Celebration (Instant Karma)

On Thursday afternoon, Andy's car was revealed by Nascar Angels at Junction Tire in Mesa, Arizona. Be sure and take your business to Mary and Guy Norton at Junction tire, VERY nice folks.

It was a big day for Andy and a big day for Singleton Moms. I put a webpage up with some pics on my website. There's also some video on our local Channel 3 here.

As always, we appreciate your support of Singleton Moms.

Bones of the Master (Book Review)

I probably saw this book wonderfully reviewed in the latest Shambhala Sun, and took the bait. Don't take much does it? This true story is told by a poet named George Crane. I'm jealous of George's chance to adventure with the old monk Tsung Tsai, study Zen and write poetry.

While living
be a dead man,
be thoroughly dead –
and behave as you like,
and all’s well.

George and I share some strikingly similar struggles with the enlightenment gig, and a love for a master like Tsung Tsai, we surely do. Here’s one of George’s poems from the book:

Light the pipe.
Uncork the wine.
Imagine a beauty.
Call her forth
to dance upon my bed.

My own follows. Nice story, I’m a sucker for a poet!

Travel with a monk, a monk’s journey
Long time, far away. Return certainly unknown and uncertain Georgie.
My daughter and her mother stay to wait
and keep the house and us together, and be sensible.
One of them knows plenty about me.

It’s not just any monk.

Where is my friend?
Is there one?
Who would it be?
I don’t even know any poets around here.
We’re all so busy with all this nothing that matters
all day and all night.
All of us.

Good days and not so.
Long, hot, stinking, still, airless, airful, and shitty too.
Tender veggies cooked by love
in love’s kitchen
with a side of love
in the sight of love
or an orange will do,
or nothing but you
and me again tonite.
I hold you up
you lift me up
and up we go, and up we went, so high.

To go as friends,
to return as…
words are gonna run from this one
they can’t be expected to help out here
We returned as…
we returned without words
for neither mouths, the alphabet or this pen
can get this right
oh my friend, next time, we jump from helicopter for sure
Why not? My friend.

Peak Experience

Happens all the time, well at least a few times a week. The air is easier to breath on that mountain, there's hardly any nick-nack-patty-wackin going on. The daily grind is either not up yet or already moving too fast to catch a whiff of this rose. I wish I was there right now, with you.

All the way

Another beautiful morning gettin up that hill, windy and cool (check out the hair!). Just my girl Bobby and I today. My first time to the top w/o stopping. Strong is good.

[pic stolen from Amy]

http://picasaweb.google.com/AymeeB/CamelbackMountain

At the time

I didn't know then what I know now. I mean we all know that our kids are the best thing in life and all that, but I didn't really know that then. I didn't know how much I would come to love them. I didn't know how much I would come to like them. I didn't know how much I would want them around more than anybody else. How much I would miss them if they moved away. How did I not know all that?

I'm glad I know now, before it's too late to tell um.

my Belle

I knew you
and all that’s been said and written is true
so what do I say tonite?
another day has come and gone
another year too
and your light shines 8 times brighter still.

I wonder
can others tell
how wonderful you are
tonight here in my heart
and how right my life is because of you?

I wonder
can they see how easy it is to love
on account of you?
how mighty almighty rich that is?
getting folks outta bed each day?

I wonder
do my eyes give you away?
My smile?

I wonder
can you see how fiercely loved you are?
do you see us loving you up?

I wonder
How many of us are tucked in tight
with you tonite?

Listen to me now!

You gotta love this guy. [click-the-pick for CNN interview]

Wednesday is Hump Day

Felicia and I made it to the top today. Bobby and Mellissa to the saddle. Something about last nite.... Those two did make it 2 the top on Monday. Heard Bonnie has a bum leg, miss you.

On the way down today, getting closer to civilization, I could feel the agenda getting bigger. Up on the hill, the agenda is small: climb and smile. I like it up on the hill. The smiles come easy and big on the mountain.

pic stolen from: http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles15117.jpg

For Singleton Moms Too

It is my blog and I can blog about Andy all I want. Today though we're talking about Nascar Angels, Andy's car and Singleton Moms. You can show your support by showing up for the "reveal" on October 30th. Here's Andy's eMail to her friends/family.

Dear Friends and Family,

Some of you may not of heard but, I got selected for a National Television Show called NASCAR Angels. nascarangels.com

They travel the Nation and find people who do good for others to fix up their cars.

We are very excited because this is going to be great exposure for Singleton Moms, on top of the fact that I am getting my car fixed from top to bottom! singletonmoms.org

They are filming the reveal show on October 30th at 3p.m. This is where everyone will be standing out on the street clapping when they return my car. There will be news stations there along with some of the moms we are helping. Please if you can make it the address is 6910 E. Southern in Mesa 85209.

I know that this is a really far drive for some of you. But it would mean a lot to have your Singleton Mom support out there! Plus you will get to be on TV.!!

