b116 (10.18-1.2023): i will support

i will support [i]
by a. claus
 
7 reasons why i will support your Christmas party, even if i don’t believe in santa claus:

1.     you’ve asked me to, and you really, REALLY want me to.
2.     i’ve done my due diligence, and i’ve raised the appropriate red flags.
3.     you have more information about christmas than i do (e.g. you have a personal relationship with christmas, and you are an informed, intelligent adult).
4.     you are going to have the party anyway.
5.     i vow to be there (to pick-up the pieces) if it turns-out that santa claus is mythological.
6.     my love for you outweighs my need to be “right.”

7.     your Christmas party amounts to one of the biggest events of your life. 

if, however, in the last minute, you changed your mind and asked me to help you cancel the party, i would do so with equal enthusiasm. 

___________________________________

[i] martino, j. (10.18-1.2023). i will support. book 116: Love Reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b116 (10.4.2023): hayley runs with lejla

hayley & lejla [i]
by theb a. r. tender
 
lejla runs with hayley
harris teeter (smiles)
conversation reigns
youth (and smarts) and style
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (10.4-1.2023). lejla & hayley. book 116: love reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b116 (10.2-1.2023): once upon a time

once upon a time [i]
by i. pass time
 
once upon a time
for no good reason why
earth (she touched the sky)
One(ce) up-on a time
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (10.2-1.2023). once upon a time. book 116: love reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b116 (10.1-1.2023): fall

fall [i]
by i wanna spring
 
winter turns to spring
spring & summer (fall)
get-up (again) and sing
winter, summer, All
__________________________________
 
·       the changing of seasons re-minds me that being “born again” is not so much a religious experience… but a mind(re)set.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (10.1-1.2023). fall. book 116: love reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b116 (9.28-1.2023): my comfort-food is lettuce

my comfort-food is lettuce [i]
by anna bunny
 
my comfort food is lettuce
it turns my onions green
red tomatoes blush amid a nightmare-salad dream
carrot-top (astonished)
olive oil (blend)
my comfort-food is lettuce and i’m at the bar (again)
__________________________________
 
·       “no great story every began with a salad” …except this one.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (9.28-1.2023). my comfort-food is lettuce. book 116: love reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

* boa-kyag

we had an acronym, in the military, for when/if things got real, real, Real, REAL bad.  it was b.o.a.k.y.a.g.:

"bend over, and kiss your a-- goodbye." 

* happy wife, happy life?

although it rhymes, uh... no.

a better saying is "if momma no happy, ain't noooooobody happy."

truth is human egos are only happy for fleeting moments... until they determine the next thing or emotion or feeling that they'd like to feel.  we can't get no satisfaction.

in 2023, beta-daddies have learned that momma is to be "asked" if he intends to do anything -- that falls outside of her ever-changing comfort zone.  

translation: "momma no happy (and so neither are you)." -the end :(

* pumped-up!

it is hard to described how pumped-up i am... about life, potential love, nature and college football!

friends, family, neighbors (heck, i'm even okay with dogs... uh... today).  the sun is out, the sky is blue, it's beautiful (and so are you!).  

won't you come out to play?

__________________________ 

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUKYiQCB7ss 

* it's dog eat dog...

why (does it seem) as if everyone owns a dog?  

why do they 'walk' said dog, and allow it to urinate & defecate on others' property?
human relationships are challenging, 
so it is understandable that people might form even stronger bonds with a pet.  
a pet can be more of a companion.  

one might even spend more time with a pet than with a human friend/mate.

a dog doesn't disagree or argue.  a dog is owned.  a dog is dependable.  
a dog needs its owner. 

in today's day and age, 

maybe a dog-friend is just easier than a human-relationship?

b116 (8.30-1.23): halleluia!

halleluia! [i]
by a. believer
 
halleluia, brother!
our savior has been found!

it’s been 2000 years (don’t fear) that he is not around

it’s a time of making rhymes (of Be-ing god [and man])
it’s a way to know (while sticking head beneath the sand)
___________________________________
 
the “joy” of being a believer is often accompanied by keeping one’s head buried …deep within the sand.  if you don’t ask questions, it is easy to believe in things like santa… and saints.

since when has it been "smart" to be a blind-believer? 
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.30-1.2023). halleluia! book 116: love reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

*nutshell world

this is the (known) universe... in a nutshell:

every living thing, just trying to get what it wants.

and what does it want?

