Gee, I feel so much better. But, like my man Stevie Ray says: "Ain't Gone 'N' Give-Up On Love"

That I have crashed & burned twice from hook-ups here. I'm not sure there's enough salvageable parts to get it flying again.

As much as I hate the way they're playing, this fan isn't for sale.

Billy my man!

My fellow Ohioan, how are you doing? Sorry, I been behind on the latest with Tribe, but I've been busy with other things. Real quick.

10 days ago, they won the series with Royals & then the against the Cardinals. Travel to Milwaukee & drop 3 in a row, one in particular was a heart-breaker. This past weekend dropped 3 more with the Cubs. The 1st two games were extra innings heart-breakers, with Woods blowing 2 save opportunities. I just want to scream, know what I mean?

We'll catch-up on more later.

peace-out
tribefan73

Real Beauty

Do we know it when we see it? Is it based just on what we see, or something more?

Most would agree that sunsets, fresh fallen snow, trees in the fall, waterfalls, wind & water shaped beaches are beautiful. As are sunrises, nature trails, deserts, mountains, animals in the wild, horses, white fluffy clouds in an azure sky, the smell in the air after a summer's thunderstorm and rainbows.

What about on a human level? The love a parent has for their child, of helping someone less-fortunate, being there for a friend in need, putting others first, performing acts of kindness in secret, paying someone a compliment, granting forgiveness even if it isn't requested, being merciful and loving the unlovable, all qualify as things of beauty.

Then there is what Madison Avenue and the entertainment industry tell us is beautiful.

As far back as human history goes, man-kind has been obsessed with physical beauty. But the perception has changed over the eons. What was considered beautiful even 100 years ago has changed? In our media saturated culture we are constantly bomb-barded with the "latest" fad of beauty. Beneath the surface of the plastic, manipulated and massaged object of "beauty", a reasoned person would ask, is there any substance? What kind of person remains if all of the outer trappings are stripped away? Is this a person that would be there for me through thick and thin? A person that would sacrifice self to relieve another’s pain? Put me first?

Sadly, many times, the answer is no and we allow ourselves to be caught-up in the "Madison Avenue beauty" and are willing to compromise our integrity for the temporary visual satisfaction. I say temporary, because the “beauty” can maintained for only so long. As time continues it relentless pursuit of entropy, we age and decay. Our functions systematically fail and we transition to the infinite. When the outer shell is stripped away, and we see the real person in all their nakedness, are they what we anticipated?

How different might our world be, if we pursued the objects of “real” beauty? Looking beneath the surface and examining the person for what they truly are? Discovering a person of depth, sincerity, integrity, kindness, self-sacrificing, empathy, intelligence, compassion, creativeness, and love, these are some of the parameters of “real” beauty.

The ultimate example of “Real Beauty in a Plain Outer Wrapper” was Jesus. When the infinite became finite, he didn’t arrive as one in his human lineage, King David, who was very handsome indeed. Instead he appeared as one you would hardly take notice of. He desired that people would respond to him because of the words he spoke and the compassion he had for them. Not because he might be physically attractive. He was substance over superficial.

So if you cross paths with someone on this sight that you find to be stimulating and intriguing, are you going to dismiss them because they don’t match what society has conditioned us to perceive as “beauty”? I ask you, who is calling the shots in your life? If you do decide to look elsewhere, be aware that somewhere down the road, you may find that you missed the opportunity to connect with someone of “real” beauty and substance. And that you probably have missed your chance at real happiness.

Yes, I have. Well worth it.



Hi sweets. Phone died, no juice, my bad.

Agreed, indeed!

I will say rum is better than say, Wild Turkey. And tequila has it's moments. Whatever happened to the worm?

Yep, doesn't get any better.

Thank-you for the kind accolade. Most appreciated. I find writing from the soul works best.

I will look for that one. If you're going to kill brain cells, you might as well do it with quality, not quantity.

I most fortunately can answer to the affirmative. Yes, in other words.

Agreed. And as Rare would say, indeed! Don't forget Smithwick's. It's just as awesome and as are a number of stouts. Stout, now there is some serious brew.

I like moofooga's single-mindedness. Guinness it is!

Are you a risk taker?

If not, why are you here? Why do you lurk about these forums and threads, if it's not to take a risk? "A risk at what?", you ask. A risk at real love and romance.

You say you're not a risk taker, really?
Do you not realize that we take risks every day?
We take risks when we merge onto the freeway, step into the crosswalk, take that first baby step, ride our 1st bike, kiss our 1st kiss.

We take risks when we entrust our well-being to others such as: aircraft mechanics, elevator servicemen, bus drivers, train engineers, taxi drivers, doctors and politicians.

There are no true rewards without risks. It may take many risks to reach your reward. Thomas Edison risked his reputation literally 100's of time before he achieved his reward. Something hard-fought is well earned.

Have you considered the cost of finding your true love? Is it worth it?

If you shun risks, you will lose the thrill of discovery.
If you shun risks, you will become dull and lifeless.
If you shun risks, you will become old before your time.
But most of all, if you shun risks, you will risk missing the person, who can bring sunshine, rainbows, smiles, love, appreciation, admiration and joy into your life.

When God created Adam and Eve and gave them free-will, he took a risk. He risked the fate of humanity on the fact that he wanted mankind to freely love Him, not because he told them to.

If God can take a risk at enjoying true love, why not you?

Definitely, dark beer, definitely. The hard stuff is called hard for a reason. Hard on your brain cells, hard on your stomach, hard on your nervous system, hard on you, period. Beer is more natural and more easily processed by your body.

Unfortunately, too many lightweights weighed-in on this thread. As others have said most of the mainline brews are a joke. There are a number of micro-breweries that make fantastic beer. The Great Lakes Brewing Company in Ohio makes some really quality beer. Give me a beer that can double as a pair of wielding goggles. There isn't a beer that's too dark for me. And I drink them like the Brits, at room temperature. It's the only way to truly enjoy the taste. Like a fine wine that supposed to be served at room temperature. Anybody who refrigerates or ices down their wine should be shot. Guinness anyone?

I confess I've fallen for the woman from NC, like an avalanche.

Well, I was doing a drive-by, saw you were here and decided to say hi. But I gotta run. I've been lurking around here too long & need to finish prepping a food tray for my 2nd son's college grad party. He's graduating with honors, cum laude. I'm mighty proud.

See you around, hope your back is better soon,

tf73

Sorry to hear. I fortunately don't have that prob. I saw you were trying to generate a buzz in some of the other threads. Not much going on tonight for those of us who aren't attached or don't have lives.