Passion Party #449 - A New Chapter

What does it take
to start a new chapter?

The birth of a child,
or perhaps a new job,
or finally receiving
the thing you've been after?

Open your eyes
and open your heart -
you don't need to be brilliant
or gifted or smart

You don't need an oracle,
prophet or sage -
Perhaps all I have to do
is turn the page.

Passion Party #448 - Game Changer

I got on a train on Sunday.
We boarded the Expo Line at La Cienega
and 30 minutes later we were in downtown Los Angeles
and 15 minutes after that we were at Disney Hall,
eating a picnic lunch in the garden,
the sound of Bandera music
wafting over the wall from the band at the
Fiesta Broadway four blocks away.

On the ride home
we stopped at the Exposition Park Rose Garden,
and joined the other families wandering about
amongst the acres of the most wonderful roses, totally in bloom.
Exposition Park is a grand city park, like you find in Great Cities
filled with museums, gardens, fountains
and people, all kinds of people
enjoying the day together.

Then we rode home,
and dreamed of when the train reaches Culver City,
and then the Santa Monica Beaches,
and I thought,
"We live in a great city."

Passion Party #447 - When Computers Die

Staring longingly at the empty desk
it feels as bad as a friend dying, maybe worse
it is like a small bomb exploded
wiping out pieces of my memory.
It is like an addict, suddenly cut off from his drug.

All those documents I don't need
but knew were always there anyway.

The hardest part is picking up the phone
to tell people that my computer is not working
and - oh my god -
they have to call me on the phone if they want to talk to me.

My reliance on this machine scares me -
this electronic storage unit -
this keeper of memories and music.
7 days spent without my computer
I lived to tell the tale:
thank you for inventing back-up drives
and smart technicians.

Passion Party #446 - If Money Is My Friend

I will treat you with respect
I will hold you loosely
and be proud of having you around.

I want you to stay with me,
I will not make you disappear.
I have everything I need, and now
I want to see you thrive and grow.

We will have fun together
We will be accountable to each other
I will be dependable and supportive
and in the end, we both win.

Passion Party #445 - What Money Has Taught Me

Money has energy and should be handled with care.
Money is not good or bad, it is what I do with money that is good or bad.
If I pursue money, it will run away from me.
Money is willing to give, if I let it.

If money could speak to me, it would say:
- Don't be greedy
- Don't hold me too tight
- Never regret paying people what they are worth
- Expect the flow of money to continue, but be prepared for it to stop
- I am here to support you
- Always carry cash... you never know.