Boxerdude

I always enjoyed his shows as well. He was funny and he really tried to teach people about wildlife and to respect it. He will be missed. He was also so cute, I hope they do a whole day of reruns in his honor. Prayers to his family and friends, David

Wow, Kevin, you did have a great day!! How nice it would be to be 24 again!!! I use to have that kind of energy, now I just veg all the time. But after reading your blog, that is going to change!!!! You have inspired me to start living again! Thanks for sharing your day, it really was a cool thing for you to do!! I wish my blog was a good as yours. You are so much better at this stuff. You keep it up and have fun doing it!!!! Hugs, David

Wow!! Thanks Nick, you are really a good guy with a big heart to say thanks. But, I think we are the lucky one's because you reply back! Hehe, maybe not the way we expect, but that is another story!! Glad, to have been part of the 1000!!! David

Happy Birthday Drew May your wishes come true or you c...., oops did I say that??? LOL Have a great Birthday and I hope you have some friends that are taking you out on the town!!! It is a good time to be 21 and free. Be safe, be good and if you can't be good, be GOOD AT IT!!!! Hugs, and Kisses, David

Kevin, you never stop amazing me with your comic insight into things. The funny thing is, that you are writing what the rest of us are thinking!! I would just never think to put it into words. Keep posting, you are an ace in my book and you always put a smile on my face. You blog is so much better than mine, I haven't figured out the art of blogging yet and you have it mastered!!! David

Wow JS, That was eye opening! Congratulations on your acheivement. You have certainly given me some things to think about. Some of the emotions and feelings you described, sadly, I can relate too. That is one of the reasons I keep coming back to GA, because people are willing to bare their soul, share their experiences and make people stop and think. I have been through a rough time the last few months, and I am have started thinking it was time I took more control of my life and stopped leaning on a drink to soften the blow or to help calm me down. Your willingness to share has definetely made a difference to me. Thank You for Sharing!!! Hugs, David

Wow, Kevin! I knew when we started chatting that you were a great guy and had a heart of gold, but I had no idea this new friend of mine was the most popular guy in the school (Forum). l shed a tear or two for you as I read the stroy knowing everyword of it was true. You deserve the best and I think the best of them gave it to you in a story. Happy Birthday again, and I hope I get to meet all your wonderful friends some day!!! Love and Hugs, David

Oh thank GOD, we got some rain the the Temp went down to 92!!!!!! I am hoping for an early fall!!!! This heat is starting to drain me!! We are having to water the foundation just to keep the clay from pulling away so the foundation does not crack!! Maybe I need water, I know I am cracking!! "like a nut" Okay, bad joke. I thougth about going to the neigbors for a dip in the pool, they said to bring soap and a towel because it is like bath water, sigh Well, let's just hope it does not last that much longer!! Hang in there my fellow Texans!!!! David

Happy Birthday Kevin!! Sorry, I did not log in yesterday or I would have made sure and catch it on your birthday!! I hope you had a heck of Saturday night!! Hope you got Lucky!!!! David

I agree with everything that everyone has posted. You should stay with your aunt. She is obviously a strong and kind woman. She can handle herself. Quite frankly, I would imagine that she is probably close to cutting off the relationship with your parents because she is ashamed of them. She has unconditional love, that can not be replaced with anything. My best advice would be to support her as much as she is trying to support you. Try to be strong and contribute to your knew household, you may find a golden nugget in all this. I would suggest making sure that you secure a job with benefits so you can contribute financialy, if she will accept it, but most importantly, with benefits with a job comes the opportunity to seek counseling at an office visit price. I think you should look into that and let a professional help guide you through this very upsetting time. Adversity will either break you or make you, it all depends upon the tools you are open to use. A therapist can do wonders, beleive me I know. Also, keep coming here for support, you will find many people willing to talk with you and you will develope friend who will be compassionate and will understand you. Keep your chin up, ride high and be proud of who your are. You are the only one who can define "you." Feel free to PM me or IM me anytime you like. I have counseled many teens in your situation as a youth director. Your New Friend, David

