what we need is here

Abandon,
as in love or sleep, 

holds them to their way

clear in the ancient faith

what we need is here.

And we pray, not
for new earth or heaven

 but to be quiet in heart 

and in eye clear. 

What we need is here.

Smiles

Well look what we have here.....

I love getting notes on my truck

signed by a heart. It looks

like Mr. Ruff might have

a secret admirer. Now, I

need to find out who it is.

Hmmmmm......... 

Yum Yum

duck confit steamed buns

Picazo Cabernet 2007

Guinness gelatto

and.... The Notebook.

Did I just admit that? Is it alright that I watched only half of it?

:)

It's all come Full Circle.

Today was a good day.

It was better than good...

It was Awesome!

I have waited a long time in my profession

to show them what I'm worth.

Today I received a call while at work,

from a principal recommending me for her

open third grade position.

I'm ecstatic to say the least. 

I've had people tell me that I will eventually

have the right things go the right way in my life.

In the past month, I have come to terms with disappointment.

I said goodbye to people that molded my life.

Maybe it was that fresh start that I needed to say goodbye to the 

negative outlying factors that I've dealt with.

Maybe one needs to hit rock bottom before they can 

pick them self up off of the ground and make strides 

within their own soul. I feel that time is now for me.

Here is to better and brighter days.

I'm a lucky uncle.

Just a quick glance at happiness

I'll keep the long, juicy filled blog for another day when I have all of the pictures to make it amazing; however here is a quick glance at what we waited in line all day for.

Front row next to The Edge.

It doesn't get much better than that at a sold out Oracle Stadium.

It was amazing. Not just that I was there with Superfan #1, but of our location and the concert in general. U2 belted out 24

amazing songs over a 2.5 hour reign.

Like I said these pictures don't do it justice being taken by my IPHONE.

We were so close.....

Each and every time we get to experience
these guys, we are very lucky.

I swear at least three times in the concert Bono looked at Sooz and I, as if he were singing right to us.... no lie, I swear!

 I feel like a kid in a candy store when

I get to experience this band. 

From the stands, from the seats, even from 10 feet

away, U2 was made for a stadium concert venue.

It's more than a concert, it's a production. It's so planned out to perfection, that I think each and every 

fan can take something different away from the concert.

I've always enjoyed going to the concerts with my superfans because they know how amazing U2 is in concert. We each hold that common bond of loving the band in its entirety since we were very young. I'm sad in some ways that my Sister (superfan#1) 

and my brother (superfan#2) might not be able to trek

down with me to Anaheim in a week for their next concert.

This is why I'm trying to steal superfan #2 away

from his obligations in the bay area just for a day as

we trek down to try and find "happiness" again. We'll see. 

Maybe I'll bribe him and his lovely wife in some way or another. 

They only come around every so often right????

HaHa well there's my happiness for the week. 

Oh and also I was able to grab this while at the show!!!!

Thanks to my boy AJ from the U2 road crew.(pictured above)

Have you ever wanted to meet someone really, really badly?

So have you ever wanted to meet someone, just to sit down to have a chat with? Well since I was eh..   say 8 years old I have been infatuated with the Enigma that is U2. I have been to countless concerts throughout the years, 2nd Deck at the Coliseum back in 1993 being the first one for the Zooropa Tour. Ever since that concert I have been addicted. At first it was just going to the show was enough for me. Not anymore! My Cohort Crazies (as I just made up the name) 

have been known  for doing some out of control stunts, just to see these guys up close. We're talking about staying up all night, waiting in line for up to 12 hours just to be one of the first ones in line to start the Underground U2 fan club list. My brother Aaron, sister Susannah, and myself recently traveled to Arizona to watch U2 out of state. It was a crazy idea to tell you the truth. 

Each of us were going through different things in our life and it was amazing to spend some time as siblings again. Long story much shorter, we arrive at the venue bright and early in the morning to get our name on the "list". And with that you get the number on your hand so that you may go about as you please throughout the day without losing your place in line. The line can get a little bit crazy at times as the day wears on. Example below where we have been waiting in line since 5 in the morning and this guy decides to show up 30 minutes before they let us in. he quickly got the clue.