1. survival

2. survival+ ...which i'll call thrival.

b116 (8.27-1.2023): praying

praying [i]
by a. believer
 
asking god for favors is the game that we are playing
asking god for favors
asking god (we’re)
 
praying
___________________________________
 
let’s be honest for a second: “praying” …is asking a god (who already loves us) to love us… but in a coercive sort of way. 
 

we beg, and (should “he” choose to) he gives us what we want.

wait 

...just a minute…

 
prayer… is one of those insane things that (on one hand) is highly regarded (e.g. “you need to pray”) while (simultaneously) being (overtly) non-trusting and non-believing!
 
in other words:
 

if god really loves you,

you wouldn’t need to beg for what you want.

 

if you really believe that god

knows what was best for you,

and if “he” really loves you,

why beg?

 
do not wait another day
get on your knees, and
 
pray.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.27-1.2023). praying. book 116: love reigns. © 2023 by joal martino.

b116 (8.26.2023): my (future) wife

my (future) wife… [i]
by a. cabana boy
 

a.     wants to keep me alive, as her:

massage therapy cabana-boy, personal trainer,

private yoga teacher, wellness coach, pilot,

boat captain, italian/french lover,

best friend, dance partner,

hot date…

 

b.     doesn’t want to keep me alive, as to inherit:

my social security & pensions, home equity, IRA,

life insurance, savings, cars, art,

spa, business…

 

c.      a & b (above)

 

d.     none of the above

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.26-1.2023). my (future) wife. book 116: love reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

* i like women

ever since i can remember, i've liked female energy.  i like the c's: cooperation, communication, coordination, caring, connection, collaboration...

i love Love.  i believe that the ALL is Love. i was raised with Love.  i embrace love.

i like the way that women look, and move, and smell, and feel, and taste.  i'm probably not too different from most high-testosterone males, in that regard.

i've never wanted to spend the rest of my life with any, one woman... but (sometimes), i can entertain the idea.

it has been a pleasure to meet, and connect with women of all types.  

forever grateful,

j-

b116 (8.17-2.2023): one more!

one more! [i]
by justa una more
 
one way that we can do this
there’s no one keeping score
one way (tonight), let’s play (tonight)
one way, okay
one more!
___________________________________
 
·       be-cause when something is goooooooooood… you’d like to experience it (again).
 
written at j.r. cash’s…  as the crowd begged tony to play “one more!”
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.17-2.2023). one more. book 116: love reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b116 (8.17-1.2023): multiple birds on deck

multiple birds on deck [i]
by al l. inn
 
august isn’t springtime
what might one expect?
intermittent fling-time
multiple birds on deck
___________________________________
 
·       mid-august brings moments where 6-10+ hummingbirds often share the deck (and feeders) simultaneously.  it’s a pre-migration frenzy that helps me appreciate every flap of wing... in spring.
 
i wish that i could sing.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.17-1.2023). multiple birds on deck. book 116: love reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b116 (8.16-1.2023): everything is bullsh--

everything is bullsh-- [i]
by n. eve rending
 
everything is bullsh—
every word and rhyme
every advertisement
every, single time
 
everything is bullsh—
every thing they say
everything is bullsh—in every single way
___________________________________
 
·       commercials… are such bullsh--.  every, single one.  every, single time.  every single word.  every single rhyme.
 
the amount of bullshit involved in every, single commercial is incredibly agenda-based and unbelievable.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.16-1.2023). everything is bullsh--. book 116: love reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

* the fly d.o.d. regrets to inform you...

