The day arrived with blue skies and a bright sun.
What a difference a day makes.
Yesterday was one of the dreariest and coldest damp rainy days that I have suffered through in a long time. Althought the temperature is nearly the same as yesterday, it seems 10 degrees warmer, just because the sun is shining.
I did get the chance to play with a new underwater movie camera that Chris bought as my Valentine's Day present.
And I made my first movie--which I present here--it isn't much--but it is of one of my favorite subjects.
I did a few little projects around the house--which frankly are not going as well nor as easy as I thought they would. Ugh!
But I'm writing this after talking with Chris who is in Buffalo, NY assisting with a family emergency and the sun is beaming through the window warming me and lifting my spirits. I've just completed making her return trip reservations for next Saturday--hoping on a good day.
We will see.
But the sun is shining.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
First Signs of Spring
Wednesday was an interesting day.
During the morning I was pleased that the weather forecasting rodent residing in Pennsylvania did not see his shadow--which of course suggests and early spring.
That would be especially nice since we have been having some of the worst winter weather imaginable all across the country, and it is downright cold here in Maryland.
And so there it was--as if almost saying: "Don't lose hope, there is life waiting to be reborn hiding here under the snow and frozen ground."
And it made me smile.
Broadly.
And I turned my thoughts to warmer days, flowers, and gentle breezes; despite the abundance of snow all around and the icy patches on the roads. Maybe I can put the top down on the convertible soon.
During the morning I was pleased that the weather forecasting rodent residing in Pennsylvania did not see his shadow--which of course suggests and early spring.
That would be especially nice since we have been having some of the worst winter weather imaginable all across the country, and it is downright cold here in Maryland.
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| Signs of Spring |
So, during the afternoon as I was getting Ethan home from school and walking Florence, Nicole's dog, I noticed something that really helped to confirm Punxsutawney Phils forecast: this small daffodil or hyacinth pushing up from under the melted snow making itself available for the spring growing season.
And so there it was--as if almost saying: "Don't lose hope, there is life waiting to be reborn hiding here under the snow and frozen ground."
And it made me smile.
Broadly.
And I turned my thoughts to warmer days, flowers, and gentle breezes; despite the abundance of snow all around and the icy patches on the roads. Maybe I can put the top down on the convertible soon.
Friday, February 4, 2011
There has to Be Something More
At my Men's Group on Monday evening, we were exploring the fundamentals of life and faith.
We were treated to a 60 Minutes interview between Tom Brady, New England Patriots quarterback and Steve Croft. The interview was conducted during 2005 just after Tom Brady's third Super Bowl win when he was still on top of the world.
There he was--on top of the sports world and he recognized, without acknowledging it, that what we do and what we achieve on our own always leaves us wanting more--we are empty.
Steve asked Tom which Super Bowl ring felt the best. Tom thought for a minute and responded--the next one. I wonder if he felt the same way after being named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year for the 2010-2011 Season?
Tom--you may never get a "next" one. You need to find happiness and contentment where you are right now. And since you've acknowledged that there is something missing, a lack of fulfillment--you need to change.
We all need to change.
No matter what we do on our own, or what we gain from the world it seems we will always be left wanting something more and asking, "is this all there is?"
No Tom--this isn't all there is thankfully! There is a whole lot more out there and you can be part of it.
Just ask!
We were treated to a 60 Minutes interview between Tom Brady, New England Patriots quarterback and Steve Croft. The interview was conducted during 2005 just after Tom Brady's third Super Bowl win when he was still on top of the world.
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| Tom Brady 2011 NFL Offensive Player of the Year |
During the interview Steve asked Tom how it felt being on to p of the world after winning three super bowls--or something to that effect. Imagine this--Tom Brady said he felt there must be something more--something bigger.
Wow--I was awed.
There he was--on top of the sports world and he recognized, without acknowledging it, that what we do and what we achieve on our own always leaves us wanting more--we are empty.
Steve asked Tom which Super Bowl ring felt the best. Tom thought for a minute and responded--the next one. I wonder if he felt the same way after being named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year for the 2010-2011 Season?
Tom--you may never get a "next" one. You need to find happiness and contentment where you are right now. And since you've acknowledged that there is something missing, a lack of fulfillment--you need to change.
We all need to change.
No matter what we do on our own, or what we gain from the world it seems we will always be left wanting something more and asking, "is this all there is?"
No Tom--this isn't all there is thankfully! There is a whole lot more out there and you can be part of it.
