2017: 55% of Enterprises Use Private Clouds

A bit of work-life reminiscing tonight thanks to an Intel article I ran across.  Made me smile inside at how far ahead of the times we were.  I guess I might even have laughed a bit too knowing how far behind the times they are now ... still working and building a government mentality environment and doing stupid things.

We built a Citrix based private cloud in or about 2005 and 2006 - adding our first remote field office in April of 2006 (I think the years are correct - I was debriefed as I went into retirement and pledged to forget about the work life, thus, they may be off a bit).  The point is, no one else understood or believed in the vision until several years later, and then they thought they knew it all and wanted to build things their way...  building things the same way they use to, and it still isn't smart or right.

Nevertheless, we, me and a select few of my staff with the complete support of "Marvin", that saw my vision, we built our own private cloud, saved money and proved it could work.  Here we are 10 plus years later and only about half of all enterprises get it and built it.... my old work environment is still muddling along, so I hear, all wrapped up in government red tape, doing things with the mentality they always had, without the vision and foresight.  But, I'm as happy as if I were a famous explorer or pioneer like Marco Polo, Daniel Boone, or Neil Armstrong.  We led the way, as the first 1% to step forward and build it.

Worth Thinking About and Remembering

The post I just read on Facebook is not worth a simple “Share”, it’s worth saving so it can be easily referred back to without haven’t to search through the drama and trash found throughout social media.  I hope you read it to the end and then take the time to think about when Ben Stein penned and shared on Facebook.  It’s copied here just so I know where to go find it... it’s that profound.  I hope it helps us both play a bigger part in making this a better world.

Ben Stein’s Facebook post...
Ben Stein:  Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as Holiday Trees for the first time this year, which prompted Ben Stein, to say, on CBS Sunday Morning,

My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a nativity scene, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorist attacks, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.
Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what a bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

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Merry Christmas

What is this he asked...

Have you ever been talking to someone and they are telling you the same story they've told you before?  Perhaps they have repeatedly asked the same question multiple times.  Does it drive you insane, or do you just go with the flow?  What actually amuses me is when someone is telling me how it drives them crazy when so-in-so keeps telling them the same story over and over ....  and they do exactly the same thing.  I probably do too.

I had a story passed along to me in an email today, I thought it was worth sharing ... perhaps as a reminder to slow down and relax.  I know I have personally felt a difference over the years with those I interact with, and not for the better.   So, I share as food for thought, it's stuff like this that will make this a better world if we all could just chill a bit, and show some respect for others.

The author is unknown, but that doesn't change the story....

An 80-year-old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45 years old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window.

The Father asked his Son, “What is this?” The Son replied, “It is a crow”. After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, “What is this?” The Son said “Father, I have just now told you “It’s a crow”. After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time, What is this?”

At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the Son’s tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. “It’s a crow, a crow”.A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time, “What is this?”

This time the Son shouted at his Father, “Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times ‘IT IS A CROW’. Are you not able to understand this?”

A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary:

“Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa when a crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child”.

While the little child asked him 23 times “What is this”, the Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.

So..

If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be cool, obedient, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to your parents.From today say this aloud, “I want to see my parents happy forever. They have cared for me ever since I was a little child. They have always showered their selfless love on me.

They crossed all mountains and valleys without seeing the storm and heat to make me a person presentable in the society today”. Say a prayer to God, “I will serve my old parents in the BEST way. I will say all good and kind words to my dear parents, no matter how they behave.

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Ya, I'm Tired

Doesn't this say it all ....

.... I'm sick of depression

The Right To and The Ability To Are Two Different Things

I originally made this post on Facebook. As much as I want to stay out of this political conversation, or whatever kind of conversation you wish to refer to it as, we are being sucked into it whichever way we turn. I hope to post it here so others may read and know where I see things. Here's what I previously posted:

"The Patriots and the NFL as a whole have lost a large piece of their fan base.

