Monday Musings - Memorial Day May 31, 2010

1. Holiday weekends pass so quickly--and then it is back to the grind of daily living. It is good to have a respite to change up what we are about for a bit.

2. Note to self--wear sunscreen when driving for long periods in a convertible.

3. Flexibility in plans is the key ot a happy life. Don't get so wrapped up in what I thought I was going to be doing that I don't enjoy what I'm doing.

4. The distance between Elkridge and Ithaca varies by over an hour depending upon the time of day and day of weekend of the departure.

5. Confused priorities lie at the bottom of many controversy.

6. And here is a quote of the week for your consideration: "I was also going to give a graduation speech in Arizona this weekend, but with my accent, I was afraid they would try to deport me." -- Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of California, ribbing Arizona's new immigration law, in his commencement speech at Emory University in Atlanta.

7. Allowing diversity of thought and opinion is what sets this great Republic apart from so many other places during this time of radical conformism.

Bonfire Evening

Last evening we enjoyed a bonfire and smores in Ithaca. The sky was
clear and we sat around watching the night fall while keeping warm
around a bonfire.

We saw a couple shooting stars and a couple satellites as well as
identifying Venus and Mars and Saturn.

We were also treated to the emergence of some fireflys and heard a fox
barking in the nearby field.

And so summer is officially underway.

Trev and Cat

We have Cat out for it's first road trip this weekend. I can't begin
to tell you how it pains me to put all of the miles on it, but it sure
is fun to drive.

Trevar thoroughly enjoyed his trip in Cat. Radio up full blast with
the wind in his hair.

Makayla enjoyed riding with the top down, too. She was leaning ony
shoulder with her nose just below the windshield cruising down the
interstate.

So far it has been a great holiday weekend. Still haven't made it to a
floatie in the pool with a beer in my hand--but I will.

Summer Pool Fun

It finally happened on Wednesday evening before I went to see the Orioles lose (again).

I made my initial entry into the pool for the 2010 Summer Season!!!!

Yup, I braved the chill and hits the surf, so to speak.

I had just finished brushing Makayla (outside) and it was really warm and i was hot and sweaty. A perfect time to check out the pool--

And I did.

It was awesome! So awesome that I grabbed a floatie and took a nap for about 30 minutes.

Yes, it's baaaaaaaack!

Since I was heading off to an Orioles game, I left the beer in the fridge, but clear water, the light smell of chlorine in the afternoon and lying on a floatie in the pool listening to the birds play in the trees.

It doesn't get much better than that!

Memorial Day Weekend

Well--even though astronomically it hasn't happened yet and won't happen for another almost four weeks--the official start of Summer is here!

Yup--Memorial Day.

Break out the pools, the grills, the bikes, the Summer fun equipment because we are gonna have a party.

Memorial Day, although with somber beginnings, has become the start of the Summer season. Many municipal pools open on this weekend--and around here they should be fairly cold given the weather we have been having right up until this week.

A lot of people have forgotten the reason that Memorial (or Decoration) Day was established. Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 31 in 2010). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the Civil War), it was expanded after World War I.

And so from this somber remembrance, we also enjoy the start of a summertime season that includes Independence Day and ends on Labor Day in early September. More than 92 days of heat, travel, vacationing, and sunburn.

Take a moment though on Monday, to remember our fallen heroes--the men and women of the military services from all of America's wars who died while in service to this great Republic.

I will be traveling--so I am sure to enjoy spending time with family and friends this weekend. We are going to do a test run with Cat--to see if we really want to pack ourselves into the car for a long ride to Florida in July. I wonder how Makayla will do riding with the top down?

Don't be Afraid

I'm going to circle around to the Monday Musing today and explore that phrase I learned on Friday night:

"The entire world is a narrow bridge, but the main thing is not to fear" - Rabbi Nachman of Bretzslav.

Fear is after all the one thing that really paralyzes us when we let it.

These words by the Rabbi are similar to those of Jesus when he said:

Do not let your hearts be distressed. - John 14:1 NET Bible

The exhortations to "not be afraid" or "do not be afraid" are rampant throughout the Bible--and it is good advice. Hard to do, but good advice.

When I get paralyzed by fear, I am not only hopeless, but I am helpless. I become unable to act or react properly to the situation.

Yet, if I can hang onto my wits just a bit--I can react. And in the face of overwhelming odds, there is only one way not to be paralyzed by fear--and that is to trust in the Lord, who is bigger than any obstacle.

So the Rabbi had it right--the world is a narrow bridge which seems too narrow to cross if we actually look at the bridge. I've noticed that when I am trying to walk on a line or even a curb that if I look down at it, I lose balance. I find I need to keep my eyes up and looking forward and then I can easily follow the line or the curb without losing my balance.

Now imagine a narrow path over the world which is far below--looking down, I would get vertigo and be afraid of falling--but if I keep my eye on the horizon--I don't notice how far up above the world the bridge is and I am not afraid.

The Royal Gorge in Colorado is a great demonstration of this principle. The bridge is 955 feet above the Arkansas River--and if you don't think that is a long way down--you have never been there. But don't look down--and you won't be afraid.

That's the thing about fear--don't look at the object of the hear, but look above or around it.

So on the narrow bridge of life--do not be afraid--don't look down; look up.

Oil and Politics: Food for Thought

I heard something pretty unbelievable the other day--and while it was true, the context needed to be wrapped around it a little.

