it just felt right.

church with the grandparents, giggling like high school girls with grandma at fr.josephs constant slips in the pronunciation of words in his sermon, belting out hymns with zeal and gusto with the awesome choir and just being in the presence of God for a good hour on a cold, dank and depressing saturday evening.

but its never depressing in church these days

then on to warren for dinner with mommy. she'd been there all day, at the club playing golf then parking herself in a little chair at a mahjong table in a cloud of whirring smoke in the dimly lit card room. its her escape, no complains from me, what the hell, everyone needs something to do to unwind.

it also helps when one's up about $150 for an afternoons work. its not exactly get-up-and-quit-your-job money but its money nonetheless. a depleting resource these days, its nice to know theres a little extra coming our way.

so after dinner we left her where we found her, washing away her cares and sorrows in that little musty but cozy nook in warren they call a mahjong room. i watched a couple of hands then left deciding i was gonna figure out and beat this game eventually, could be tomorrow, could be next week, could be next chinese new year, could be hand in hand with my first WSOP bracelet.

lets face it, gambling runs in my blood. and when i figure out how to beat the game i'm gonna run with it.

but an unscheduled stop at the png home for a last minute invitation to join them for their choir party would prove to be the highlight of my day...

wait a minute...i'm not in the choir! oh well, they must like me :)

sat there watching cartoons on the disney channel then walked out with some of the kids and their hyperactive canine gavin for some daily scoop ice cream. fyi, if you're considering trying the "buttery avacado" just because it looks potentially revolting yet devilishly interesting save your money and your tastebuds and don't.

just ask nicky

after that it was some rum, burbon on the rocks and caviar. nothing like it. and what choir party would be complete without singing. afterall the pngs are a family band and it aint that hard to whip out some songs and jam out with musical geniuses like them. so off we went into an era of afro's and bell-bottoms, where you could dress like a homo and fit in with everyone else...ah yes the disco 70s and the retro 80s.

twas a blast to say the least. and for a moment there it felt like i belonged. i felt what being with family should feel like. i've known most of these people for just a couple of months, some only a year, yet there was a warmth that radiated from within that made me feel like one of the guys...one of the kids...one of the family.

to put it mildly it was nice, special and very soothing. i felt loved

after shrugging off a couple of requests to sing solo and re-perform my loved (but personally loathed) solo number from Ashira --- the perfect way. "Who Are You Looking For?" i decided it was best that i gulp down my burbon and head outside for some fresh midnight air.

chipping with jon and nicky in the front garden. peaceful, quiet and totally relaxing. its like my family i tell you and i mean that with every fibre in my body. if i had siblings i wish they'd be just like that. but i dont, life's a bitch sometimes...

but God's always gotta plan and for now i'm just gonna stick by and trust the big guy

a perfect evening with wonderful company. nothing more i could ask for really. except maybe mom. i wish she'd grow with me and my new church friends familia but i can only pray and hope she finds her way back to God again.

its late and i've got the gold medal to win tomorrow.

God Bless

spread the lovin'

Rob Valentine