They may come very close when they enter a relationship in an incarnation, which means the two rings almost superimpose. But when they separate due to disagreements or reincarnating in different countries, the rings try to break away, but it is not possible. They remain inter-linked throughout their sojourns on earth and during intermissions in spirit. There is always a varying amount of common space between the two rings. During any twin-soul encounter, it is bound to be hypnotically momentous. A special feeling of energy seems to pass from one to the another beyond their control. This passage of energy is both nice and exciting. This is twin soul recognizing one another without involving the intellect. These twin souls encounter the same feeling and the same quality of love and it means the end of their loneliness. However, not all meetings of twin souls end well. Some cannot even get together. Some divorce after marriage, and they die without fulfillment. Of course, these are not their last incarnations.
Now in the last meeting before their ascent to the spiritual realms, both twins are either enlightened or nearly so. Therefore at this stage the recognition must be mutual. As they are so developed their mission in this last incarnation has a common purpose. Having the same aspirations, both would be working for the good of humanity. Their same intensity of love and compassion would make them persistent in their common pursuit. One could be the leader or innovator whilst the other is the steady workhorse. Both must be preferably, in either in arts or in science. So that the effort is not dissipated by one being in the arts and the other in science. However, this fact is not essential. Their common goal is generally to uplift and enhance the quality of humanity. Both could be in the healing profession or in the promotion of arts etc. Even if they do not work in the same place, having the same vision their work could become complimentary, since they have the same preferences, tastes and predilection. Their mental capacity is of the same order. Their tastes in food, music and sense of humour are all the same. Both will either like the mountains or the sea. Their handwriting and the lines on their palms are similar. At this stage of development, they both possess a polished sense of humour and are good-natured. One could go on ad nauseam. You have to meet a couple of twin souls yourself to see how much in unison they behave. Of course, as human beings there may be twin souls who still have some differences and friendly competition may ensue. The outcome is the betterment of humanity. The so-called fight would not last long and the make-up is the sweeter. Sometimes twin souls appear to be doing the same thing at the same time, e.g. writing letters to one another at the same time.
Before the meeting, the twins usually can sense that the time is coming near for them to meet. Then when they meet during the last incarnation, the charged electricity and explosion would indicate in no uncertain terms that ‘this is it’. However, this is not the end. Rather, it is the beginning of an ongoing process in this last incarnation. Both have still to develop and practice. Both have to continue to work at themselves so that their perfection will entitle them to journey in the spiritual realms forever never to return to earth.
When they do meet, the age difference is of no consequence to them. The disparity could be as much as fifty years, but it is totally of no importance to the twins. They do not try to change each other for both accept each other as they are. Both are usually in the same state of health: both are either healthy or both are in the same state of incapacity. Both normally have strong telepathic linkages, and if one is sad so is the other. Conversely, happiness in one very often infects the other even though they may be thousands of miles apart. Lastly, both tend to incarnate into similar social circumstances; otherwise some difficulties may arise due to the disparate social status.
In closing, I want to emphasize that anyone who exposes themselves to these basic thoughts on soul mates and twin souls do so with a sense of caution. My thoughts and the writings of others mentioned herein are meant to create a sense of wonder. Please review the resource materials for this topic in this site. And always reach your own final decisions on this or any other spiritual subject by going to your heart for the final answers. It will never lie to you. The real God made it that way.
If you'd like to watch an excellent movie that describes the profoundness of the twin soul union and the passion for soul completion when two twins meet, rent the movie, Somewhere in Time, with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve.
"The supreme state of human love is the unity of one soul within two bodies" ~ Sri Aurobindo
By The River Piedra, I sat Down and Wept.
BY Paulo CoelhoThe heart decides, and what it decides is all that really matters.
At some point, we have each said through our tears, “I’m suffering for a love that’s not worth it.” We suffer because we feel we are giving more than we receive. We suffer because our love is going unrecognized. We suffer because we are unable to impose our own rules.
True love is an act of total surrender.
One doesn’t love in order to do what is good or to help or to protect someone. If we act that way, we are perceiving the other as a simple object, and we seeing ourselves as wise and generous persons. This has nothing to do with love. To love is to be in communion with the other and to discover in that other the spark of God.