The very flag players are disrespecting is the very flag many families have, as a legacy, of their fallen soldier.

There are a time and place for everything... there is no place ever for disrespecting our flag. Don't confuse your freedom of speech with saying or doing whatever you want whenever you want for whatever excuse you want to use to justify your inappropriate actions."

As a follow-up, I'd like to add that those that served our country, including me, did so to protect the rights we have, including your right to Free Speech and Peaceful Protest. Today, NBC released a poll that said 51% of Americans agreed that players had the right to take a knee during the playing of the National Anthem. At first, that made me sick... then, twisting the scenario, I agree. The players do have that right. I also agree that 100% of them have the right to be suspended or fired for conduct unbecoming of a professional athlete. If I owned the team, they would have been fired after the first warning. The right does not mean you should, not on my time.

Can't Wait Until I'm 21

A friend's posted Facebook post requesting that people who had previously been smokers and subsequently quit, to post a comment about when and how they quit.

I quit November 11, 1982, five months before my third child was born.  It was at least the third or fourth time I tried to quit, and quit I did.

Here's my abbreviated response about quitting:

I tried going cold turkey - Fail
I tried hypnosis - worked for a few weeks
Saw a commercial on TV November 11, 1982 - Quit Cold

I was 32 years old, have smoked for who knows, 12 or 14 years, 1-2 packs a day

Laying on my couch doing some work reading, TV on... I reached to the coffee table to pick up the pack of Marlboro. The commercial starts with a close up of a guy, probably 10 years older than my age. As the camera pans back to see all of him holding a birthday cake with candles burning.... he says: paraphrased: today is my birthday. I'm 18 today (he obviously was a lot older)... it was 18 years ago today I had my final surgery to remove lung cancer from my body. Then he blows out the candles and says: I can't wait until I'm 21. I believe the commercial was sponsored by American Lung Association, not positive about that.... but the message was clear.... smoking caused lung cancer and it kills. I squeezed the pack of Marlboro and have never had a cigarette since. All I thought was... I'm going to live to see my kids grow up.

Since then, I've had 5 more kids (7 total) and so far have 4 grandchildren and expect to see more.

It's an addiction and will quit when your inner self says, today is the day. Good luck, it's hard without a real "why". What's your "why"?

Can't wait until I'm 29

What's your "why"?

No Help at WalMart, but Javianne is the Exception

Getting help at Walmart Chicopee, MA or nearly ANY Walmart is normally just a horrid experience.  Last nights visit started out as a WalMart norm.  The 1% milk cooler was empty ... looking through the doors, I could see cases of 1% milk sitting there.  There were several of us customers standing around looking and waiting for someone that worked there to come by so they could help us.  That didn't happen.  I waited nearly 5 minutes, several others walked away.  I looked through the cooler doors again and finally saw someone inside... on his phone, earbuds in, texting away.  He did look up once but ignored my gestures to come closer.  When I went to the cooler door, he walked away like he didn't see me or care.

I headed to the front of the store towards customer service, I walked away myself last time this happened, but not tonight. When I passed another worker stocking cheese, all I could so is shake my head.  As I approached all I could see was this guy bent over a box with his pants below his green skivvies, and I mean below his skivvies, so I made a "presumption" he had the same mental capacity as the dude in the cooler. I thought,this guy lacks care and common sense (not to mention his pants are falling off)... his lack of personal appearance and WalMart's apparent not caring how employees appear to their customers just pissed me off, as customers, we deserve better.  These guys are probably two of the ones protesting for $15.00/hour.   I went on looking for someone in management.

As I approached the Customer Service counter, which appeared to be closed, it was about 10:30 pm or so, a young lady came out met me and asked if she could help.  I explained I was trying to get 1% milk but the cooler was empty and those working were inattentive... before I got much further, she repeated 1% and asked if the WalMart Great Value brand was what I was looking for.  I hardly got yes out and she said I'll get it for you and off she went.  A few minutes later, the smiling, helpful young lady returned, milk in hand.

