Each Day Counts

Midnight Rain

I am sitting here in bed listening to the rain fall and I feel great.  We got home not too long ago from a night out with friends (we go to Starbuck's with them every Wednesday) and Meg is already asleep.  A quiet iTunes mix is playing in the background featuring John Mayer, Ben Folds and Jack Johnson and the window is cracked open just a bit so I can feel the Fall air on my back.  This is heaven! I feel great right now!

It is nice to feel great right now because this has been a rough day for me full of pain and sleepiness.  I feel so tired lately and I really hate that.  One of my friends also told me tonight that I look pale and that is not good.  Based on my natural complexion, pale often means yellow and you all know that yellow means liver trouble and liver trouble is just bad news in my case.

But right now at this moment I feel alive and safe.  I am next to my pretty wife and Tinkerbell is here also cuddled up next to Megan.  I could not ask for a whole lot more right now.  I am thankful for what I have here.  I love these moments!

Tomorrow I hope to have a better day.  I may go to a concert with friends if I feel better.  That would be great!  Maybe I will sleep in and wake up and head out for coffee alone with my new book.  There is something magic about books and coffee on brisk Fall mornings.

Relax if you can if you have been stressed and think about all the wonderful things that you have.   I bet the number of good things far outweighs the bad!

Sleep well out there!  Thank you for letting me have your attention for a minute.  You have no idea how good it feels just to let it all go once in a while!

-Ruben

We did it!

I am exhausted today but totally happy!  The show last night was amazing and we had a great deal of fun.  It was a complete success!  It is amazing how much this town that I live in really got together for me.  It was almost like the whole city was there at some point over the course of the evening.

This is the comment that I left for Megan on her MySpace account this morning:

So we had a big, big party and people came and dropped off money and hope and prayers and they hugged us and I danced with a beautiful woman with eyes of silver.

I think she loves me. I sure hope so because she is lovely and full of life and sometimes I see her side that she never shows anyone else. And you know...I love that side of her because it is just mine and that is special to me.

This man loves you deeply Megan. This man always, always will!

-Ruben

___

Meg is out of town this weekend with her family but I hope she can check her web accounts from a hotel somewhere.  I love her so much!  Life is good!  Yesterday counted!  Today counts!  Have some fun this weekend and know that we are all just lucky to be be ok.  No matter how bad life seems to get,  just remember that there is someone somewhere that is hoping for you.  Hope is something nobody can ever steal from you.  It lives right there in your heart and makes you come to life!

Thank you for all of your support! 

Tonight is the night!

Tonight is the night that my friends are having the benefit show for me and I am excited.  I am nervous about speaking in front of everyone but I will be ok.  It is amazing that this is happening for me.  It will be awesome to have some money set aside for medical issues.

Other than that, I am working today at the mail center where I work 2 days per week and it is slow here.  I am also pretty tired and have had some trouble with pain today but all that will work itself out.  I have a late evening so I better be ready!

Have an awesome day out there!  Today I heard "Imagine" by John Lennon on the radio and I love when it comes up.  Have you ever just listened to the words of that?  That life would be incredible!  But with so much war and hate in the world, will it ever happen?  I hope so just for my babies!

Thanks for the love and support!

Ruben

Re-visiting...

Every once in a while I like to re-visit some of my favorites sites on the web.  I would have to say that Post Secret is one of my favorite sites and it has nothing to do with massive boobs.

Seriously, there is something very interesting about reading the secret confessions of other people.  I still have never sent them a postcard.  Maybe I will one day.  What would I say?  What would you say?

Check out Post Secret by clicking here.

Have fun out there! I am doing well out here.

The kiddos are coming home!

I am so excited that I can hardly contain myself!  The girls are coming home tonight and we have a big surprise for them.  I can't disclose just what it is here in case they may read this, but it is another Megan project and it is awesome!

So another weekend of random walks, ice cream and finding hope and inspiration in the eyes and hearts of two little munchkins is here!  I am such a proud dad!  I love my babies so much!

I hope that you all have a great weekend.  The Fall air is brisk here and the trees are starting to change color.  The world is prettier when the trees are a variety of colors!

Take care and smile!  We all have a great deal to be thankful for!