You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen.
Every day, God gives us the sun - and also one moment in which we have the ability to change everything that makes us unhappy. Every day, we try to pretend that we haven’t perceived the moment, that it doesn’t exist – that today is the same as yesterday and will be the same as tomorrow. But if people really pay attention in their everyday lives, they will discover that magic moment. It may arrive in the instant when we are doing something mundane, like putting our front-door key in the lock; it may lie hidden in the quiet that follows the lunch hour or in the thousand and one things that all seems the same to us. But that moment exists – a moment when all the power of the stars becomes a part of us and enables us to perform miracles.
Joy is sometimes a blessing, but it is often a conquest. Our magic moment help us to change and sends us off in search of our dreams. Yes, we are going to suffer, we will have difficult times, and we will experience many disappointments – but all of this is transitory it leaves no permanent mark. And one day we will look back with pride and faith at the journey we have taken.
I could have. What does this phrase mean? At any given moment in our lives, there are certain things that could have happened but didn’t. The magic moments go unrecognized, and then suddenly, the hand of destiny changes everything.
But love is much like a dam: if you allow a tiny crack to form through which only a trickle of water can pass, that trickle will quickly bring down the whole structure, and soon no one will be able to control the force of the current.
Love is a trap. When it appears, we see only its light, not its shadows.
I’m going to fight for your love. There are some things in life that are worth fighting for to the end. You are worth it.
It’s better to lose some of the battles in the struggle for your dreams than to be defeated without ever even knowing what you’re fighting for.
The universe always helps us fight for our dreams, no matter how foolish they may be. Our dreams are our own, and only we can know the effort required to keep them alive.
Love is like a narcotic. At first it brings the euphoria of complete surrender. The next day, you want more. You’re not addicted yet, but you like the sensation, and you think you can still control things. You think about the person you love for two minutes, and forget them for three hours. But then you get used to that person, and you begin to be completely dependent on them. Now you think about him for three hours and forget him for two minutes. If he’s not there, you feel like an addict who can’t get a fix. And just as addicts steal and humiliate themselves to get what they need, you’re willing to do anything for love.
Love doesn’t need to be discussed; it has its own voice and speaks for itself.
The moment we begin to seek love, love begins to seek us.
Love can consign us to hell or to paradise, but it always takes us somewhere. We have to take love where we find it, even if that means hours, days, weeks of disappointment and sadness.
You’re making me happy. And happiness is something that multiplies when it is divided.
Faith as tiny as a grain of sand allows us to move mountains.
Thy will be done, my Lord. Because you know the weakness in the heart of your children, and you assign each of them only the burden they can bear. May you understand my love – because it is the only thing I have that is really mine, the only thing that I will be able to take with me into the next life. Please allow it to be courageous and pure; please make it capable of surviving the snares of the world.
Only a man who is happy can create happiness in others.
If pain must come, may it come quickly. Because I have a life to live, and I need to live it in the best way possible. If he has to make a choice, may he make it now. Then I will either wait for him or forget him. Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worst kind of suffering.
Love can only be found through the act of loving.
Love doesn’t act many questions, because if we stop to think we become fearful. It’s an inexplicable fear; it’s difficult even to describe it. Maybe it’s the fear of being scorned, of not being accepted, or of breaking the spell. It’s ridiculous, but that’s the way it is. That’s why you don’t ask – you act.
A fall from the third floor hurts as much as a fall from the hundredth. If I have to fall, may it be from a high place.
I think that if we look for love courageously, it reveals itself, and we wind up attracting even more love. If one person really wants us, everyone does. But if we’re alone, we become even more alone. Life is strange.
It’s around the well that lovers find each other, satisfy their thirst, build their homes, and raise their children. But if one of them decides to leave, the well cannot go with them. Love remains there, abandoned – even though it is filled with the same pure water as before.
Wait. This was the first lesson I learned about love. The day drags along, you make thousands of plans, you imagine every possible conversation, you promise to change your behavior in certain ways – and you feel more and more anxious until your loved one arrives. But by then, you don’t know what to say. The hours of waiting have been transformed into tension, the tension has become fear, and the fear makes you embarrassed about showing affection.
