As I've mentioned earlier, my good friend and brother-in-law is duking it out with Myeloma. Here's something I found while browsing through the Huntsman Cancer Learning Center. It's similar to something I wrote here a few months ago.

Rebuking the Devil

Drove around
Last night
Turned off the radio Rolled up the windows
Blasted the heat
Intentional discomfort
Incinerator on wheels
I shouted
Like a madwoman
on a street corner
in the Bronx

Get the ****
Outta here
You've had your fun
Now
Beat It
Scram
I've been patient
Understanding
Even compassionate at times
And now
I'm telling you to
Clear out
Now
Today
Vamoose
Beat It
Cancer
Git
All the way out
And a little warning
No setting up
Your filthy little camp
Somewhere else
In
My
Body


Felt so good
Felt like a Texas preacher
'Buking the devil


--Chia Martin, Writing Your Way Through Cancer

Ah, day three of a week off to catch up on a few things around the house. And perhaps a little blogging as well. So here's a quotation:

"Most men pray for power, the strength to do things. Few people pray for love, the quality to be someone." --Robert D. Foster

One of my cousins is engaged. She introduced me to the lucky guy last night and the first thing he said was that he enjoyed looking through this virtual tour I created a few years ago. Glad you liked it, Bob.

"The man who works for the gold in the job rather than for the money in the pay envelope, is the fellow who gets on."
--Joseph French Johnson

There was something in the envelope? Oh, that.

If the only person who read this blog was the guy writing it, that would be ok. I'm writing to express thoughts, sometimes just to find out what I'm thinking, or record what I found of interest, not necessarily to be widely read.

That said, it was a pleasant surprise when an old friend read a recent entry (on the Seattle Special Olympics) and sent off an e-mail thanking me. Blogging is kind of like putting a message in a bottle and it's a great feeling when you learn that sometimes the bottle lands near a thinker.

MTOD (my thought of the day):

Small Miracles.

Any day you wake up feeling rested is a good day. Any day you help sustain your family is a good day. Any day you go to work (or take a break from work) is a good day. Anyday you read, learn, think, write, plan, watch, listen, feel, move, stretch or appreciate is a good day. Any day you talk with a friend, or go for a swim, or get on your bike is a good day. Any day you share a meal with your family is a good day. Any day you spend a few one-on-one minutes with a loved one is a good day. Any day you play ball with the dog or get the cat to leap for his toy bird is a good day. Oh and any day more than a few of these things happen is great day.

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Found while looking for something else: Giants in Their Obscure Field

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
who watches over you
make a little birdhouse in your soul

--They Might Be Giants (coming to Red Butte Garden, July 23)

What's new? Updates to TwoFatGuys.org

"The most important thing in an argument, next to being right, is to leave an escape hatch for your opponent, so that he can gracefully swing over to your side without too much apparent loss of face."

--Sidney J. Harris

On the other hand, there's a certain Price of Nice that's not such a good deal. The trick, as in so many things, is balance -- candor and kindness / honesty and tact / expression without explosion. Easy to say, aye?

Read UEN's Education Quote of the Day

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