10.25.2008

Dream - a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal

With each gift that you share
You may heal and repair
With each choice you make
You may help someone's day
Well I know you are strong
May your journey be long
And now I wish you the best of luck


Xavier Rudd - "Messages"

You know those lyrics in songs that just make you want to live differently? That challenge you and spark your imagination about what life could be like? This verse from Xavier Rudd does this for me.

I'm not sure exactly why I bring that up. I guess... Well... It has to do with something that happened a few nights ago that has been on my mind a lot. Near our house, a woman started jarring with Jeff and I verbally because we wouldn't buy something from her. We were taken aback because this anger seemed to come out of nowhere. In this process, I believe her heart cried out to us, sharing her pain by revealing some choices she is making. What could I have done? Are there words to give hope and show love to this woman who believes in nothing but her own worthlessness? I know this story is vague, and I keep it that way out of some sort of respect for the situation, but... I don't know.

I will never be that woman or know how she feels. Yet I have felt the sting of this world and genuinely considered the positives of leaving it. But I'm also living in new found freedom and a love I've never experienced before (in no way am I suggesting it's perfect or simply or easy, 'cause it ain't... it's just better, more beautiful, more joyful... good). Could I have shared my journey with her and given her hope that life can improve? I don't know. I didn't. I walked away, without any significant response. I regret not saying more. I regret not taking the risk that the words might have revived something in her forgotten and broken heart (In no way am I trying to discredit this woman or make her into someone deserving only our pity... but rather our respect and love and compassion). But that didn't happen, I walked away.

All the time while you're looking away
There are things you can do man
There's things you can say
To the the ones you're with
With whom you're spending your today
Get your gaze off tomorrow
And let come what may

John Butler Trio - "Better Than"

Our kids. Our wives. Our friends. Our mothers, fathers, sisters, co-workers, DMV employees, punk who cuts us off on Monday morning, boyfriends, enemies, in-laws, maids, bosses, and our roommates who drink too much Dr. Pepper (Me). What if we left in the morning and smiled to the people we walked past, the people on our bus? What if we were honest and stood up to our bosses? What if we couldn't wait for five o'clock so we could drive home to our wives and remind them who they are to us? What if? What if we decided what is mine, is everyone's? What if we realized the current moment was the most important?What if we remembered which experiences really brought us joy and life? And what if we said something to the people who really need to hear from us? And didn't walk away? Or stay silent?

It's a dream. Certainly not a new one. Sure, it's ideal, unachievable and maybe even childish to wish for it, but wouldn't you rather be a part of it? Trying to love unselfishly and openly?

I'm sure you're all very inspired to live loving everyone and everything after reading the kind of wisdom 22 long years brings. It is so challenging sometimes just to be not mean, let alone kind and compassionate. It's a battle. I just want to win more than I lose. Or at least, win more. Who knows, maybe this cult thing I live in has just gotten to me. Here's a couple more of those lyrics that comfort or challenge me and change my perspective. (ps - we're not a cult... but that's what a cult would say... so how can I prove it? Cults don't call themselves cults and in the joke above, I did. Now you're on the trolley.)

U2 - "Sometime You Can't Make it on Your Own"

You don't have to put up a fight
You don't have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
For you tonight

Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone

Where are we now?
I've got to let you know
A house still doesn't make a home
Don't leave me here alone...

Tenth Avenue North - "By Your Side"

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life
Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go

Robbie Seay Band - "Breathing Air Again"

Take the time to start anew
Maybe it's in front of you
Take the time to walk down your street
And heaven knows who you might meet
Take the time to be okay
And laugh a bit along the way
You could take me for a ride
We could just drive all day
And we could breathe again
Step outside our front door
And gaze upon the stars
And know we're not alone
So run into the fields
Scream louder than you can
It's good to be alive
And breathing air again
Take the time to stop and stare
Heaven's beauty everywhere
Take the time to think about
Someone else besides yourself
Take the time to be okay
And laugh a bit along the way

10.21.2008

Guys Need Dolls

Three of the boys were home tonight and spent fifteen minutes talking about breathing.  You know, how fast, why do we make sound when we breath, the correct way, and the ridiculousness of spending so much time on the topic of breathing.  We spent twenty minutes figuring out what to eat other than string cheese, spent five minutes flying a remote-controlled helicopter, raced each other down the stairs to get 10 lbs. of chicken out of the freezer,  chased Kiley around in a circle for ten minutes, worked on a crossword puzzle for ten minutes, talked for five minutes about girls, challenged each other to be as amazing as the mice living in our house and jump on top of the kitchen counter, joked about being strippers, practiced climbing by doing pull-ups on the door trim, read the newspaper (real news for Chaz, sports for me) and magazine (Rolling Stone for Pete) over dinner (no conversation), and spent fifteen minutes in silence, discussing (we asked the question and nothing else was said for a long while) what we would do with the evening.  

We came to one conclusion: it's a good thing we have 7 other people (6 girls) living with us most of the time.

10.08.2008

SITHU

(Stuff In The House Update)

Pete stepped in poop! (it could be Kiley's because it was outside, but we've also learned that Jeff sometimes pees in the yard in the middle of the night, so I don't think we can close this case just yet). Brittney is off to London on adventures with Chris Martin, David Bowie, and Hugh Grant for a few weeks. Katrina got a job working for Doctor's Care... she has been volunteering there regularly for awhile and they offered her a job this week! The patio is still half dirt... I mean... the patio is already half laid brick. The Strong Cucumbers are 4-1 and looking stronger and cucumber-er everyday. Kelley turned 22 last week... which means he has no more excuses for immaturity, he's an adult (sad). Jefe was given a 1984 Cadillac DeVille Limo. What can I even say about that? He's getting a 1984 limo. Thanks Emily and Brian Bassett! Drool just came out of my mouth... literally... that has nothing to do with the limo (or Emily and Brian)

So we live about a mile south of 1-70 on Josephine and right on that exit is the Purina dog food plant. And the power of it's stench is immense. We can smell it sometimes in our backyard. On my drive home today, I could taste the smell. One of these days, I will hurl. If it didn't provide jobs, I think I'd ask you to protest with me (although for the health of your dog, I recommend doing some research on better dog food brands... who's a dork? This guy)

We are participating in another playground build on Thursday October 16th for a refugee community. If you're interested in helping, please email the house (thehousedenver@gmail.com - ps if you want to email us about anything else, feel free). I think it's early in the morning at 8 or 9 and probably goes into mid-afternoon. It's an awesome opportunity to come hang out with refugees and some of us from the house.

This Friday we are going to give platelets at the Children's Hospital. I've never given blood or platelets or anything so I'm pretty excited to do this. This describes what platelets are and how important it is we all help.

Apheresis Platelet Donations

Children with cancer or leukemia, transplant patients and patients with blood disorders, such as aplastic anemia, benefit from apheresis blood products. Many times during chemotherapy and radiation treatment, both cancer cells and healthy cells are destroyed, therefore patients need transfusions to prevent hemorrahging or to fight infection. A limited number of donors may be necessary for a specific patient.

childrenshospital.org

Children's Hospital has platelet donations every two weeks, so we're hoping that we can set something up in the next month so a lot of you guys to come with us.

For all the thousands of guys reading this, go watch the movie Legends of the Fall, it will change your life. Girls, uh... uhh... Guys, seriously rent... no... buy Legends of the Fall this weekend.

Jeff wrote this poem tonight while I was working on this and I'd like to share it with you

There once was a man named Kelley
He wrote a blog from deep down in his belly
You should read it tonight
I think you just might
Or else you'll just be smelly

"That is legit shit (laughing). You should put that in there too" - Jeff