Follow your dreams, transform your life, take the path that leads to God. Perform your miracles. Cure. Make prophecies. Listen to your guardian angel. Transform yourself. Be a warrior, and be happy as you wage the good fight. Take risks.
Our Lady, give me back my faith. May I also serve as an instrument of your work. Give me the opportunity to learn through my love, because love has never kept anyone away from my dreams. May I be a companion and ally of the man I love. May we accomplish everything we have to accomplish – together.
Break the glass. Try to understand that I have broken things within myself that were much more important than a glass, and I’m happy I did. Resolve your own internal battle, and break the glass.
Love perseveres. It’s men who change.
I am going to sit here with you by the river. If you go home to sleep, I will sleep in front of your house. And if you go away, I will follow you – until you tell me to go away. Then I’ll leave. But I have to love you for the rest of my life.
Dreams mean work.
Monday, December 8, 2008
I voted for McCain But support President Obama
I voted for McCain.. BUT
Obama will have my support as President. As Republicans we have been saying to all those Bush haters out there that they can hate the person but respect the office. Its our turn to respect the Office of the President of the United States and put her before anything else. Unless he does something to lose my respect President Obama will have my support and confidence. He still remains a mystery to me but I hope that my skepticism was wrong. What this country needs now more than anything is a renewed sense of unity and purpose. Obama has a golden opportunity which has never been possible before. I truly hope he can take advantage of it. I am very happy that we will have our first African American President. I think it's a wonderful and inspirational thing for our country. Not that it matters, but I'm also thankful for the message this sends to most of the world. I think they wanted 'change' as much as the voters here did and hopefully we can begin to rebuild our relationships and re-examine our role on the global stage. I am a Moderate Republican voter, have voted for alot of Republicans, but when I respect the candidate I am not afraid to vote for a Democrat. I respect John McCain and trust his bipartisanship and understanding about the issues. We've seen nasty fringe elements from both sides and we should not let that effect our opinion of the candidates or voters. Congratulations to Obama and his supporters. You guys fought a good fight and got a well deserved win. Now please don't blow it with partisanship and extremism!
Obama will have my support as President. As Republicans we have been saying to all those Bush haters out there that they can hate the person but respect the office. Its our turn to respect the Office of the President of the United States and put her before anything else. Unless he does something to lose my respect President Obama will have my support and confidence. He still remains a mystery to me but I hope that my skepticism was wrong. What this country needs now more than anything is a renewed sense of unity and purpose. Obama has a golden opportunity which has never been possible before. I truly hope he can take advantage of it. I am very happy that we will have our first African American President. I think it's a wonderful and inspirational thing for our country. Not that it matters, but I'm also thankful for the message this sends to most of the world. I think they wanted 'change' as much as the voters here did and hopefully we can begin to rebuild our relationships and re-examine our role on the global stage. I am a Moderate Republican voter, have voted for alot of Republicans, but when I respect the candidate I am not afraid to vote for a Democrat. I respect John McCain and trust his bipartisanship and understanding about the issues. We've seen nasty fringe elements from both sides and we should not let that effect our opinion of the candidates or voters. Congratulations to Obama and his supporters. You guys fought a good fight and got a well deserved win. Now please don't blow it with partisanship and extremism!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Poopy Head
I spent the day with my nephew, Cooper aka the poopy head. Not sure where that name came from but it hus stuck. He is so darn cute! He is jabbering away, seems to always be saying my name. haha. But he now has his two top and bottom teeth. So stinking cute! Looks just like me when I was his age. haha I will even post a picture... Just have to find one... No idea where the baby pictures are at.
A monkey for halloween
I do have one of me and my cousin, Krystle when we were one playing on north beach at Bear Lake. Its funny. Sorry krystle. Had to put it on here.
Babysitting Cooper
Before a meeting
My Little thug
THE BAILOUT
Please understand I am no economist. I am simply a guy with questions. Like you I am nervous about being able to take care of my expenses. Most everyone agrees the economy is now in a recession. Anyone who doesn’t agree is… well, not paying attention. So what kind of downturn can we expect? A study performed by the International Monetary Fund of 122 recessions in advanced nations since 1960 proves it will be long and very bad. The study found that recessions accompanied by severe credit crunches or house price busts last a quarter longer than other downturns, which averaged to last about four quarters. Note the use of the word “or” in the foregoing sentence. Very unfortunately, we've got both: the crunch and bust.
