...or can the leopard change his spots...

The origin, the popular origin of this phrase comes from the Bible, specifically the book of Jeremiah 13.23. It asks if one can be different from that which he has drawn himself accustomed to being. And yet, the question lives: do the spots define the leopard? He is known by them, surely, and yet they are only skin deep. How deep is the heart? How deep is the soul? In a rush to judgement, we look at a person by the image most portrayed by the loudest of his detractors and determine his very nature by the mistakes in which he has tripped and stumbled to this place by which he now stands. The saint in this century is one who has the greatest publicist, not the greatest moral and ethical code. The villian is the moment, the easy mark, the simplest fool too slow to understand when to point and run. So, if I am so bold, let me paraphrase - and in the act of paraphrasing, forgive the butchering of a great man's iconic speach - I pray that one day men will be known by the heart that beats, the soul that shines and the mind that moves, not the hand, not the mouth, and surely not the feet that stumble. If I may dream, let it be that the spirit may exceed the flesh and rise up to lead the man to great things.

I wonder where life goes...

Like some sort of comedy of errors, a Benny Hill Show in living color, my little world trudges on step after goofy step, and I can't help but to wonder sometimes where it will end up. I've made it very clear in my blog sidebar that I've lived my life a bit as a lie, never really coming out as gay or straight, but perhaps not doing so has made it all too clear for all too many. Who knows, and perhaps, who cares.

I wasn't all too fired up to declare myself because I figure I have enough problems at the moment. Would it effect my friends...probably. My job? No, shouldn't...but there are a lot of shouldn'ts in this world that just seem to be there anyway. So, when I got the call this morning from an old friend, one who I grew up with just a few houses between, I probably should have been much more circumspect. But, there the goofy foot goes, and step by step, my path grows ever sillier. She asked if I have a girlfriend, how am I doing...yada yada. Well, she knows enough about me to know enough and finally just came out and asked. Damn, now what? I told her I'm still searching for the answers.

You know, in a world where I've been subject to unending judgement from much of my family, here comes this wonderful person, whose life is filled with problems of her own including cancer, addictions, mental struggles, who told me that she could care less either way. She said that it was more important to be happy than to make everyone around me happy....and that I should just be me. Isn't that just the most sage advice?

Of course, words and actions are often so different. It's easy to say, it's harder to do. Life on the rail gets you splinters, that's for sure, but perhaps the silly little strut my life seems to be on will waddle me right towards the very things she wants me to commit to - the very things I need to commit to in order to begin living. Nonetheless, I think right now I'm going to do my best to be happy where I am and try to avoid running head long into any walls. ...randy.

Amazing acrobatics....

Hello All; I first saw this type of stuff on Scottie's Toy Box, and wanted to see more! So, went searching and found more...please pay attention to the credits. I hope you enjoy these young men.

A couple more before i take the holiday break....

Hi Everyone;

I have yet to figure out how to schedule posts. Tried....didn't work. So, throwing them at you in clumps. Here are some quick vids I found, and I can't remember where - I need to write these things down. Anyway, I hope you like them. There are lessons here for us....

1. Plan ahead. 2. Knock before entering a person's private space. :) randy.

Thanksgiving is coming my friends...

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Ok, so I'm a bit early, and a bit parochial. But, there is a point to all of this. First, to get some posts done before company comes and I'm much more limited in my ability to post. Second, to make my point early enough to allow you all time to tell me to go blow.

So, you ready? Here's my point: go hug someone today! Go be that person that is able to help, is able to lift up, hold up, even shove up. Be the person that smiles at the checker in the store, holds the door for the people coming through behind you. Be the person that picks up the errant trash...carefully...and disposes of it. Be the light in someones day, even for just the moment. Let a bit of light shine, my friends. As you've been for me so many times! Hugs -randy

Around and around they go, where my thoughts can be found...no one knows!

