The Man With The Chocolate Pants

There once was a man who loved chocolate so much, that he went to the village chocolatier and said, "Can you make for me a pair of chocolate pants?"

When The Heart Can See What The Eyes Cannot

One magical evening 25 year old Fred brought 23 year old Freda, the woman of his dreams, home to meet his parents.

As a foursome, they had dinner together and talked afterward over dessert, and then it was time to bring Freda home.

"I hope they liked me," Freda told Fred. "How could they not," he replied with a big smile. "You are beautiful."

But when Fred returned to his parent's home to hear their comments, he was terribly disappointed.

The Mayor Of Palos Verdes Confronts A Serious Immigration Issue

Palos Verdes is a seaside community near Los Angeles, and like many parts of the world, fears of immigrants confront its residents.

Those residents were only too happy to,reap the benefits of lowly paid Hispanic immigrants when they did the jobs most other people didn't want to do. And because Hispanic immigrants worked so cheap, residents could save money on almost anything residents were involved with.

But in recent years, a flood of Spanish speaking people arrived, and as they prospered, they bought the lower priced homes in the community so their children could attend Palos Verdes schools and their families could have a safer, better quality of life.

As their numbers grew, so did the use of the Spanish language that increasingly seemed to be everywhere.

Under the guise of preventing illegal immigration, residents began restricting the sale of homes and even the movement of Spanish speaking people around the community, except as gardeners, nannies and other low paid positions.

Come nightfall, they were expected to be gone.

When no-one would sell Juan and Bonita Vargas a home, the Mayor of Palos Verdes called a community wide meeting.

At that meeting the television cameras were everywhere, as residents held up signs condemning the Vargas' and some of them screamed out in anger. A chant soon echoed, "Go home where you came from, there's no place for you here."

What If

As the bright yellow butterfly flitted about in the summer sunshine, she noticed William, his shoulders slumped, his head down and a frown on his face.

She landed on a pink rose in front of William and asked, "How could you be so sad on such a beautiful day?"

"I'm upset," he replied. "The economy is weak and if things get worse, I could lose my job. And what happens if I get sick? Plus at 60 years of age, I'm not getting any younger. Death could be around the corner."

Wisdom From A Butterfly

As Howard watched from the comfort of his backyard, the golden Monarch butterfly flitted through the warm summer air, landing on the scented white flowered jasmine.

"Oh, I wish I could be carefree like you," Howard said aloud. "But my cancer is growing worse and my body is withering away. Soon I'll no longer be here to keep you company."

Just then the Monarch butterfly flitted into the air and landed softly on Howard's paisley red and green shirtsleeve.

How The Mayor Of Palos Verdes Faced A Tough Reelection

The election campaign was ugly, as so many U.S. campaigns are, as the Mayor's opponent had vastly outspent him running a series of negative ads, claims which were now repeated at a town hall meeting shortly before the election.

At this point the Mayor's opponent was a heavy favorite to win the election.

Compassion From The Mayor Of Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes is a Los Angeles superb with beautiful homes and lush landscaping located along the ocean.

But one home had become rundown, a real eyesore with paint pealing and a yard filled with dis colored newspapers and overgrown in weeds. The neighbors vigorously complained to the city demanding that action be taken against this homeowner.

As a result the Mayor of Palos Verdes went to the home of this resident and knocked on the door.

"Yes," said an elderly woman as she opened the door.

"I'm the Mayor," he replied with a smile. "And I wanted to meet you."

"I'm hardly worth meeting," she answered. "My name is Julia, please come in."