michaeldenobile

[michaeldenobile]

Hello

[michaeldenobile]

Take a left here boy, take it slow

Don't get distracted by that radio

I just rolled my eyes and I said, Daddy, I know

I'm fifteen, I ain't green like some ol' ten year old

What I wouldn't give to be sixteen, wild and free

Cruisin' up and down Main in my F-150

Roll the windows down, bass too loud from this burnt CD

I'll be right where I wanna be when I'm sixteen, sixteen

Sixteen, yeah

Now that I can drive, finally feel alive, but I got this curfew

Sneakin' in late, smelling like my girlfriend's perfume

People talk about college and knowledge and that's alright

But all I'm thinkin' 'bout is an unsupervised Saturday night

What I wouldn't give to be eighteen, wild and free

Buzzin' off a can of the Grizzly Wintergreen

Lookin' old enough to pull off this fake ID

I'll be right where I wanna be

When I'm eighteen, eighteen

Eighteen, yeah

I'm old enough to smoke

I'm old enough to vote

But they turn me away when I go to the Cotton Eyed Joe

They say the grass is always greener

And I believe that's right

But my friends are off to Vegas, they're leavin' me behind

What I wouldn't give to be twenty one, wild and free

Open up a cold one and drink it legally

Chase a bunch of girls, go see the world

Let my wild streak run

I'll be right where I wanna be

When I'm twenty one, twenty one

Woah, when I'm twenty one

Yeah, when I'm twenty one, it'll be alright

Yeah, it'll be alright, when I'm twenty one

Now I'm twenty five and I'm drinking wine with my wife at home

Got a couple of dogs and a couple of songs on the radio

And we sit around and we laugh about how we used to be

When all we cared about was turning sixteen

https://youtu.be/nPYRBsGMKOU

[michaeldenobile]

Decisions, Decisions...

DEAR PAST: Thanks for the lessons.

DEAR FUTURE: I'm ready.

The best way to predict the future is to CREATE IT.

[michaeldenobile]

Burning Man

The older I get, the less I fear.

However there comes one great fear

that rises to the surface.

It's when I get the opportunity

to visit a cemetery and I look

at the headstones seeing all those dashes.

I look at those dashes and know

one day I will have my own

dash on my own stone.

This fear is not that one day I will die,

but that I will not live

my life worthy of that dash.

And so you see, each day I rise

forced to live better,

to listen more,

to study more,

to love more,

to think more,

to act more,

to be more,

to be still. I wake up

each morning thankful

for the new day and thankful

for all the days that made

me who I am today,

the peaks and the valleys,

the light and the darkness,

the joys and the sufferings.

I wake up each day

running

knowing that when

the sand does finally run out

I will be able to stand

strong, even if I'm just

standing on my knees,

and I won't regret

how strong

that dash

will end

ages hence from now.

You see, I wake up

each morning knowing

that my life will be the greatest

life anyone has ever

experienced

because I will have made

that choice.

And now that that fire

is burning,

who will ever

be able

to extinguish it?

[michaeldenobile]

[michaeldenobile]

The American Experiment

This Independence Day will be America's 242nd. And I have always wondered what exactly the American Experiment was that was started in 1776, and how great we actually do have it here in the land of the free, home of the brave.

Every four years, we have a bloodless transfer of power of self-governance. We take for granted what a special gift that actually is because we get caught up in the politics of that transfer of power. For centuries before America, change meant war, and war meant death. The Revolution changed that, a model for the world to admire. A model we almost lost during the Civil War, when the world touted that the American Experiment failed.

The reality of the Revolution is that self-governance is not an easier alternative to authoritarian rule. In our self-absorbed naivety of how we treat American politics, where we throw around vocabulary like fascist, communist and socialist without their true definitions, we have forgotten how easy it is for true dictatorship to rule with a true iron fist. Death and destruction makes the masses docile, and we have collectively forgotten what that really means as we have been blessed with peace for so long.