Hello all;

I had a few wandering thoughts today, somehow they seemed to come together with an actor....shown here....who I find not particularly likable. I think I first felt that way when he did the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I grew up on that movie...it was one of the first books I ever read, willingly. Even read the sequel, The Glass Elevator. But, what sort of struck me was how this man has played so very many rolls. Some were tough, some crazy, some lovable and, well, many were just plain weird. And, it made me think of all the rolls we play in our daily lives.

A for instance: my family is coming to my house for Thanksgiving. Wee! Ok, I love my family, just maybe not in my house...for more than a day. I think I have them for 10. So, first...they don't know about you. Sorry, we will just have to keep things on the down low while I play the dutiful son. I may not return in any assemblance of sanity. That happens around my family. It's like having a guest with the flu....they stay for a while, coughing and hacking and after a bit they leave..but now you have the flu. Ok? Same thing...just, well, these folks are nuts.

I thought about how some people live so differently during the day in the working, etc., world, and come home a totally different person. I thought about the working man who comes home and yells at his kids, beats his wife, partner, etc., for the stress he has from work. Would work change if the bosses knew he was so stressed and taking it out on the family? I thought about nudists....I wondered what they do on Casual Friday? Ok, bad joke...but I wonder why is it that we must play these rolls in society different from the rolls we play at home? Why should we care what strangers think of us? Why should we conform to a false culture?

I read an article today in a blog run by a nudist. He spoke about shame, specifically body shame. Isn't that just the oddist thing? Do you suppose native people find themselves ashamed of their body? I don't recall ever hearing of it. It's just skin.... and yet it defines our expectations, our thoughts and fears...even hopes. I grew up in a very body conscious home. I didn't walk about in my undies, and I was always very uncomfortable without a shirt. Can't even tell you why. But, I look back on things and wish I could have been more free. I want that now, and yet I still get nervous walking from my bathroom to my bedroom...what if someone is looking in my window and sees? They'll think I'm a perv! Of course, the real question would be why were they looking in my window....but it's my thinking that's the issue. Even when no one is supposed to be looking at me, I must conform to their rules and expectations. I have to play the role.

The eyes have it...

"I feel pretty....Oh, so pretty..." Finally proof of reincarnation. Meet the former Wilford Brimley

The men in the Hoot Family are just a bit special,

to the embarrassment of the women. Huey, Dewey, and Louis see their first 747

And, then....and then, the vet....he said he had to check my...my...p-p-prostate!

"Yeah, as a mattah o'fact, Polley do wanna cracker....an'

whatever else yous got"

What part of 'No Solicitors' do you not understand?

"I can not believe you said that! I say 'good day'.

"Hey! A bit of privacy!"

a special thanks to m.Cavignaux

"Ha! Oh, wow....that's hillarious. Right in the midst of...."

"Ok, that's enough of your humor young man!"

"I said, 'No! You may Not take my picture'. Do we understand now?"

Well, here's what's happening in Randy's life....(run away now)

Ok, for those of you who remain... hello :) I've had a bit of a difficult time lately. But, they say that goes with living. I believe the quote was: dying is easy, it's living that's difficult. I'm going slowly nuts trying to keep up with 4-lawns continuously refilling with leaves. The downside to living in a neighborhood with older women being the primary residents. The upside, of course, is good cooking! But, what has me insane with grief and worry is that I may soon be losing another who is very close to me. I am not particularly well placed in my family. That's the nice way of saying "black sheep", isn't it? So, an Aunt who has been specially kind and a ready therapist, occasional cook and baker, a very close person to me....is in very bad shape. When my friend and neighor passed, my Aunt had been sick for about three days. That was 6-weeks ago. She went under the knife today - the big C. There are some things I just don't understand in life....that's one of them. So, in the span of a very short time, I am looking at losing two of the most important people in my life. Well, present company excepted, of course. You are all special, you know that. I don't know what I would have done had not one particular person been so kind and caring. He emails me often to see how I'm doing, and the funny thing is I feel closer to him than anyone I know....yet we've never met. I've been able to share this with him, and he's helped me remain sane...well, as close as I get. You know who you are, and I can't thank you enough!!! I'd also like to thank you others who have sent your concerns. It makes me feel very good to know that I'm not alone. I felt that way just a bit ago; mainly feeling sorry for myself but also just a bit frightened about losing another so dear. (I'm doing better now....). So, I've not been posting much lately, and I just wanted to let you all know that I haven't walked away or fell into the loo, got lost in the mail, what-have-you. Nope, just finding that there seems so little time when it becomes so dear. hugs to you all. -randy

Greyson Chance singing on Ellen....he's a great rising star!

