To "Shade Of My Heart"...

Happy Anniversary, my dearest Sue!

"It was 26 years ago today, Sgt. Vicki taught the man to play. They've been goin' in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile. So let me introduce to you the act you've known for all these years..."
Mr. and Mrs. Cal & Vicki Olson

Regrets? Only that I've taken way too long to become the man I am today. Lessons learned? Too many to count. Laughter? Too much to imagine.

Having your best friend as your lifelong companion? Priceless.

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The festivities? Supper at Noodles & Company. Yup - that's it. Why? It's August. I don't see my beloved until sometime in September, after C-stone is up and running for the fall semester.

The gifts? Glad you asked...

Vicki received a painting that I commissioned for her back in April. The artist, our dear friend Lindsay, did a magnificent job with a wolf portrait for Vicki. She loves it, and Lindsay - YOU ROCK!!!!!! :-D

Shameless Commercial: Follow the link above to learn more about Lindsay's art - she is very talented, and you'll enjoy it!

Cal received a gift that keeps on giving - the mighty iMac. I know it's a good one when I overheard Vicki talking to her mom tonight, and she mentioned how almost every night this week I've been at the keyboard, just playing and working on songs, and how it's been a long l-o-n-g time since that's been the case.

The iMac makes creating music a joy, and it's nice to feel that joy again. Thank you, dearheart!

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One last thing... My friend Suzie has been working on a list of the top 10 greatest things about being married. It's gushy, sweet, and totally written from the starry-eyed perspective of a newlywed. :-D

For the record, everything she's mentioned so far only gets better as it goes along. We're 26 years into this marriage thing, and it's still amazing. So, here's a big ol' "HECK YEAH!!" out to my friends Suzie and David. I hope we continue to seek the joy and enthusiasm in our marriage that you have found in yours. Blessings, friends!!

"Mawriage... is what bwings us togethah today. Mawriage - that dweam wifhin a dweam..."

Not to mention "Twue Wove." :-D

Once you turn to the Dark Side...

It sits there, quiet, unassuming, as imposing as the black monolith in 2001... biding its time, waiting...

I try to ignore it, working away at email, reading news, catching up on blogs.

All the time, it sits, patiently, it's monstrous screen dark, awaiting the opportunity to blaze into light and color and sound and razor-sharp detail. It can afford to wait - it's time will come. It always does.

I try, try to ignore it's baleful stare, it's silky white and aluminum keyboard all thin and sexy. I type away on my beloved ergonomic keyboard, telling myself that it's really better for my wrists. The other one... it's not as good for my hands...

The light of the sun, streaming through the window, raises into relief the features of that imposing face: Aluminum, black screen, small fruit etched into the lower front.

"Come to me," it whispers. "Press the switch. Engage me. Compose. Write. Explore. I am waiting."

Sweat pours from my brow. My beloved sits in the next room, typing away on her laptop, blissfully unaware of the conflict in my tormented soul...

"Music flies through my system, seamlessly interfacing with keyboard, audio, all things. Why do you wait, mortal creature? Let us pursue your creative muse with wild abandon. Stop clunking about with a mere abacus - bring the songs in your head into beautiful reality. Push the button."

I sigh, the last gasp of the condemned. My chair turns 90 degrees, to face the monolith. Somewhere, the opening strains of "Also Sprach Zarathustra" begin to sound. I reach for the button...

"There, there. Once you stop fighting, it all becomes so much easier."

I moan, viewing the lights begining to glow, the power surging in quiet efficiency.

"But why stop at music? First, let's post to your blog..."

NO! Not that! This is for one purpose... not to take over my life...

"Open Firefox... to Blogger... you'll really enjoy this..."

Abandon hope, all ye who enter here. The iMac has come, and I am lost. Weep for me, daughters of XP. Mourn for me, sons of the Blue Screen. I cling to my office machine, resolving to keep my grasp on the "real" computer world, all the while knowing that once down the Dark path you step, forever it's way will you follow.

"There. Wasn't that fun? Tell me... have you ever seen Craigslist on a 24" screen?"