Lyrics of the Day - Far away (Nickelback)

I know, I know...it's two years old. But every time I hear it, a wave of nostalgia passes through me and I'm filled with such a happy feeling....

This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore

On my knees, I'll ask
Last chance for one last dance
'Cause with you, I'd withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all
I'd give for us
Give anything but I won't give up
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

So far away
Been far away for far too long
So far away
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know

I wanted
I wanted you to stay
'Cause I needed
I need to hear you say
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you
For being away for far too long
So keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and, never let me go

I Love Chicago

First, you must learn to pronounce the city name. It is Chi-caw-go, or Cha-ca-ga, depending on if you live North or South of Roosevelt Rd.

Next, if your road map is more than a few weeks old, throw it out and buy a new one.
If you are in Naperville and your map is one day old, then it is already obsolete.

Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere.
Chicago has its own version of traffic rules... "Hold on and pray."

There is no such thing as a dangerous high-speed chase in Chicago.
We all drive like that.

All directions start with, "I-94"... which has no beginning and no end.

The morning rush hour is from 6 to 10.
The evening rush hour is from 3 to 7.
Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning.

If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended, cussed out and, if you happen to be on the south side, possibly shot.
When you are the first one on the starting line, count to five when the light turns green before going to avoid crashing with all the drivers running the red light in cross-traffic but be prepared to hear the horns from all the cars behind you because you didn't immediately start moving.

Construction on Northwest Tollway is a way of life and a permanent form of entertainment.
We had sooooo much fun with that we have added Elgin O'Hare and the I-355 to the mix.

All unexplained sights are explained by the phrase, "Oh, we're in Cicero!"

If someone actually has their turn signal on, it is probably a factory defect.

Car horns are actually "Road Rage" indicators.

All old ladies with blue hair in Mercedes have the right of way. Period!

First Ave, LaGrange Rd, Pulaski, NW Highway...all mysteriously change names as you cross intersections.

If you are asking directions in Cicero you must have knowledge of Spanish.
In Bridgeport, Mandarin Chinese will be your best bet.
If you stop to ask directions on the West or South side, you'd better be armed.

A trip across town (east to west) will take a minimum of four hours, although many north/south freeways have unposted minimum speeds of 75.
The minimum acceptable speed on the Dan Ryan is 85. Anything less is considered downright sissy.

The wrought iron on windows near Englewood and Austin is NOT ornamental.

The Eisenhower Expressway is our daily version of NASCAR.
The Dan Ryan is called "The Death Trap" for two reasons: "death" and "trap."

If it's 100 degrees, it's Taste of Chicago time.
If it's 10 degrees and sleeting/snowing, it's opening day at Sox Park.
If it has rained 6 inches in the last hour, the Western open Golf Classic is in the second round.
If you go to Wrigley Field, pay the $25 to park in the "Cubs Lot". Parking elsewhere could cost up to $2500 for damages, towing fees, parking tickets, etc. If some guy with a flag tries to get you to park in his yard', run over him.

Lyrics of the Day – I’m All Over You (The Spill Canvas)

I'm totally diggin' this song. They actually remind me of 3 Doors Down a little bit. Enjoy ;-)

Yeah he's a looker,
but I really think it's guts that matter most.
I displayed them for you,
strewn out about from coast to coast.

I am easily make believe,
just dress me up in what you want me to be.
I'll take back what I've been saying for quite some time now.

I gotta feel you in my bones again,
I'm all over you.
I'm not over you.
I wanna taste you one more time again,
I'm all over you.
I'm not over you.

In my daydreams, in my sleep,
infatuation turning into disease.
You could cure me, see all you have to do now
is please try.
Give it your best shot and try.
All I'm asking for is love,
but you never seem to have enough.

I gotta feel you in my bones again,
I'm all over you.
I'm not over you.
I wanna taste you one more time again,
I'm all over you.
I'm not over you.
This life is way too short
to get caught up in all this stuff
when I just want you to love me back,
why can't you just love me back?

Why can't you just love me back?
(why can't you, why can't you)
Why can't you just love me back?
(why can't you, why can't you)
Why can't you just love me back?
(why can't you, why can't you just love)

I gotta feel you in my bones again,
I'm all over you.
I'm not over you.
I wanna taste you one more time again,
I'm all over you.
I'm not over you.
This life is way too short
to get caught up and all mixed up
when I just want you to love me back,
why can't you just love me back?

Why won't you just love me back?

Why can't you just love me back?

Lyrics of the Day - Let Me Be Myself (3 Doors Down)

Let Me Be Myself

I guess I just got lost
Bein' someone else
I tried to kill the pain
Nothin ever helped
I left myself behind
Somewhere along the way
Hopin to come back around
To find myself someday

Lately I'm so tired of waiting for you
To say that it's ok, but tell me
Please, would you one time
Just let me be myself
So I can shine with my own light
Let me be myself
Would you let me be myself

I'll never find my heart
Behind someone else
I'll never see the light of day
Living in this cell
It's time to make my way
Into the world I knew
Take back all of these times
That I gave in to you

Lately I'm so tired of waiting for you
To say that it's ok, but tell me
Please, would you one time
Let me be myself
So I can shine with my own light
And let me be myself
For a while, if you don't mind
Let me be myself
So I can shine with my own light
Let me be myself

That's all I've ever wanted from this world
Is to let me be me

Please would you one time
Let me be myself
So I can shine with my own light
Let me be myself
Please would you one time
Let me be myself
So I can shine with my own light
Let me be myself
For a while, if you don't mind
Let me be myself
So I can shine with my own light
Let me be myself
Would you one time... oooh
Let me be myself
Let me be me

Quote of the Day

"Be faithful to that which exists within yourself."

