Ode to Man's Best Friend,...

I have so many things to blog, a busy weekend of work, friends and gardening at midnight. You know, when I have time. So as I was going through all the pics of this past weekend, and editing it for public eye, this is the one that struck the deepest cord in me.

My Nanna, was whelped February 10, 1999. So she is 8 1/2 years old. Still full of life and the best friend any guy could ask for. She is so full of life and love. I nearly cry just thinking of the day she will be gone.

If you know me, you know this dog. She has been my companion on so many trips and so many adventures. I can’t even begin to list all of the places we have lived and traveled together. There were times when I knew that everything was going to be all right because no matter who comes and goes in my life, Nanna is always there.

When we moved across country, time and time again. Dallas to Indianapolis; Indy, Arlington; Dallas, Denver; Denver, Milwaukee; Milwaukee, Denver, she would just sit in that seat or sleep in the floor board, miserable. Yet she never complained. Not once.

It has not always been easy, but we have always been able to count on each other. Almost prophetic and poetic. Almost. Maybe the lesson is this. A good relationship contains someone who loves you every time you smile, say something nice, give them a cookie and don’t give up,..or stay gone too long. And, one who never complains. Good luck with that.

I suppose a mink dog bed, Burberry® leashes & collar and lead crystal torchier dog bowls don’t hurt either.

So I love you Nanna. Thanks for putting up with all of my pranks. And wearing all these crazy get ups so I wouldn’t be the only one. You are this man’s best friend. Cheers,..

All the petals on all these flowers,...

Yeah, so, I live in Colorado. I think he is my mistress, or mister. How I love him so. Never did I imagine that there would be another place for me but Dallas, Texas.

Afterall, to my recollection the places that I recall calling home is a long and distinguished list. Maybe as many places as petals on all these flowers. Lapel, IN; Pendelton, IN; Houston, TX; Anderson, IN; Katy, TX; Arlington, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Pinehurst, NC; High Point, NC; Fort Worth, TX; Austin, TX; Pasadena, TX; Grand Prairie, TX; Dallas, TX; Lewisville, TX; Denver, CO; Milwaukee, WI; Wauwatosa, WI; Commerce City, CO; Philadelphia, PA! That’s all I can, or care to remember. Add to that the fact that some of those cities I had no less than 5 or 6 addresses. And my mom thinks it is absurd when I suggest that I went to about 17 schools before graduating high school. HA.

Anyways, back the fact that Colorado is the most amazing place. Every time you turn the corner there is some other reminder of God’s amazing power and more importantly his gratitude to you for being a part of the human experience. Look at this amazing and hypnotic view from my drive to the city. This is hundreds of acres of sunflowers. All of these amazing flowers turning towards the rising sun. Mother nature managing her flock with the masterful stroke.

Look how far we've come,..

Look how far we have come. 32,..what the hell did I do to deserve this? I was supposed to be dead at 25. I would not trade my life’s experiences for anything else though. There have been so many wonderful people and places. If the past has anything to do with the present it would be customary for me to have something very prophetic to say about turning another year old, but yeah, I’m not feeling it. To be prophetic and to dig deep within ones self and solve some earthly human ailment with the help of God would suggest that there was something so wrong as to merit the summoning of God for healing. And that is not going on here. On this day my mind is clear and my heart is light.

The love of a child,..

Omar and Lara, thank you so much for a wonderful year with my beautiful godson. You inspire me. There is not a doubt in my heart or mind that your love for one another will yield to this world a wonderful and loving young man. The both of you are doing a amazing job with Alex and he will thank you. Lara, you are such a wonderful mother and great care giver. Keep up the good work and all the love in the universe to you.

Wine and Casks, aging together...

The past year has been crazy as usual. Travel, school, travel, love, travel, love lost, travel or escape if you like. In this past year I have learned how much it means to be loyal to those who love you despite who you are. These are the same people who do not judge you by your bad days. We go through life each day hearing little tid bits of advice from passers by and rarely take any of it to heart until it is a part of your fabric. The older I get the better my friends get. Like good wine in a great cask marrying together with time and patients. It would seem that these days the only people I have are my friends and my brothers. And I’m cool with that. So thanks to you all.

To my friend,...

And for you Ken, here is Nanna at one of my favorite places in Colorado. This is a lake hidden down a dirt road uphill about 5 miles off the road. Notice in the background of this picture to the left of Nanna’s head that there is a waterfall coming down those rocks.

There was a fallen tree, much like the one in the photo here, that lay perfectly on a huge boulder in the middle of the falls. For days I would hike to that rock with a book, a journal and my dog. Sitting and meditating on that rock for hours with the cold mist of the falls cleansing my mind and tuning my soul, gave me the clarity of mind to make the only decision in my life that I knew with out a doubt was from my soul. It is on that boulder that I decided to be a chef. This is that waterfall some years later. Enjoy!

Nanna is still the most amazing friend on earth. She and I have been together now for over 7 years. She has been with me through all of those moves to no less than 9 or 10 different addresses. There is nothing on this earth that could say thank you enough to her for all of her love and patients. Just the thought of her passing on brings me to tears. She still is full of life and should live another 5 or 6 years. I’ll take 6,…