I heard that of all the senators in the past 20 years, Obama while he was a senator received the most in campaign contributions from BP Oil.

While this is true--here is the context.

"During his time in the Senate and while running for president, Obama received a total of $77,051 from the oil giant and is the top recipient of BP PAC and individual money over the past 20 years, according to financial disclosure records."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36783.html#ixzz0oq4L5CbC

Now, does receiving $77,000 while in the Senate contribute to a lax response against BP in the oil spill follies? I'm not sure. But if you read the article, BP spends a lot of money contributing to the political leadership of our country. In fact the article says $3.5 million. Obama received about 2% of those donations. When compared to $3.5 million, is $77,000 really that much?

It is a bit hard to conceive--that the candidates accept money from all of these interest groups and are not expected to provide anything in return. Really? Really?

So here is where I wind up--yeah the statement is true, he did receive the most--but in the overall scheme, is it really that much? Slinging the fact around without the context makes it sound much worse than it is.

The bigger issue is--who got the remainder of the $3.5 million and is that why BP can take its time to clean up the mess while an ecological disaster continues virtually unchecked? Are all of our politicians on the dole from the oil lobby?

Monday Musings - May 24, 2010

1. May has surely rocketed by--Memorial Day weekend is coming and I still haven't been brave enough to get into the pool. It has been too cold.

2. It was a graduation weekend--we spent time celebrating the achievements of a very special woman who is bound for grad school and ultimately who knows what. Go Danielle!

3. And the wedding approaches!

4. The guys survived the bachelor party--so one hurdle is crossed, next up? Rehearsal dinner in less than four weeks.

5. I wonder what the deer in my back yard was thinking last evening as I came around the side of the house with Makayla (fortunately) on a leash. But she didn't move--until we walked closer and then she just went into the woods with her traveling bud. Who both stood there until I actually crossed from the yard into the woods.

6. The wrens are back and furiously building a nest, again, in my portable heater.

7. I have a very big presentation today. I don't sleep well the night before big events--presentations, traveling, weddings. Maybe I need to be a bit sleep deprived to be on my toes.

8. The Orioles lost again. Not unusual for this season.

9. Yesterday was a two car battery day. I was able to save and recharge Jeremy's car battery; but had to replace Chris' battery. It had five years on it anyway. Batteries are getting expensive.
10. So if I buy water front property on the Gulf Coast will I be able to open an oil refinery on my beach?

11. I learned something uplifting at Shabbos on Friday night: "The Entire World is a Narrow Bridge, But the Main Thing is Not to Fear" - Rabbi Nachman of Bretzslav. We sang a song with those words and they stuck with me.

Afternoon with the Bride and Groom

Chris and Tina Selecting Linen

We spent and thoroughly enjoyable early afternoon yesterday with the Bride and Groom finishing up some of the last items in advance of the wedding.

We were able to sample the food and drink which will be served at the reception and spend some absolutely awesome quality time with the two of them and were able to offer some prospective on the decisions they were making.


We were also able to get another view of the reception hall--I decided I want to make it my living room. The views of the harbor are stunning. I was reminded of how awesome a location they selected for their wedding and that as the day finally dawns, it is going to be one filled with enjoyment and celebration.

Patrick Gaining Perspective

Our lives get so busy sometimes that we do not get spend quality "alone" time with the couples very often and so it is especially meaningful when we do. Yesterday was that couple on couple alone time that is especially special when it happens. Where we experience each other on a very personal level and all come away better for the experience.

Patrick was playing with a new camera lens--and so he was experiencing the whole idea of perspective--it was fun to watch him and he took some really interesting pictures--including of the table napkins.

And the hours slipped by so quickly. I am always awed by how quickly time passes when I am engaged in something interesting and enjoyable. Of course we ate the entire time, but we talked and had a lovely time meeting the wedding coordinator and getting a couple more things accomplished in preparation for the coming celebration.

Kids, Dogs and Tee-Ball Saturdays

So how many adults does it take to go to an late-morning Tee-ball game?

That depends upon what is being dragged along.

Last Saturday Chris and I were watching Jax and Ethan while their parents were out of town. And one of our tasks was to get E to get his tee-ball team picture taken at 9:40 am followed by his game at 10:30 am.

Sounds easy, right?

Hold on there tenderfoot!

It all went smoothly at the house--breakfast, dressing for the game, getting ready to go. But then a moment of panic set in. The dogs! Yes, Makayla and Flo(rence) usually accompany us to the games, too.

And somewhere in there we realized we didn't have a clue where the field was that pictures were being taken. Of course it was not the same field or even complex where the game was being played.

Another level of complexity just asking to be part of the mix.

I could see it now--two dogs, two children and two adults. It just did not add up.

And fortunately, we did the math before we left the house.

I determined, through an intuitive grasp of the obvious, that each child AND each animal required one adult for proper supervision. As there were two adults in this parade, two of something had to remain behind. Since at least one child was necessary--he was the participant in the activities and the other requires constant supervision; it was determined that the dogs would remain behind.

Both Chris and I did the math one more time, because really, we would have enjoyed the dogs.

But, as it turned out we both agreed on the answer and the dogs did not accompany us.

Which was a real good thing. Mass pandemonium ensued at the picture stop and not having dogs to amuse allowed us to amuse Jax at the game.

And so the answer to the question is:

One adult is required per kid or dog in attendance.