But don't misunderstand when I say peace. As I have noted, self-governance is harder because we are no longer distracted by survival and tyranny. In the American Experiment, we were forced to look at one another and what it means to be loyal to "one's own kind." When true American values have prevailed throughout our history, we have been forced to shed Old World ideals of homogeny and witness in the mirror the ugliness of humankind. And as painful as our growing pains have been, after 242 years, we have grown into a more perfect Union, a true RepBut don't misunderstand when I say peace. As I have noted, self-governance is harder because we are no longer distracted by survival and tyranny. In the American Experiment, we were forced to look at one another and what it means to be loyal to "one's own kind." When true American values have prevailed throughout our history, we have been forced to shed Old World ideals of homogeny and witness in the mirror the ugliness of humankind. And as painful as our growing pains have been, after 242 years, we have grown into a more perfect Union, a true Republic that is the envy of nations, a shining pearl in the darkness, a city on a hill.But don't misunderstand when I say peace. As I have noted, self-governance is harder because we are no longer distracted by survival and tyranny. In the American Experiment, we were forced to look at one another and what it means to be loyal to "one's own kind." When true American values have prevailed throughout our history, we have been forced to shed Old World ideals of homogeny and witness in the mirror the ugliness of humankind. And as painful as our growing pains have been, after 242 years, we have grown into a more perfect Union, a true Republic that is the envy of nations, a shining pearl in the darkness, a city on a hill.ublic that is the envy of nations, a shining pearl in the darkness, a city on a hill.

We must and will continue to shed the ugliness of our collective past selves, but what makes the American way superior and different than any other nation is that in our imperfection and despite our ugliness, we have been forced to be family with one another, a definition of family like no other in the world. Beyond the political rhetoric, to be American is not bound by a paticular race, creed, color, or homogenous culture. Even our language is a crossroads of multiple languages; while the foundations of the American language is British, it consists of a tapestry of words like albacore (Arabic), arugula (Italian), bayou (French), buffalo (Portuguese), cilantro (Spanish), and jumbo (Swahili).

E pluribus unam, "out of many, one," was the battle cry of the 13 Colonies united in the cause for freedom to create novus ordo seclorum, the "new order of the ages"--not a conspiratorial "New World Order," by the way. But an order by which all may participate in the Great Experiment of freedom, come what may. In God We Trust, that we may continue to participate in the American Experiment of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and be greatful to the men and women who cqme before us, continue to, and will continue to mutually pledge to us their Lives, their Fortunes, and their sacred Honor so that we may continue to enjoy the peace and prosperity they have earned for us.

[michaeldenobile]

Climbing up the Carb-o ladder

My trainer has officially taken me off of keto and has me adding more and more carbs into my diet as I transition out. Currently at 40g net carbs per day, up from 20g. Feels like climbing up a nutritional ladder.

[michaeldenobile]

"Man at Work"

Since the day I knew I loved you

I've been trying to compose

just a simple verse

to capture all I think and feel

but the words...

you see, they combat like dragons,

snarling and gnashing,

aflamed with vain passion

and the stazas, well you

see, they just

don't line up

as I try hard to en-

jamb on the right

words and sounds to

fully grasp the beat

of my heart

then I turned to comparison...

I considered to use a flower

but its frail delicacy and beauty--

it fails to fully capture the fruit

of your independent

strength and non-wilting power

I searched the creatures of the wild

the beasts of the field, the birds of the air,

the fishes of the deep, and those that crawl under the earth

those that dance and sing and are alive

with creation and driven by a force

that runs deeper than existence itself

but why on God's green earth would I dethrone

that which is of a divine royalty?

so then I looked to the heavens and searched

amongst the celestial bodies by which I

could swear my love unto thee

the Sun? the Moon? the Planets? the Stars?

maybe a passing Asteroid or Comet would do?

but even here, in the endless Universe,

I could not find the perfect metaphor

because in reality there is only one title

by which encompasses your beauty

your strength and power

your limitless healing worth

your independent, awesome majesty

your divine royalty and splendor

You are Woman

and no poem could ever limit

who you really are

for you are Poetry itself

herein I abandon

my verse and settle

for truth, for you are Woman

and I love you

[michaeldenobile]

At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent.

~Barbara Bush (6/8/1925 - 4/18/2018)

[michaeldenobile]

20 things a mom should tell her son...

Thanks mom for sending this to me...

1. Play a sport. It will teach you how to win honorably, lose gracefully, respect authority, work with others, manage your time and stay out of trouble. And maybe even throw or catch.

2. You will set the tone for the sexual relationship,so don't take something away from her that you can't give back.

3. Use careful aim when you pee. Somebody's got to clean that up, you know.

4. Save money when you're young because you're going to need it someday.

5. Allow me to introduce you to the dishwasher, oven, washing machine, iron, vacuum, mop and broom. Now please go use them.

6. Pray and be a spiritual leader.

7. Don't ever be a bully and don't ever start a fight, but if some idiot clocks you, please defend yourself.

8. Your knowledge and education is something

that nobody can take away from you.

9. Treat women kindly. Forever is a long time to live alone and it's even longer to live with somebody who hates your guts.

