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Showing posts from 2010

Movie Review: Pans Labyrinth4

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4.5 out of 5 stars "And it is said that the Princess returned to her father's kingdom. That she reigned there with justice and a kind heart for many centuries. That she was loved by her people. And that she left behind small traces of her time on Earth, visible only to those who know where to look." This was the ending line in what I wasn't sure was going to be a good movie. The movie I am referring to here is Pan's Labyrinth. It came out in 2006 and was supposedly a child's fantasy movie, although, I would be hard pressed to show this to any children I know. I think kids would be scared to watch such a film and may have nightmares, but who knows. I would give this movie 4 out of 5 stars and say that it definitely was a sleeper that may have been missed. I felt compelled to write about this movie, in particular, because of the last line of the movie. You see I have been struggling with the idea of purpose. Lately my head has been running around with

Dating etiquette

Okay so I went on a Christmas party/housewarming on Friday night. I am assuming I was accompanying this person as eye candy, Why else would you bring me?  Being the new Salt Daddy of San Diego, I am great to look at and talk with, but there isn't much else there. We went to the store and picked up some wine and a housewarming gift. We arrived at the party at about 9pm and proceeded to get introduced to a butt-load of people whom I will never remember because I SUCK with names. You might as well be walking around with a name badge on the first time I meet you because, names don't stick the first time I meet you.  (Note to self: this could be a great way to remember all my nameless one night stands.  Put a name badge on their forehead when they fall asleep and pull it off just before they wake up or I have to send them on their way in a cab). Anyhow, we made our way to the kitchen and my date and I poured ourselves some wine and made our way to a comfy spot on the couch.

Giving Thanks and acceptance

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Many of you know that I have been having a rough time for the past three (to six months depending on who you ask ) months. Life has thrown questions my way and made me question everything. It wasn't until recently that I began to realize that life is not certain, and it is not fair. We see this everyday in everything around us, someone dies unexpectedly or some executive makes off with millions of hard working peoples money. Last night I went to see Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Some think its a kids movie, but truth is the series is about believing in yourself and understanding as you move forward, your worst fears will step into your path. Its our jobs to move past those fears and step into who we are destined to become...daily. See life is a journey, not a destination. We continually grow and sometimes way beyond what we ever thought we could possible do. C.S. Lewis, in my humbled opinion, was teaching us to love ourselves and accept who we a

Monday Humor

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This is from my mom. I love her so much. These are old but good Collie + Lhasa apso = Collapso, a dog that folds up for easy transport. Spitz + Chow Chow = Spitzchow, a dog that throws up a lot. Pointer + Setter = Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet. Great Pyrenees + Dachshund = Pyradachs, a puzzling breed. Pekingese + Lhasa Apso = Peekasso, an abstract dog. Irish Water Spaniel + English Springer Spaniel = Irish Springer, a dog fresh and clean as a whistle. Labrador Retriever + Curly Coated Retriever = Lab Coat Retriever, the preferred dog of medical and science professionals. Newfoundland + Basset Hound = Newfound Asset Hound, the dog of choice for financial advisers. Terrier + Bulldog = Terribull, a bad dog, bad, bad dog. Bloodhound + Labrador = Blabador, a dog that can't keep a secret. Malamute + Pointer = Moot Point, a dog that.....well, it doesn't really matter. Collie + Malamute = Commute, a dog that travels to work. Deerhound + Terrier = Derriere, a dot that's

Insomnia or something else...

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Lately I seem to find myself fallin asleep rather quickly (when I do go to bed). The problem is that I wake up after several hours of sleep. For example last night, I went to bed at 11:30 and woke up this morning at 3:57am. I am of course very tired when i wake up, but after turning on a light and reading and brushing my teeth, I wake up. I have to admit that having cats is not helping the situation. My beautiful pepper loves to wake me up at about 4:00 to 4:15 every morning, mostly to let me know she loves me, but in other cases is is to let me know she is hungry. After I feed her and give her some loving, she normally finds a place in the living room to curl up to and falls asleep. My problem is that I can't go back to sleep. Maybe it is a sign of old age. I know that exercise helps me sleep, however, it doesn't keep me asleep. Some mornings I will sleep to 7 or 8, but for the most part early is the new black in my house. The good news is that it hasn't happened f

As the times do try us...