Hey Kevin, I think it is good to dream. I used to live in N.W. Arkansas, Fayetteville, and I could never go back either. It is never the same. I go back to visit family but after living here in Dallas for so many years, it is just not the same there anymore. I never had any really good friends there anyway and if I did, they all moved off too. I hope to do some travleing one day. Mike does most of it due to his work. He has been to Austailia like 4 times, China 5, Italy once, and somewhere is S. America. I have never eve left the states. If it were not for Mikes job, I am sure we would live in some more Northern liberal state. But keep on dreaming, you never know where a dream will take you. And no, you have not offended me any in the least and if someone get's offened then they are too up tight. Have a great day, and thanks for sharing with us. David

Oh, I am watering mine eveyday and humping it to so that it knows I love it. It has to be good and continue to work. It needs to know it is loved and not forgotten. It needs nurturing and loving. It can't quit on us we love it. David

Actually, if you are not running all that plus Spy Bot, you are asking for trouble with any browser you use. I am constantly having to go over to my friends houses and fix their PC's, no matter what browser they are using and clean up their machines. Once I do that, then I install a few protective programs and they are off and surfing again. They can even surf porn with no problem. No browser can protect you from all of that. I have seen it first hand. David

Myr, I have been reading Tales from the Ranch by the TulsaDriller. I have found his writting to be great and have enjoyed it very much. He has been able to captivate me in a way few can. I wish he were here so that maybe we could talk about his characters the story and why certain things went differently than expected. It took me 3 weeks, to read his first book and now he has 9 chapters written on the sequel. It crosses all age groups and covers a number of everyday issues that we all have to deal with. I think it is worth someone reviewing. David

Tried it, hatted it. It interferred with to many of my other programs and it messed with my wireless network. I never could get the darn thing to work. A friend of mine in Houston told me about it so we both tried it. He emailed me back and we both agreed, to much trouble and to hard to get it to work with other programs. I am working with the new IE 7 Beta and love it. David

