A Tired Soul

A tired soul shouts out for help
asking about for an answer.
The wretched hand reaches out as he yearns for redemption.
Why can't the heart find peace when IT surrounds him day and night.
The mural of life seems entirely too trivial as days run on and on
a certain peacefulness runs dry
tears and anguish cover the body of a stricken man
looking unto his savior.

J.R.

I resolve to ...........

2010 was a grand year. There were definitely more lows than highs.
And I did pretty well on my new years resolutions from last year too.

So here are some more for this year:

• Challenge myself - Last year it was the riding my bike. This year maybe running...
• Make some art for a girl.
• Go to the gym more often.
• Try to get out more and express myself with my surrounding culture.
• Paint more. I'm going to aim to complete two pieces a month.
• Have dim sum.
• Eat lobster.
• Visit new places (Reno and Seattle to begin... East Coast in the Fall)
• Eat more Salad and Vegetables.
• Make nourishing my soul a priority. Cleansing my life.
• Drink more Wine!!! (This is an old resolution that must be completed).

Love was lost, now it's found

Patience within a soul is a struggle

an argument arises at the first sign of default.

Depression guides the hurting Aura

When will salvation come and break him free?

A Guiding Light follows the setting sun

It brings peace while the body settles it Soul.

The new day begins with a grim outlook

Day after day the wear continues

His expanded arms search for healing

Searching, needing, wanting.

The love was lost and now it's found.

J.R.

Jon Ruff's Staples 2011

i love Jesus. i love having compassionate friends. i love oil paint. i love visiting other cities and seeing old friends. i love working at a winery. i love making cd's for people. i love my nieces (second time around). i love my comfortable bed. i love where I am heading. i love being generous. i love watching live t.v. on my computer while streaming it on my big screen. i love the ability to smile however the circumstance. i love my aunt and uncle (pictured above). i love having fellowship time with teachers outside of school. i love philadelphia sports teams, even though they constantly let me down. i love making paintings for people. i love playing golf. i love the new Madden 2011. i love attending Cornerstone. i love Picazo Wine. i love living in the bay area. i love talking to friends as I fall asleep. i love http://channelsurfing.net/. i love playing golf. i love facebook. i love the sound of my mother's piano playing . i love taking people out and paying for the entire meal. i love listening to hip hop and rap. i love really nice wine. i love blogging while working on my computer. i love eating cheesesteak's. i love people that are patient and compassionate. i love making people smile. i love facial hair during the month of January. i love staying up really late. i love my PS3 and the ability to watch BluRays on it. i love treating people with respect. i love working at a winery.i love Moment of Surrender as an encore.

Hockey on my mind

I rarely get to hang out with one of my good friends Rick, because he lives a little too far away. Last year, Rick took me to a Sharks game with a client Chad and we had a great time. I've been to hockey games before, but not with seating in the Suite level that is fully catered. Tonight will be great on two occasion's. First, I will get to hang out with a great friend. Second, I will be able to enjoy the finer things in life; great seats and great food. The only thing that will not make it "all time", is that they will not be playing my beloved Flyers. But you know that's ok, they already beat the lousy Devils today 2-1!

Drinks that are becoming very popular

Nobody knows for sure, but it's been more or less 50 years since a woman overheard Arnold Palmer order a half lemonade, half iced tea at a bar in Palm Springs and said, "I'll have that Arnold Palmer drink."

It's popular now all over the world, transcending Palmer himself. People today order an Arnold Palmer who have no idea who Arnold Palmer is. No other athlete has had a drink named after him catch on.

This, to us, seems a shame. Seems like we should be able to walk up to a bar right now and order ...

A Tiger Woods ... Pineapple juice and vodka ... Drink one and you'll want 13 more.

A Jack Nicklaus ... Kind of like an Arnold Palmer, only a little better.

A Brett Favre ... By the time it comes, you've changed your mind.

A Greg Oden ... You can order it but it never shows up.

A Mark McGwire ... Comes with a shot.

A Cam Newton ... Your dad orders it for you.

A Dennis Green ... It is what you think it is. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECTt67adObI)

A Tom Brady ... Really good by the sixth round.

A Michael Vick ... A little hair of the dog that should've bitten you.

A LeBron ... Served with a mirrored glass so you can watch yourself drink it.

A Terrelle Pryor ... It's free!

A Lance Armstrong ... Only one ice cube.

A John McEnroe ... After one, you cannot be serious.

A Karch Kiraly ... Comes spiked.

A Tim Tebow ... Served very straight.

A Michael Phelps ... Water with a water chaser.

A Reggie Bush ... You drink it for a little while, then they take it back.

A Nick Saban ... Comes with extra bitters.

A Barry Bonds ... Careful: it goes straight to your head.

Things that Drive me Nuts

There are a few things that drive me crazy throughout a normal day that I think could be easily be answered by a certain dose of patience here and there.

1. When people are using the crosswalk at an intersection and they constantly press the button for the crosswalk. It only takes one press people.


2. When people ask for a water cup and fill the water cup up with soda. This drives me absolutely crazy and it happens all the time.


3. Whiny people – there is a difference between complaining and whining, I hate whining. If you don’t like something, change something.


4. People who repeat the same stupidity over and over and post about it on Facebook. Facebook should not be a status revealer of your own personal life.


5. When Fans love to relive the past of their former season a bit too long. And the bandwagon fans that accumulate because of a victory. There are way too many running around these days with all Sports included.