Mellow Happy Dance Thursdays. I don’t think there is a lot you can say about them, except a person feels so glad that the week is almost over. And, since they follow Hump Day, a person is hopefully coming off his/her high of having sex the night before. And if you live in Wilmington, it could also be known as a hangover recovery day because you decided to go to Wine Wednesday with Foz and Nikki of Z107.5.

This Thursday is special, though. It means that tomorrow is the official start of the weekend. Due to Easter, my company gives us a ‘Spring Holiday’ which means three days off to finally relax. Or hopefully. Some folks still are coming in to work, but that is their choice. It is supposed to be nice out, so I am hoping to possibly get some sun in here or there. Depending on how windy it might be down at the beach. Or, maybe I will just lay out in my friend’s backyard and let his dog roam around all day outside in the fresh air. Sprawl out on a blanket in just some tight little shorts…getting tan and falling asleep in the sun. *Sigh* (Wake up, Aiden…no time to day-dream right now)

And it has been another week from hell. Or just about. I think I already discussed what I need to do for the school. Which isn’t really bad in its own way. My mom is very shocked that I have done this much work in finding out information on what I need to perform/complete in order to become an official member of the student ranks again. She expressed how proud she was of me, too. That actually made me feel good since I haven’t really heard that from her in a very long time. Okay, why am I concerned about her opinion of me, after all these years of saying my parents can go screw themselves if they don’t like me or what I do, I have no clue. Probably because it taps into that whole little thing kids have going on inside of them saying “I want my parents to like me and be proud of me.” I might not have blood ties to them, but they are still what I knew of a parental figure for the last 25 years, so it that feeling grows within me still.

But, while she is telling me how proud she is, she is also dropping a bombshell on me. Turns out my great uncle passed away within the last few days (I am going to assume Monday since news travel slowly through that side of the family…normally around a day late which puts it to two days by the time it reaches me). This was a great shock to all of us because he was in such great physical shape…he was just mentally unstable. His wife, my dad’s aunt, is in great mental shape, but not physically. (On a side note, she is also the last member of my dad’s mom family alive of which I am fully aware.) So, right now I am trying to decide if I am ready to brave another funeral and trek up to New Jersey. I have not seen that side of the family in a very long time…probably not since I was at least 12 years old. I am sure that my mom has kept everyone informed on my activities, but I am never sure the full extent of what is passed around. Not to mention that I would have to get used to being called by my own name. I have not responded to that since I was 15!

There was also other drama on Wednesday, but I don’t think I will digress into that stuff. Let me just say that I agreements were made, though, between me and my old roommate, so we shall see what the future holds for our friendship and everything else.

“Some people say I have attitude - maybe I do. But I think you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does - that makes you a winner right there.” ~ Venus Williams, US tennis champion

So raise your glass high and make a toast to life and the finer things around. Know that you have friends and family all around you, even when the times get tough. I know that times get tough for all of us and we just need to do the best that we can.

Here is your movie listing for new releases this weekend:

NATIONWIDE
Scary Movie 4
The Wild

LIMITED RELEASE
Hard Candy
Humko Deewana Kar Gaye
Kinky Boots
La Mujer de Mi Hermano
Mountain Patrol: Kekexili
My First Wedding
The Notorious Bette Paige
Preaching to the Choir
The Sisters

And the movie of interest coming out soon: SILENT HILL, release April 21st.

Have a great weekend!

WORDS OF WISDOM
When you do something, you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.
-Shunryu Suzuki

Genuine security arises from actual, first-hand knowledge that one is both capable and worthy of achieving happiness (through conscious, responsible action) and, once having attained it, that he deserves it.
-Michael J. Hurd, American Motivational Speaker

Since everything is but an apparition, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst out in laughter.
-Longchenpa (14th century Tibet)


From long familiarity, we know what honor is. It is what enables the individual to do right in the face of complacency and cowardice. It is what enables the soldier to die alone, the political prisoner to resist, the singer to sing her song, hardly appreciated, on a side street.
-Mark Helprin, American Novelist and Writer

WORDS OF THE DALAI LAMA
Within oneself, within each single person, one finds many inconsistencies and contradictions. Sometimes the disparity between one’s thoughts early and late in the day is so great that one spends all one’s energy trying to figure out how it can be resolved. This can lead to headaches. So naturally, between two persons, between parents and children, between brothers and sisters, there are differences. Conflicts and disagreements are bound to happen. If so, then how do we deal with them? If we have confidence in our capacity for reconciliation then we will be able to deal with these situations.

A good mind, a good heart, warm feelings – these are the most important things.

Feelings of anger, bitterness, and hate are negative. If I kept those inside of me they would spoil my body and my health. They are of no use.  ¶ 4/13/2006 05:53:00 AM