Fergietastic Musical Expressions

Some of you may know of my unhealthy obsession with the music of Paris Hilton.   I understand that this is a sick, sad addiction but I am looking for a support group.  If you know of one...let me know please.

Anyway, I feel another unhealthy addiction coming on like a pack of wild rhinos out for a kill!  I hate, hate, hate The Black Eyed Peas because they have been looking for the love for years and it is clearly right there in Paris Hilton's uh....purse.

Anyway, I just downloaded Fergie's (The Queen Pea) new album that was just released and guess what...I love it!  No really.  It's damn good.  She can sing.

I just had to get that out in the open.  You can go on with your daily lives now.  One more thing...I am feeling ok out here.  I am a wee bit sleepy (that was for my Irish readers and U2 fans) but otherwise I am doing just fine.  I will report back when and If I explode or something.

Smile today!  I am in a hilarious mood and you should be too!

Today be me favorite holiday you scurvy dogs!

Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day!  Here are the top 29 things to say at work today!

29 "Arrrgh-Bring me a servin' wench to bid me me pleasures!"
28 "Argh-lad, is that Lee Elliott over there - or am I as mad as a salted herring?"
27> "Billions of blue blistering barnacles!" - Oh My God!
24> "Hop to it, dogs: Thar be leftover catering booty in the break room for plunderin'."
23> "Sixteen men an' a copier mess -- yo, ho, ho and a bottle of toner."
22> "Avast, men! Get a spyglass full of the doubloons on *that* vessel."
21> "I'll be keelhaulin' the next one of ye what leaves ye filthy Tupperware in the break room sink!"
20> "Arrr, matey, have your parrot call my parrot and we'll one day partake of noontime grub together."
19> "No, Bob Dess, I will not 'shiver your timbers.' I will, however, call my attorney."
18> "To arms, me lads! The spoils of the snack machine shall be ours, to each in a fortieth share!"
17> "Me cell phone fell deep into Davy Jones' locker Nobody flush... I'll go get me hook."
16> "Save that last donut for me, unless ya care to feel the cold steel of my hook hand up yer arse, matey."
15> "Be that a peg leg, or arrr ye just happy to cast yer eyes upon me?"
14> "Fax ahoy, mateys!"
13> "Avast! A Team Builders meeting off our schedule's port bow! Scuttle yer productivity, mateys, and prepare to be bored-ed!"
12> "No increase in me pay? Arrr, boss, let me tell ye where ye can store that hook!"
11> "Hold that elevator, ye whoreson bilge rat!"
10> "Ye bent my ear with yer lubberly questions WITHOUT tryin a reboot first? Arrr! It's the plank for you, ye mangy cur... and thank ye for calling Microsoft Tech Support!"
9> "Arrr, load the Canon, wench, and collate me copies!"
8> "Avast, ya scurvy knave! Brave be ye, for certain, but arrr ye willin' ta die fer that parking spot?"
7> "Twenty paces past the Magic Fountain of Water... bear ye left past the Chamber of Meetings... and a minute's voyage down the Great Carpeted Hallway... the unisex bathroom'll be on yer port side."
6> "Aye, if it's a large treasure chest and amazin' booty ye seek, fix yer gaze upon the receptionist."
5> "Boss, I'll be borrowin' a coupla doubloons from petty cash fer some Ho Ho's and a bottle of rum."
4> "Aaaarrrrrghhh! Who among us floated the air mead?"
3> "Arrr! I've arrr!anged for Arrr!lene in arrr!chives to send up that arrr!ticle on arrr!bitration."
2> "Avast, ye demon copy machine! Taste the wrath of my arse!"
1> "Arrr, I have made note of yer demands and I have but one question for ye: Will ye be wantin' slivers o' potato fried in the popular French style with that?"

If you really want to get fancy use this handy English to Pirate translator!

Have fun out there mateys!  If you don't have some fun I may be havin' to find a slivered plank for you to be walkin' on!

Fall air, Barenaked Ladies, John Mayer and Los Lobos

I am sitting here alone just trying to get down some lunch but I am not sure how long that it will stick with me.  Everything that I eat lately seems to want to come back and say hello again.  I just got home from Target and I am pretty happy to have discovered that they are "dog friendly."  This means that I won't be hassled by security if I let Tinkerbell ride in the cart as I cruise the aisles.  She sure loves it!  Kids and incredibly beautiful woman seem to have a fondness for her.  They may fear me, but they love her!