Just ask!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Sled Dogs Murdered in British Columbia
WARNING: The referenced articles contain graphic word images which will make you sick.
I would not have believed it until I read it the other day.
Remember the Olympics in Canada last year--well one of the results of that beautiful event has recently come to light in the senseless slaughter of 100 sled dogs.
In an article titled: 100 Sled Dogs Killed in British Columbia Due to Slump in Tourism, the Huffington Post reported on February 1, 2011 the senseless slaughter of about one-third of a 300 sled dog pack due to tourism downturns. Or stated another way--the dogs were no longer profitable. And the title really says it all. Another article on the subject indicates the slaughter occurred in Whistler, B.C.
I am sickened, saddened, and horrified.
Yeah, it surely can happen anywhere. But really, dogs? I remember the Michael Vick saga of a couple years ago and how horrified we all were about the senseless handling and murder of his dogs. This is far worse--and when you read the linked article--you will know that unlike euthanasia, the dogs in question did suffer.
The last three sentences of the article really stopped me--and I present them for your own food for thought:
The murder of these 100 dogs is not unique, and animal slaughter is often performed in the name of human interests.
What do you think? Is it okay to use and then dispose of animals for human sport or consumption?
Where are we heading? We have lost, as a people and a society, our moral compass.
I have always held Canadians in such high regard for the moral high road they seem to take.
I would not have believed it until I read it the other day.
Remember the Olympics in Canada last year--well one of the results of that beautiful event has recently come to light in the senseless slaughter of 100 sled dogs.
In an article titled: 100 Sled Dogs Killed in British Columbia Due to Slump in Tourism, the Huffington Post reported on February 1, 2011 the senseless slaughter of about one-third of a 300 sled dog pack due to tourism downturns. Or stated another way--the dogs were no longer profitable. And the title really says it all. Another article on the subject indicates the slaughter occurred in Whistler, B.C.
I am sickened, saddened, and horrified.
Yeah, it surely can happen anywhere. But really, dogs? I remember the Michael Vick saga of a couple years ago and how horrified we all were about the senseless handling and murder of his dogs. This is far worse--and when you read the linked article--you will know that unlike euthanasia, the dogs in question did suffer.
The last three sentences of the article really stopped me--and I present them for your own food for thought:
The murder of these 100 dogs is not unique, and animal slaughter is often performed in the name of human interests.
What do you think? Is it okay to use and then dispose of animals for human sport or consumption?
Where are we heading? We have lost, as a people and a society, our moral compass.
I have always held Canadians in such high regard for the moral high road they seem to take.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Phil the Rodent Predicts
And this just in from Punxsutawney:
Phil surveyed his surroundings and found no shadow, so an early spring it will be!
We will all be partying tonight!!!!
Phil surveyed his surroundings and found no shadow, so an early spring it will be!
We will all be partying tonight!!!!
Day of the Rodent
It is Groundhog Day.
Sadly--it almost never happens.
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| Can Rodents Really Forecast the Weather? |
A day stuck in the middle of Winter when hope springs eternal that the large rodent living in Pennsylvania will provide a weather forecast suggesting an early Spring.
More of the ice and snow will be forecast.
How do I find a forecast with temperatures in the 80's and light breezes?
Oh yeah--it is supposed to be sunny and 78 degrees today in Key West!
BTW, someone called groundhogs: nature's speedbumps.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Chocolate Pudding on the Chair
"Pop-pop, help," came the words over the din in the house on Sunday as the family gathered for a celebration.
Jax urgently was calling out to be heard from the other room, and so in I went to see him standing there with a half-eaten chocolate pudding container in his hand pointing ashamedly at the glob of pudding in the chair where in in mere moments his mother would be sitting .
I smiled and reassured him that it was not a problem.
And in reflecting on the moment, I realized, my kids had it really bad when I was trying to be a Dad.
I was uptight and every transgression deserved an equal and opposite reaction. I remember my favorite saying: "Accidents kill!" Which I frequently spoke when accidents happened.
Jeremy has since reminded me that breaking a glass "accidentally" in the house was tantamount to a death sentence. And he has also reminded me of the huge pile of dirt I had delivered for the gardens one summer and that I wouldn't let him enjoy with his trucks as I was transferring it load by wheel barrow load to the garden.
I had no sense of humor. I should have stopped and played in the dirt with him.
Being a grandfather has mellowed me a bit--I don't seem to get to worried about things that can be cleaned, fixed, or thrown away.
Wow, I wish I had been more of a grandfather when I was being a Dad.
