Yes.

Perfectly stated!

Similar story. My daughter was given up for adoption to a great family at birth. I didn't know how wealthy they were although I knew they were professionals and 'well off', so to speak. Turns out she had the life that this guy wishes for, anything she could ever want, did the jet setting all over the world, grew up in the $35 million penthouse on 5th Ave with homes in Paris, country home in NY, and houseboat in Cali. Best of everything!! Just rich beyond words.

You know she wishes that she had grown up like my son having me for a single mother in a close knit loving family that lacked the luxuries and extravagance. She was 19 and didn't know how to make her own doctor's appt! Rosa, the nanny, had catered to her every whim most of her life. When her wealthy parents couldn't handle her (apple doesn't fall far from the tree apparently! ), they shipped her off to boarding school. She felt abandoned and unloved as they were out gallavanting around the globe spending all their money. When she learned of her adoption and met her brother and I, she was extremely jealous of our lifestyle if you can believe that!

Just goes to show that having money beyond your wildest imagination doesn't guarantee you happiness. There are things that money can't buy that are more important than the things that money can buy. I'd rather have those things instead. And so would my daughter.

I think the argument lies in the OP's supposition that having "enough money to do anything and everything you want" would equate to happiness. "Try to wipe the smile off my face!" I think he said.

Money surely can alleviate the stresses we incur without it, but to think that having enough to not worry will cease your worries, that's just ridiculous. If you were loaded, you'd worry about what to do with all your money. Who gets how much? What do you want or need and if there's no limit to what you can get, what value does anything have?

Having enough money to survive, to meet BASIC needs is one thing. Swimming in dough is quite another. I don't want an excess of anything, including money! Call me ignorant or stupid but I've been on both sides and I can honestly tell you that the grass is always greener on the other side until you get there.

Moderation is the key in my opinion. I want enough to meet my needs and perhaps some frivolous wants occasionally, but that's all. Anything else is just greed and selfishness.

To some people, our flag is more than just fabric and thread, a mere object to be idolized.

It is not just a piece of cloth draped over my dad's coffin to be folded neatly in a triangle and then handed to my grieving mother with dignity and respect.

It is not just a product of the textile industry that flaps high above the graves of the soldiers that have fought and died for what that flag represents.

It's not just some object that I pledged allegiance to each morning as a child or that I behold with awe and respect when I rise and remove my hat and hear our national anthem played at a hockey or baseball game.

I honor our flag not as an object. It's so much more than that to many of us and to disrespect our flag or fail to give it the reverence it deserves is just utterly sad in my opinion.

Ah...key words right there..."IN HIS HEART"! Which is where interpretation comes into play my man!

Most men that spot a hot woman aren't lusting after her with their hearts. It's a little lower region called the loins that are usually involved with lust.

This is the way I see it. I don't care where my man gets his appetite as long as he comes home to eat!

If he's jerking off to porn and not fulfilling my sexual needs, then we got big problems as I'd consider that emotional and physical abandonment, or 'cheating'. Unacceptable. If he's sexting, camming, or slamming other chicks, that's cheating and unacceptable.

Watching indecency? Look around. Indecency is everywhere, not just porn on TV. We have lustful thoughts. We don't necessarily act on them. It might be true that physical cheating doesn't ever occur without first lust but it's also just as true that lustful thoughts alone don't always result in physical cheating.

The only sincere apology I would respect from Obama is his immediate resignation.

Barring that, his words mean nothing to me. Every time I see his face and hear the nonsense drawl out of his crooked mouth, all I can picture is that old rubber toy you used to squeeze and its eyes and ears would bulge out. Can't recall the name of it, but if ya ever saw one, you'd know what I mean.

Careful with the generalizations. Not ALL of us want that or are envious of people in that position. You cannot know unless you've been there. Money doesn't necessarily equate to life being a bed of roses, and in fact brings its own problems into the mix. Being rich doesn't mean you'll be happy, and some of us actually enjoy hard work, enjoy the rewards that are earned from the struggle and sacrifices we have to make to achieve things.