She seemed a bit embarrassed when I asked for her name (her hair covered her name tag) and with a bit of a dialect and my loss of hearing on my part, I didn't understand "Javianne".  I said I was going to write up my experience with her and thanked her for her assistance.  Sheepishly she smiled and said thank you and was off to help someone at another register.

I got checked out and realized my CRS kicked in (Can't Remember Shit), so I went over to ask her if I could take a picture of her name tag... totally embarrassed now, she said sure and pronounced her name to me yet again.

I don't know if WalMart needs more like her or if she needs to be at a company that cares about customer service like she showed me ... I think the later would be the best for her.  Either way, she made WalMart look good in the end.  Kudos to you Javianne.

You know all those links you can click on Facebook that is supposed to tell you something...  who your best friend is...  who your partners in crime are... how well you can spell or know about geography.  Today I clicked on one "What is written about you"?  I was surprised at how accurate I felt the results were, but it still made me feel sad...

I try

The Penny Hoarder's "Save $1,000 Challenge"

This post will take me a year to write.  We all know how Facebook fills our timeline with ad after ad since that is more important to them than the post my friends make the should be on my timeline.  After all, it is all about money.  This particular ad spoke about how to save $1K and stop living paycheck to paycheck in Massachusetts (must be they knew our name should be Taxachusetts)

Captured from my Facebook timeline on 4/28/2017

Clicking on the ad took you to this page (I'm including the full-length URL):  https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/jobs-making-money/how-to-save-money-when-youre-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/?aff_id=44&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid&aff_sub3=Paycheck_420MassachusettsD_6

I read the article and accepted the challenge - save $1K over the next year.  I could easily make the monthly deposits it suggest, starting with $5.00 the first month (although their recommended online bank to use requires a minimum $10.00 opening deposit), oops.

So, today, April 2017 will be my first month following their plan.  I expect to earn the funds each month, trying to follow some of their suggestions.  I'll document where the money is coming from as I go.  The first $10 is coming out of my pocket if I ever get this account opened at Aspiration.com.  Seems much longer than opening a normal bank account and asking questions that actually make me a little leery, but, oh well, I'll go after the Penny Hoarder if this isn't legit.  Since I have to link the Aspiration account to an existing bank account, it is going to take a few days via the little deposit thing they do since none of my banks were listed on their pages.  So, until the deposits are confirmed, we'll wait, I'll see you in a few days.

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April 28, 2017 update
The 2 minimal deposits hit my normal bank account today...  I logged back into the Aspiration Bank to continue on with the process.  As serval more pages of input and questions, I have again been told to wait a couple more days as my part II of the application is processed.  Talk about a slow train to China.  So, I wait a few more days.

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May 9th, 2017 update
My account at Aspiration is finally open and the initial $10.00 has been deposited.  It's not that it was hard or painful....  it was just slow as heck to get the account opened.  Here are the cool things.  The account pays interest, as minuscule as it is, it is still more than my 0% interest at my local bank....  I get a debit card to access my funds with a 0 cost ATM use, I like the sounds of that, however, I don't expect to use it, the goal of this exercise is to bank $1,000 within a year.  If I wanted to, by using their app for iOS or Android, as I can with most banks, I could deposit a check directly into my Aspiration account....  or, I can just do a bank to bank transfer from my local bank.  Now I am just waiting for my Scentsy pay notice for the month, should be today or tomorrow and then I'll make the May deposit as the PennyHoarder suggested.

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as an aside to the post...
Don't think you have the funds to save $1,000, check out the links below, 
I'll guide you through with the way I do it...  let's talk!