Jax urgently was calling out to be heard from the other room, and so in I went to see him standing there with a half-eaten chocolate pudding container in his hand pointing ashamedly at the glob of pudding in the chair where in in mere moments his mother would be sitting .
I smiled and reassured him that it was not a problem.
And in reflecting on the moment, I realized, my kids had it really bad when I was trying to be a Dad.
I was uptight and every transgression deserved an equal and opposite reaction. I remember my favorite saying: "Accidents kill!" Which I frequently spoke when accidents happened.
Jeremy has since reminded me that breaking a glass "accidentally" in the house was tantamount to a death sentence. And he has also reminded me of the huge pile of dirt I had delivered for the gardens one summer and that I wouldn't let him enjoy with his trucks as I was transferring it load by wheel barrow load to the garden.
I had no sense of humor. I should have stopped and played in the dirt with him.
Being a grandfather has mellowed me a bit--I don't seem to get to worried about things that can be cleaned, fixed, or thrown away.
Wow, I wish I had been more of a grandfather when I was being a Dad.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday Musings - January 31, 2011
1. It is the last day of January 2011--it seems like just yesterday it was Thanksgiving. This year is taking flight just as quickly as 2010 did.
2. We had a family gathering to celebrate Nicole's birthday yesterday. It was good to have everyone together for the afternoon. It was funny how the noise level kept rising as we started shouting over each other. But the fun was in the gathering.
3. Although the temperatures were over freezing yesterday, I cannot see how any of the snow which ended up in my yard has melted.
4. Funny scene of the day: Jax in search of Ethan (who had gone out to the car for something) making the turn to head down into the yard without a coat on because he could not find his brother.
5. Ever notice how the next bad thing to happen in the world seems to come from out of nowhere--Egypt? I thought they were a lot more stable than it appears that they are.
6. Snow days--and time off because of snow. We had a rough week last week with the snow. Hopefully this week will be more normal. I get so far behind when the snow starts falling and we get some time off. I do like to sleep in, but I sure pay for it, double it seems.
7. Keswick Winery released the label with our picture on it for the Consensus Wine that the team we were on designed. The is being bottled today and tomorrow at the vineyard in Virginia. OK--it was cool to see myself of the label of a wine being bottled by a real winery and not by myself in my basement.
8. Note to self: summer tires are not for use during blizzards. OK, now if the 1,000 people in Baltimore who got stuck on the Jones Falls Expressway remember that, maybe it won't happen again during the next snowstorm.
2. We had a family gathering to celebrate Nicole's birthday yesterday. It was good to have everyone together for the afternoon. It was funny how the noise level kept rising as we started shouting over each other. But the fun was in the gathering.
3. Although the temperatures were over freezing yesterday, I cannot see how any of the snow which ended up in my yard has melted.
4. Funny scene of the day: Jax in search of Ethan (who had gone out to the car for something) making the turn to head down into the yard without a coat on because he could not find his brother.
5. Ever notice how the next bad thing to happen in the world seems to come from out of nowhere--Egypt? I thought they were a lot more stable than it appears that they are.
6. Snow days--and time off because of snow. We had a rough week last week with the snow. Hopefully this week will be more normal. I get so far behind when the snow starts falling and we get some time off. I do like to sleep in, but I sure pay for it, double it seems.
7. Keswick Winery released the label with our picture on it for the Consensus Wine that the team we were on designed. The is being bottled today and tomorrow at the vineyard in Virginia. OK--it was cool to see myself of the label of a wine being bottled by a real winery and not by myself in my basement.
8. Note to self: summer tires are not for use during blizzards. OK, now if the 1,000 people in Baltimore who got stuck on the Jones Falls Expressway remember that, maybe it won't happen again during the next snowstorm.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Smart Phone vs Tie Shoes
In a revealing story from Time magazine titled: The Way We Live Now: More Kids Can Work a Smart Phone Than Tie Their Shoes it becomes clear that kids are learning the ways of technology much faster than they are learning the basic things we need to be able to so to take care of ourselves.
The article goes on to write: And not being able to dress themselves isn't the only problem facing these tech-savvy little ones. According to Mobilized, "Tech skills are outpacing life skills in other areas as well. For example, more of the kids can open a Web browser than swim on their own, and more can play computer games than ride a bike."
The article goes on to write: And not being able to dress themselves isn't the only problem facing these tech-savvy little ones. According to Mobilized, "Tech skills are outpacing life skills in other areas as well. For example, more of the kids can open a Web browser than swim on their own, and more can play computer games than ride a bike."
Saturday, January 29, 2011
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