10. Take pride in your appearance.

11. Be strong and tender at the same time.

12. A woman can do everything that you can do. This includes her having a successful career and you changing diapers at 3 A.M. Mutual respect is the key to a good relationship.

13. "Yes ma'am" and "yes sir" still go a long way.

14. The reason that they're called "private parts"

is because they're "private". Please do not scratch them in public.

15. Peer pressure is a scary thing. Be a good leader and others will follow.

16. Bringing her flowers for no reason is always a good idea.

17. It is better to be kind than to be right.

18. A sense of humor goes a long way in the healing process.

19. Please choose your spouse wisely. My daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for me spending time with you and my grandchildren.

20. Remember to call your mother because I might be missing you.

[michaeldenobile]

Woke up this morning with a funny feeling, Wasn't really sure what it was all about. But it felt like I was disappearing, So I ran to the mirror to check it out. I said, "Here I am, here I am, here I am But why do I feel like the invisible man?" I stumbled back into the bedroom, And stared out at the rising sun. Then I heard myself shout out the window, Not really talking to anyone. I yelled, "Here I am, here I am, here I am But why do I feel like the invisible man?" Lights went on, people started yelling, "Will the crazy man go back to bed." And there I was, laughing out my window, Feeling much better now, somebody heard what I said. Well it's no big thing, no revelation, No answer to these lives we lead. But I think I do know one thing; Sometimes I think we all need to say; "Here I am, here I am, here I am, " When life makes us feel like the invisible man. Lights went on, people started yelling, "Will the crazy man go back to bed." And there I was, laughing out my window, Feeling much better now, somebody heard what I said. Woke up this morning with a funny feeling, Wasn't really sure what it was all about. But it felt like I was disappearing, So I ran to the mirror to check it out. I said, "Here I am, here I am, here I am But sometimes I feel like the invisible, Here I am, here I am, here I am But why do I feel like the invisible man Songwriter: Joshua Kadison

[michaeldenobile]

Saw her at the Texico just the other day Even more beautiful her hair had a touch of grey We both stood and stared at each other Couldn't say a word , then I said: "God, it's good to see you" And she said: "Well, have you heard..." "They're tearing down the Cherry Bowl Drive-In tomorrow Where I first kissed you and ran my fingers through your hair She's going away, all things must go some day But I will still remember you there Yes I will still remember you there" Then I said: "Little Melissa, she's looking more and more like you I saw her down on Maple Street she's even got your same smile too" And my Jake junior says: "Daddy, someday I'm gonna marry that girl" Isn't that just perfect, it's such a crazy world "So they're tearing down the Cherry Bowl Drive-In tomorrow Where I first kissed you and ran my fingers through your hair She's going away, all things must go some day But I will still remember you there" "Can you get away tomorrow, if you can't I'll understand It's just that when the big screen falls I wanna be holding your hand Holding your hand" "When they're tearing down the Cherry Bowl Drive-In tomorrow Where I first kissed you and ran my fingers through your hair She's going away, all things must go some day But I will still remember you there Yes, I will. Yes, I will I will still remember us there ~Joshua Kadison

[michaeldenobile]

Hey, hey! Hey, hey! In my rearview mirror my life is getting clearer The sunset sighs and slowly disappears These trinkets once were treasure, life changes like the weather You grow up, grow old, or you hit the road 'round here So I drive (Drive, drive)...watching white lines passing by With my plastic dashboard Jesus waiting there to greet us Hey, hey! I finally found my way, said goodbye to yesterday Hit the gas, there ain't no brakes on this lost highway Yeah, I'm busting loose, I'm lettin' go out on this open road It's independence day on this lost highway Hey, hey! Hey, hey! Don't know where I'm going but I know where I've been I'm afraid of going back again So I drive (Drive, drive)...years and miles are flying by And waiting there to greet us is my plastic dashboard Jesus Hey, hey! I finally found my way, said goodbye to yesterday Hit the gas, there ain't no brakes on this lost highway Yeah, I'm busting loose, I'm lettin' go out on this open road It's independence day on this lost highway Hey, hey! Hey, hey! Oh patron saint of lonely souls Tell this boy which way to go Guide the car, you've got the keys Farewell to mediocrity Kicking off the cruise control And turning up the radio Got just enough religion And a half a tank of gas Come on! Let's go! I finally found my way, said goodbye to yesterday Hit the gas, there ain't no brakes on this lost highway Yeah, I'm busting loose, I'm lettin' go out on this open road It's independence day on this lost highway Hey, hey! Hey, hey! Hey hey! On this lost highway

[michaeldenobile]

This was me 5yrs ago lol

[michaeldenobile]

When life gives you stop signs and dead end streets...