Love, Andy

For Andy

she’s waiting
for her father
to smile at her story
it’s not everything not even the only thing
but boy wouldn’t it be nice
to have all that always
not implied no matter what
none of us should have to wait for this
look around you man
you got a plan beyond kindness?
let her story save you both
grab on to this love thread while you still can
with both hands

Everybody's Doin It!

All 6 of us were on the top today. These are happy times. I think Mellissa is on the other side now. Saddle, not really good enough is it?

And now, some deep thoughts:

first some bobJuan:

Was I born for this?
And what else?
While you’re thinking about that
you’re missing all this
this will end
that never started
this is where you live
there’s no that for you this time
Get happy about that!
Today’s assignment: This

Now, some of the real deal:

Even after all this time
The sun never says to the earth,
"You owe Me."
Look what happens
with a love like that,
It lights the Whole Sky. --Hafiz

If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it. --Margaret Fuller

And finally something interesting and green from the New York Times. Lord, hear our prayer.

Today's pic stolen from here: http://www.philcoradio.com/zena/zd0705.jpg

Outside the box

Over 7 months ago I gave these bad boys up. I've been living outside that box ever since. That's easily over $1400 in savings. I haven't put the money anywhere I could find it though. Begs the question doesn't it? Don't miss um at all. A clean lung is a happy lung.

Two weeks ago I finished my last bottle of Black Velvet. Now this is a different story altogether. Booze is a friend by a different name. The mountain made me quit. I got real tired of dragging hangovers up there each morning.

I was thinking that whiskey was gonna give me more fits than it has. Of course I have a case of 3BuckChuck on hand. Kind of like a patch I guess. I've been to bed sober for 14 nites now. I'm not gonna start what I already finished.

It's about another $15 a week in booze. I'm also not running to Circle K every few days to buy another bag of ice, which now costs $2.09. The icing on the cake savings about $8.00 a month! No more tingle-tink-tink in the glass for me at nite.

48 Degrees

It was cool this morning. Felecia, Bobby and I doin the Monday Morning thing. Miss F made it to the saddle, Bobby and I to the top. Pic no good this AM. Look at these guys we found up there! It's nice to be on top.

I think Bobby's gonna bring the doughnuts on Wednesday.

Mountain picture stolen from here: http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/02/climbers_9.JPG

There's Only One

girl for me. And she just got back from a week in Indiana with family. Looked through all her pictures from the trip, and once again, I realize I got the prettiest one of the bunch! You can see here she lights up the Ohio River pretty nicely. Anyway, she's home now, everything's gonna be just fine, and I gotta get back to my chores.

One More Please

A week ago last Wednesday I finished a big bottle of whiskey. Haven't started a new one. I'm not gonna start what I already finished. Some sloshilly nite before that I poured another whiskey and sat down and wrote this line: one more drink. Here's how it ended.

one more drink
surely shirley
don’t you think
we’ll get surley

one more time
just cover the ice
I’m gett’n fine
you’re look’n nice

one more sip
that’s all we’ll take
lift your slip
i’m on the make

one more snort
you heard what i said
pour that port
we’re headin for bed

one more round
just give me a kiss
can’t wait for the sound
of love’s sweet bliss

one more shot
make it a double
hell why not
we’re already in trouble

image stolen from here: http://hometown.aol.com/cktail/images/martini.jpg

Hike With No Name

This morning it was just Felicia and I. She had to get home to make a birthday cake and turned at the saddle. Made it to the top earlier than ever today. I saw Michael Baker on the way down, what a treat.

Rumi was in the house this morning.

I have lived on the lip of insanity, wanting to know reasons, knocking on a door. It opens. I’ve been knocking from the inside!

I am so small I can barely be seen. How can this great love be inside me? Look at your eyes. they are small, but they see enormous things.

The candidates are just like us!

Some folks can relate to Sarah.

And Barrack is just like me!

I am not afraid.

The pic I posted yesterday from Alaska, led to this post this evening. I am here for you!

It’s 1975, I’m 20, I’m in the military, I’m married, my wife just gave birth to our daughters, I’m in Alaska, watching for Russians and I’m not afraid of anything. I’m just getting started with my life.

One year in Alaska. It might as well have been 100, one for each of the guys locked in tight on that naked northern prison coast. Things cook in tight situations, there’s heat, love and freedom in this jail. I was ripe for all three wherever I could get them, wide open, not afraid of anything.

Hours of time, down-time, drinking and smoking time, reading-time, crying time, letter writing time, music loving time. It is the 70s you know. We have albums and record players, and expensive stereo systems. We bunk with a good friend if we’re lucky. Threw up on my first cell mate, my first nite, my first drunk, totally drunk like where’s my room drunk. You don’t get a friend like Dave Sabino but once in your life. I’m 20, the son of a Baptist preacher, and I’m not afraid of anything anymore.