 I really enjoy the time with my siblings as we wait all day to see our favorite band. Our quick foot pursuit from the G/A line down the back corridors of the stadiums is somewhat thrilling, as they whisk you to the floor level only to get as close as you can to the band. That is what is thrilling.

 

I enjoy making friends with people around me at the concerts. And my best friend that I always try to find is AJ in the U2 road crew. He's a shoe in for a set list and maybe a pick or two. I always gotta make the friends.  

Sitting Front Row against the metal barricades is the best feeling at a U2 concert. Especially when you stand up and turn around to see whats behind you an hour before the concert. 

So the question still stands. Have you ever wanted to meet someone really, really badly? Well for me its pretty plain and simple after reading this blog entry thus far.

 

 

 My answer....

Bono (Paul Hewson)

The Edge (David Evans)

Larry Mullen Jr.

Adam Clayton

They make us feel alive inside when we are belting our lungs out while singing along. I love these guys! 

 

They bring me closer to my siblings and they put a huge smile on my face!  I really want to meet U2, badly. However; if I can meet them while being front row for the 8th time while putting up with Lenny Kravitz for 45 minutes, I'll be a happy guy! Here's to Tuesday Night and getting closer to meeting my favorite band!

Sometimes I just hate my situation sometimes

Skype Date

PLUS



(HAPPY)NESS

PJ time with my favorite

Someday

Someday I will be able to not worry every day about picking up a job just to scrape by.
Someday I will be able to buy my son Eagles onsie's and toddler outfits.
Someday I will be able to express my generous heart to someone in need.
Someday I will be able to not live life vicariously through others.
Someday I will be able to love another once again.
Someday I will be able to reach out to others as I once did.
Someday I will be able to share my heart with my true soul mate.
Someday I will be able to laugh as I once did for so many years.
Someday I will be able to paint you a beautiful piece from your inspiration.
Someday I will be able to live medically free.
Someday I will be able to touch an entire class through the means of my educating.
Someday I will be able to make everyone happy that I entered into their life.
Someday I will be able to enjoy every moment with you, just like our beginning
Someday I will be able to live as I was meant to live.

J.R.

Sometimes...........

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be possibly your roommate, neighbor, long lost friend, or even a complete stranger, but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make every day count...

Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual (tough for me to do sometimes) and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. You can make of your life anything you wish.



Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.
Most importantly, if you love someone tell them, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store. And learn a lesson in life each day you live.

Favorite All Time (good but hard) blogspots

http://goodbuthard.blogspot.com/2008/09/road-trips-siblings-best-of-timesthe.html

http://goodbuthard.blogspot.com/2009/11/u2.html

http://goodbuthard.blogspot.com/2009/11/introducing.html

http://goodbuthard.blogspot.com/2010/10/big-sister.html

http://goodbuthard.blogspot.com/2009/11/waiting.html

http://goodbuthard.blogspot.com/2009/03/remembering.html

http://goodbuthard.blogspot.com/2009/02/little-ms-surgery-day.html

http://goodbuthard.blogspot.com/2010/05/new-life.html

http://goodbuthard.blogspot.com/2010/10/goodness.html

http://goodbuthard.blogspot.com/2008/12/favorite-restaurants-this-year.html

Tuesday

It's been a long week. I feel like days are running over into the next. I feel really tired.
I want to paint all of the time. I feel good about being semi employed. Round 2 of Judge Wapner hits me next Tuesday. I hate arguments with a passion. I wish having to go through the motions didn't exist. My Christmas Party at the winery is tomorrow night, that should be fun. Swingers Bowling starts 1st week in January, psyched about that. It's Christmastime and time for celebration. The Phillies signed Cliff Lee today, I'm super pumped

about this acquisition. Even though the Phillies are slowly turning into the National League Yankees, I still support my boys in Red. I'm tired and have a full day tomorrow. Have a great Tuesday!