So, the music is playing here like always and I am listening to some work that was released last week by Los Lobos, The Barenaked Ladies and John Mayer.  Mayer's album will be a massive hit but the others will probably only have marginal sales.  That is just not right because Los Lobos has never sounded this damn good and The Barenaked Ladies...well they are just a personal favorite of mine.

So Meg will be home tonight about 9:00 and she has had a hell of a day.  So I will hold her and maybe we will watch a film or something.  Time with her is so rare anymore and that fact is taking a toll on me.  I know that she is gone for a reason but I have the right to miss her.  Hopefully the next year or so will bring some changes in our lives that will allow us more freedom and time.  Time is precious around here.  Time should be precious everywhere.

Have a great day out there in the world today!  Maybe cruise over to Target with your pooch and cruise the music racks.  There is some great stuff out right now!

The Benefit Concert

Many of you have been reading my words for a long time and you have watched as I try to live in the midst of some sort of evil curse.  I go through so many ups and downs and sometimes I get depressed and just wish that just one good thing would happen to me.  I mean, is that too much to ask?

Well, it looks like something great is in the works!  On September 29th a group of my friends and local bands here in Modesto are having a party for me to help me out with some expenses that I have been struggling with.

For one night we will be taking over a local bar and restaurant and we will be celebrating my crazy life.  Tickets for the event will be available at the door the night of the event.  We are not trying to get rich here by any means.  I just need a little help right now.

So like the poster below says, there is a SUGGESTED donation of $10 but nobody will be turned away based on that.  You can give more or less depending on how you feel. Seating is limited to only about 150 people and we hope that everyone that wants to come can fit in.

So if you live here in Modesto, please come and let me thank you personally for all the love that you have shown to my wife and I over the years.  Let me shake your hand or hug you and thank you for every prayer that you have said for us.

If you don't live here or cannot make the event but would like to donate you can send donations to:

Ruben Porras
819 West Roseburg Avenue
PMB 129
Modesto, CA 95350

Any amount at all will be appreciated!

Thank you for taking the time to read this!  If you have further questions, comments  or  concerns, email: benefit@eachdaycounts.com.

With all of my love,

Ruben

3:44 AM/The Distance Factor

I am sitting in bed right now and Meg is next to me like always but I feel like she is a million miles away for some reason.  You see; Finances around here have been tight and she has been working constantly at two jobs and attending school.  It breaks my heart that she has to do so much but I can't work and bills have to be paid.  Actually, I have taken a part-time job but it pays poorly and offers few hours.  It is more something that I took to occupy myself but the money does help a bit around here.

You should see her.  I want to touch her and hold here.  I would give anything to make love to my beautiful wife right now but she is so peaceful and I would hate to disturb her.  She worked until 1:00 this morning and tomorrow I believe that she works both jobs.  I miss her so much.  I have a hard time being alone anymore. 

So I am sitting here and the tears are falling again.  I am just so damn lost.  I have been hurting again lately and for some reason my sleep schedule is all messed up again.  I hate when it gets all messed up like this because I know that there are many long nights and foggy days like this ahead of me.  But at the same time, I know that a weekend with my little ladies is coming soon and that warms me and gives me something to focus on.  I don't have any plans for our next weekend together  but I am sure that we will think of something fun to do.  I don't think that they really care what we do as long as we do it together.  They are such incredible little people.

Well maybe I should end this for now and try to calm myself down a bit.  Maybe I should wrap my arms around Megan and not let go for a long while.  But again, I hate bothering her.  She needs her rest.  I just hate feeling so far from her.

I hope that all is well out there for everyone.  I hope that the weekend is bringing you joy.  I hope that you all feel love in your hearts.

Thank you again for reading my words and for making my life a bit less lonely.  I am so happy that I have this blog back on track again!  It appears that most of my regular readers are back and that is great!  I apologize If you have a blog and I have not left a comment for a while.  I have been lurking around a bit and reading many blogs.

Smile today!

-Ruben