Ed Ames - My Cup Runneth Over

Happy Valentines Day

To all the women I have loved...especially to the ones I love now, my Karen and my daughter, Kate--"my cup runneth over with love".

Ed Ames, who used to play an Indian on TV, to Fess Parker's Daniel Boone, sings this song wonderfully, eternally....and I'm a sucker for it; whenever I hear it, I feel blessed to have loved, to love...an emotion that has probably caused more wars, created more music and heartache than any other emotion. It has tested my soul...but if I was left with only one feeling in my life, it would be love. So, to the ones I've loved (and many of you didn't love me back, that's OK) and to the ones I love now, Happy Valentines Day! I love you.

Just own the night...

Maybe no better place to see reinvention taking place than at the Grammy Awards. I'm not a big awards show fan--everyone says that, but we watch, right?!--but the Grammys are cool, keen, groovy and fun...how many times have you seen the 'new' Madonna?...

"Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind, wanting to start again,

...do you know that there's still a chance for you, because there's a spark in you, you just gotta' ignite the light, and let it shine, just own the night...."

These young, new kids are terrific...weird yes!...and as much as I think "I could do that", no, I wouldn't; they are indeed special, talented: Katy Perry, Lady Gaga...

I can't wait to see them reinvent because they will. Reinventing takes talent. And these kids can teach us.

"....come on let your colors burst....come on show us what you're worth... make them go AH--AH--AH, as you shoot across the sky, sky, sky....you're gonna' leave them going AH-AH-AH".

Katy: you did.

so, own the night....and then come ride with me.

Friday Night Lights Forever....

Texas Forever

If you are a DirecTV subscriber, and you have been watching "Friday Night Lights", the last episode was tonite. If not, you will see the last series on NBC in a few weeks. I don't want to give anything away to those who didn't see tonite's episode--but I would encourage you to see it!

I watched it tonite, like I do every Wednesday night.

Tonite I cried...and I smelled the wet grass I used to play on on Friday nights when I played high school football 30 years ago. I was pretty good, good enough to make honorable mention in my league when I played on the offensive line at La Habra High school in La Habra, California. We didn't have a Coach Taylor but we had some guys who actually played D1 football, and we played aginst some future major league players like Gary Carter (New York Mets catcher) and Steve DeBerg (Kansas City Chiefs QB). I actually played against Steven Seagal of Buena Park High School, but he didn't know any kung fu then...

It's funny what you remember...and now when I have time and resources available to travel and climb mountains all over the world, I find it odd that I appreciate home, my kids, my local life more--maybe it's only me...but I think that is 'my' truth of Friday Night Lights: that finding meaning is not far away if you appreciate what you have, and who you played with/or lived the tough times with. I've heard it said, "wherever you go, there you are." Or, you carry what's inside you everwhere.

That doesn't preclude reinventing, it's just being what you would have been...

Yes, "Texas forever".

Come ride with me.

Holster your IPhone!

In the old West, when a disturbance broke out in the saloon, the town marshall would come in and say "Holster your guns!" Well, that's what I saw on TV and in the movie "Silverado", so I guess it's true....

Fast forward to the beach on Waikiki where I am this week proving to myself that the sun still exists...why is it that there are an amazing amount of people here who seem to be constantly checking their IPhones or Blackberrys?...this makes no sense to me, everyone else wants to be where you are! And what are you going to tell them, "Hi, I'm on the beach on Waikiki and the weather is perfect and I really miss you and wish I was back in Indiana or at the office."

So, whether you are reinventing or reenginneering or rebooting--pick one--I say start with appreciating where you are, or get yourself where you want to be...and to my fellow beachmates (is that a word?) on Waikiki, "Holster your IPhones."

Maybe not this week, but come ride with me...and AlooooHA!

Guilt is good--and now go rule the world

"Welcome to your life

There's no turning back

Even while we sleep

We will find you...."

You can interpret this classic song, "Everybody wants to rule the world" any way you want.

I'm not sure I know what the writers had it mind, but I know what it means to me....and if not the favorite song of my life, one of the them....

Today I discovered that guilt is good: it keeps you honest, gives you feedback. I have an aging dog, Ally, a Shetland, who can't hear--but has learned to sign. No, not the signs used by deaf people: dog signs, ones she understands. Ally is alone, spends most of the day outside inside our fence but is able to watch people--and dogs--go by our house. She barks at certain people and dogs and not others, not sure if barking is "hello" or "I don't like you, keep going!" But Ally seems to like, most of all, to go on walks...and today I didn't take her...and at around 5PM (the sun goes down here at about 4:30!!!), she was following me around the house watching whether I put on certain clothes, might be getting ready to take her on a walk...we never went, I was too busy being obsessive about something else...and I felt guilty, not guilty enough to take her, but guilty enough to post this, admit I let her down...let me down.

Guilt is good. It reminds us of our responsibilities, and our commitments...and how important we can be to others, even animals. It tells us we matter. I suppose there is stupid guilt, that's related to obligations we make up--or are related to fairy tales. I'm not talking about that.

You and I know the difference. And if each of us honored our commitments--well, then that's how we can rule the world.

"I can't stand this indecision

Married with a lack of vision

Everybody wants to rule the world

All for freedom and for pleasure

Nothing ever last forever

Everybody wants to rule the world"

Come ride with me...

and enjoy the Tears for Fears video that follows.