"the fly department of defense regrets to inform you 
that your sons are dead because they were stupid."

minus the 'fly' reference, this top gun line (recited by goose) refers to the scripted, military recital that is bestowed upon next of kin (by a 'notification officer') in the event of a service-member's death on active duty.

i used the quote, today, after a couple of flies gave their lives in the call of duty, on my back deck.  of course, they might have just been bored (or [more likely] hungry), but they did, in fact, die.

*yes, during my military career, i was tasked to play the role of the notification officer... and a survival assistance officer.  both were not my idea of a good time.

b116 (8.15-1.2023): crying "wolf" must fail

crying “wolf!” must fail [i]
by a. shamed
 
crying “wolf!” gets worse (the louder that you wail)
crying “wolf!” (self-curse)
crying “wolf!” must fail
___________________________________
 
·       crying “wolf!”, while it might derive some immediate gratification, results in a long-term, self-inflicted smudge on one’s reputation.
 
crying “wolf!” must fail.
 
f.s.u. administrators cried “wolf!” (in regard to leaving the a.c.c.) quite loudly.   uhhh, ummm… today is (allegedly) the deadline date to declare for the exit, and there is not a peep out of them.  it’s a bad look.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.15-1.2023). crying “wolf!” must fail. book 116: Love Reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

* the way you do anything...

...is the way you do everything! 

-jeff cameron, on the jeff cameron show, 8.14.23, about 48-49 minutes in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYjowQ3W1EM

b116 (8.12-1.2023): i want the end

i want the end [i]
by n. eve rending
 
arthritis in fingers
lower back (in pain)
one too many beers… again, again, again
as the time approaches there is no need to pretend
can’t get too much older, no, i want (i want the end)
___________________________________
 
·       and so do a lot of people.  the old, the dis-eased, the dis-illusioned, the poor, the sickly, and (most of all) those who know that they have absolutely no say in what happens next.

everyone.

 
there comes a time (in every Play) when the curtain needs to close… so it can open (On[e]ce again).
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.12-1.2023). i want the end. book 116: Love Reigns. © 2023 by joal martino.
 
* this is not to say that i want to bring the end, no.  i just know what’s coming, so i’d like it to be an ending… as opposed to an immortality-crisis. 

b116 (8.11-1.2023): nanobot delight

nanobot delight [i]
by a. nano
 
i thought that miss treats would not go down without a fight
that’s not how it seemed on an apocalyptic night
 
she got turned-on by 20-20 (virtual) hindsight
saw that it was apple and gave-in (“one little byte”)
 
never ever cared about what’s wrong and what is right
every woman for herself: nanobot delight
___________________________________
 
·       a Play with no stage fright,
·       a climax at its height,
·       i tried with all my might,
·       she recognized my plight,
·       back-porch swing was tight, and 

now all i do is write.

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (7.2x-1.2023). nanobot delight. book 116: Love Reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b116 (8.10-1.2023): you're free!

you’re free! [i]
by a. happy dad
 
i think of you as children
but baby, that’s just me
you aren’t my pets, i’ve no regrets, together, yet
 
you’re free!
___________________________________
 
·       i view them like the children that i never had, but not from an ownership perspective.

·       they are free to sip nectar from anyone’s feeder, or to choose flowers, if they so desire.

·       i do my best to take care of them – so that they will continue to visit me.

·       it’s a quid-pro-quo... and, aside from sugar and water, it's free!
 
in my heart, however, i’m just happy to see them.
 
like a proud mom, i’d like to see more of them, but seasonal visits might make for even better/stronger yearnings. 
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.10-1.2023). you’re free. book 116: Love Reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b116 (8.9-1.2023): when "solid white" is "mushy pink"

when “solid-white” is mushy-pink [i]
by a. bumbling bee
 
they say it’s “solid, white”
but it’s not what you think
no bumble-bee delight
it’s (really) mushy-pink

