I have snap and krackle, but no pop.

It has now been just over a year since I last had a soda. The last carbonated beverage I had was on February 22 of last year. I never thought I would make it this long, but here I am... soda free. I mentioned this very thing in this post back on February 26, 2006.

Now, I need something else to give up. I made a positive healthy decision last time and now I want to make another one. Any suggestions?

Until next time, vaya con Dios.

Losing my 20/20 hindsight

A small dream of mine might be fulfilled fairly soon. More to come...

Basketball season at my school is officially over. Today, we lost in regional's. But the good news is that I saved a lot of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico. Just kidding, but we did stay at a Holiday Inn... again, kidding. Yeah, that's getting old. I know. The small consolation to losing is that we got to go eat at a pretty good place. Some guy Jake and something about his rib....

It was sad to see them lose. I was especially sad for the seniors on the team. It was their last game of their career. It made me think about the last game I ever played. Of all places, it was at Regional's at our rival's gym. We had a good lead in the second half of the game only to lose. It was as the buzzer was sounding that I first realized that I'll never play competitive basketball again. I cried even before I made it to the locker room. Sometimes you never realize what you have until it's taken away from you. I didn't appreciate what I was involved with until the time was up.

You live your life and sometimes there will be regrets and mistakes. I look back and think about how I never took advantage of the time I had. Many times I was never aggressive enough and never took a strong leadership position on the team. I look back and think to myself, "What might have been?" I never want to say that again.

Take advantage of life. Put yourself in a position where you'll never have to ask yourself, "What might have been?"

Until next time, vaya con Dios.

And the greatest of these is...

As I reflect upon this past week, I realized that I had a pretty good "Valentine's Day", or National Singles Awareness Day. Usually I dwell on what I didn't have, instead on what I actually have. I have dozens of friends who care about me. I have a good job where the working environment is terrific. I have a family that loves me. These are all things that I take for granted every day.

So, if Valentine's Day is about love, then I've missed the point for a long time. I am blessed to have the life I have. No, I don't have the best of everything, but that doesn't matter. I have everything I need: Love. Material things are nice, sometimes, but only for a moment.

Thank you to all my friends who love me despite all of my many flaws. Forgive me for all the times that I've let you down. Even though I don't say it, I love you guys (and girls).

Until next time, vaya con Dios.

Ray Ray the DJ

Seek me for all things my child
It dosent matter if it is a big or little pile
I will be here as you pray
Don't let satan drive your hopes away
Come to me run to my lap
dont put your head down dont look back
Just take ahold get ready to ride in this life
For one day soon you will have your princess,your wife
So as i call listen to me my anointed one
For you are special to me but you must not worry for i am preparing her for you my son
So sit back kick your feet up and do not worry
I am sending her when the time is right dont be in a hurry
the more you wait believe and prepare
it will seem quicker for your companion to be right there
so trust in me this day
and you will not wonder if she is headed your way

given to me by an awesome friend

The end of the beginning

The season is over and I couldn't be more proud of a group of girls. We finished 10-3 (read ten wins and three losses). It's sad not to have them anymore for the rest of the year, but then again, I can breathe again. Not to say that it was a headache or anything like that, because I enjoyed it. Every good thing must come to an end, and so it was our time.

God blessed me beyond anything that I deserved. He blessed me with a terrific group of young ladies. We had our ups and downs. Good times and bad.

We won a tournament and had a last second shot go in to win a game. We played "dirty basketball" and one girl threw her own basketball in the stands. Last Friday we had a party to celebrate the season. It was a bittersweet time.

So, here's to all of you. I'll never forget my very first basketball team. You spoiled me. The next groups have a lot to live up to. You'll always have a special place in my heart.

Until next time, vaya con Dios.

?

Time heals all wounds, so I've heard.

I was at Chili's tonight, sitting comfortably with friends from church when she walked in. "She" was my first girlfriend I ever had. We dated for a year before things ended. That was roughly 8 years ago. Since that time I may have seen her 2 or 3 times. Tonight she walked in with her husband and child.

When she walked in all of those past feelings came rushing back. Old memories... the good and the bad. It also made me wonder what if. What if we ended up together? What would my life be like then?

It's strange to think about all of the question marks in our life. The 'what if's'.

I also wonder what my life would be like if my father was still alive. Where would I be? Would I be a better person? More question marks....

The Butterfly Effect. What if I would have done even the smallest thing different in my past, would that make a difference in my relationships?

Am I supposed to be single? Do I have a different purpose on this earth?

Someone told me that the reason some things don't happen just yet is because the preparation isn't complete. I think she was right...

Until next time, vaya con Dios.

Doctor, give me the news

So, this is what I wrote last year on "Valentine's Day":

"The (enter choice adjective-expletive here) "holiday" most refer to as "Valentines Day" has creeped upon me yet again. I like to think of it as "National Singles Awareness Day". It's a conspiracy holiday created by the greeting card and candy industry. This is a day that honors couples, marriages, and love. Who needs it? All you people who are fortunate (or not) to have a significant other, I don't want to hear about how GREAT your Valentine's Day went. Not only am I single, I'm bitter. So hearing about somebody else's grand adventures isn't on my "want-to" list. Especially on Tuesday. I usually can't stand it any other day. So, give me until early March for me to be my usual bitter self. Deal?"

A month ago the thought of having a good "Valentine's Day" looked promising. Now, it's looking like I'll be having the same National Single's Awareness Day that I always have. I should be used to it by now...

A lot of you are thinking that I am overreacting, again. Maybe I am. Maybe I'm putting too much pressure on myself... putting too much importance on something like this. But you know, it doesn't exactly help my confidence. I'm always left thinking, "What's wrong with me?"

It's not easy for me to meet people. I am, by nature, a person who likes to keep to himself. I don't like new social situations. I am the person you have to know for a while to begin to like. You have to warm up to me. In other words, I'm not the person who catches your eye immediately. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm always the friend, not the boyfriend.

Patience is a virtue, right? But I hate waiting on patience...

Until next time, vaya con Dios.

Fulfilling my destiny

I am beginning to think that I am destined to be alone.

I can only get so far.