You’ll meet someone. Someone very special. Someone who won’t press charges. — Addams Family Values

As I got home last night, I realized just how lucky I am.  You see, after wrangling a six year old all weekend, Irish Woman met me at the door with a smile, twice. The first time was when Girlie Bear and I got home from the NRA Annual Meeting.  The second time was six hours later when I came home from going into work for a few hours.  She had no complaints about Boo or how the weekend had gone, although she made sure to inform me as to the behavior of Crash, who apparently had been feeling his Siameseness at a very deep level all weekend.

I think I’m at my best as a husband when I realize that I don’t deserve such a woman, and she certainly deserves better than me.

We didn’t come here to fight monsters, we’re not equipped for it. — Creature From The Black Lagoon

As Girlie Bear and I left the hotel to go to dinner this evening, we both did a quick check to make sure we had everything we needed.  My list was room key, cell phone, wallet, car keys, pistol, and reload.   I try to do something similar every morning when I leave the house, usually with help from Irish Woman.  It always helps to start the day off with what you will need the rest of the day.

We can’t predict how things are going to go, but being prepared and having your resources with you definitely makes things easier.  The thing you leave at home, be it a notebook, extra cash, or a weapon are no good to you when you need them.

I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave. — Labrynth

It’s not difficult to get those who wish to rule over you to do what you want.  All it takes is total subordination of your will and your freedom to their whim.  After you do that, they will make sure you have everything you need in order to follow their orders.

That’s why freedom is so hard.  Very few people are going to help you out unless there is something to be gained from it.  Doing for yourself and jealously guarding your rights means you have to stand on your own, always.  Putting yourself in debt to someone else for what you need or want makes them your master.

He’s whittlin’ on a piece of wood. I’ve got a feeling when he stops whittlin’… Somethin’s gonna happen.  — Once Upon A Time In The West

“Sleep on it” is some of the best advice I’ve ever heard.  It’s always better to take a step back, take a deep breath, think for a while, then come to an important decision.  If you’re angry, take a breather before acting.  If you’re still angry after a few minutes or a few hours, then feel free to raise the black flag and take no prisoners.

 If you could change something in your life, anything at all, what would it be?  — The Sixth Sense

Honestly, if given the choice to go back and change my life, I wouldn’t.  My life’s not perfect, but it has some perfect aspects.

Let’s say I could go back to Christmastime 1990 and stop myself from getting involved with my first wife.  That little detail alone would have saved me over two decades of trouble.  But she led to my oldest, and her absence led to my second wife, who came with Little Bear and Girlie Bear.  Missing out on them would have meant I never would have moved to Kentucky, which means no Irish Woman or Boo.

No amount of missed grief is worth losing the best parts of my life.

I used to have thoughts of how much easier life would be had x not happened or y happened differently.  But to dwell on the past is to miss out on today.  It can also poison your future.  A lot of people I know who have thrown away their families talk about how they were trapped into them or cheated of a good life.  Yeah, my life isn’t perfect, but it’s worth remembering just how good I have it.