With eyes wide open, join me in my Scentsy adventure,
Positive thoughts by positive people

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Looking through the Windshield

I have had so many thoughts over the past few years, especially since I retired, thinking of the events in my life... the people in my life... and most importantly, what to do next.  I've run the full gambit, thinking everything from complete failure to one of many successes, from a friend, mentor, and teacher to being a pawn just used by others.  I guess there have been instances of all.  I have mentally worked hard to get past the negative thoughts so I could move forward and really feel accomplished. I've only always wanted to be a positive influence and make a difference to those I interact with. That's been hard to do, until tonight I hope.  I hope Joel Osteen just gave me the words I needed to hear.

The small image of the past is not as important of the wide open space ahead of us

I have to paraphrase, but he spoke of how always looking at the past limits our ability to move forward to the future.  It limits us from becoming all we can be.  My thinking has been that I needed to know how I did, to know whether I was on the right path or not.  Joel talked about looking in the rear view mirror while we drove.  Can you imagine how far we would get if that's where we looked most of the time?  He commented on how the rear view mirror was very small and the windshield was very large.  It's much more important that we spend most of our time looking through the bigger view of a windshield so we can see where we are going and all the possibilities of where we could go, rather than on that little rear view mirror to see where we had already been.  There is a subliminal reason the windshield is so much bigger.

Just as in life, my focus, our focus, needs to be on what is in front of us.  I'm not perfect and I've made mistakes,  but I've also led a life full of positives and success and I'm not done looking and moving forward.  It's time to spend more time of what might be, rather than on what was.  Join me as we move on to the fulfilled life God planned for us.

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With eyes wide open, join me in my Scentsy adventure,
Positive thoughts by positive people

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Burned Again With A Free Trial I Didn't Know I Had

I certainly am not the first to write about "free trials", but nevertheless, I'm sick of being taken advantage of by companies that offer 'free trails" and then continue to take your money when they know you are not using their product or service...  they don't care as long as your money becomes theirs.  I'd like to think of it under the guise of "theft by deception".  Companies need to be accountable and become honest and trustworthy.

I just discovered I've been taken advantage of, in my opinion, by NetFlix and their DVD.com Service free trial. Unfortunately, I can't even tell how long this has been going on, they only keep a payment history for 12 months, so I need to research my own bank records going back before that. I don't ever recall asking for the trial, I think it came automatically, for free, when I subscribed to NetFlix.  I have never, ever, rented or used the NetFlix DVD Service...  EVER.

Nevertheless, I'm sure DVD.com, NetFlix and others that use the free trial come on, along with numerous others that sell subscription serviced products are doing so with a clear corporate conscious, after all, they'll show you it's all written out in the fine print and legalese, somewhere. Many have written on this issue and have offered suggestions of how to protect yourself.  Easier said than done.

We all should do all that has been suggested, but what about the companies themselves?  I am more on the side of less regulation, but, in this case, I think we need to hold companies to task, make sure they are honorable, trusting, and, looking out for the customers who don't have the time, resources, and sometimes, wherefore all, to know what they should be looking for.

From the Federal Trade Commission

Read more from the FTC by clicking << here >>

All well and good, but I'm all for putting some requirements on the company.  Using my experience with DVD.com, a NetFlix company, that apparently was for DVD rentals for $7.99/month plus $0.50 tax as an example.  I never rented a DVD (or even knew I could).  So far, all I have been able to determine is that they have been charging me for more than a year, month after month.  Why couldn't they be required to confirm with me, or any customer, after a certain amount of non-use of the service, verify if I wanted to continue being and customer before being charged further?  Why not a 2 month or a 3 month limit of non-use to cause the agreement is automatically terminate and charges stopped?  Why not create a simple, easy to find cancel button?  Another company, Sirus XM, requires their customers to call to cancel...  you can not write, email, click a button, you must call, when they are open and it is convenient to them.

When you hear about free trial legislation, support it....  better yet, write your representatives.

The Gift of Yourself

inspired by findings in things my dad left behind...

There is nothing better you can do than the gifting of yourself to others

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Make It Up

Today I began tackling a task I have put off for years, going through boxes of papers my father left behind.  I know where I got my "save everything" lifestyle.  The good thing is the memories that have been stirred up, the pictures I've found, WWII memories and stuff I'm not sure why he saved it.  Someone may say that one day about me too.  