I, for one, wouldn't want to have everything handed to me on a silver platter. Might be nice for a week or two, but not as a lifestyle, but that's just me. Life of the rich and famous, lots of toys and a hectic existence...no thanks. I'll keep it simple and revel in a walk in the park with my dog.

There's more than money that can be used for currency to get the things you need or want.

You're quite welcome. Glad to hear it. I should be like Lucy in Peanuts and charge ya a nickel.

Go forth and spread joy now. Pay it forward, ya know.

And agreed that you don't need meds or professional help if this is an isolated or generally rare incident. If it was chronic, or becomes chronic, then you should seek assistance from outside sources. For random meltdowns, ya get Lucy for a nickel telling ya to go listen to Three Little Birds.

Only a billion times. Came up with a billion different answers, none of them valid.



Yes. And yes. I blame nobody but myself for where I'm at. I made my bed, now I lie in it, but at least I'm not lying permanently in a bed of dirt yet. I get a chance to get up from the bed I made each day and do something to better my situation. Even if it's slow going, I'm still going. I'm happy about that!



Sometimes. Usually it's because my body can't accomplish what my head and heart want it to do. I cannot reveal the conversation as profanity is highly frowned upon in a venue such as this. Suffice it to say I am my own worst critic and there would be astericks galore! I try to combat that kind of thinking though. Unfortunately my brain is a worthy opponent. And the match resumes.

Best to acknowledge feelings. You don't try to suppress a smile when you're happy, when good things happen in your life. Why would you try to suppress tears when you're sad, when life isn't so kind? It is healthy to acknowledge and express your emotions. Do not feel bad for losing it. We all do at some point in our lives when the weight of the world bears down upon us. Luckily we have the chance to change our outlook on life with each new day, and actually with each new moment if ya really think about it.



There is something wrong with you. There's something wrong with all of us. Nobody is perfect. All you can do is be the best you that you know how to be if that makes sense. Work on your faults. Play to your strengths. Focus on the things that make you smile and do those things with friends or alone until you meet someone special.

Food for thought...maybe the past relationships didn't work and you're struggling to connect with someone now because you've never felt whole alone. You need to ask yourself why this is. If you can't be happy without someone, you'll never be happy with someone. Your happiness or self-worth shouldn't depend on another's opinion or actions. You're great not just when somebody thinks you're great, but when you strive to be great. Realize this and give the gift of you to the world. Somebody will recognize it as such and you will find what you seek. Enjoy your life alone and you won't be alone long.



Life is a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs. Know that you've had wonderful, fantastic memorable times throughout your life and you will have many more in the future. Only you can choose whether to focus on the negative or positive things (and people) around you. Look in the mirror and smile knowing you are blessed to be able to make that choice another day. Then go make the most of it! Good luck on your journey.

Monday means I have been blessed enough to make it through another Sunday. And that I have another day to try to find my way in this world. I will make the most of it because each and every day is a gift that I have been given. It would be a shame to waste it.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

What you say is so true!! You understand, thank God you understand. And that alone brings me great comfort. Not that I'm happy you've struggled, but the fact that you've been able to maintain a positive attitude and a zest for life gives me hope. I honestly believe that the smallest things in this life can make the biggest difference. Your words included TB. I have copied that last sentence in large letters and those words shall reside above my computer to inspire me each morning. Thank you, thank you, thank you...seriously...THANK YOU!!

Thank you for your kind words and encouragement.

I am aware that I have fallen victim to what is called "learned helplessness". I am constantly battling my brain that insists on focusing on the negative, what I can't do, what I have lost. I try to smack those thoughts down and replace them with positive ones, but it's easier said than done. I know doing nothing will accomplish nothing, and so I will keep trying to do something, even if it seems inconsequential. I feel like a failure, which isn't true because the only way to truly fail is to stop trying, and that's something I just refuse to do!! So today I will take one step forward. If I get knocked back two, I will take one step forward again tomorrow in hopes that someday my journey will bring me to a brighter place.

