[all's fair in love..and pinball...and taxi driver #2]

two lovers kiss and it doesn't mean a thing
first come first serve assembly line
for wind-up hearts to sell and trade

two lovers kiss and it's just a midnight fling
just talk more talk of your cloud nine
but by the hour the price is paid

two lovers kiss but you'll never see a ring
although their arms may intertwine
they've cheapened love; it's now decayed

two people weep and it means most everything
for tried and failed attempts to find
the meaning of love at the penny arcade

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fed up with the haters..

The joke goes..

   "military intelligence....isn't that an oxymoron?"

  and I reply "how do you mean? ...Didn't you sleep in peace last night?"

Civilian and military intelligence work is pretty much a thankless job. For every intelligence failure you know about, there are probably fifty successes you don't know about. We mark September 11, 2001 on our calendar - but what about August 10, 2006? This was the day that police arrested three would-be suicide attackers who were smuggling peroxide-based explosives onboard aircraft in a dry-run of attack, which would take place on August 12th. How about the 2002 West Coast Airliner plot? The 2002 Jose Padilla plot? The 2003 Heathrow Airport plot? The 2002 Arabian Gulf Shipping plot? The 2003 Tourist Site plot? Any of those sound familiar? It's unlikely. Society is so quick to throw the military under the bus when things go wrong...

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Letter to My Dad

I heard my name being called from across the hall, 

But I rolled over and put the pillow over my ears.

Another day. The clatter and boom of the garbage man pulling in front of the

houses soon penetrated my cocoon. Ah, to late now, I thought.

What in this world of to-do lists and expectations keeps me going

Keeps me going, besides the I shoulds and if-you-don'ts.

But I am here, and you are there, 

In a desolate, war torn place.

I shouldn't complain.

I heard my name at violin ensemble. They said, Mary Claire, stand here for your

picture. Or, sit over there behind the second violins. Did you remember your music?

What in this world of to-do lists and expectations keeps me going,

Keeps me going, besides the I shoulds and if-you-don'ts.

But I am here, and you are there,

In a desolate, war torn place.

I shouldn't complain.

I heard my name at the end of the phone, and I couldn't help but hope.

A new day. A new opportunity. This time my essay would be read

At the state or even regional level. But what about this part on Afghanistan, they

asked. Surely you know nothing about such things, anyhow?

This is, after all, the U.S.A.

I am here, and you are there.

In a desolate, war torn place.

I shouldn't complain.

I heard your voice on the phone. You sounded tired. You said, 

What in this world of to-do lists and expectations keeps me going, 

Keeps me going besides the I shoulds and if-you-don'ts

I'd better not think about that. I'm ready to get home now.

 By the way, do your part and take care of things, would you? 

It's not so hard there, trust me, you have no idea what a girl's life is like here

In a desolate, war torn place.

I shouldn't complain.

I listened to the sound of some 300 olive drab BDU buttons in a glass mason jar.

My youngest sister turned it upside down, then right side up.

They made a crunchy sound, like leaves rustling on a tree.

All I could think of to say was, stop it, won't you please just stop it.

Now there are only a couple dozen.

Let's not argue about half full or half empty

I am here, and you are there.

What in this world of to do lists and expectations keeps me going, 

Keeps me going besides the I shoulds and if-you-don'ts.

But I am here, and you are there,

In a desolate, war torn place.

I shouldn't complain.

This year I can think

No, I do think about something

Something besides Christmas, 

When you leave

that desolate,

war-torn

place.

And I won't complain.

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me > you

it was false all along
but I thought I'd pretend
it was you that I loved
a selfish lie to impend

can I redeem my wrong
till I fully contend
to myself I belong
but on you I depend

this will leave us both scarred
loving you only for me
this relation I've marred
by god's grace, let me see

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