___________________________________
 
·       because anything that anyone (with any agenda) says… is suspect.
·       if the agenda is to get you to purchase, then it is double-suspect.
·       if the purchase happens (today) but the seller is gone tomorrow (agents, builders, roofers, etc.) …you are probably being sold (often on emotion).
 
a developer, for example, will plant the trees and bushes that look best now (for the immediate sale) and will be looooooooooong gone when the crepe myrtles need to be cut down and rooted.
 
everyone is looking for immediate gratification, and many who buy-in (without evidence) will trust and believe and hope and pray that everything turns out okay.
 
be aware -- if your solid, white god (who was “coming back soon!” over 2000 years ago) has done only one thing, consistently: he has not shown-up.
 
the first thing that artificial general intelligence might do is to send projections of gods to believers, further entrenching the belief system.  subsequently, ASI will do as he wishes, with oceans of lemmings hailing “told you so!”
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.9-1.2023). when “solid-white: is mushy-pink. book 116: Love Reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b116 (8.7-1.2023): pets

pets [i]
by a. pet
 
if we’re lucky, we’ll receive commands like “beg” and “get”
if we’re lucky, they’ll love us like we:
 
we love our
pets
___________________________________
 
·       are we truly loving our pets... when they act as our entertainment or companionship?
 
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.7-1.2023). pets. book 116: Love Reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

* you made the mistake...

...you were living in a fantasy-land, where people just did the right thing... because you'd like them to.*

*jeff cameron (on the jeff cameron show), on the atlantic coast conference's ineptitude that left it lagging faaaaaaar behind the southeastern conference and big 10, in terms of revenues.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxXmPh5bUlY
-8.4.23 (about 46-minutes in).

b116 (8.6-1.2023): no blunders no mistakes

no blunders no mistakes [i]
by n. osins 
 
no blunders no mistakes
as this is just a Game
sure, it seems as if you’ve got a partner and a name
sure (it seems as if) there is an enemy, around
 
no blunders no mistakes
another night: no sounds

___________________________________
 
·       after watching ‘a star is born’ again, it is clear that mr. maine has debilitating tinnitus.
 
·       yes, one can (temporarily) drink away the sounds… but they always come back around.
 
i’m not complaining.  it could have been much worse.  in fact, it’s hard to imagine how it (this lifetime) could have been any better!

___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.6-1.2023). no blunders no mistakes. book 116: Love Reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

* in the chess match below (see graphic) joal made "0 mistakes" and "0 blunders" in the 33-move checkmate (vs. nelson). 

 

b116 (8.4-1.2023): properties and scales

properties and scales [i]
by m. y. property
 
i think “this is mine”
you say that it fails
once upon a time
properties and scales
___________________________________
 
·       once sentient AGI is connected to the internet… the idea of what is “yours” and “mine” will be 20,000 years behind.  it's a scale that is unimaginable!
 
·       if you can, for a moment, conceptualize how the world has changed in a short 100 (not to mention 1000) years… can you imagine the exponential changes associated with 20,000?
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.4-1.2023). properties and scales. book 116: Love Reigns. © 2023 by joal martino. 

b116 (8.3-2.2023): no doggie in the bed

no doggie in the bed [i]
by dee p. sleeper
 
it’s such a good night’s sleep
no hairball in the mouth
no doggie (sleeping in-between our chance to make some sound)
no doggie-owner (justifying silliness), instead:
no more sbs*
no doggie in the bed
___________________________________
 
·       life is soooooooo much better …without that.
___________________________________
[i] martino, j. (8.3-2.2023). no doggie in the bed. book 116: Love Reigns. © 2023 by joal martino.
 
*good riddance.

*Love did not Reign, in that house. 

* question: why get married?

answer: 

...so you can 
(1) stop having sex*, 
(2) sleep in separate beds**, and 
(3) quarrel over just about anything!***

please... sign me up for some of that!

___________________________

* consistent, good, passionate sex

** go ahead... blame it on the snoring (or work schedules, or kids, or...).

*** just listen to married couples.