Letting go of "stuff" is easy, especially if you have excess stuff. In fact, it makes people feel great to donate their stuff, and it's a win-win situation. People less fortunate get stuff and people with too much stuff free up space to fill with more useless stuff that will eventually get donated the following year when they determine it's time to go through their stuff again. What a great world we all live in.

Now giving up 'sentimental stuff'. That ain't so easy. Tears are often involved. It may look like a dilapitated old paper mache pink pig's head to you, but to me it's a night spent laughing at the kitchen table with my mom with paste flying about from the long strips of paper placed over the balloon. We spent hours working on that art project and you'd think I was Picasso that just created the Mona Lisa the way she raved about it when it was done. I carried that old thing with me everywhere I went for years and years as a symbol of my mom's love, until recently. I should clarify, stored in a box in a closet somewhere, not like under my arm everywhere I went...that would be weird to say the least.

Point being, saying good-bye to it was difficult. I think we worry that the memories tied to these 'things' will be lost along with the actual memento we keep to remind us of them. They aren't. They may just be harder to access after we say goodbye to that kind of 'stuff'. These kinds of things are the treasures of our lives and we mourn their loss. Stuff is only as important as the significance we give it. Letting go of insignificant things is easy. Letting go of stuff with sentimental value is a completely different story.

omg OMG O...M...G!!!! They did it!! They did it. They won the World Series! Red Sox are champions! WOooooooHooooooooooo!



Way to go boys! I had faith. From worst to first, against the odds, you persevered and made it happen. Congratulations Red Sox!! From the bottom of this loyal fan's heart, I thank you.

For some it's just a game. Not for me. It goes far beyond just 27 outs between the lines 162 times a year, plus post season. The love of the Sox was instilled by my late father, a passion we shared until the day he died. I couldn't finish watching the season that year in '10. I knew he'd want me to continue cheering the boys on even without him, and so I chose to watch again the following year, making it a special daddy daughter time even though his physical body wasn't here.

I thought we'd win it all in '11, but we had the colossal Sept collapse and it wasn't meant to be. I was devastated. Then in '12 we had the horrible manager and a disgruntled fractured team. We finished in last place. This year we made some changes, worked together and had fun, and look where we're at...on top of the world, champions again! Simply astounding.

These Sox played ball the way my dad taught me to play ball when I was a kid and the way he taught me to live my life...play fair, play hard, and win or lose, always try to do your best. My dad was a fine coach, a wonderful person, and the best father ever. The Sox won the World Series tonight for the first time since he died. There are tears of joy, and some of pain, for oh how I wish he was here to celebrate with me, but I could not enjoy this victory without him. They did it Dad!! We're champions again!! omg OMG O...M...G!!! Wooo Hoooooo. Yah baby!! We did it! So overwhelmed with joy! Way to go Red Sox!!

In case you missed it, here's all you really need to know...

Sox won!!

We need just one more now! And we have two chances to get it done. And we'll be at home in front of the Fenway Faithful. I'm liking these odds! Go Sox!!

Game 4 in the books and my Boston club comes out the victor with a 4-2 final score. Another great game, another memorable ending. While not nearly as controversial as the night before, it did involve another base running play and another costly error, but this time it was the Sox that benefit from the blunder.

Bottom of the ninth, two out, one on, and our closer Uehara picks off the pinch runner at first base with the tying run standing at home plate in the form of the best hitter in baseball, Carlos Beltran. That should just NEVER happen! Cards were stunned, as were the fans, and just like that, game over, Sox win, Koji gets another save, series tied up 2-2.

Gutsy start by our guy Clay Buchholz who was pitching on fumes but got the job done going four innings giving up one unearned run. Our pen did a phenomenal job, with Felix Doubront giving us a few great innings, and Workman, Breslow, and Tazawa getting the job done as well. Our game 2 starter John Lackey even came in as a reliever for the first time since '07 and worked a scoreless 8th. Uehara closes it out, highlighted by the pickoff at first to end the game. Great job by the guys on the mound.

