RAIN RAIN GO AWAY!

I know that rain is a part of Springtime but come on! My backyard looks like a bog. It has been raining here 6 out of 8 days here. The skies have been grey for a long time...so long that I wonder what blue sky looks like anymore. I really had to look hard to find some joy during this time of year.

Usually it is winter that gets me depressed. You know the cold weather and the bitterness of the stinging sleet against your face can really get to you. I had hoped that the season of spring would help me to feel better. With all of this rain it has not made me feel better so far.

What I have learned is that the season or the weather should not be in charge of my emotional state. I need to find within myself the joy that we all should have to keep us level during all seasons of life. When I go outside and the rain hits my face I now smile because I know that I am stronger than the rain, I am stronger than the grey skies, and I am stronger than the current bleak forecast.

I hope that you are all doing well. If it is raining where you are; don't let it wear you down. Be strong and get out in the rain and smile. Know that you are stronger than what is around you. Hugs are great during this time. If you need a hug, giving one means that you get one in return.

You're gonna make it afterall!

Your Nashville Friend,

Thom

TOM TURNS 200!

Tom "Ramble Redhead" has published his 200th episode of his podcast! He has been one of the podcasters that has inspired me to see what it was all about. From time to time I will post some of my other favorite podcasts. Please look them up and give them a listen. I have left him a congratulations message on episode 201 so give it a listen and you will hear my voice on my crazy message that I left him.

Congratulations Tom!

Your Nashville Friend,

Thom

TV Commerical Suggestions

I enjoy good humor. A friend sent this to me and I thought that it may make you laugh. Things like this help me to forget about "reality" for a while. I guess that is why it is considered entertainment.

Please feel free to leave me a message. I always enjoy hearing from you. I would like to get some ideas of what to write about. I am in the process still of learning how to create podcasts that I can post on here. I just may do the podcasts and post them to iTunes and alert you on here when they are available. That may be what I'll have to do. Keep checking on here and I will let you know what I choose to do.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope you have a great day.

Your Nashville Friend,

Thom

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Just wanted to tell everyone that I hope that you have a great Easter! May you experience a newness in life. I have been doing much better. It takes time. I am looking at Easter as a new beginning. I know that I am blessed to have you, my friends, supporting me through my life and I hope that you know that I am there for you as well.

Easter is also is my oldest Greyhound's 13th birthday. It is hard for me to believe that I can be a "daddy" of a teenager. LOL I adopted him 10 1/2 years ago. He is the most loving dog that I have ever met. I'll have to post a few pictures of both of my Greyhounds sometime on this blog.

Well...thank you for patience with me as I was getting things back together. I hope to post more often now that I am doing better. Feel free to leave a comment.

Your Nashville Friend,

Thom

Flashing Back

I remember in 1975 when Jaws II came out that they used the phrase, "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water..." Well...that is how it is for me in my life. Just when I thought that I felt safe and secure in life, something happens that flashes me back in time that knocks the walls of security down all around me. The problem is that it could be a picture, a word/phrase, a song, a fragrance, or even a touch.

During January and into February, I was trying to recover from a series of flashbacks. I really did not go to anyone about it, but just tried to use my own reflections on conversations that I had with a counselor and went back on my Zoloft to help to get me through the rough time. It worked, but it took some time. Some of you who do podcasting realized that I did not comment much during that time and it was because I was putting myself in a "coccoon" during that time just to protect myself.

This evening, I was visiting a podcast's blog and spotted a picture that brought back memories of a bad incident that happened to me. I know that I can't go back to that website for a while because I cannot face that fear until I get stronger. Call me a "weanie" or a "wuss"...however I know how much I can handle. There may be a time when I am stronger and can handle things better, but now I am weak. I am extremely stressed out at work, tired, and running with little sleep. I am not in a position to deal with this head on.

What does this mean? It means that I am being honest with you, my readers, about what is going on with me. If I don't write comments in your blog for a while, please understand that it is nothing against you, but it is just me trying to surround myself for a while. I'll be fine. Just keep on looking in here and I promise to keep you informed as to how I am doing. I appreciate you taking the time to read this and understanding...or at least trying to understand what I am going through.

Your Nashville Friend,

Thom

A Timely Reminder

Remember to "spring ahead" your clocks this weekend. The official time to do that is at 2:00 am Sunday morning. This way you will not be late for any of your appointments. If you are in an area where this does not apply...well...then...never mind!

Your Nashville Friend,

Thom

From Seemingly Disaster to Beauty

Look at these two pictures that I took less than one week apart from each other. The first shows flowers that were just budding that were hit by a very cold snow storm. The second picture shows these flowers less than a week later in full bloom being enjoyed by those who visit me. What a dramatic difference a week makes! These flowers endured a lot just to expose their beauty.

The pessimist in me would say that they would pull through because they are a hardy sort of flower. The reality is that last year the same thing happened weather-wise and they did not bloom as well. Most died.

What am I trying to say here? I have learned that sometimes hard times will come to my life. Sometimes it will be tough and I will have to wait a year or so until I can attain what I am seeking. It does not mean that just because I have a set-back that it is not going to happen. It may only take a week, but it may be a year...or longer. The results, from what I've seen, are worth the wait. Look at how beautiful those flowers are! I hope that in some way that my life looks that way in respects where I have struggled to become caring, considerate, compassionate, cheerful, and kind.

Here's to our blooming of our inner self this spring and all throughout the years to come! Hang in there! We are all beautiful inside. Sometimes it takes a while to be recognized as beautiful on the outside...even by us.

Your Nashville Friend,

Thom