There are lights in our mist. People that pay attention to you even though you don't know they are there. Friends who care about us, even when we are at our darkest points. All you have to do is reach out to them Last night I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Marshall Crawford. He has been a friend on facebook for almost a year and we have had conversations back and forth regarding life and what not. He had been reading my posts and noticed they changed from good to melancholy to downright miserable. You see this year has been the most trying year of my life, as I am sure it has been for many people. I know friends that are losing their houses and having to declare bankruptcy. There are tough times currently and still ahead, but it is our attitude that takes us away from the despair. My situation is no different. I have been working in a particular industry for many years and have loved what I have done, however, this year, the business fell out from under me. On average I a

Fitness facts

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Okay so I am going back to my personal training roots a bit here. I wake up pretty early every morning, well almost. I am privy to the endless barrage of fitness commercials and the claims that they seem to be purporting. Its amazing what advertising can convince people to do or to buy. Part of the reason that I got my bachelors degree in Exercise Science was to debunk the myths that exist and to get people exercising. I agree there is power in advertising in that it is visually appealing and can get you motivated, however, there are misconceptions that exist out there. One of them being that one particular exercise form is better than another. I watched 3 different commercials this morning and they all use the same catch phrases. One of the big ones is "Burns up to 1000 calories an hour," Really? I am a cyclist and ride hard core, moderate and relatively easy rides on an almost daily basis. I can tell you that I burn 1000 calories an hour whether my heart rate is 190 or 160.

i know money isn't everything...

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but it helps make it in this world. I am thankful I at least have $30 bucks to my name. My next actual work is not until the end of january...ouch. I guess I will have to put my car note and rent on hold again...again. its tough times for all out there. I can tell you that if I were a millionaire, I would give my money away to the ones that needed it and educate them on how to manage funds better... today this is how i feel... [youtube http://youtube.com/w/?v=8aRor905cCw] I wanna be a billionaire so fricking bad Buy all of the things I never had Uh, I wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen [Chorus] Oh every time I close my eyes I see my name in shining lights A different city every night oh I swear the world better prepare For when I’m a billionaire Yeah I would have a show like Oprah I would be the host of, everyday Christmas Give Travie a wish list I’d probably pull an Angelina and Brad Pitt And adopt a bunch of babies that ain’t never had sh-t G

the truth is...

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Image from http://www.kellerarts.com/illustration.html I know I should be embracing my diversity. When I say diversity, I mean the fact that I love everything. Catch me on a certain day and I love photography and that is my thing for the moment. Another day, it may be listening to and sharing music with my friends and family. Other days I want to ride my bike and have a cup of coffee somewhere and meet someone new and other days I want to share my immense love of technology and help people get connected. You see this is a problem in todays society because EVERYONE tells me that I need to find my passion and do that. You can see the dilemma that exists. I am not a one type of thing person. I am into multiple things. It makes it hard to focus my energy and life when I cant narrow it down to one thing. I see all these people that find their niche and follow it with their hearts and souls and I have to be honest, It makes my soul envious. "Why can't I do that? Why can't I find

Its offiicially time to quit...

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I have to give up the hooch! I have realized that my motto used to be live the cleanest and most present lifestyle possible. Somewhere along the way, I decided to give in and throw that away. It could have been peer pressure or it could have been weakness on my part. The reality is that I take full responsibility for my choices. This weekend, my cousin and I threw down like we were in college all over again. I drank more in two days than in an entire year. Redbull and vodka are great, just not in college level quantities. Hear me out, Im not stopping because of my age. Age has nothing to do with it. Matter of fact, if you take care of yourself and eat right and work out, you maintain fitness levels throughout and decrease the oxidative process (something which drinking does the exact opposite of). I am quitting the hooch because, I realize it clouds my head. I came home yesterday and slept from 4pm until 5:30 this morning. I am still in a fog and feel like I have been on a s

The value of time

Thank you Mom. I love you. Never look down on anybody, unless you're helping them up. Read quietly then send it back on its journey To realize The value of a sister/ brother Ask someone Who doesn't have one. To realize The value of ten years: Ask a newly Divorced couple. To realize The value of four years: Ask a graduate. To realize The value of one year: Ask a student who Has failed a final exam. To realize The value of nine months: Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn. To realize The value of one month: Ask a mother Who has given birth to a premature baby.. To realize The value of one week: Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize The value of one minute: Ask a person Who has missed the train, bus or plane. To realize The value of one-second: Ask a person Who has survived an accident. Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when You can share it with someone special. To realize the value of a friend or family member:

Day 6: Harrisonburg, VA to Charlottesville and then Reston, VA

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So today, I slept in, 630. I know, I am such a slacker. Marlin woke up with me and informed me that he needed to go to the bathroom first since he was the older and wiser of us. I agreed and got dressed and walked him around til he did his business. After that I headed to Mickey D's for some coffee and an egg mcmuffin. I had at least an hour drive ahead of me to get to Nate and Chelsea's. The quick snack and coffee were good and it kept me awake for the drive, along with some great music. Upon arriving to Chelseas, I was greeted by a shoe-less Chelsea whose tootsies were getting cold. She invited me up as she ran up the steps in her spry and cute little spring step she has. She showed me the apartment and walked me out to her porch where we sat in the sun. Nate came out and greeted me and was off to the store to get some groceries for breakfast. It wasn't long that I was greeted by the ever so polite Cyrus. Cyrus is one of the cutest kids I have ever laid eyes on. Not only

Album Review: Catching a Tiger-Lissie

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4 out of 5 stars Enjoy this album alot.  Her voice is very gritty and real and every song has tons of emotion in it.  I would not recommend just downloading one song, try the whole album.

Day 5-Nashville, TN to Harrisonburg, VA

So today started off good. I woke up at 5:30 am and said goodbye to my great friend Ann and the two pups, Lizzy and Winston. FYI, Lizzy is the cutest thing I have ever seen. They all said goodbye and I hopped over to the nearest Waffled house to grab a cheese omelet with toast and coffee. Marlin and I were on the road by 6:30 at the latest. I was going to try and drive the whole way to Reston but decided to stop about 2 hours out so that I could visit with my friend Chelsea, her husband, Nate and the two boys forrest and Cyrus. I picked Harrisonburg since they had a remodeled motel 6. Along the way, I stopped at a rest stop and played with Marlin. He needed the exercise and I pretty much wore him out. We arrived safely at Harrisonburg and got checked in by the nicest lady on the face of the planet. She had been having a bad day but told me I was the sweetest person she had dealt with all day. That made me happy. Marlin and I ventured to Outback where I had an amazing potato soup with a

Day 4: Van Buren, Arkansas to Nashville, TN

Today was enjoyable. The drive wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I got to see a gorgeous sunrise. For those of you that harass me about being up so early, try it sometime and see a great sunrise, you will change your tone. I got to eat at one of my favorite places. Since we don't have them in Cali, which by the way, If I have anything to do about that, will change soon. I want to see about bringing the franchise out west. It would do great. There has been no bad weather to speak of. It started cold and got warm (from Flagstaff to Van Buren) and is beginning to get cool again as i get closer to the east coast. Marlin was awesome as usual and i tried to stop every two or three hours to get him out for a potty break. All in all it was a good day. I got to my friend Ann's place at about 3:30 or 4. We were happily greeted by Lizzy and Winston, but not so much by Pickle, the stray cat. Ann and I spent the latter part of the evening catching up on the past few years. She

Day 3-Tecumcari, New Mexico to Van Buren, Arkansas

Todays drive was pretty uneventful. Nothing really exciting to report. I did see the largest cross in the Northern hemisphere. It was somewhere in texas and it was impressive. I would like to make a kite that big. That would be fun. Marlin was great today. He slept a lot and let me know when he had to used the restroom by poking his head up in the back. I would stop at the nearest rest area or micky d's and grab some coffee and take him for a walk. I did stop just outside of Van Buren at a park and played with Marlin until he was beat. Its funny cause even when a dog is tired, he will still play. Marlin is no exception to that rule. I liked the picture above with the light coming through the tree. We made it to Van Buren with no problem. Marlin was a hungry boy and ate his weight in dog food (i swear it seemed that way) at least 4 cups worth. He is such a great dog. So sweet and amiable. I hope to become more like him daily. So far no complaints about this trip. I could definitely

Day 2-Flagstaff to Tecumcari

So today started off pretty early. Alarm went off at 6 am and Marlin was right there to greet me to let me know its time to go outside and do his business. I stayed at a motel 6 and i have to say I am very impressed. Some of the hotels have undergone rennovation and actually have flat screen rooms (not so much in Tecumcari, but hey what can you expect for 30 bucks a night). Yes...I am staying at motel 6 and I can already hear the scoffs..."OMG that is disgusting" or "I wouldn't be caught dead in a motel 6", well my thought on that is quite simply, get over yourself. Somewhere along the line we feel entitled to luxury. My theory on that is, there are people in third world countries that would kill to have a nice roof over their head or running water, so this to me is a luxury in a sense. A place that I can clean myself off, and get a good nights rest...I digress I started the day off with a great omlette at a local restaurant recommended by my amazing friend Laur

