From Russia With Love

Spending the new year in Russia. What a great choice by me! I am soaking in the LOVE of my friends here. It is such a different trip from past trips as I have done very little clowning. And I am enjoying it for what it is. I wish all of my friends could feel the love and passion that my friends here exude!

Maria's birthday (Dec. 25th) was wonderful! Lots of old friends and new friends. Laughing and playing and drinking wine.

The new year will be something. It is the biggest holiday in Russia. Father Frost and The Snow Princess visit and bring gifts. Father Frost is a taller, skinnier version of Santa Claus and sometimes wears a blue suit. His red suit is different from Santa's too. The Snow Princess is Father Frost's helper like Santa's elves. I am sure little sleep will be had on New Years eve night as I fly out in the morning of Jan. 1st. What was I thinking? :0).

I hope you all have a wonderful celebration, whatever you are doing. I wish you

Snovim Godum (My best attempt at Russian phonics) It means Happy New year.

Now Go Out and Hug a Russian Today!!

House of Life

What rooms are in your House of Life? I read an article in Reader's Digest recently. It is actually a reprinted article from 1922, but holds true today I think. So, I am going to share a little with you and my thoughts on my House of Life.

The article was written by Dr. Frank Crane. He was a Presbyterian minister who wrote inspirational books as well. He certainly has some sage advice in my opinion. This particular article he wrote about 10 rooms that he thought you should have in your House of Life. He talks about how people think more money equals more happiness. He points out that that is almost never true. He says "if you're unsatisfied, the issue is not a lack of means to gratify your desires but a lack of desires". His point is that it is not that you can't satisfy your "tastes" but that you don't have enough tastes.

He talks about "rich" people who have huge mansions. Many rooms filled with nothing and nobody. He feels you should have many "rooms" in your House of Life, rather than many rooms in your physical house. He says everyone should have these 10 "rooms" in their Houses of Life. I agree for the most part and will inject my own thoughts.

1. Room of Art. I agree wholeheartedly. Art meaning things that are beautiful and created. It can be whatever you consider art. So many people, in my opinion and his, don't know how to appreciate the beauty of the art in their lives. Whether that be paintings, children, or some other art form.

2. Letters. Again, I agree wholeheartedly! Letters meaning literature. Literature of all kinds, be it from an author or a close friend. He says "a rich person is not someone who HAS a library, but who LIKES a  library."

3. Music. Well you all know how I feel about music, and it is probably the biggest 'room' in MY House.

4. Outdoors. Again, this goes without saying for me. But I challenge YOU to enjoy the outdoors more. You can enjoy and explore the outdoors ANYWHERE. You don't have to have a forest nearby. The wonder of the sky can fascinate me for hours on end. Floating clouds and the different shapes, rain or snow that fall from it, stars that twinkle in the night and so on.

5. Sentiment. This means FEELING something in your heart. Good, bad, love, pain, it all counts and it should be in your House. I believe you can't truly appreciate happiness without the feelings of pain, despair, etc. Feel it ALL!

6. Children. Amen!

7. Sports. I found this a fascinating room for him to suggest. He wrote this before the time of high paid athletes of course. But I still agree with it on the simplest level. Sports can enhance the life of anyone in so many ways. It can teach you teamwork, how to deal with adversity, to challenge yourself, to be healthier, to just have fun!

8. Food. He does not mean to fill a room with actual food. But FOOD for life. All the things, places, people that fuel you to live and live happier.

9. Religion. Now, I believe religion is an organized way of trying to persuade people to believe what you believe. With that being said, I think it is a good thing too. I would generalize it more into Faith, Belief, etc. Religion can teach us a lot about what we truly believe in, and life without belief or faith is boring to me. Listen to religious folks and take from it what you will or want. If you believe the same things  they do, then great! You have kindred spirits to play and explore with. If you don't believe the same, you can still learn from it, respect it and be friends with whomever you want.

10. Work. Work is one of those things most of us would say we would love to do without. It is true, I long for retirement. But I won't retire from "work"... rather from the routine of my work and the idea I HAVE to rely on work to live. I probably could do that now, but it is a scary proposition. I am not that big of a gambler :0). So, work on whatever you want to work on and enjoy that work! It will enrich your life.

OK, that is a summary of it all. What are YOUR rooms filled with? Do you want to change your rooms? You can renovate YOUR rooms any way you want!! Any other ideas or thoughts are always welcome!

Now Go Out and Hug Someone Today!!

365 days of Thanks!

As of Tuesday it has been 365 days since I started my blog. In honor of THANKS giving, I will now try to describe 365 things I am thank full for! With apologies to Don Williams, some of it can be sung to the tune of "I Believe in You" (sorta?) any of you know that song?

