Crowds...

I heard a great message on loving Gods people that really was hard for me. Sure as the Neil Finn song goes, "Were all God's Children" but it is still a bit of a stretch for me to feel that love, that bond for all people like I do friends and family. I am not saying I don't like people, I truly do and enjoy the company of others often. Its just that, well, I like my space. I have been cooped up too long...I am enjoying not having neighbors, the ability to think out loud. I am however going to work on it because I know its important. Do you think He means love everyone or just have 10-20 really good friends.

Venice Italy 2010

It has been said that Venice can either be magical or mayhem. A memory to cherish or a nightmare that cannot end soon enough. Venice is complicated. It smashes its beauty right in your face the moment you arrive. You are overwhelmed, shocked into disbelief that you are actually standing and starring at something so old, so beautiful, so inspiring, that you are tempted to shrug it off as you would an over-hyped movie. Venice is extraordinary. It's colorful and monochromatic all in the same day. There is music everywhere. Art pours out of every bridge and building in a way that makes us all better artists. This is my seventh trip to Venice, and I hope to be back again...its that crucial.

First thing: order up some honest to goodness rain....

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

We are leaving in just a few days for a trip to Paris/Venice/Tuscany/Rome. It has been 5 years since we as a family have taken a family vacation together. Albeit we've taken a camping trip, road trip, weekend getaway and a 4 day trip to the in-laws, the Rays have been Montana bound for some time now. Thats going to change in just a few short days. I will admit, some of our best trips have been spontaneous or ones that we didn't put much thought into. I know i am setting the bar high, but I think this trip is going to be great. The kids are both excited and are at the perfect age to enjoy Europe. Crystal and I have been planning and going over maps, tour books, restaurant guides, friendly tips just to make the perfect trip. I'll bet we will cancel 50% of it, but we just want it to be perfect. I am sure if I can just relax and spend time with Solomon, Izzi, and Crystal and not worry about, the best place to eat, see and be, it will be top top top...This is part one, I will update, but I do think I can pull this off...The perfect family Vacation...

nice to be loved....

J.D. Salinger 91

So Salinger died. Most viewed him as a quirky man who wrote, "Catcher in the rye" and that was about it. Funny, I enjoyed that book a lot, but what was amazing to me was how I found a fond attraction to his other works and more interestingly his life. Sure, I am no expert and not privy to his private life, but what I remember and loved was what was important and often written about his after life, or more to the point; after "Catcher in the Rye". It wasn't the laurels, nor the broadway fame or the reconciliatory nods that came with his success with "Catcher in the Rye" that made him famous, but what he chose to do after the book was written: seclude. After all, isn't it his choice to decide who reads his future work. Can't men keep their original gifts to themselves? Is it our duty, obligation, to share with the world something so personable, so private or for a lack of a better adjective, so right? I think not. The media so often glorifies the critic's, the Salieri's of the world, and empowers them into greatness. In the movie Amadeus, there is a telling prayer from Salieri to God. "From now on we are enemies, You and I. Because You choose for Your instrument a boastful, lustful, smutty, infantile boy and give me for reward only the ability to recognize the incarnation. Because You are unjust, unfair, unkind, I will block You, I swear it. I will hinder and harm Your creature on earth as far as I am able." Believe me, this is the same type of jealousy that happens in every form of media with lesser men, they judge and dictate what is good and pleasing to them, as they live out their fantasy's and passion on the creativity and thoughts of another man. So, is it so wrong that J.D. Salinger decided after his "big book' to cash in, live in the country and never write again? That way, us critics would never judge him again. As Salinger often wrote, "we are just phonies", and you know what, he is right.

"Forgive me Majesty, I am a vulgar man, but i assure you my music is not." Mozart Amadeus

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Back at the Ranch

I love this driveway...

The Rays- Montana since 1996

biologically impossible

Evolution...trust me on this one.

Someone didn't spread the fertalizer very well

Ranchin' in GStar Raw

Putting ol' blue to work

Ace riding shotgun

grab that box Solo...lets go.

I have an incredible side ache. Most of the trip was bumpy, loud and quite exciting. Solo, CJ and I drove the 26' Uhaul from Whitefish down to Rollins thru the construction, Kalispel traffic and along Flathead lake. I drove with one arm hanging out the window in an attempt to let everyone know just how easy it is for me to drive this whale. Solo sitting lucky while watching a TV show on his iPhone as CJ was holding onto Izzi's fish bowl for "dear life" as if it were filled with red matter and was afraid to spill one drop. We drove on.

Pulling up to the lake house brought back memories of the amazing summers we have enjoyed over the years. This place along the lake was what brought us to Montana after all and I will never forget that. I looked at the grey house as we pulled close and felt warm. I am truly excited for this chapter in our life. It's funny that it only took 3 years for us to feel like Whitefish a town of 7000 was too city for us, so we moved to the country. Rollins population now is 143.

She

When you have loved as she has loved, you grow old beautifully.

W. Somerset Maugham

I often sit and listen as she patiently solves yet another dark, demanding, difference of opinion soaked defense of two very clever minds. She controls the floor. She is heard. I often just watch as she engages in love; the kind she reads to them about, the type about which she teaches them life's laden lessons, while that ever engaging laugh pours out more and more and more onto them without their even knowing what just happened. She is beautiful.

There are times when I look up and wonder how did everything find it's order. She is genius. I could never in a billion years appropriately place things so efficiently. She has brought me peace, made me proud and contributed more than her share of humility to our lot. She is my wife. She is my friend. She is my partner and my accomplice. She is strong, sharp, high powered, firm, dedicated, delicate and delicious all at the same time. I have never seen her equal. But most importantly she is my editor. And if by chance all of this is not enough, she can sing too.

Jake workin hard for the money

Tamarack

Tamarack for lunch. Chicken enchiladas for me and some crazy bread
and cheese sticks for solo. Were are discussing plans on how to
double our Internet buisness. Now we just need to figure out how to
develope our iPhone app.

to the teenager

I was a bar tender tonight. Smiling faces, kids in braces, women with cake and men that gathered around each with a story to tell, a tale of friends on a day for Izzi. "It's a girl; Yes I am sure". She was born thirteen years ago and on that night everything changed. Izzi came home a few days later and was quite a bit different from what her brother Solomon taught us about kids. She was commanding. She was sure she didn't need the schedules we put her on. She was always sure of what she wanted. She was sure that after having all the ballet rehearsals, that on opening night she would decide she was done with dance. When she was 10 years old, she decided that she was done with piano lessons. She was sure that she didn't need them anymore and that she would take guitar instead. She has proved to be right most of the time. Something that we didn't expect from her but soon came to love. She has blossomed into a beautifully sweet girl with a big heart and a soft spirit. She teaches us daily about desire and dedication. She can truly accomplish anything. I was so proud of her tonight as I watched her inter act with friends and family. She laughed and smiled and watched her brother sing her favorite song. What a view from behind the bar.

Even kids love piggyback