Tough Times

Tough times will come and go, but tough steak will always be tough. You'll chew it until your jaw goes numb, and then you'll chew it some more, because that's the only way to keep from choking on it. Then you'll cut off another piece and you'll chew that because, even though it's tough, it's steak, and you're not about to waste it. 

Tough it out - it's almost time for dessert!

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Haiku 127

Taxi drivers who

Can't see a tall man waving

Are too blind to drive

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Road Trip Realization

I drove 2,000 miles in the past ten days. Not bad for a guy who doesn't own a car!

Weather Forecast

Whether it's a rainy day

A sunny day

Or a hurricane

Doesn't matter -

You just have to get through it

You just have to get through it

Following Another Car

I hate following another car through traffic. Just give me the address of the destination, and I'll meet you there. Simple and stress free!

Take The High Road

Be strong. Take the high road. Be accepting of others and supportive when they fail. You have failed, too.

Let things go. Never let frustration or tragedy make you bitter or cold hearted. Life is too short. Love every day with all of the love that you have to give.

Do your very best, and then work even harder. Get better. Take risks. The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward.

When things go wrong - and they will - learn what you can, forgive yourself, and move on to the next venture. Make every endeavor an adventure.

You'll get only one chance at life. Your biggest regret will be holding back when you should have gone for it. Do not hold back, not today and not ever. This is your moment. Stop worrying and seize the day.

The Future Holds The Promise

The future holds the promise

Of all you'll be or do

Don't ever let the past

Discourage you

Giving Thanks

Today, I give thanks -

- for my enlightened, cultured parents, who raised and supported me with unlimited love, devotion, and patience
- for a bright and talented son with a kind heart and admirable values
- for the opportunity to meet and marry the love of my life
- for a kind, caring family where the love is strong and the laughter never stops
- for good friends who have stuck with me and stood by me through thick and thin
- for the engaging, passionate, beautiful women who have shared with me the joys and challenges of love
- for art and the gift of creativity
- for knowledge, information, and reason
- for the persistent, urgent sense of curiosity that drives me to learn and grow
- for the wry sense of humor that helps me deal with life's ludicrous frustrations
- for good health and prosperity
- for the opportunity to travel and follow my dreams
- for a steadfast conviction to take care of others and to avoid doing harm
- for innumerable blessings, great and small, that bring joy and satisfaction into my heart

Today, and every day, I am grateful for all of these wonderful things and for the splendid adventures of life.

Public Restroom Nightmare

How does all of that crap end up ON TOP OF the toilet seat? What is wrong with people?

Tour Bus Time

It's tour bus time on the Turnpike! The rest stops are full of kids and pensioners.

The Mask Of Kindness

Kindness is so often disingenuous, a pleasantly misleading mask. I would rather have the blunt truth. I want to know where I stand.

Sleepy Quiet Days

On cloudy days

I could sleep straight through

But I don't because

There's work to do

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Bad For What Ailes You

He got away with it. He was a creep and an abuser. He was a profiteer of lies who destroyed good people and good ideas. He got away with it. Yes, he did die from an accidental fall, but he was quite old. He had lived a long life, a life in which he never paid the price for his sins. 

Instead, he stuffed his pockets (and his stomach, apparently) by being a truth-mocking, woman-abusing scumbag. He wrapped his fat, rich, white ass in Dick Cheney Brand Teflon. He laughed all the way to the bank while helping to destroy our democracy, our credibility, and ultimately, our planet while none of his evil deeds stuck to him. 

Yes, he got away with it, the fat, creepy, old ogre. He really did. What can we do now? Piss on his grave? Sadly, that won't hurt him. It's too late. Wealthy, powerful old creeps often evade justice in their lifetime. They are experts at playing the system. They play and they win, because no one stops them.

The Most Beautiful Time Of Year

This is the most beautiful time of the year, May and June. The world is green and growing and full of life.

Bad Song Morning

What does it mean when the song that's stuck in your head is one that you have always disliked?

Countless Miracles

Life is graced with countless miracles - perhaps not the miracles that we hoped for, but miracles nonetheless. To discover them, we need only to open our hearts, to look past expectations and focus on the bounteous blessings that make their way into our limited orbit. To accept what is given, to receive it with gratitude and appreciate it without reservation, that is the key to joy and the essence of a life fulfilled.

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Coffee Break

Oh, the heck with it! I need a coffee.

Heat Wave

Stock up on cold drinks. Here comes the summer weather!

She and Ray

I pictured my ex

With her lover today

I don't know his name

So I just call him Ray

It's silly

But it helps me deal with the angst

Of running into them

One day

He's a bit portly

And not very tall

Not really big 

And not really small

He has a wide, toothy grin

And a thick head of hair

He dyes it deep black

But I don't really care

He looks like a real life

Frito Bandito

Without the mustache 

Or the wide-brimmed sombrero

Sorry, Ray!

But that's just the way

That I picture you -

What can I say?

I imagine her now

Having fun with her Ray

She laughs at all

That he has to say

They're happy together

And it's good for me

To picture that

To get used to that

So, when I see her one day

Holding hands with her Ray

I won't be shocked

And I won't be scared

I won't be sad

'Cause I'll be prepared

To avoid a painful

And otherwise certain

Massive

Heart attack

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

How Dictatorships Are Built

This is how dictatorships are built, quietly, methodically, one firing at a time.

Reality TV

I haven't seen much "reality TV." I was busy with reality.

Do Something Crazy

I feel like doing something crazy, but there are so many crazy things to do! It's hard to choose... :-)

When One Door Closes...

You know what they say, when one door closes, if it's of the self-locking variety, you probably left your keys on the other side.

Summer Bird

The bird in your garden
Sings and sings
Cherish his season
And the joy that he brings

Before the snow

You'll need to let him go -
New birds will come in the Spring

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

Some Days I Get Frustrated

Some days I get frustrated with stupid people. The other day is February 29th.

What An Amazing Weekend!

Oh, my goodness! What an amazing weekend! Can we rewind the tape? I want to play it again and again.

Little Things Mean A Lot

I received an unexpected gift today! I went to charge my Metrocard, but it was about to expire. The nice machine gave me a shiny new card!

Molested By Bad Music

I hate being molested by bad music in a physician's waiting room. Hey, crappy pop tunes, I'm trying to think here...

Wild Monkeys

I would like to know

Where the wild monkeys go

When they need to blow off steam,

Have some fun,

Live it up,

And go really, really wild

For the weekend

Copyright © 2017 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved

A Phone Call from a Relative

My sister scared the stuffing out of me today when I saw her name pop up on my phone. Typically, I never receive calls from family members unless something terrible has happened. My first thought was, "Oh, no! Who died?"

I couldn't hear her when I answered, so I called right back. She answered laughing: "I KNEW that you would call me back!"

"What happened?" I asked desperately.

"Oh, nothing - I dialed you by accident."

"I was in a panic. Usually, nobody calls unless someone dies."

"Nope. No one died."

Now, I need a drink.

Positive Energy

The more positive energy we radiate out toward the universe, the more blessings it returns. Put yourself out there. Do! Love! Celebrate!

A Beautiful May Day

What beautiful May Day this has been!