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$3286.00

I felt bad as a young lady approached me to pin a one dollar bill to my shirt this past weekend.
In fourteen years of living in Texas I'd never taken part in the ritual of having money pinned on me for my birthday.
It just seemed so tacky, so declasse, so much like begging.
This year I decided to have my birthday party at my club and allowed patrons to pin money on me.
As the lady approached with her one dollar bill, she noticed that there were no bills smaller than a ten on the triple-layered, yard-long string of bills.
I asked her to put her dollar on top and thanked her for her gift to ease her embarrassment.
I then told my bartenders to take care of her tab for the rest of the night.
I'll never have money pinned to me again - it still feels like I'm begging - but I did manage to collect $3286.00 in one night.

What Is "Love" ?

Everyone I know needs something from me every time they see me.
I'm not a nice person - I just do nice things.
I'm not motivated by kindness, generosity, charity or even love - It was just the way I was brought up to be.
Most of the time I don't even feel like helping others - It's the effects from inertia - I'm just on autopilot.
I'm not even sure whether I possess faith - I do good because it is was one is supposed to do - I expect no reward.
Most of the time I'm not sure whether the assistance is even actually helping anyone.

Having a club, I meet lots of women - most say that they can do more for me than my current girl.
I didn't even take my girl out tonight for Valentines Day - we did the whole dinner and a movie with drinks and gifts afterwards last night when there were fewer crowds.
But I did check on all of my elderly ladies all day to deliver flowers and candy.
My girl's best friend thought that this was a major love-crime.
She thought that I should have spent the holiday with my girl instead of spending the day in my usual routine.
But my girl is different. She likes that I'll take care of those who have no one to care for them.
She understands when I get a call in the middle of the night to help someone without being jealous. She understands that taking pictures with lots of women at the club is just good P.R. and nothing more.
She understands when I have to stay at the club late or open early.

"Everyone loves you.", my girl always says.
It's odd, I don't feel love - I couldn't tell one way or the other.
I'm so oblivious that I can't tell when someone is showing me favor.
I was always treated well so I assumed that everyone had the same experiences.
I'm just a normal guy so I thought all the special people were treated even better.

I hate club women.
Most imagine themselves as being a 'Queen', 'Diva' or 'Princess'.
But I'm sick of Section-8 Divas.
I'm sick of regular women who think that they are Divas.
I'm sick of  women who take their social queues from The Real Hoodrats of the ATL, Tyler Perry Movies, Basketball Babaymamas or any reality television show.
My girl is a diva who thinks she is a regular woman.

I'm not sure whether I love her or not.
I do, but not in that lovey-dovey honey, baby, sweetie pie kind of way.
I just know that she is my biggest cheerleader and most constructive critic.
I just know that she has  my back - win or lose.
I know that I'm am dating up and that I am the lucky one in this relationship.

What Is "Love" ?

And when is it just lust?

What Is "Love" ?

What Is "Love" ?

What Is "Love" ?

http://thanasis.com/echo.htm

I Didn't Really Care Who Won...

I'm a Saints fan.
But the Superbowl menu read;
Free Remy Martin V.S.O.P.,
BBQ AND Smoked Ribs (Beef and pork),
Links,
Chicken,
Chicken Gumbo,
Seafood Gumbo,
Baked Beans,
Dirty Rice
Corn Bread
Salad
Fruit Platters
Vegetable Platters
Pies and Cakes.

Two more weeks to go.
The "Fat Season" used to be from Halloween till New Years Day.
In most areas it has expanded till the Superbowl.
Along the Gulf it goes until Mardi Gras.

So the Giants won. Hooray... (But I do like the fan pictured above.)
I enjoyed the game because I had the party at the club sponsored by local businesses.
I had pretty girls volunteer to dress up and serve drinks without being paid.
I collected $15 a head and made a mint at the bar.
As far as Superbowls go - I had a great time.

Life Sucks

I still have bills, injuries, family problems and appliances to replace.

I still have disappointments, desires, dreams, ambitions and goals,

Life IS NOT all rosy and it rains on me just as it does anyone else.

 I could go through life with the conviction and piety of Paul - but what fun is there in doing that?
(Although Paul seemed to have more of an 'Eff-It' approach to the Gospel than did someone like Peter.)

My girl calls me "Tigger".
"He's a tiger - but he has fun with it.", she says.
She says that I don't seem to understand that there are some things which I will not be able to do.
There are some problems I will not be able to solve.
And there are some things that I will not be able to have.
"You're Special", she teases me, "Different rules seem to apply to you", the women seated at the bar agree.
"John' John, JOHN!!!" they say in the tone that Jan Brady jealously complained, "Marsha, Marsha, MARSHA!!!".

I know these things - I have failed a lot (A LOT).
But what's the point of focusing on life's difficulties when it's better to focus on ones goals?
What's the point of being depressed when it's better to just appreciate what one has and to focus on what one is working towards?
The economy may suck, the ecosystem may be about to collapse, isms (racism, sexism,...) may be at an all-time high, world war may be imminent - but why be so bitter and afraid?
Why live as though one has to suffer along with everyone else?
Why not live every day as though it were your last?
Why not fight hard as though one was predetermined to fail?
Why not just enjoy life?