dust and sage in the air
sun shining clean
sweat in my eyes
canyon unexplored
no path leading downwards
something beckons, unseen but felt
roar of engine
shower of rocks
a new trail is born

snow crunches like fine glass
breath comes quick in thin air
antlers rattle in a grove of aspen
time slows
beauty moves, swift and sure
elk pauses at a creek
breath steaming
finger slides from the trigger
his trail continues
separate from mine

remnants of a family
packed in a truck
broken home behind
open road through the plains
shared strength wipes away tears
traveling towards a new life
full of uncertainties
new city, new schools, new life
adrift in a sea of humanity
can’t see the road ahead
can’t live with the road behind

great oak high overhead
bride in a simple dress
friends laughing, family smiling
unaware of the war inside
fear, happiness, trapped, fulfilled
mind out of control
walking blindly through motions and emotions
unsure of the path ahead

small truck packed light
dressed in faded black
to match my heart
tears in her eyes
my pain behind iron walls
pulling away from our home
mirrors unused
no longer looking back
to a path of anguish
moving forward must hurt less
another road beckons

two wheels singing on asphalt
thunder clouds rolling
miles to travel
rains smells close
fresh pain of beauty lost
what use is caution
when the heart is shattered
shiny pieces streaming out behind
only a dream in the distance
of waves breaking in unending rhythm
to sooth the mind

butterflies of emotions
cautiously exploring
gently falling towards
something
not sure what
risks on one shoulder
dreams on the other
curiosity and hope lead
down a path inviting
lined with flowers and sensuous aromas
perhaps concealing thorns
perhaps leading to cliffs
feet follow heart

years of travel
strengthen will and resolve
destinations not as important now
joy is found skipping down the path
and jumping in puddles

tasting the trail
is good for the soul

New site feature – Highlights to the Archives – sorta tooting my own horn about the best posts. Of course, most of this site is about tootin’ my own horn. I figure nobody else is doing it right now, so why shouldn’t I?

Had a great Thanksgiving hanging out with the family. It also felt really good that someone was thinking about me enough to call from Tennessee while she was with her family.

Yep. Life is good.

Have some things coming up for the website – a link section to highlights of the archives, links to some cool other sites on the net, a few more picture galleries, and a few more pieces of poetry. But not tonight. Tired now, sleeping soon. Just had a few lyrics run through my mind and felt like kicking them up for ya’ll to check out.

In the name of all the power

That’s centered in you hand

If you crave some revolution

Take possesion of your stand

It’s the only one you’ll get to make

In a moment come and gone

So do your best to stay awake

And own the path your on

-John Popper “Fallible”

Took a friend out bowling tonight for her birthday and had a great time. There are some pretty real people in the world, and they are definately good to keep in touch with. On that note, I have a few messages to respond to before I crash tonight, so ya’ll take care now, ya here?

where
do we go
if it doesn’t make sense

crashing emotions in our skulls raging blinding blocking hiding
ourselves from
ourselves

how do we cope
when the space inside is invaded
our solitude torn away by muddy boots crashing on the table
as we try to
breath
for a moment

walking in pain searching
for questions
answers can’t fix anything until we know why
we wander

Feeling good. Balance is nice, and so much easier to hold onto when things aren’t going to shit in sharp pieces all around. Threw another piece into the poetry section tonight – Questions. It’s another case of first draft, and up it goes. Hopefully I won’t think it sucks in a few months.

Once again, listening to the blues, Kelly Richey style, and kickin’ back for a few minutes before crash time. I keep fiddling with the settings on my distortion pedal trying to reproduce those notes, but it’s just not quite right. Think I need another trip to the guitar store for some advice. I’m not too proud to ask a few questions. Might learn something that way.

Havin’ a good time at work recently. Liking the new role I’ve cut out for myself. Playing on the business side of the fence a lot more than I ever have before, and not only am I feeling solid about what I’m doing, but the feedback I’m getting from both collegues and superiors points to a job well done. Enjoying mentoring one of my developers into a team lead role as well. He’s not only sharp, but pleasant to work with, full of energy, and picking things up damn quick. It’s fun to help someone grow towards something rather than away from something. Not that I begrudge any time spent chewing the proverbial fat with many other people I know and putting in my two cents as to where the might find a few questions or answers as we all attempt to muddle through life, but it’s also nice to help someone reach a higher potential in other ways as well.

Wow – that turned into a long sentence. I suppose I could restructure it for easier digestion, but…

The older I grow, the less important the comma becomes. Let the reader catch his own breath.
- Elizabeth Clarkson Zwart

So take a moment to catch your breath.

I’ve got mine.