"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you," - Nietzsche.

There is a Gary Larson cartoon that shows two old women looking out of a window at a monster. One says to the other, “Calm down, Edna. Yes, it is a giant hideous insect, but it may be a giant hideous insect in need of help!”

I'm feeling gutted and at the end of the road, once again!

Life continues to change. Time to stop being a doormat!

May I take to heart and mind and soul and deep within my guts; Robert Murray M'Cheynes' advice: It is far better to begin with God—to see His face first, to get my soul near Him before it is near another.

again and again Cher comes to mind:
If I could turn back time
If I could find a way I'd take back those words that hurt you and you'd stay

I don't know why I did the things I did I don't know why I said the things I said
Pride's like a knife it can cut deep inside
Words are like weapons they wound sometimes.

I didn't really mean to hurt you I didn't wanna see you go I know I made you cry, but baby


If I could turn back time
If I could find a way
I'd take back those words that hurt you
And you'd stay
If I could reach the stars
I'd give them all to you
Then you'd love me, love me
Like you used to do

If I could turn back time

My world was shattered I was torn apart
Like someone took a knife and drove it deep in my heart

Another day, drove three hours and got to Sydney,
Mary met me and drove me down to Newtown and dropped her car off at her place, with awesome views of the east side of Sydney.
Then a quick prayer to St Anne to find us a man, and a taxi man drove us to the Great Hall at the University of Sydney, where we sucked champagne and enjoyed munchies at the book launch.
Thence onto a bus back to Newtown and a visit to Graeme at work and got some $$$.
To a Mexican restaurant and more champagne and great food.
Another taxi back to the hotel and a quick blog before collapsing into bed before the drive home.
Mary is a delightful woman, wounded by love but finding her own way. More power to her!

There be dragons
where you least expect them,
no use fighting or running,
the secret is to jump on their back
and ride them.

dragon_rider

Gentle reader, the synchronicity/serendipity stakes are raised:

Whilst continuing my informal online education which in recent weeks has involved much Jungian pyschology, shadow work and enneagram research, I stumbled upon Mr Integral Pysch again, and realised that he mentions my beloved protagonists Yuri and Lara.

Interestingly I was at a talk on forgiveness run by the Canberra School of Practical Philosophy, and dear old doc zhivago got mentioned there.

Enough coincidences: I AM going to buy the book.

best male version???