I have no clue what that word means, so for the rest of you I am posting what I found. It is a bit long, but it is a great article. Kitty has really thrown one at us now. Namaste! How is it pronounced, what does it mean? Subject: Re: Namaste Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian,alt.religion.hindu, alt.fan.jai-maharaj,hawaii.nortle, alt.religion.vaisnava From: jai@mantra.com (Dr. Jai Maharaj) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 1997 22:26:20 UTC In article <33f57cea.0@mapperley.innotts.co.uk>, ukindia@innotts.co.uk (amar joshi) wrote: > I am lookingh to verify the correct spelling and > definition of the word "Namastee" from sandskrit. Commonly written "Namaste", it is pronounced as "Namastay" with the first two a's as the first a in "America" and the ay as in "stay", but with the t pronounced soft with the area just behind the tip of the tongue pressing against the upper-front teeth with no air passing (as the t in "tamasha"). - Jai Maharaj > I have been told it means something like to > pay homage to the inner light in all living things. > Can you help me with this??? > sgray@javanet.com I had occasion to post the following in 1993 and 1996: Subject: Re: Sukhmani says Namaskaar to Brahmins From: Dr. Jai Maharaj <jai@mantra.com> Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.punjab, soc.culture.indian.delhi,alt.fan.jai-maharaj, soc.culture.indian.gujarati,soc.culture.indian.marathi, soc.culture.indian.telugu,soc.culture.indian.karnataka, soc.culture.indian.kerala,soc.culture.bengali Date: Sun, 14 Jan 1996 14:01:55 -1000 In the article <30F7BAD4.5907@sky.net>, of Sat, 13 Jan 1996 07:59:48 -0600, Rahul Anand Narain <narain@sky.net> wrote: COLLinda wrote: >> What is the difference (if any) in saying "Namaste" and >> "Namaskar"? Are they addressed to or used by different people? >> Or are they essentially identical? I've heard people using >> both, but I haven't noticed any pattern. / Linda Nelson, >> Chicago Online > > Jai Maharaj had a lovely post regarding this. a couple of years > ago or so. I had had saved it but am not able to locate it. > Maybe he can repost the article? There have been several posts on the subject during the last few years, but I think the following authorized reproduction from HINDUISM TODAY is one of the best. For subscription and other information about Hinduism Today, please connect with the Web site at this URL: http://www.HinduismToday.kauai.hi.us/ashram/ Hinduism today is a full-color, international monthly which has been published continuously since January 1979. Copyright 1993 by Himalayan Academy. ISSN: 0896-0801. All Rights Reserved. Please see full copyright notice at the end of the article. N::N "Shake hands and come out fighting." It's the referee's A::A final counsel to two pugilists about to beat each other's M::M brains out with clenched fists. Even outside the ring, a A::A handshake can be a little off-putting. When one returns S::S to the West from an extended sojourn in Bharat or T::T elsewhere in Asia, the hand suddenly thrust forward can E::E seem more ominous than friendly, especially if the hand offered is that of a stranger. Of course, one soon acclimates and the menacing aspect of this salutation subsides. Perhaps that moment of intimidation derives from the history of the handshake. According to one anthropologist, the handshake evolved in medieval Europe, during the times of knights. It seems not all were laudable Lancelots or gallant Gallahads. More than a few would approach opponents with concealed weapons and when within striking distance do the needful, driving dagger or striking sword into the unguarded paladin. To fend off the fear of a foe's foul foil, knights took to offering their open and visibly empty hand to each other. It was a kind of surety, a gesture of trust which said, "See, I am unarmed, so you may safely let me approach." As the story goes, soon the gesture itself took on meaning and the less noble, less lethal man on the street adopted the handshake as the proper way to greet others. In much of the world today, people do not shake hands when they meet. They may hug formally or kiss one another on the cheek, as in eastern Europe and Arab states. They may bow softly, eyes turned to the ground, as in Japan and China. The Hawaiian greeting, termed "honi," consists of placing the nostril gently beside that of the person greeted, a kind of sharing of breath, which is life and Pran(a). For, Hindu(s), of course, the greeting of choice is "Namaste," the two hands pressed together and held near the heart with the head gently bowed as one says, "Namaste." Thus it is both a spoken greeting and a gesture, a Mantr(a) and a Mudr(a). The prayerful hand position is a Mudr(a) called Anjali, from the root Anj, "to adorn, honor, celebrate or anoint." The hands held in union signify the oneness of an apparently dual cosmos, the bringing together of spirit and matter, or the self meeting the Self. It has been said that the right hand represents the higher nature or that which is divine in us, while the left hand represents the lower, worldly nature. In Sanskrit "Namas" means, "bow, obeisance, reverential salutation." It comes from the root Nam, which carries meanings of bending, bowing, humbly submitting and becoming silent. "Te" means "to you." Thus "namaste" means "I bow to you." the act of greeting is called "Namaskaram," "Namaskara" and "Namaskar" in the varied languages of the subcontinent. Namaste has become a veritable icon of what is Bharatiye. Indeed, there must be a Bharatiye law which requires every travel brochure. calendar and poster to include an image of someone with palms pressed together, conveying to the world Bharat's hospitality, spirituality and graceful consciousness. You knew all that, of course, but perhaps you did not know that there can be subtle ways of enhancing the gesture, as in the West one might shake another's hand too strongly to impress and overpower them or too briefly, indicating the withholding of genuine welcome. In the case of Namaste, a deeper veneration is sometimes expressed by bringing the fingers of the clasped palms to the forehead, where they touch the brow, the site of the mystic Third Eye. A third form of namaste brings the palms completely above the head, a gesture said to focus consciousness in the subtle space just above the Brahma-randhra, the aperture in the Crown Chakr(a). This form is so full of