Land of Osbourne

Wanna hear about my crappy morning?  So, John and I are driving down Central Avenue in North East Minneapolis, and are stopped by a train at 37th & Central.  Okay, no biggie.  But....the train isn't moving.  At all.  There is a semi to the right of us, the median on the left, car in front of us, truck behind us.  We can't move.  We sit in this position for AN HOUR.  The train never moved an inch. Finally, The car in front of us and the semi beside us moved, so we were able to turn around and seek alternate routes. Whew.  ding....ding....ding.....low tire pressure alert  Really? Okay.  Pull in to a gas station, put in 4 quarters to get air for the ailing front tire. Air machine doesn't work.  We drive a mile down the road to another gas station, and after driving in a circle in their lot, they don't have air.  Drive another mile down the road and finally fill th...

  1.  Look at life as a journey and enjoy the ride.  Get the most out of the detours and realize they're sometimes necessary. 2.  Do your best, but if what you're doing has caused you discouragement, try a different approach.  Be passionate about the process, but don't be so attached to the outcome. 3.  Wish the best for everyone, with no personal strings attached.  Applaud someone else's win as much as you would your own. 4.  Trust that there's a divine plan, that we don't always know what's best for us.  A disappointment now could mean a victory later, so don't be disappointed.  There is usually a reason. 5.  Ask no more of yourself than the best that you can do, and be satisfied with that.  Be compassionate towards yourself as well as others.  Know your calling, your gift, and do it well. 6.  Don't worry about something after it's done; it's out of your hands then, too late, over!  Learn the lesson and ...

I know sometimes you feel like giving up.  Every new day there’s seems to be no change in your life.  All the troubles of your heart and worries keep on worsening!  You wonder why everything is happening to you.  You keep on asking yourself why you’re not lucky like other people.  You keep on praying to God but so far He hasn’t answered your prayers.  Now you have started losing hope.  You now think that maybe you were meant to be like that or maybe somebody cursed you. But I tell you what my friend? You weren’t meant to be like that and you weren’t cursed.  God is silent but He watches you day and night.  He listens to your prayers and He has something special for you.  Just stay strong, focused, and hardworking and keep praying to God.  Bear it in your minds that you’re not alone in that hard situation, we are all in the same boat.  So don’t give up my dear friend.  Your time is coming soon...

I will lend to you for awhile a puppy, God said, For you to love him while he lives and to mourn for him when he is gone. Maybe for 12 or 14 years, or maybe for 2 or 3 But will you, till I call him back take care of him for me? He’ll bring his charms to gladden you and (should his stay be brief) you’ll always have his memories as solace for your grief. I cannot promise that he will stay since all from Earth return, But there are lessons taught below I want this pup to learn. I’ve looked the whole world over in search of teachers true, And from the fold that crowd life’s land I have chosen you. Now will you give him all your love Nor think the labor vain, nor hate me when I come to take my pup back again? I fancied that I heard them say, “Dear Lord, They Will Be Done,” For all the joys this pup will bring the risk of grief you’ll run. Will you shelter him with tenderness, Will you love him while you may? And for the happiness you’ll know forever grateful stay? But should I call him back...

So, John and I moved in to our 1st apartment together in October of 1995. Around that time frame, we also bought our first set of furniture together. The one piece of furniture we still own, is this stick lamp.  We bought it at Home Depot for $14.95. We have changed the bulb in it once since we've owned it. Wednesday this week, the bulb burned out again.  Now if you think about it, 2 bulbs since 1995 isn't bad.  Here is how the conversation went when it blew out:  April: Hey....John the stick lamp isn't working! John: What?? (he hurries to the living room to inspect it) April: See? (clicks it on and off) John: Well, its probably the bulb. We changed it once before...remember?  April: (Blank look) ....yeah John: To be honest, I'm ready for a new living room lamp.  April: John, we've had this lamp since we moved in together in 1995. We aren't getting rid of Sticky. (just named it that second) John: (Hesitates) ...