Day 1 to Flagstaff

So I left Cali at 3 in the afternoon after getting everything together. The drive out was easy and there was no traffic to speak of. I hit the 78 over to the 15 and then caught the 40. I was with my trusty rear window pilot, Marlin. He would let me know when it was time to stop for a potty break and boy did he get excited anytime we stopped. So the drive was really uneventful. I stopped once for gas just outside of barstow and because it was nighttime, there wasn't a lot of photography to be had. I promise to get better shots today. I will say it is cold in Flagstaff (low 20s). This california boy is not used to that, but thanks to my mom and her Scandinavian blood, I am able to adapt pretty well. Marlin and I are leaving soon and not sure where we will stop. Somewhere around the 500 mile mark. I have said it a million times before, its the journey, never the destination. Hope you have a great day! Until next time...

More monday Humor

I want to thank all of you for your educational e-mails over the past year. I am totally screwed up now and have little chance of recovery. I no longer open a bathroom door without using a paper towel, or have the waitress put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel. I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don't know what the last person was doing while flipping through the adult movie channels. I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed..hmmmm I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking one's nose. Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom. I MUST ALSO SEND MY SPECIAL THANKS

Funny humor for monday

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die. 2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong. 3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger. 4. There is great need for a sarcasm font. 5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet? 6. Was learning cursive really necessary? 7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood. 8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died. 9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired. 10. Bad decisions make good stories. 11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day. 12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blu-Ray? I don't want to

Movie Quote: A Single Man

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"A few times in my life I've had moments of absolute clarity, when for a few brief seconds the silence drowns out the noise and I can feel rather than think, and things seem so sharp and the world seems so fresh. I can never make these moments last. I cling to them, but like everything, they fade. I have lived my life on these moments. They pull me back to the present, and I realize that everything is exactly the way it was meant to be."-George Falconer, from the movie "A Single Man"

When I go to the south...

I have to admit something. I hate coming to the south. It's not because of the friendly people, it's not about, being called sir or even because of grits, it's because it exposes a nerve, a nerve that isn't present when I am in California. I think when I am here, I often experience my emotions a lot more. I allow myself to feel. Maybe that's because I am not in cali and allow myself to feel and be present in the moment, all the while removing my mask of emotionless thoughts and feelings when I am home. I expose a nerve and say what if. What if I would have stayed in the south? Would I have continued with my faith, would I have married, would I have started a family, would I have found true love? Would I have married high school or college sweetheart? I'm not sure i will find the answers to that question. A bigger question that exists in all of our minds, which is why are we here. Is there a purpose? What is our sole mission? This is the nerve that is expos

Last day in Nice, off to Antibes

So I woke up today pretty early at about 7:30 to be exact. I went to my little cafe to grab some breakfast and people watch before the day began. I ordered my usual Crepe with Nutella and bananas and a cafe with cream (cafe au lait). My waitress was very nice and super friendly. She brought me my order very quickly. While enjoying my breakfast and people watching, apparently a not so mentally stable person came in and began yelling at my server. Several other servers jumped in and seemed to tell this lady to go away. She did not and the tone of her voice escalated. She became louder and louder yelling at the servers and finally picked up a chair and threw it at a table. The lady sitting on the back row of tables picked up her little dog to make sure she didn't get hurt. The lady finally left screaming and walking down the street. Needless to say, it was entertaining and I am glad no one got hurt. I went back to the hostel at about 9:30 and decided to go to Antibes with the Finnish

What nice can I say about Nice

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This is an amazing city. The people are friendly, if you make an effort and be humble. I have seen a beautiful mix of people here because it is so diverse. It's like a mini New York with bustling streets and activity on every corner. Are there flaws in the system, of course. There is homelessness, there is graffiti, there is smoking and there is an immigration problem as well, but the difference is, no one is complaining about it. Instead, the people of Nice go about their day, laughing, smiling and enjoying the day. I had breakfast this morning with Jorge Dahl. Very nice guy from Spain. He was heading to Marseille, but going to Monaco on this day to check out the casino. I bought him breakfast and he was very thankful. We found our way to to the bus stop and said our goodbyes. He said, if you are ever in Spain, please email me. If I go to Spain, I will definitely call him. My new friend Jorge The people in this area are heavy consumers and at every corner, they are consuming, espe