---Andre Gide

So let me tell you about this guy I know…..

There are times in our lives when we meet a person who is so extraordinary that we become a better person just by knowing them. This is the case with me and R.

Before I met him, I was happy person, but I wasn't very excited about life. I was content in my life. I had tons of friends. I was close with my family. I had a job which I liked. I was constantly doing things. But I had no ambition. As much as I had going on in my life, I was pretty resigned to the “fact” that this is my life, these are the cards I was dealt, I wasn’t going to accomplish anything more, not to bother having any dreams or goals for myself, and that I was never going to meet the one who was perfect for me in every way. And then, by a bizarre twist of fate, R walked into me life.

This man is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. And you know what? He’s all self-taught. He has so much ambition, so much drive, you know that when he sets his mind to do something, he WILL do it. He’s not only knowledgeable about things like WWII, computers, religion, politics, photography, home improvement, travel, languages, history, music, finances (see what I mean), but this man has the type of integrity, honor and class that is rare in most people you meet today. And there’s more. When he loves you, he loves you with everything that he has. He will bend over backwards to be there for you. You never have to question where you stand in his life. He’s the most loyal person I’ve ever known. He would sooner be hurt himself than to ever cause pain to the one that he loves. There are so many admirable traits about this man that if I kept writing it would fill a book.

Because I had the blessing of having him in my life, I’ve become a better person. I’ve set, and achieved, goals that I never thought I would reach. I’ve began to live dreams that I had long since (pre-motherhood) given up on. I’ve traveled to places I never thought I would see. I’ve been loved unconditionally, and taught to love the same way. I’ve learned that these really are the best years of my life, and I’ve been lucky enough to share them with him.

Life with him hasn’t always been easy, and I know he’ll be the first to say that life with me isn’t always easy. Being a man coming into a relationship with a single mom is not easy. Actually, it was probably one of the most difficult things he’s ever had to do. But he didn’t give up. Dealing with the ghost of my ex was no picnic for him either. But, again, he didn’t give up. I had the misfortune of having pathetic people whisper in my ear about him. That wasn’t easy either. And, while my kids can still be difficult (as all children are), and my ex still sticks his nose where it doesn’t belong, and I still get people telling me lies about him, none of it matters. He and I have stuck it out and are able to sit back and laugh.

R’s brother said something to me that I’ve kept going back to lately…”true love never dies”. And it’s true. R and I have had our ups, we’ve had a lot of downs, but when you love the way we love each other, no outside source is going to be able to break that. Thanks, R, my superhero, for enriching my life. I wouldn’t trade these past years for anything, and I hope to have 50 more with you.

It’s all a matter of perspective….

I find it funny how life goes in cycles. I mean, when you’re in the midst of a drama or a heartache you certainly don’t see it like that, but when you’re happy and life is good, it’s easier to see how life works.

A month and a half ago my boyfriend of two years broke up with me, I had alienated myself from most of my friends, I had been hibernating for so long I forgot what it was like to go out, I felt horrible about myself and didn’t want to look in the mirror, I was getting ready to begin a court battle with my ex-husband, my daughter hated me, and my grandma almost died. Yea, life certainly SUCKED. While I was going through it, I did what most people would do and played the “poor me, why is this happening to me” saga. Of course, that certainly didn’t help anything. I don’t know how or when it happened, but one day I woke up and decided I needed a plan.

So I sat down, tried to regain some perspective, and made a plan. No, life didn’t magically get better. But what did happen is I found myself able to cope. I found myself not dwelling on the negative. I lost that feeling of hopelessness and removed myself from that victim role that’s so easy to fall into. I began to live.

I’ve had trouble sleeping this past week so at night I lay in bed and my mind goes crazy. The past couple nights I’ve been taking inventory of my life and realized that life really is good. The boyfriend and I aren’t together, but we are slowly learning to communicate again. I’ve reconnected with tons of my friends and at the same time cut one or two who were bad for me out of my life. I find myself getting out of the house more, and when I am home, I don’t consider it hibernating…I consider it enjoying the peace and serenity. I walk with my head up and embrace the world….and funny how many people stop to talk to me or ask if they can give me their number. I’ve made a couple new friends. My ex-husband and I have reached a tentative truce, my daughter and I are getting along, and my grandma is home and doing better.

Life isn’t perfect, but I chose to focus on the good. The bad or the annoying or the frustrating is still there, but I don’t allow it to consume me. Yes, it really is all a matter of perspective.

Note to the superhero…since I know you’re reading this…..thanks for the late night phone conversations this week. Hearing myself say it out loud made it real to me…that’s why I said it’s an unfamiliar concept.