This is a poem I found, prettied up for presentation here:

This is what I found in my dad's papers:

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Handwritten Thank You Notes - what a concept

When was the last time you sent someone sent you a thank you note?  More importantly, when was the last time you sent someone a handwritten thank you note?

It seems that taking the time to write a thank you has become a lost artifact from yesteryear.  Why is that?  Is life today just too fast paced and digitalized, we don't have the time?  Maybe the reality is that we don't take the time.

Think back to the last time someone actually took the time to sit and hand write you to express appreciation for something you might have done for them.  Thanks for a birthday gift, for helping them on an assignment they were having trouble with, for being their friend, or just because they care.  The list of reason why is longer than the endless list of excuses we may use not to.  Just think how you'd feel if you received a genuine moment of appreciation.

I challenge you to but a box of note cards the next time you visit the grocery store, pharmacy or department store.  A small box of 6 or more, and give it a try.  It might be to give thanks for something someone did for you years ago, giving thanks is just as important today, for both you and the recipient.

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No Matter How Good It Is

A situation beyond my control hit home this week.

No matter how good it is, no matter how you are working at life, things can still jump up and slap you in the face.  No matter how hard you dream and hope that things will be better and enjoyable as they were, another's action can zap your strength and hope away.  

I need to step away, not share the details, just focus regain control and reach out in faith... a faith I lost and need to find it again, so I step away.

Keep me in mind, I want nothing more than to enjoy time with you.

Support Your Team, but to what extent?

As I write, I'm sitting in Orlando, Florida, a long way from my home in western Massachusetts, listening to morning talk radio.  I always thought of Florida as that warm, sunny place in the south where oranges grow and northerners move to when they are tired of the snow and cold.  The home of northern transplants.  As we are less than two weeks away from the next Super Bowl game, I'd say, there are few fans and supporters of the New England Patriots around here.  Wow!  Anybody but New England.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots

I guess that is what happens when you are part of what might be referred to as a professional football dynasty.  What is this, the 7th time Brady and the Patriots are making a trip to the big show in recent football history?  Only the 2nd time in franchise history for the Atlanta Falcons, seeking their first ever NFL title.  Nevertheless, the talk on the radio was not about the Falcons, it was all about the hate of Brady and the Patriots.  Why?

Why don't we celebrate those who are the best at what they do rather than knock down the very elitist  of the bunch?  Whether it be sports, business or just friends?  Most who read this will not know who Robert Griffin III or Mike Smith are, or, how about one of my personal friends, Bjorn Aberg?  You probably don't know them, but they are, or were, a few the very best athletes in the world, buy you've never heard of them.  Why? because we only focus on the very, very best and many work to knock those few down.  Why?  I don't know, I don't get it and in my opinion, that's pretty stupid.  I guess because they are the money guys and they are better than your home town heroes.

Come on folks, it's a game.  Granted a big money game for the investors and owners, but it is still a game that is meant to entertain, not cause hate and discontent.  Celebrate their greatness.  Celebrate their abilities.  Learn to copy the work ethic of most of them and be the best you can be, at what ever it is you do.