Time keeps moving on thru the sunshine and the storm

And my dreams are set in stone that someday I'll be who I wanna be

For now I'll wait for the sun to shine again

And for now I'll wait for the rain to pass away

~Leeland, "Brighter Days," 2008

From their 2008 album Opposite Way and the soundtrack to the 2008 film Fireproof, the song "Brighter Days" is a bit of an anthem for me. Since I was a teenager, I loved the analogy of "storms" to describe struggles in my life. Storms often come without warning and are unpredictable, leaving hardship, devistation, and confusion in their wake.

And I'm lookin' for the brighter days

When all my hurts seem to fade away

I'm lookin' for the brighter days

To come my way

They bring floods, felled trees, debris, feet of snow, ice, limited vision, electrical fires, and power outages, both literal and figurative, even cutting us off from the outside world, making us feel isolated, alone, and forgotten. Some of the scars of storms are physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, financial, social, and familial. Storms can make or break our lives. They can make us stuck in the past, obsessed with the future, or focused on the present, for better or worse.

Faces come and faces go but none seem to look my way

And walls have stood and walls have fallen but my heart seems to wait

One of my favorite Robin Williams movies is What Dreams May Come (1998) about Chris Nielson (Williams) who, with his wife Annie, copes with the death of his children and then, when he himself dies in a car accident searches heaven and hell for Annie, who had committed suicide. As dark as the movie is, it is an uplifting drama about the humanity of life and what unites us all regardless of our beliefs. A quote from Annie speaks to the human reality of suffering: "It's just that when everybody's dancing, I feel like . . . I'm alone in a sea of faces."

Well-intentioned "faces" will "come and go," trying to offer support, take advantave of us when we're down, or completely ignore our existence. We build walls and we tear them down. We push people away and we invite them in.

For now I'll sit at the end of the road

And for now I'll wait at the end of the pathway

I'll see the sun one day shine upon me

I'll see the sun one day

And watch the nighttime turn to morning

But for now it all comes back around

In the Adam Sandler movie Reign Over Me (2007), Charlie Fineman (Sandler) is stuck while grieving the loss of his family, five years after they were killed in the attacks of September 11th. At one point in the film, Charlie tries to commit suicide by cop and in the legal proceedings that follow, the judge must determine wheter or not to commit Charlie to an psychiatric facility. His therapist Angela Oakhurst (Liv Tyler) testifies, "I think that Charlie needs to find his own way. Not on our time, but on Charlie's time, and I think that will happen. He'll find people that will fill his life again. Not today, but soon... slowly."

When storms shake our resolve, those well-intentioned faces try to diagnose and treat us. But most often, the remedy of our situations tend to be simply "sitting" and "waiting," in thoughtful reflection, for the "sun to shine upon" us in our own time, not others'.

Gary Allen sings, "Every storm runs, runs out of rain / Just like every dark night turns into day / Every heartache will fade away / Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain."

In our modern world where we can't live without one-minute microwavable burritos, instant fast food Big Macs, cell phone notifications for mail we will see when we get home, and texting for and from people who are feet away from us in adjacent rooms, waiting in times of suffering is an eternity of horror for most of us. We lose sight that the hurricanes of our lives will break and times of recovery will allow us to regroup and prepare, stronger for future storms.

In Jane Yolen's novel The Devil's Arithmetic (1988), a time travel novel set between 1980s Scarsdale, NY, and a concentration camp during the Holocaust, character Rivka, a Jewish teenager in one of the camps, discusses how one of the greatest acts of bravery is survival.

Surviving our storms, in our own time, is courageous. It is also necessary for our health and well-being. It's knowing that brighter days will always come. The dawn will always follow the dark night, and we must patiently carry our crosses through this transient life. If we have goals and dreams, sometimes we must climb the heights of heaven and descend the depths of hell in order to achieve our fullest and truest potential in this borrowed life. Through the storms and the wars, the trials and tribulations, the hardships and sufferings, the deaths we experience (both literal and figurative) can defined our existence or propel us to certain glory. We are not a product of our scars but a legion of our choices, both positive and negative. And we are but a heartbeat away from epic fear and failure or absolute fortitude--that is survival.

When the war gives you a minefield, you push forward and navigate through it. I have dreams and a plan, and I am not letting stop signs and dead ends dictate my end game. I am a champion, and my only opponent is myself. Only I can decide if I win or if I l lose.

But for now I'll sit and wait for the sun to shine again. I'll wait for the rain to pass away.