We watch for Russians. It is the 70s you know. I imagine them watching for us, drinking vodka while we slosh Budweiser. I’m a scope dope. I’m paid to watch for them Russian airplanes on a radar-scope-screen. There are 99 other guys here on this ice so I can watch this scope tonite, protect our country tonite. The only thing I ever saw on that scope was us. I’ve never liked the idea of a them. I’m still not afraid of Russians.

We sneak the fun we can with the goodies we have. The northern lights, caribou, ocean birds and ocean waves, tundra, 24 hour days and 24 hour nights are reasons to sneak and live. Let your mind go where it can’t wait to go, my god, where it must go, somewhere fearlessly new. Knowing what I know about sneaking now I would have sneaked way more. I’m not afraid of sneaking out with friends and lovers.

I’m 53. I work for the government, I’m married to the most beautiful woman in the world, my wife is a kindergarten school teacher, my 3 kids are the single most inspiration of my days, I’m in Arizona, watching for ways to fill my life with goodness, and I’m not afraid of anything. The things I love can never be taken from me, and I’m just getting started with my life.

The 5th passed

There's an October Update on the Singleton Mom's Website. Also, don't forget, it is vital that we all donate $5.00 on the 5th of each month. It's one of those things, if we all do it, the mom's get their bills paid. Simple math. Power in numbers. You know what I'm talking about!

We had a fantastic turnout for the Wine Tasting and Silent Auction. Thanks to all of my good friends who helped make it a very special nite for Singleton Moms. As it turns out, it takes money, every single month, get in while you can!

my best,

your bobJuan.

daylight is avoiding us

It's not like we've lost it, or are losing it, it's just not coming around the same time anymore. Sleeping in I guess. Check out what we're up against here. That's over 20 minutes of daylight just plain gone per month! Believe me now and listen to me later, November looks dark.

We did great today. Beautiful, and strong. Up in record time. We caught Mellissa at the saddle this morning too. Once again, the very best part of this day is already taken care of.

Alaska

With all this talk about Alaska, thought I would join in. Was there from May 1975 till May 1976, serving this great country of ours, watching for Russians, We were close to Russia. Cape Lisburne. Found this video on Youtube. Not bad. Can you pick me out of this lineup? I need to tell some stories.

It's gonna snow

You heard it here first, it's cold. The week got started real good. Just how we like it, dark and cold.

The Green Mile

I finished this book last week. Enjoyed reading it after seeing the movie a couple of times. The scenes in the book matched the movie. I know what John Coffey, Mr Jingles, and Sparkey look like. I'd like to try it the other way around some time. Who don't know that? Flipping the scenes, whatever that means.

Stephen is telling a great story here. I found myself turning pages several nites. In the middle of the meanness there is much kindness here. And rawness, Stephen-style. I may write raw sometime. It's wrong for me not to write. Ooops, back to the review please.

I read the book because of my respect for Stephen and because I want to write better. I imagine if you read this blog at all you want the same damn thing!

I would not pretend to talk you into this story. If you haven't seen/read it you will probably be blessed by it, like I have, more than once.

Politics of Respect

No matter how far left or right you or they may go, they got respect, and I miss it in my politicians.

I know you ain't gonna spend 30 minutes watching these two here. But if you did, you might feel inspired by folks who talk nice, like you and me, about each other and care about our times.

Two Goodies

Bumper Sticker: If you want to save fuel, raise your right foot.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not giving it. --Unknown

2nd Honeymoon

I've talked Cathy into taking a cruise, check it out: www.nrcruise.com

Assignment #3

click for full size, yall!

Addiction

On Wednesday I was in pain the whole damn hike. At times, in the dark I would think what next, and the answer was "up". And then I would think, how, and the answer was "up". Today was much better for me. We're up for a great day today. Tonite, the Singleton Mom's Wine Tasing and Silent Auction. See you there!

The Do Nothing Congress

The next time you hear anyone say that the current congress is a "do nothing congress" take a look at this.

Then, about two years later, this:

The politics of bullshit. I think it's time for Jesse Ventura to come kick some ass!

Eat Your Veggies!

You're mama was right you know. Click for full size.

Mountain Girls

All my girls were on the mountain today: Kat, Bonnie, Mellissa, Felicia and Bobby. Felicia often beats us to the mountain in the morning. No matter how crazy you are, there's always one crazier. She goes up and down while it's still dark. Twice now we've been to the top with her, today, we snapped her pic.

Todays poetry by your bobJuan:

came down the mountain alone

the sun less than an inch

from the horizon

i will not call it orange or pinkish

you know that morning color with no name

i slow down

breath, breath again, look, stop

ignore the rush when you get the chance stop the rush

this life, this earth, my precious life

i let some tears out

what the hell are we doing?

what am I doing?

who made up this game I’m playing