I am thankful for Rainy Days,                            
Mondays and Holidays                                                    
Tuesdays and the right to bless
Wednesdays and Wackiness                            
Thursdays and thilliness
Fridays and a frilly dress
that swirls when women dance
I am thankful for circumstance
                                                                 

                                        

I am thankful for YOU!
I'm thankful for babies
Giggles and Moms and Dads
I am thankful for YOU!              
                                                 

                              

Saturdays are the best of all
Sundays and playing ball
January and the snow
February, with lights aglow
March, and the first of spring
April, flowers that make me sing
May and warmth, but sometimes not
June, because it makes me hot
                                                   

                                      

I AM thankful for you!
I'm thankful for music
I'm thankful for magic
And I'm thankful for YOU!
                                                               

                                    

July and parades of clowns
August with wedding gowns
September, and a soccer ball
October, the smell of Fall
November, and turkey smells
December, those jingle bells
Christmas and God above
New Years, a kiss, and gloves
                                                     

                                    

I am thankful for LOVE!
I'm thankful for grandmas
I'm thankful for grandpas
I'm thankful for YOU!


Swimming pools, the smell of barbecue, kids that laugh, warm blankets, sleds, kayaks, comedy, good movies, pizza, pumpkin pie, smiles, books, traveling, trains, horses, snowshoes, loons, quiet ponds, my friends, a letter, funny jokes, happy people, kindness, milkshakes, my health, indoor toilets, children, the color red, rainbows, a warm breeze, tulips, a cozy bed, hiking, passion, forgiveness, bubbles, stickers, artist,
musicians, lullabies, warm socks, shoes, jackets, hats, tea, airplanes, cars, the moon, the sun, wildlife, nieces, nephews, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, dancing, singing, kazoos, silly noises, chocolate, apples, oranges, banana bread, palm trees, mountains, the ocean, beaches, canoes, waking up, dogs, cats, kisses on the cheek, holding hands, baseball, basketball, math, email, texting, computers, drawings, leaders, workers, ice cream, Carbon Leaf, summer camp, Easter Seals, Islands, freedom, choices, my legs, my 5 senses, birds chirping, dew, fresh air, trees, leaves, bridges, rocks, Calvin AND Hobbes, Dr. Seuss, Jesus, water, laughter, funny lyrics, songwriters, The Grand Canyon, rivers, swimming, slides, swings, teenagers, cookies, pretzels, pain, tears, color blindness, gooey things, Christmas music, coffee, creamer, salt and pepper, cilantro, chefs, waitresses, silence, yoga, whoopie pies, making whoopie, soft pillows, board games, writers, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, poker, chess, bikes, National Parks, fish, nursing, raindrops, roses, peanuts, peanut butter, apple butter, butter, popcorn, oregano, basil, lemons, limes, coca cola, blue eyes, red hair, blondes, brunettes, caring people, loving people, fresh baked pies, baking cookies, rain forests, folklore, Maria's Children, sacrifice, hymns, glue, sleep, dreams, tools, home, neighbors, diddies, big fluffy snow flakes, worms, caterpillars, spiders, snakes, butterflies, summer rain, change, Winter, Spring, Summer AND Fall, pink, purple, blue, green, yellow and orange, red noses, stethoscopes, plungers, ice, couches, recliners, showers, perfume, the love of a woman, harmonicas, guitars, violins and cellos, teachers, doctors, nurses, fire fighters, police officers, construction workers, librarians, outdoor venues, concerts, sweat pants, sandals, dolphins, whales, zip lines, scuba diving, snorkeling, cabins, fires, smores, chai, scones, the New England Youth Theater, Central Park, Key West, Beslan, Volga River trips, Rwanda, SACCA, pandora, cds, dvds, walks thru the park, playgrounds, frisbees, Spiderman, Batman, Superman, imagination, insight, hindsight, chickens, eggs, lessons learned, poetry, fleece, bears, soccer games, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, markets, stuffed animals, a finger squeeze, cooing babies, women, courage, electricity, grass, soft earth, meadows, wildflowers, sidewalks, trails, lakes, pickles, grilled onions, cheesesteaks, cheese cake, cheese, milk, bowling, tacos, education, massages, hanging out, photography, cameras, paintings, sand, dirt, mud, elevators, radios, TVs, bread, peppermint, lobster, theater, juggling, balloons, life AND death, funny people, the ability to read and write, goofiness, calmness, cheeriness, happiness..... AND of course

                                                       HUGS!!

Ok, there you have it.... 365 things I am thankful for. You can count them if you wish, but really... WHY?
I hope you all have a thank full day in so many ways.

Now Go Out and Hug Someone and Thank Them for It!!!

SMILE

Smile, what a powerful thing! Even the word smile, evokes feelings of happiness. A smile is one thing you can give to someone else and almost instantly make them feel better. A hug of course works too! And neither one costs a thing. All you need is a little time, some sincerity, and the courage to do it! It truly is an easy recipe.

