We're in the living room again, and the wine is flowing.  I've got my feet tucked up underneath me on the couch, facing a few who have joined me there.  There's soft music in the background.  Some of you are leaning, quietly listening.  Some are on the floor, crosslegged with a couple of pillows and fully engaged.  Lights are low, munchies on the coffee table.  The dog is sleeping on her bed in the corner, snoring just a little bit.  There's a soft rain falling outside, we can hear the grumblings of thunder far in the distance.

It's been yet another long and active day.  Let's talk, relax and maybe laugh for awhile.  We deserve it.

Here I am, with these thoughts of calm friendship.  Just kinda feel like talkin to 'ya.  What's on your mind?

Thanks for the thought, Aunt Sam.

Like so many, I spent the first part of this holiday at work.  A long, tiring day.

I spent the second with the man and the dog I love.  No, not one and the same, although sometimes...never mind.  We shared a dinner of bass that he caught and then prepared for us (although the dog doesn't care for fish), then watched fireworks on television.

Sitting in the living room on the couch, sipping a glass of wine with friends and conversation.  That's what  I try to do here after a long day of everything else.  It's what I did tonight.

Happy Independence Day, everyone.

How did you celebrate?

I had a cat named Bozo.  A horse named Red.  I have a dog named Sox who is ten now.  I love them all in the present tense, including the ones I've lost.  I always will because they are part of me.  Without words, without reason and without a second thought they love, and did love, me.  To be loved by an animal, to experience that kind of devotion and absolute friendship, is beyond description.

Thanks, wwstaebler, for my thought tonight.

Some are aware to what I refer.

And it STILL bothers me.

I went to work at a small business when I was 20 due to the fact that my sister was leaving there.  She trained me.  The owners welcomed me, embraced me, and made me a real part of their family.  When I say 'real', I sincerely mean that.  Fast forward 25 years.  I am still with their business (not nearly as small anymore)  and their family.  A.C. and Dot Hall mean the world to me because they have helped to shape my life, and who I am today. 

Maybe most of you haven't noticed, but I have this habit of posting late at night.  I throw out a thought and wait for other souls to respond.  Sometimes they do.  I have had some wonderful conversations on the couch in the living room with a glass of wine (cheers to you, Cricket) and a friend or two.  It seems to work better with just a few people, instead of a crowd.  The living room isn't that big, after all.  Best part is that I never know who will show up.  Or what new and interesting things I will learn about them... and myself.

I'm thinking of making it a constant, a regular late night thought with a different topic each time.  What I find facinating is not just that I open up in ways I never normally do, but that others do the same.  Folks that usually are so politically driven suddenly show another side, a softer tone.

My thought tonight is due to, and in thanks to, someone who didn't see my last post 'til it had almost disappeared.  It was the last comment.

Thank you, Chino Blanco, for sparking my thoughts and memories with your wonderful story.

Who made a difference in your life?

Those are the words the hostages heard on the helicopter.

Finally, finally.  Can we even imagine how that felt?

We should, because we are.  Take one moment between blogs about whatever has you in your current hissy fit and think about that.

You are free. 

OK.  Today has been Clark, Faith-Based Initiatives, and the ever-present FISA.    It's after dark, let's call it a day.

At some point,  we need to breathe.  Come out from under the politics of the day, the rhetoric, and find a way to relax.  It will all be there tomorrow, I promise.  Guaranteed. 

Let's mellow out, find out who we are.  The world really doesn't revolve around the daily political machine.  The world, all of us, is so much more intersting than that.  More rounded, more obtuse.

Join me if you will.  If not, that's OK, too.

I've seen it snowing at the beach, the waves licking flakes off of the sand and losing the battle as the furious blizzard raged.  Several feet of snow being dislodged one wave at a time.  A truly beautiful, breathtaking thing you just don't see unless you are blessed to be in the right place at the right time.  I'm remembering that tonight, and feeling blessed yet again.

What do you remember?  

It's after dark again...where do you imagine yourself?  Or are you exactly where you want to be?

I see a beach in the snow... or a mountaintop emersed in a cloud.  Perhaps a valley, or canyon waiting for the sunrise.  A riverboat afloat, a lazy stream with a fishing pole, a field of vibrant flowers toasting summer.  A log cabin in woods filled with nature's grace.  Maybe a swanky condo overlooking Times Square, with a martini.

Where are you tonight?

Understand, no offense intended to anyone on the Recommended list.  Kudos to all.  Just wondering...

I've seen some with oodles of rec's and responses.  Some with far less.  At one point I assumed you needed around 12 rec's to be on the list.  Noted quickly that less would do it.

But this morning I see at least one thread that is quite good and on the list as Most Recommended.  Probably worthy, not for me to say.  But it has (at this moment in time at least) 3 rec's and one comment.

I've seen others with over 12-15 rec's and loads of comments that never make it.  

Can someone help me out, re: requirements and who makes the ultimate decision if not "us"?

This time of the night, I want to be somewhere mellow.  Sublime.  Bahamian.  Jamaican.  Pretend we're together at a jazz concert, maybe.  Rounds of drinks, slight smoke in the air, everyone a little bit buzzed.

Can you feel it?  Let's relax.  Get all laid back and chilled.  I'm hearing chatter, laughter, an easiness.  Kick your shoes off and come on in...