Slightly cloudy Cannes

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So today I decided to catch a train to Cannes. After learning how close the train station is, I decided to walk :-). The queue for the train was long and eventually I was able to talk to a person. She helped me get my ticket and told me the train departed at 1:30, but that she was not sure what track (voie) it would be departing from. I went to the reader board and saw that It was leaving from Voie 1 and that it was now 10 minutes late (retard). It actually ended up being 30 minutes late and so I just enjoyed a cliff mojo bar and listened to the people chat. I find it interesting that I cannot understand a thing they are saying, there is still beauty in it all. The train ride was about an hour and we stopped at many amazing stops along the way, Cros-de Cagnes, Cagnes-sur-Mer and Antibes to name a few. Arriving in Cannes reminded me of the train station in Paris, not as big mind you, but busy, very busy. I found my way out of the station and began to explore the city. I found myself get

Nice by day and night

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So I arrived today in Nice. It was a quick 30 minute train ride from the Monaco train station to Nice. I didn't look at a map before I came and I should have. When I came out of the train station, I gave him the address and he said "no problem" . He said the fare would be 10 euro. and I agreed. He literally took me 100 yards and dropped me off on the street and I walked to the hostel. I was laughing to myself because that was the quickest 10 Euro I have ever spent. I arrived at the hostel and had no problem checking in. Patrick's wife, who runs the hostel, was very friendly and checked me in quickly. It is a very secure hostel. It has been recommended by lonely planet and recieved high marks on hostel worlds website, which is why i booked it. As i arrived in my room, there was an Indian gentlemen from Stockholm packing some things away. He is looking for an apartment in Nice since he is retiring soon. He was complaining about the realtors in the area and how they wont

Last Day in Monaco

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So today was my last day in Monaco and it was a gorgeous one. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the sun seemed to be happy to be shedding its light on us. I woke up at about 8 am and packed all my stuff into my backpack in preparation for my trip to Nice. Upon packing, I found that I lost my charger for my phone and called down to the front desk. I told them where I was, and to my surprise, they found it and would have it delivered to my room in a few minutes. I got a call from one of my work associates that some of the staff and I were going to meet at this cafe that we had been eating at all week for lunch. There were about 6 of us and we all had cappuccino's and they were delicious. An interesting story about this cafe is that the owner's family was from Orange County and her husband was from Monte Carlo. Sixteen years ago she moved to Monte Carlo and got married and they have owned this cafe for the past 6 years. It is a tiny little place, but they do fantastic busine

Helping the Homeless

So I stopped by the 7-11 on the 101 in Oceanside this morning to get my last cup of coffee before heading home. On the way in, I noticed a gentlemen sitting by his bike with two bags filled with what looked like crushed aluminum cans. He was dirty but his smile was heartwarming. I went inside and poured myself a quick cup of blueberry coffee ( I know it sounds random, but if you add two stok shots and a few vanilla latte international delight creamers, you have yourself a winner). I went to the register and paid for my refill. I always try to bring a cup with me as I don't like use new cups. It just seems like a waste and better for the environment if you you bring your own. On my way out, the gentleman next to the bike said something. I asked, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," as I smiled He said, "Can you spare some change" I responded, "I don't give money because I don't feel that would help. Have you eaten this morning?" He responded

Making a difference and Vegas

So yesterday was the first day to be back on the road in a while. I mean in a real while, where I actually boarded a plane and traveled somewhere. I had great boarding position on Southwest. I got a great seat second row with luggage storage above my row (miracle). It is my belief that if you are boarding on southwest and get section c and you are above 15, you are not getting your luggage on the plane. I sat down and began my usual dosing off routine before take off. Something about the hum of the engines or the air conditioning puts me to sleep. After sitting for about a minute, the flight attendant came on giving her usual routine about wearing the seatbelt low and tight across your hip, or exit rows, etc, however, her presentation was different and you could tell she truly loved her job. Her name was Candy, Candy Jones and she seemed to have some of that Texas swagger that you are probably all aware of. She was a fiesty little red head with a deadly smile and a wonderful laugh. She

Learning something new...

