From the Holy Sonnets of John Donne (1572-1631)

Batter my heart, three-personed God

Batter my heart, three-personed God; for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurped town, to another due,
Labor to admit you, but oh, to no end;
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captivated, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you and would be loved fain,
But am betrothed unto your enemy;
Divorce me, untie or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

~ John Donne

"Get me heaven or hell, Calais or Dover." ~ Rufus Wainwright

Whoa -- Good day, Yeah!
So today was great for a variety of reasons...

Both former residents of 309 D managed to be a part of my day -- I got a postcard from Jo. And....Dylan is camping out in my room for a couple of days.

Can I stop and say how good it is to see that boy!!! I've missed him since he's been in New Zealand, and it is so, so good to see him. He just makes me smile in so many ways, and spending the evening just laughing with him was exactly what I needed.

But...the biggest, most exciting news of the day:
So I saw that Clint had called my cell phone several times today, and when I finally had a second to sit down and call him back he told me some happy news.

He and Lisa got engaged over the weekend.

So to Clint and Lisa -- who very shortly will be married -- Clint has the days on a countdown:
I am so beyond happy and excited for you both. What an amazing time in your life!

On a personal note -- I've known Clint for several years. He was a skinny East Campus kid, with brown hair and thick classes. He was the guy who made All-State Band in eighth grade, and who was named Mr. FBA his senior year.
The Clint effect, smints, Monty Python, San Antonio, the short lived adventures of the Audi -- I have so very many shared memories.

And I must say there's something awfully comforting about a friend who you have had since middle-school -- who's gone through all the same teachers, and classes, and endless band events.

Sure, you change a lot in college, but that makes those people who are connections to your past that much more precious.

So I really don't have the words to say how terribly proud of and happy for him I am right now. I'm just so blessed to have known him so long, and to have seen him become the person he wants to be.

Best wishes you two, always and forever. See you in July!!!

Happy Texas Independence Day, Y'all!!!

On March 2, 1836, the Texas Declaration of Independence was adopted at Washington-on-the-Brazos. During early March, even while the Republic of Texas was being formed, the Texans suffered heart-rending and cruel defeat at the hands of Santa-Anna's army.

But the Texans would not give up. In the months after the defeat at the Alamo, Sam Houston led the Texas army to victory at San Jacinto under the battle cry of, "Remember the Alamo."

And so Texas became an independent nation, with it's own hopes and dreams. And Texans always dream big.

Happy Texas Independence Day.