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clouds

clouds, a photo by wxcasterphx on Flickr.

A SECOND CHANCE .......

Wishing that it would rain today, was obviously was not going to happen. Seeing how the storms krept upon the desert floor and dissapated, maybe that was way to much to ask.

Some people hate the rain, but you will never see me complain.
There are a lot of people who feel inconvenienced when a storm approaches, they run for shelter or cover their heads, but thinking about it .. that's no fun at all.

Clouds will roll in and thunder will sound, but in the deserts, rain does not hit the ground. For days on end the suits whine, because its too hot and way to dry, it is 115 degrees under a relentless sun. Here in the deserts hot wind is second to none, but when it rains they curse the sky. You wonder what the thought process is when it comes to that?


There will be rain, eventually thunderstorms will come and wind will blow, but how much fun could that be when looking out through a window? Today, if there were rain, and I would take another action, I definitely would not take it for granted! I will not run for shelter no matter how hard it rains,  just raise my arms and enjoy the gift, after all ......... it was heaven sent! I will never hate the thunder and the lightning and I have no fears of getting wet, I will grab the rain with my out stretched hands, I will catch rain on my tongue, I will probably be soaked when I am done!


 Peace everyone .......

About Me ......

I found out early in my life, I would never be destined for greatness. Kind of a shock really ( in my own mind) .. after all why couldn't an undersized little guy make it big somewhere? I mean,"hell" who wouldn't want an ex afternoon paperboy to succeed right? I did show potential ...

 After pouring out my heart and soul trying out for sports teams, I realized that being known as a "hard working athlete with no talent" .. was not going to get me paid and or laid. Through it all ...I had been restless, and motivated despite life's obstacles. This pattern continued even thru high school, and then college, but things never did quite pan out.
 
So I refocused my efforts to different endeavors. After striking out as a banker, male exotic dancer/comedian and a plumber, I turned to writing, and photography (not that anyone pays any attention to that either)! Still waiting on the money .....my dream job hasn't arrived at age 53. Being the eternal optimist, figured that once the money rolls in, the ladies and the cushy job are sure to follow. Anyway.. eventually I hoped to see my name in lights!

In the meantime construction seems to be the perfect fit. At least there he can be unappreciated, taken advantage of, and sweat my behind off waiting for that big break!

 I list my hobbies as a professional sports spectator, amateur photographer, fantasy sports participant, yelling for no apparent reason at sporting events, and singing while I work. I feel like I work too hard, get no respect, get paid too little, and would one day love to be noticed by someone important enough to help me attain my lofty goals!

 
Thank you for your consideration ........




Rick Delaney

THE OLD BARN

This is a true story .... Most of you know that barn or had heard about it. It was at the end of 65th ave. North of Thomas rd.

 Oh my god," you think, "I've got to get home this is going to be a bad !" The storm began to rage around me as I completed my paper route, and worked my way home. The wall of dust and debris were easily seen, that old mulberry tree shuddered in the wind, twigs and leaves rolled past my bike as I hurried along the path toward the other end of the field and safety. Unsure if I could make it home, I decided the only shelter was in the farmers barn. Rain was beginning to fall heavily now and lightning flashed and thunder shook the tin roof above me, I decided to look around, not making a habit of being in a place us kids were told was haunted! It seemed like an ok place, nothing like those stories that I had heard," probably to keep us from annoying the farmer and getting hurt". I found blankets and sheets folded near one of the old stalls, sharp hooks hanging from a shelve and a pitchfork was in the corner. It did look like someone had recently been in here, "Or still was, watching me!" I hurried from the barn, not exactly wanting to see who or what was making that old poor of an excuse barn a home.

The rain had stopped and the lightning was seen off in the distance, but the air remained heavy with the scent of alfalfa wet wood, and the night was settling in. Why hadn't my parents started looking for me? "damn them, I would love to see a friendly face right about now!" Maybe the evil I felt inside me, following me, had all ready got them! Not wanting to look back at the swinging doors of that barn, I hurried back along the path toward the house, I could swear I heard footsteps hurrying behind me. Sounds become louder when you are afraid, the mulberry's branches scraping along the tin roof of that barn sounded as if an evil was trying to get out and you could hear the devil in the wind. I shivered from the thought, and I was left in near darkness. As my eyes tried to adjust, I could swear I felt a hand graze my shoulder. I turned, but I could see nothing behind me on the path. Pedaling as fast as I could now, my only goal was to reach the safety of my home. Somewhere between the barn and the edge of that field, I hit a water filled hole and down in the mud I went. I heard a car door slam and sounds of running feet sloshing in the mud towards me." My God was this how my life was going to end?" The evil had found me, and was going to cut me into pieces! I felt a hand grab me from behind and I screamed!!! It was my dad ........ asking me if I was ok and he was getting worried, he had people looking for me !

I turned and looked towards that old barn once more, kind of feeling pretty good that I conquered an old childish fear. I swore I saw someone standing in the door way holding a pitchfork, or did I ? I would never go back to find out!

Have a nice day everyone....