Even worse, credit busts typically result in a loss of economic output that is two to three times greater than in recessions without such financial stresses. That's because consumption and investment usually register much sharper declines in recessions coinciding with financial trouble, leading to a more pronounced drop in overall output and greater unemployment.
The lessons of the past have led the IMF to urge policy makers “to act swiftly and decisively to undertake the necessary measures.”
Judging from the capital markets' continuing swoon, the bank bailout isn't enough to stem the tide. And we doubt that the more recent government actions—including further stopgap measures by the Federal Reserve and some new ones by none other than the Internal Revenue Service —will do much more than buy time, however necessary that may be to keep the markets from seizing up entirely. Bankruptcy reform may also be needed to help stanch home foreclosures. Therein lays the root of the problem, the Housing and mortgage industry. But until the job and income outlook improves—markedly—we see little chance that home prices will start rising again, or even bottom out thus making this issue here to stay for awhile.
Since housing and mortgages are at the root of the problem how are we addressing those issues? What the bail out was intended to do was to loosen the current strangle hold the credit crunch has on the housing market. When the government bought some of these troubled mortgages it was intended that money would be made available to the institution to return to the credit market. What they have discovered is the money is not making it to the potential borrowers. It seems to be stuck in vaults somewhere.
Since congress authorized the bailout things have only gotten worse. What went wrong? Well I asked and was told by my friend in “the know” that the bailout was supposed to stabilize the financial institutions but was never intended to fix it entirely. It was then explained to me that what it was doing was allowing the banks and other financial institutions to take losses as they write down or sell troubled assets. This was supposed to increase lending, which is a vital component to a healthy economy.
The moral is that this a complex problem created by many catalysts, with no easy fix. Only advice is to speak to a financial expert that can help you prepare for an economic downturn.
Even worse, credit busts typically result in a loss of economic output that is two to three times greater than in recessions without such financial stresses. That's because consumption and investment usually register much sharper declines in recessions coinciding with financial trouble, leading to a more pronounced drop in overall output and greater unemployment.
The lessons of the past have led the IMF to urge policy makers “to act swiftly and decisively to undertake the necessary measures.”
Judging from the capital markets' continuing swoon, the bank bailout isn't enough to stem the tide. And we doubt that the more recent government actions—including further stopgap measures by the Federal Reserve and some new ones by none other than the Internal Revenue Service —will do much more than buy time, however necessary that may be to keep the markets from seizing up entirely. Bankruptcy reform may also be needed to help stanch home foreclosures. Therein lays the root of the problem, the Housing and mortgage industry. But until the job and income outlook improves—markedly—we see little chance that home prices will start rising again, or even bottom out thus making this issue here to stay for awhile.
Since housing and mortgages are at the root of the problem how are we addressing those issues? What the bail out was intended to do was to loosen the current strangle hold the credit crunch has on the housing market. When the government bought some of these troubled mortgages it was intended that money would be made available to the institution to return to the credit market. What they have discovered is the money is not making it to the potential borrowers. It seems to be stuck in vaults somewhere.
Since congress authorized the bailout things have only gotten worse. What went wrong? Well I asked and was told by my friend in “the know” that the bailout was supposed to stabilize the financial institutions but was never intended to fix it entirely. It was then explained to me that what it was doing was allowing the banks and other financial institutions to take losses as they write down or sell troubled assets. This was supposed to increase lending, which is a vital component to a healthy economy.
The moral is that this a complex problem created by many catalysts, with no easy fix. Only advice is to speak to a financial expert that can help you prepare for an economic downturn.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Quandries
Life is full of little questions. Where to go to school. Where to eat. Where to live. Some are big and some are little. But they end up amounting to stress. I am here trying to make a few decisions. A few big ones and lots of little ones. Unfortunetely, at this point I cant talk about all of my 'Questions' but I can say that they are about my career. Its quite unnerving to be honest. I will update this when I can actually write about it.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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