Bjorn Aberg
1992 Albertville Olympics

By the way, Robert Griffin III is an elite NFL football quarterback.  One of the best in the world, calling the plays for the Cleveland Browns for most of the 2016 season.  True, as a team, they didn't have a great year, but who else do you know that is good enough to be in the top 32 quarterback in the world to lead an NFL team? As a goalie parent, I know well how fans feel about hockey goalies.  When a goal is scored, it's likely the goalies fault...  NOT necessarily.  Mike Smith is a goalie with the Arizona Coyotes in the National Hockey league.  Mike minds the net for the team with the worst record in the 30 team NHL...  As a team that are struggling badly, but Smith has a very respectable .915 save percentage and has won his last 2 games in net for Arizona, he's one of the best goalies in the world.  My friend Bjorn, who I worked with before I retired from Evergreen, Colorado, was one of 47 skiers in the world who qualified for and skied in the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France for Team Sweden.  Should be enough said, that when you are one of only 47 people in the world good enough to ski in the Olympics, enough said.  Bjorn qualified for the gold medal round by placing 10th in the trials.  He told me, if you are not #1 or #2, it's just like doing a job you love....  All the money is being #1 or #2....  despite his falling in the second run for the gold medal and finishing 16th overall....  Bjorn is a #1 class act guy in my book, he was good enough to be there.  Love your team and your heroes for their abilities.

If we were only that good.  What if we just set out to praise expertise and encourage those trying.  Cheer when our teams wins, shake hands as good sports when they don't.

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Never, ever, forgets nice how amazing you are and can be!

Giving Thanks

Have you ever been frustrated, mad, or upset with the way things are?  How about the way people are?  I have.  Have you ever posted a rant or a story about what made you upset on Facebook or Twitter?  I have.  Nevertheless, it really didn't help me with the problem.  In fact, it may have allowed the original problem to become a bigger problem.  A becoming a bigger problem means people now may be looking at me as a winner, bitcher, complainer, or someone trying to deflect the problem rather than resolve it.  Been there, done that.

Ever notice how the news is always negative and stirs up emotions, even if the news if fake or false?  Why is there so much negativity and why must we share it?  Why must we respond?  I think because of emotions.  I think, we think, it will make us feel better if others agree with our negative feelings and or feel sorry for us.  Well, I use to think that, now, most the time, I don't think people really care at all about the rants, bitching or complaining.  A few really do care, they don't judge us, and are there for us.  Others are too into themselves and don't really care, whatever.

Want to really begin to feel better for the right reasons, give thanks.  Give thanks to others in need, despite what they are doing, or what their circumstances are.  That might be hard if they are one that you felt has wronged you, easier for those you don't even know.  Sometimes it will go unnoticed by anyone but you.  You'll know you did right, despite all else, and that will bring good feelings inside, because you did it for the right reason.  Life is too short to go the human emotional route, what a waste of time and effort, none of which you can ever get back.

If you start doing things selfishly, with only you in mind, you won't feel it and you won't make a difference because others will know that deep inside, you still just did it for you.  If you do it because it's the right thing to do, without the need for reward, you will step forward as a better person.  Ever pay a grocery bill for someone that really looks like they are in need?  Try it.  Ever pay (and maybe even pump the gas) for an elderly person that could use the care and help?  Try it.  I don't give money to panhandlers, too many crooks and fakes essentially stealing from those in legitimate need.

My dad often repeated an old saying that goes something like "too soon we get old, to late we get smart".  As I have gotten older, I realized all the time I wasted not listening and learning...  just as he said.  In many ways, life would have been easier, happier, and more fulfilling if I had given more and taken less.  If I had focused more and concentrated less.

On the other hand, it is NEVER too late to start, the old, the frustrations, the negative feeling can all vanish if we just start giving and being happy.  Renewal is possible.

It will be a good year, especially as I give thanks.

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Never, ever, forget how amazing you are and can be!

The New Mary Had a Little Lamb

This poem crossed my desk, the author is unknown to me, nevertheless, I felt it worth sharing with all to read...

The New Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb,
His fleece was white as snow,
And everywhere that Mary went,
The Lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school one day,
Twasn't against the rule,
He made the children laugh and play,
To have a lamb at school.

And then the rules changed one day,
Illegal it became,
To bring the Lamb of God to school,
Or even speak his name.

Every day got worse and worse,
And days turned into years,
Instead of hearing children laugh,
We only heard shots from guns followed by the tears.

What must we do to stop the crime,
That's in our schools today?
Let's let the Lamb come back to school,
And teach our kids to pray.

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Never, ever, forget how amazing you are and can be!