reverence it is reserved for the Almighty and the holiest of Sat Guru(s). It is always interesting, often revealing and occasionally enlightening to muse about the everyday cultural traits and habits each nation and community evolves, for in the little things our Big ideas About Life find direct and personal expression. Take, for instance, the different ways that American and Japanese tool-makers approach the same task. A saw for cutting lumber, if designed in the U.S., is made in such a way that the carpenter's stroke away from his body does the cutting. But in japan saws are engineered so that cutting takes place as the carpenter draws the saw toward himself. A small detail, but it yields a big difference. The American saw can, if leaned into, generate more power, while the Japanese saw provides more control and refinement in the cut, requiring surprisingly less effort. Each has its place in the global toolbox. each speaks -- like the handshake and namaste greetings -- of an underlying perception of man's relationship with things. In the West we are outgoing, forceful, externalized. We are told by Ma bell to "reach out and touch somebody." We are unabashedly acquisitive, defining our progress in life by how much we have -- how much wealth, influence, stored up knowledge, status or whatever. Every culture exhibits these traits to some extent, but in the east Mother is there to remind us, "Reach in and touch the Self." here we are taught to be more introspective, more concerned with the quality of things than their quantity, more attuned with the interior dimension of life. So, there you have it, the whole of Eastern and Western culture summed up in the handshake which reaches out horizontally to greet another, and Namaste which reaches in vertically to acknowledge that, in truth, that there is no other. As a test of how these two greetings differ, imagine you are magically confronted with the Divine. The Paramatma, Almighty, walks up to you on the street. What do you do? reach out to shake His hand? Probably not. Though suitable between man and man, it;' an unseemly expression between man and Paramatma. We never shake hands with paramatma. I mean, what if your palms are sweating? So you namaste instead. the reason it feels natural to namaste before Paramatma is that it is, in its very essence, a spiritual gesture, not a worldly one. By a handshake we acknowledge our equality with others. We reveal our humanity. We convey how strong we are, how nervous, how aggressive or passive. There is bold physicality to it. For these and other reasons, Popes never shake hands. Kings never shake hands. Even mothers don't shake hands with their own children. Namaste is cosmically different. Kings do namaste, Sat Guru(s) namaste and mothers namaste to their own family. We all namaste before the Almighty, a holy man or even a holy place. The namaste gesture bespeaks our inner valuing of the sacredness of all. It betokens our intuition that all souls are divine, in their essence. It reminds us in quite a graphic manner, and with insistent repetition, that we can see Paramatma everywhere and in every human being we meet. It is saying, silently, "I see the Deity in us both, and bow before Him or Her. I acknowledge the holiness of even this mundane meeting. I cannot separate that which is spiritual in us from that which is human and ordinary." And while we are singing the praises of Namaste, it should be observed how efficient a gesture it is in an age of mass communication. A politician, or performer can greet fifty thousand people with a single Namaste, and they can return the honor instantly. In such a situation a handshake is unthinkable and a mere waving of one hand is somehow too frivolous. There are other, more mystical meanings behind Namaste. The nerve current of the body converge in the feet, the solar plexus and the hands. Psychic energy leaves the body at these junctures. To "ground" that energy and balance the flow of Pran(a) streaming through the nerve system, Yogi(s) cross their legs in the lotus posture, and bring their hands together. The Anjali Mudra acts like a simple Yog(ic) Asan(a), balancing and harmonizing our energies, keeping us centered, inwardly poised and mentally protected. It closes our aura, shielding us psychically. It keeps us from becoming too externalized, thus we remain close to our intuitive nature, our super consciousness. Here are some insights into Namaste from a number of Hindu(s): o Namaste elevates one's consciousness, reminding one that all beings, all existence is holy, is the Almighty. It communicates, "I honor or worship the Divinity within you." Also it draws the individual inward for a moment, inspires reflection on the deeper realities, softening the interface between people. It would be difficult or offend or feel animosity toward any one you greet as Paramatma. o Namaste is a gesture of friendship and kindness, also of thanks or special recognition. Mystically it is called "Namaskara Mudra" in the Agami© Pooja, and it centers one's energy within the spine. o I've heard it means "I salute the Almighty within you." The true Namaste gesture is is accompanied by bowing the head and shoulders slightly. This is a gesture that lessens our sense of ego and self-centeredness, requiring some humility to do it well -- whereas shaking hands can be quite an arrogant event. o Touching the hands together puts you in touch with your center, your soul. namaste puts you forward as a soul, not an outer personality. o The gesture has a subtle effect on the aura and nerve system. bringing focused attention and a collection of one's forces, so to speak. It also protects against unnecessary psychic connections which are fostered by shaking hands. This might be called a form of purity also -- protecting one's energies. This form of acknowledgment is so lovely, so graceful. Just look at two people in Namaste and you will see so much human beauty and refinement. ================================================================ Copyright 1993 by Himalayan Academy. ISSN: 0896-0801. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. ================================================================ End of Forwarded Article. Edited, formatted for electronic media by Jai Maharaj <jai@mantra.com> Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi, Vedic Astrologer http://www.flex.com/~jai Om Shanti | Home | Top | More Articles | Copyright