So today I learned how to ride a skateboard (not well, but its a start). A very good friend convinced me to skate down to the beach and play smashball. I decided, what the hell, you only live once. I was super rocky at first, but then got the hang of it after a while. I think persistence is key. Just keep getting on the board after falling over or off the nose from poor balance. I know some of you are saying, "Really, you live in california and you can't ride a skateboard?". The answer is up til yesterday, no. I am 39 years old and there are things I haven't done. Skydiving, surfing well, ridden a unicycle, and many others. I decided to write about it because the truth is you are only too set in your ways in your mind. If you think you can do something, then you can do it. Don't let age be a deciding factor for you, just get out there and try it. You might like it. I am happy to say that I have no bruises, cuts scrapes or unnecessary visits to the hospital. Thanks

Attention Delta, United, and American: A challenge to you!

So I thought I had put this out there, but apparently it never got sent. I am going to put out the challenge out there. In a time when customer service is at an all time low, morale is lower because of job security and people in general are disillusioned by the airlines (many industries in general, but my call is to the airline industry). I am offering to run any airline as a stand in COO for 1 year for a salary of $100,000 per year and will forgo any bonus that would normally be due the said position. Any bonus will be put back into the company or go to all employees as a year end bonus. I also guarantee to boost morale and improve financial standing in the process. If your up for the challenge, then so am I. I anxiously await your call.

Good points about stress

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, 'How heavy is this glass of water?' Answers called out ranged from 8oz. To 20oz. The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.' 'If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.' 'In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.' He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.' 'As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. ' 'So, before

To an amazing person I never got to meet...

So today I decided to go to Kim Barrett's memorial service. I didn't know Kim, but met her through association of friends on Facebook. The first thing that I have to say is that I have only been to one funeral in my life, my fathers, some 10 years ago. I was a little upset with the manner in which he was Eulogized, for I had wished that it would have been more about the celebration of his life. Kim's memorial service was just that, A celebration of her life and remembrance of her, in all her wonder and awe. Kim is the second person that passed this year and so it hit close to home since it affected many of my "cycling" friends. The one thing that was apparent throughout the service was the love of her friends. After the service was over, there was a gathering on the property at the Mission San Luis Rey ( http://www.sanluisrey.org/ ), where people shared stories of Kim and of her love and compassion and what an amazing person she was. In hearing all the stories, it

grateful for...

Just want to say all the things I am grateful for. My friends, without them I would have given up a long time ago. My family, for always believing in me and never giving up and my attitude, for without it, it would be a dark dark place and for the very recent acquaintances I have made in my life. Some through tragedy that I know will bring this community, this town and eventually lots of people together. I would also like to thank Facebook, for its amazing power to reach the masses. People have come out of the woodwork to share with me, stories of hope, triumph, tragedy and caring. Yes social media is fun, but lets not forget the power that it can harness if you use it for good. Yesterday was an amazing day and even though i am financially undesirable or considered a "liability" in societies eyes, I still try to make the best of it. I have never been in this place and just trying to admire it all. My battles with money and having stable income has been a challenge to say the

A day in the Life

So I just found out that You tube is accepting video from all its subscribers today in an effort to collect footage for the 2011 Sundance film festival. I decided to take part in this as I love to photograph and video things (as you all know from my blog and facebook). Mine is going to be about things I love (life in general). As I started filming this, I realized the power of silence and nature. By not saying anything sometimes, I am speaking volumes in just letting nature be heard. The chirp of a bird on a fencepost, the low rumble of of tires on cars on the highway, the voices of people talking but not distinguishable over morning coffee, the crash of the waves on the shore. My life has been a big question mark over these past few months. Im not sure what all the purpose of existence is (please do not freak out, I am not remotely suicidal or want to end my life). I am just curious the meaning of it all. Why were we put here? If we were designed to live amongst nature, why are we not

its like a swift kick in the nuts....

So I expected todays job interview to be a formal sit down and talk about the job and what I hoped to gain from the wonderful company hiring and what they could expect to gain from having such a wonderful person such as myself on the team. I totally missed the mark on this one. To my dismay, I showed up at 10 am to a waiting room, crammed in with two other guys, one of whom was a young go getter with black pants and white socks, and the other was an gentlemen about 10 years my senior probably looking to supplement his retirement income. Our greeter was aa young kid probably just out of high school and very limited knowledge of a computer and limited people skills along. He couldn't find my resume and said to come in anyway. It always cracks me up how living in such a technological age, we can't send someone a resume via the interweb ( a series of tubes and wires---thanks for that Judy Wheeler) and have them print up that resume on the other end. That would be my hope for the fu