Gomes is the Sox hero at the plate, smacking a 3 run shot to deep center after the intentional walk to Big Papi that will end up being the difference in this one. To think he wasn't supposed to even play last night, but he got the call when back pain befell our regular right fielder Shane Victorino. He certainly made the most of his start!! Way to go man!!

We play the final game in St. Louis tonight. Same pitching match-up as game 1...our ace lefty Jon Lester vs their guy Wainwright. Should be another great game. Best of three now. We're getting our money's worth this October!

Go Sox!!

Sox lost. And it wasn't just that they lost, but how they lost.

At least the game will go down in World Series history and never be forgotten, especially by disgruntled Sox fans and jubilant Cardinal fans. Allow me to recap the unbelievable play that resulted in the walkoff win.

First I'll set the scene. Bottom of the ninth in a hard fought great game. Sox starter Jake Peavy struggled right from the start. They said he was too fine in his last start, a loss, so he decided it'd be better to throw down the middle of the plate. Unfortunately the strong Cardinal batters took batting practice on him, striking for 4 singles and two runs before the first was finally over. He settled down a bit after that, but then had to work out of a bases loaded nobody out jam in the 4th, which he did, keeping the boys in the game. Hats off to him for batttling through four!

The momentum seemed to shift in the Sox favor after that, spurred by our young phenom Xander Bogaerts who started things off with a triple the following inning. Sac fly delivered the Sox first run (I think) and we tied it up shortly thereafter. Cards scored a few more in the 7th off our pen, a move I didn't agree with that bit John Farrell in the butt, but our bats bailed him out and tied it up again to knot it at four each going into the bottom of the ninth.

Then 'the play' happened. Our closer Uehara tried to keep the score tied, but St Louis put a couple of runners on with one out. Infield pulls in, sharp ground ball up the middle that looks like it's a walkoff hit. Pedey dives and makes an incredible play, fires home to Saltalamacchia waiting at the plate for Molina. Out! Sweet. Meanwhile the other runner was advancing to third, so Salti pegs it down there a bit wild and Middlebrooks dives for the ball, missing it. Their dude tries to go home and trips over our guy, then gets up and heads to the plate. Our left fielder backing up the play pegs it home and Salti makes a fine play to tag him out! Oh my God, we got out of it, still tied, onto extra innings.

Or so I thought.

Not so. Apparently the rules say a player can't impede a runner from advancing, intentional or not, and the runner is given one base, in this case home with the winning run! Game over. Cards win on an obstruction call...5-4, 2-1 series lead now!

That's just a crappy way to lose a ballgame, especially one as important as this. Wouldn't have mattered if the tables had been turned, I'd be saying the same thing. The rule should be changed. It wasn't our guys fault for diving to make the play and the runner tripping over him. I could see if he TRIED to impede him, but c'mon now! No matter though, what's done is done. We lost. Shake it off and play again today...in about 6 hours.

I'll be watchin' and rootin' of course. How can I not when wild **** like this happens?!? And because it's all just a matter of perspective, I choose to see it like this....

Now the Sox will win it all in Fenway and the Fenway Faithful will be involved in the celebration. The crowd will go wild, the streets will fill up with ecstatic fans in Boston and the party won't occur miles away with the team in St. Louis! Yup, I still have faith!! Go Sox!!!!

Game 3 begins now! Well shortly. Guess who I'm rooting for??

Go Sox!!!!


Jake Peavy gets the nod for the Sox tonight. No DH since we're playing in St. Louis, so we either lose Big Papi or Napoli's bat at least for the early innings, and Peavy will bat in the nine hole. He's from the NL though, years with the Pirates prior to joining the Sox this year if I'm not mistaken (don't quote me), so at least he's familiar with swinging the bat. Hopefully he does his job and lets our bats do theirs and the boys can celebrate when it's over. Along with me of course!

Enjoy the game all you baseball fans!

Go Sox!!!