Again

I'm going to have to start adding tags to my blogs. (Tags are words that the software uses to index or label the topic of the post.) The reason I need to do this is because I'm getting so forgetful and tags would help me to know if I've already posted on a given topic or not.

Like tonight. I'm thinking about hope and disappointment. I half think I've already written on this topic. Not that it matters--after all, if I'm just talking to myself, I'll forgive myself for repeating myself, won't I? Again.

Anyway, I'm wondering if it is better to have high expectations and high hopes and suffer from repeated disappointments, or is it better to have no, low or modest hopes in order to protect oneself from disappointment?

The good thing about low expectations is that seldom are you hurt and sometimes you're even pleasantly surprised. The bad thing about low expectations is the nagging shadow that you've sold yourself short.

The good thing about high expectations is that when they are met there is great satisfaction and joy. The bad thing about high expectations is the huge risk that the answer will be no.

Today I told someone, "Don't get your hopes up--what if you're disappointed again?" They replied, "Don't tell me not to have hope!"

Is persistence a good thing? Or is it insane?

A Date at Rangers' Stadium

Andrew gave Gary and me some tickets to go to the Rangers' game on Wednesday night. We were sitting this close, just 10 rows up!

And it was a great game with SIX homeruns. My fireworks photos after each home run weren't very good, but you get the idea.

After back to back homers and back to back fireworks, the stadium was filled with smoke.

And this evening really was a date for some happy couple! (I assume they were happy because I assume she said yes!)

I'm a Mess

In lots of ways.

Shed Your Skin

I wondered why this grasshopper didn't fly away when I approached. Upon closer inspection I saw that his wings were wet and shrunken.

When I turned to go back inside, I found his former home.



A few minutes later, he was off.