Like a blaring fire alarm, I had awakened suddenly, gripping my right calf muscle for dear life. The pain was sudden, and extreme. I grabbed my leg as I realized that I had gotten a cramp, as it spasmed to the size of a softball.

The pain...

It seemed to last an eternity, but in reality maybe ten minutes. As soon as the pain subsided, I sat up at the edge of the bed to see if I could walk. As soon as I put the weight of my body on my right leg, I half collapsed in agony.

It had been years since I'd gotten a severe cramp like this, and it usually would strike sometime in the early morning hours while I was asleep. This was an exceptionally painful one. And at this very moment I'm still limping around the house. I'm afraid this could affect my performance tonight.

I at least owe you an explanation for the link above, otherwise it would just seem that I'm throwing in a tune for filler or something.

I've been playing this song over and over again, both in the car stereo and in my head. I'm like that sometimes, obsessing over a song, listening to it several times and letting the soul of the song become a part of me.

I'm not a big Frank Sinatra fan. Nor do I have a large collection of Sinatra records and CDs. I simply had to buy this one particular album upon hearing the song on the radio while traveling to Las Vegas for a gig at the Hard Rock Hotel.

It didn't matter that the album was one of Sinatra's best (a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1965), nor the fact that the album contains the classic song, It Was A Very Good Year. I just had to get the album for the one song... I was that much in awe with this song.

The Back-And-Forth Routine

Wednesdays have become a hectic routine for me... pick up the kids from school, take one kid to soccer practice, then rush home and get the other one ready for karate lessons. Then after dropping the one kid off at karate, I then get back to the soccer field in time to pick the other kid up. It was never really like this before, only recently.

And add the daily ritual of homework, a good two hour's worth, between that and preparing dinner for the family... it's a pretty hectic afternoon and evening for me. And by the time that's all done, it's time for bed!

Well, needless to say, I didn't get to the hospital today to visit my father-in-law. But my sister-in-law and my wife did today while I was doing the back-and-forth routine. He's doing well I was told. We are still waiting on some results to get back from the lab, but he seems to be getting better. He's totally into politics, and so he was checking out all the debate coverage on TV. So, you know he must be improving! Anyway, that's good news to me.

Sending Good Vibrations Back To You

Last night I received an email from none other than Kaycee and her Mom, Debbie! They sent me their best wishes and prayers for my father-in-law who's still in the hospital.

Thank you so much. I was pleasantly surprised... and touched. Who would have thought... and I wish them the best always.

It's overcast today. But yesterday I was able to take a nice photo of the sky before the gray skies arrived.

I'm confident those blue skies will return...
12:02 AM ~

tuesday, october 3

Just One Of Those Days

I truly sympathize with you, Zannah. I'm having one of those days as well. I didn't sleep well at all last night. So I've been very sluggish today. Of course, I hadn't had my coffee yet... too tired to make it, or even go out and buy it.

5:04 PM ~


I keep my head to the skies, as if expecting an answer from someone out there at any moment...
1:48 PM ~

Situations Beyond Our Control

It's a beautiful, spring-like morning out there, but I wish it were just that... a beautiful spring morning.

We got back from the hospital late last night, and then it sort of hit me real hard. Sometimes things slip out of our control and we just have to hold on for the ride.

We found out last night that my father-in-law, who had been suffering from complications after routine minor surgery last week, now has malfunctioning kidneys and might have to go on dialysis. This was a shock to us, as my father-in-law (in his 70's) has always been very healthy and very active for his age.

So now we're seriously worried about his situation, as it came so suddenly when just a few weeks ago he seemed just fine.

I'd been sending my thoughts and prayers to Kaycee, who's been struggling with cancer, and now my father-in-law's situation is becoming more serious with his kidney failure.

Today I'll be focusing my thoughts and prayers to both of them, hoping they will get well soon.

monday, october 2

I finally got around to consolidating my sky photos on one page. This is a nice way to keep track of them.

sunday, october 1

In The Eye Of The Storm

In the wee hours of the morning I find peace, the eye of the storm.

This weekend has been so hectic for me. I felt as though I had been bombarded by so much. I have three gigs this weekend, and with family stuff, it all converges into one very busy schedule.

Clouds ahead,
dark puffs of cotton,
sun's rays, breaking through clouds,
large white masses of illusion,
crowding a deep blue sky.
--Carlos

It's no wonder I enjoy looking up at the sky, standing in awe at this universe. My tiny little life and its problems seem to fade away in the glory of the skies. I guess that is why I keep looking up into the heavens. It helps to bring peace to my mind.