More Reasons for Civility

We hope this December has brought warmth, love, and safeness into your homes. In light of recent events: the school shootings in Connecticut and elsewhere has given us all reasons to be thankful, especially we are safe and that of our family and friends. The recent events have also given our nation another reason to have constructive dialogue regarding numerous issues including civility. Civility I hope is not on its way out but about to make a strong return. This can only be done by everyone taking a moment or two to participate. A kind word or gesture can go a long ways. Holding the door open for someone who clearly has their hands-full can feel like a life-saver when you are on the receiving end of .a spare extra set of hands. The phrases, "Please" and "Thank You" mean a lot more than you will ever know especially to a worker who feels unappreciated  under paid, and overworked. Understanding that when you get in a long line at the coffee shop or grocery store understanding that it is a process and takes time, and having a negative attitude does not help but actually hinders the flow of traffic.

I wish you all the very best happy, safe, and blessed holiday/winter season. I hope you all will take a moment and think about the things one has to be thankful for. Hopefully we can all take a moment to truly appreciate the great things in our lives and help to make the world a better place, one kind action at a time.

2012 Holiday Season

Today was Thanksgiving Day. I have a lot to be thankful including my wonderful spouse. The state of my union is optimistic and full of gratitude. Gratitude that we had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with friends. Thankful that we could spend some time with our families earlier today. We are thankful for our warm house, food on the table and in the cabinets and the refrigerator, happy for Sebastian, happy for all the progress we have made over the year and the list goes on and on. Please enjoy pictures of our home-made Thanksgiving spread that we were fortunate enough to share with good friends who also make good companies. Again, Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holiday Season to all!

Post Election and Pre-Holiday Season

November 2012 seems like a strange bird for lack of a better phrase. The campaigns and elections came to an end last week. And just next week, we usher in the winter holiday season with Thanksgiving. I have seen acts of kindness but I have also seen the ugly sides of mankind especially when people are behind the wheel. I too am often in a rush to get to my destination but I try to limit excessive speeding and careless driving just because I have somewhere to be. What I am trying to say is all to often lately (and even last night on the highway) I have witnessed a number of drivers excessively speeding and trying to thread needles (sometimes when it is apparent that their is no room to do so) in traffic only to advance several car lengths ahead. I am not a slow driver and I too usually drive the speed of the prevailing traffic which is usually above the posted speed limit. I am not sure why we have some many more over zealous, empathetic, running late, thoughtless, and putting caution-to-the-wind drivers on the road. What selfish individuals do not realize or do not care to realize is that this another example of the tragedy of the commons: our roadways. I agree that driving like grandma and grandpa can be bad for safety as well as traffic flow, I also believe those driving in excessive speeds and practicing uncalculated and dangerous maneuvers are also being extremely inconsiderate with the rest of our lives. Some of us just want to make it home safely for dinner and the enjoy the company of our families. Others just want to make it in one piece to their destinations. But those to selfish to consider others, are not only endangering themselves, but their own family and friends (if they were to become injured due to their own short-comings), let alone the other drivers who may be involved (if an accident were occur) let along their family and friends, and anyone else who may be impacted by their lives.

I look forward to today's gloomy, rainy weather. But I also look forward to my future and that of my family and friends. There are so many factors and variables that can go wrong any day at any time and careless and reckless driving appears to be one of them. Hopefully this holiday season, perhaps with the assistance of local law enforcement efforts, drivers will practice (whether by threat of a driving citation and fine or by free-will) a little more civility so we can all make it to our destinations safe and sound.

October's civility report

October is a month that has come and almost gone. There have been many instances of civility experienced throughout the month. October has been an extremely busy month. I have been here, there, and pretty much everywhere. Overall the month exceeded my expectations. There have been numerous wonderful examples of gratitude that can be expressed as well. Most likely the next posting will be related to giving thanks. Not just because we will be going into the month in which our national holiday of giving thanks falls into, but because we are at a point of realization of the numerous things that happen daily that require recognition and the act of giving or at least expressing thanks.

What to do when life gives you lemons?!

You make an awful lot of lemonade to try and compensate for the errors made. With that stated I believe it is time to add another blog into the mix. I have decided to add another blog for various reasons. I wanted to be able to focus on the wonderful joys of good food, good company, and good eats (both locally and possibly internationally). I want to be able to feature many of the wonderful outings we have with our friends, and together as a couple. I am also culinary trained and make weekly succulent gourmet dishes and would like to show case some of my skills. With that stated, the state of my union is doing well today. This has been the first week of my training schedule and I believe (or rather know) that next week will be an even more demanding training week. But it is now or never to launch another blog. When I have the details available, I will share them in a posting. In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend :-)

9-11 & Civility

The events of 9-11-01 and civility go hand in hand. We (at least many Americans and many observers around the world) will all remember that day and the events that unfolded. Many people sacrificed their lives that day to try and save others, which is also an ultimate act of bravery, selflessness, altruism, and civility. Many lost their lives to those attacks. That day, September 11th, 2001 was also a Tuesday just like today, September 11, 2012. We can learn a lot from that day. Civility is not dead, even though it may have a faint pulse at times. 9-11-01 proved that civility is not dead, that is for sure. As we all move forward with our day today, which is also the first day of the rest of our lives, hopefully we can shine a little bit of civility and compassion on our fellow sentient beings as we make our way through this world...

Grandma's Journey

I hope everyone is having a happy, healthy, and safe Labor Day weekend! Life is funny... Some people appear to be born with adventurous streaks whereas some appear to acquire it over time while others never seem to quite pick it up. I am proud to announce to the world, hell I would love to shout it from the rooftop regarding my grandmother's latest accomplishments. My grandmother is in her late 70's and she has finally accomplished a fear she has held for decades. She finally flew on two planes (round trip) this past weekend! She went to a family reunion and the drive was just not an option for some family members who planned to attend and flying was (of course) the preferred method. My grandmother agreed months ago that she would make her maiden flight voyage but no one was quite sure if she would go through with it. Well she did and we are all happy that she did. She absolutely loved it! Flying that is. We, rather I am proud to gloat about her accomplishments. She may have waited almost 80 years to do this, but she finally did it. Many people claim that they will or want to accomplish great things but some postpone and postpone and frankly never get around to accomplishing their dreams within their lifetime. But my grandmother fortunately, lived to see the day that she could experience one of the modern marvels of the 20th century (aviation technology) modern day flight. Go Grandma, you are the best. I am happy your trip went well and that you loved the experience. If grandma can accomplish a life-long fear in her 70's this could be an inspirational story for others because frankly it is never to late to start living your life and/or getting to your truth!