This boy exploded onto the scene when a song he performed on his middle school talent show was put on utub. He went to the Ellen show and, well, looks like he's returned. I am so impressed with his showmanship, his feeling, his voice control and timbre all in a singer very young and relatively inexperienced. He will go far, I believe, and I am cheering him on. I hope you do as well. -randy.

Welcome to my favorite pictures...

These pictures are ones that really captured my attention. This first set is not in any real grouping, but just a more random collection. You very well may have seen these on other's blogs....I stole them :)... I saw them and they were so heart catching and made me stop and really pay attention. Pictures that seem to just capture pure life, pictures of emotions, of peace and of love, of hope and hurt. They caught me, I hope they are heart and thought provoking for you as well. -r

This one below really hit me hard. I don't really know why, but it did. I don't know if I ever wanted so badly to give someone a hug as I did on this picture. I wanted to make whatever it was go away. You may want to skip this one...it's a heart tugger. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Good Morning

Hello Everyone; Welcome to the Sunday Morning broadcast.....yeah, yeah, whatever. Had a rough night last night. Bad dreams, bad memories, regrets....no matter how far back, there sometimes seems to be no amends, no way of putting them away, no end. It is one of those "I wish I hadn't done that....I wish I'd done it differently". But, that's all past tense. And, as I read in a blog - forgive me, I don't recall whose - George Burns was quoted as saying he always looks to the future, because that's where he will be living. So, I guess for me and any of you out there who have those regrets, ones that have no solution....guess we need to simply look to where we are living. Thanks for letting me share that with you. -randy.

The first snow of the year....and the pull of gravity.

Hello my friends,

What a neat day I've had. Before leaving work this morning I managed to nearly knock myself unconscious trying to pick a part off the floor. Those big machines don't move a bit, no matter how hard you head butt them. But, how can you take yourself too seriously after such a keystone cops moment? I laughed and cleaned up the blood...

Then, coming home, it began to snow. Seems awful early for that, but here it is. So, I took my dog out to play in the snow. (this is not her, btw) How could I not? My dog is a rescue dog....did I mention that? She came from the puppy death row, and has been my best friend and therapist ever since. She had that romp in the snow coming. So, for those of you who are lonely, take my advice....give a pup a chance. But, I digress....

So, I took my pups out to play in the snow. She was so funny. At first she lifted her feet like she was shaking them out after each step. Doing this slow is odd, doing it at speed is a riot. But, karma, that evil little imp, came to bit me in the but for laughing at my good friend as I found myself on my butt in the middle of the street. Of course, there were a couple of drivers making their way who were privy to my testing of gravity...which seems to be working just fine, if not a bit too well.

Well, the walk back home was wet, cold, painful, and not nearly short enough. And, since I so successfully tested the laws of gravity, I went ahead and tested the laws of chocolate chip cookies. Have I told you of my new found delight in ready to bake cookies? Truly, the best thing since sliced bread.

Pizza for dinner, with beer of course. And, I watched the movie "Stranger" starring Steve Austin. Poor guy, he's sure trying to do the whole acting thing. Not so well, but he's trying. I did enjoy the movie.....it was a remake, I know, but it's new to me.

So, that's my day. Yep, this was one of the exciting ones....they're usually quite boring. Be well, my friends. -r.

A ban on homosexuality....a great argument.

Hello all, I just visited Milkboys and saw this vid. This is something that just needs to get out there, as it is too perfect for words. So, I thought I'd add my small amount of viewers to that of Milkboy's throngs of visitors and encourage you all to push this out even further. I hope you enjoy it. r.