Hey as long as Jerry O'Connel and Scott Bakkala get it on, I will pay $14k to see the movie. Love those hunks. Let the chicks do the dangerous work while some heavenly love is made David

I am still hurting from laughing so hard!!! I am with Lawrence, I am sure it has happened somewhere here it Texas. If you made that up yourself, you are a amazing. Thanks for sharing, we need all the laughs we can get cause of this darn depressing heat!! David

Wow, where did that come from!! Very profound and true! David

Hey Nick. Sorry about the sports thing and really really sorry about the rough past few days. Please just don't forget I am a friend and will do anything I can to help. As you have said so many times, give it to the Lord it is his to handle. I also wanted to let you know that I hope you get the heart issue resolved. My mother has something similar but it has never really given her any problems. Hugs and Kisses David

I just saw the commercial for that show, it is going to be so bad! I just don't know where they come up with that crap. I agree with you!!! Sorry, already been done!! David

Hey Camy, I am happy for you and Mick! I know what it is like to find that person. And by the way, because of your advice in helping me, Mike and I are doing great. Thanks for that. As far as looking, I think that it is something that changes as your relationship grows. I started out being very jealous of anyone Mike looked at because I always felt he was the hunk eveyone else wanted. My problem not his. But it was a reality that I had to grow past. Well now that we have been together so long, we talk openly about other guys. We are secure enough now to feel free to share out thoughts with each other. We still at the computer and cruz sites of great looking men all the time together. He will even come get me when he runs across someone who is really hot so I can enjoy what he is enjoying. But, that comes with time and security with your relationship. Give it time. It is kind of fund to share that openly with the one you love. Straight people can't do it, so they sneak around and do it. We don't have to do that and it makes it all the more fun. Congrats on the gig!!! So do you listen to Robbie Williams a lot? I love his music. It took me forever but I finally found his CD "Escapology". Have a Good Day! David

I agree with CJ. I feel like they just want to win a prize or something. Maybe the publishing companies funded it so all the books would have to be re-written. I just think there was something else behind it for someone's financial benefit. Oh, Well, I guess I should not be surprised. David

Kevin, congrats on the license!! Let me know if there is anything I can help with since I work for a brokerage firm. I have a lot of in's. The water think sucks. When that happens at least we can go to our neighbors. Several of them would be happy to help out. I imagine most of your friends work 8 - 5 jobs and hence no one to call. Well, with the bottled water yould have given yourself a sponge bath. That would at least have taken some of the ick away. Of course, by now I am sure your water is on and this advice is all well and good. Hope tomorrow goes better for you!! Hugs, David

Congrats C James!!!! Wow, I can't believe it that is a lot of posts!!! Well it helps that your a great guy to talk to as well. Post to you soon!! Hugs, David