Rick Delaney

Photographs N' Memories

Looking through old photos the other day of our treasured past. Our Youth, oh what a wonderful time we had. They say that time fly's when you are having fun
if that's the case our lives are passing by as quickly
as a car speeds by a picket fence


I pull photos from my album, one in particular catches my eye.
He is plainly not a shadow of the man he used to be
His balding head is slightly gray now, his hair it was light brown
He was an energetic youth back then,
always up to no good but always just for fun,


I close my eyes ......


Fondly remembering playing football as teenagers in the park in our hometown. Pretending I had scored the winning touchdown
the crowd going wild, hands held skyward in celebration for I could only dream.


I didn't need much, I had some wonderful friends, I always seemed to have enough.
I went out to play at dawn,
and didn't walk in the house till dusk.


On looking back, over the decades time has continued to slip by
never asking a lot for ourselves because their were little ones relying upon us. Working everyday providing for the family
because that's the way it was supposed to be done.


People do change ... perhaps we would be strangers now if by chance we did meet
We might not recognize each other in passing on the street
We age a little every day but I hope the memories never fade.


Turning back to the photograph of the one I knew from many years ago. He has aged as time on us all does show
this person was I and nearer to my life's prime
But in the end we all lose out to ageless father time.


Thanks ...


Rick Delaney

SCOOBY DOO pajamas & FUZZY BUNNY slippers .......

Knowing that the work week is over, it is important that we all take the time just to relax. Sleeping-in at least one day out of a weekend, has been my favorite past time for years, I see no real reason  to break from tradition. Every once in a while I inadvertently forget to do something, that would affect my limited days of rest and relaxation. Do you know how annoying the sound of an alarm clock is when it goes off? "of course you do!" The sounds eminating from that box is even worse when the damn thing goes off at 5:00 am on a Sunday morning! I knew it was my fault, no one to blame but myself. I forgot to turn that alarm off, but shit, making matters worse I almost got up thinking it was Monday all over again.

 Grumbling a little, tried to gather myself, I finally reached over my sleeping wife. It was still quite dark inside the bedroom, so it took me a few seconds to locate the nightstand. Leaning over my wife, half on the bed / half off I probably looked like a pretzel. Just as I hit the alarm button on the clock, I lost my balance and down to the floor I went...  as I was laying there staring at the ceiling, I was thinking how my darling could possibly sleep through that noise. Normal people ( ok that counts me out) are not supposed to wake up especially on a non-work morning in this fashion, " It just isn't natural."   I must have been quiet, my wife hadn't moved a muscle through all of this". It was obvious I was to get no sympathy from the wife. I assumed that my allotment of sympathy minutes had all ready been spent anyways.

 Instead of climbing back over my wife ( goes to show you what a nice guy I'am... but later I wished i had wakened her)  I walked up to the book case and slipped on my Scooby doo pajama bottoms. Something was missing ..... Where were my fuzzy bunny slippers? I take great pride in knowing where all my stuff is. I mean if I were to go blind I could still find shit you know?  Now I have been doing this routine for years and I like my things to be exactly where they should be. When something comes up missing in our house, it's usually one of two fur balls who are prime suspects.  We have two Pomeranians in the house, neither one weighs more than six pounds. So look under the bed or on their blanket thats where you will usually find missing stuff.  During the night one of the dogs decided to carry off one of the bunnies,   attack and tear off the nose of my Fuzzy bunny! At least I found them and the world was right again.


Walking out to the kitchen, at least the automatic coffee pot was working like a champ, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and hazelnut heaven! Gazing out my front window I saw that our mobile newspaper carriers aim wasn't at all good this morning.( whats new right?) But on top of the suck delivery, looking down the street, I could see a wall of water advancing upon my Sunday paper. At the time it didn't really matter to me what I had on, after all my sports page was in danger of getting wet. So out the door I went,"Damn paper delivery people…. At least make it into the front yard!" I went to the gutter, picked up the newspaper and held it like I had just won a trophy! I didn't realize that a few neighbors down the street had all ready spied my Scooby doo wardrobe, and were laughing hysterically. I gave them my good morning work single finger salute, " what would you have done?" Making matters worse I tripped over the garden hose and smashed my finger on the door getting back into the house!  Not wanting to feel badly about my childish response to the boys down the street,and my single finger salute, I stepped back outside. I walked back out to the sidewalk. lowered my scooby doo pajamas and showed them a pair of very white ass cheeks!

But in retrosect ... a 51 year old man has no business standing in his front yard showing his rear-end to anyone. (you feel me dog)? But I felt so accomplished!


Eventually I finally found my easy chair in the family room, placed my hot cup of coffee on the coaster, and spread the newspaper out on the table. I dumped the classifieds, and entertainment sections. I went through the Sports page first, followed by the front and then the valley section. But as I was sitting there, maybe it was the way I started the day. Battling that darn alarm clock, the devouring of my fuzzy slippers, falling out of bed, tripping on the garden hose, and smashing my fingers in the door, made me tired again. maybe I will return to bed and hold my wife .... by the way,  "where is that rewind button?"





Have a nice day everyone  ....