However, did you know that not everyone can smile?! There are people in the world who are born with deformities and are unable to actually smile. Yes, they can smile with their eyes and in their hearts, but not everyone sees those smiles. Luckily, there are ways to help people smile. My friend Donna went to Rwanda on an Operation Smile mission. She wrote a  blog post about her experience and I would like to share that with you, with her permission of course.

                            http://www.operationsmile.org/blog/2013/reflections-from-a.html

My favorite kid from Rwanda in 2006, Mokunzie! Mokunzie was challenging behaviorally, possibly autistic and spoke no English. But boy could he smile!! How can that smile not make you smile?!

I LOVE to smile and try to do it as much as I can. I implore you to do the same. Smile for no reason. Smile at yourself in the mirror to start your day. Smile at ANYONE and EVERYONE. I guarantee you, you will lift their spirits and make them want to smile too! Go ahead, try it.

My favorite story about smiling also comes from Rwanda. I went to Rwanda back in 2006 with my dear friend Kelly. We were walking down the street in a small town called Rwamagana. 2 gentlemen and a lady were walking towards us. They all looked solemn or just not interested in us or life. The man in the middle was tall and looked, for lack of a better term, scary! He honestly looked like he could be the meanest person I had ever met. Well, as we approached them I decided to smile and say "hello" in their native language. I only knew 3 words at the time, but "hello" was one of them. And I know how to smile in ANY language! His reaction was priceless and is forever engrained in my mind. His face lit up with the BIGGEST smile I have ever seen! That is not an exaggeration either, you can ask Kelly if you like. He said hello as well and they kept walking. As we passed each other, the 3 folks were chattering and we could hear them chattering for the next block or so until they were out of ear shot. One simple hello with a smile and it changed the whole scene. It made me realize the power of a sincere smile! That happened 7 years ago, and I remember it like it was yesterday!

Israel was another amazing kid. He spoke 3 languages, while growing up on the streets! How he learned 3 languages while growing up on the streets is a mystery to me. Yes, he grew up on the streets in Rwanda and yet he still      SMILES!!

Another one of my favorite smiles! Katie and her first clown experience. This was at her bachelorette luncheon. Her smile is contagious for sure!

Put your smile to the test and tell me about your experience with it!

Now Go Out and Hug Someone With A Smile on Your Face!!

Open Doors

I opened a door back in 2011, unbeknownst to me, when I traveled to Brazil with my buddy Danny Donuts. We decided to couch surf and in doing so we met an Angel on earth named Aline. Aline's life philosophy is about Open Doors and the video below explains some of her philosophy and how she put it to the test this past year! I recommend we all adopt this philosophy into our own lives!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgh-aFOLLIw&feature=youtu.be

The music in the video is played by Aline's boyfriend Evan Megaro, who we met in Brazil as well. He is an American who was getting a master's degree in music in Brazil when he met Aline. Aline is an AMAZING pianist herself. Probably better than Evan even :0). I am sure Evan will agree with me on that.

 

An Open Window of sorts. This where Aline allowed me to sleep one night while we stayed at her apt. It was one of the most amazing nights of sleep I have EVER had!!

Aline opens her doors to A LOT of people. She has hosted hundreds of people in her home in Brazil and all without payment of money. Her life is rich because of her Open Door policy!

I never realized that Open Door can go both ways. I can open my door to others or when I travel I can just view everything and everyone as an open door! What a great way to think! I guess it could be linked along the lines of having an open mind, but I feel it goes even deeper than that. I hope I can practice this philosophy more readily, thanks to Aline!

          Aline and her piano in her apt in Lapa. LOVE her smile, and yes it is contagious!!

                  Now Go Out and Hug An Angel Today!!!

 

A walk thru The Avenues

I am all moved into my new place in The Avenues. The Avenues is kind of a swanky part of Salt Lake. I don't like being swanky, but I do like my place and the view it offers. It sits up on a hill overlooking Salt Lake and The Valley below. The Avenues is a 1 mile grid, or so. I live in the far Northwest corner of it, which I like. Within a 6 block radius is all kinds of color this time of year and some extravagant homes. It is still not New Hampshire, but I do like it. I am here 10 months and we shall see.

 

My new home!! Not really, but I do love this tree house which is about 3 blocks from my place.
Reminds me of my friend Emily's new song "Treehouse" off her latest album Keep It With Mine.

                                                         www.emilycavanaghmusic.com

I love the tree covered sidewalks in my neighborhood. I am curious what winter will bring. Maybe some sledding down the hills?!! That would be fun eh. Want to join me? Come on and visit.

Not a very inspiring or warm post I know, but just wanted to mark my new beginnings.

            Now Go Out and Hug Someone Today!!
 

Home Sweet Home... Maybe?

So, I got a new place to live starting next week. It is a little quirky, which I like. It is a great location for ME I think and hope. It definitely has promise. I guess time will tell and I am looking forward to the move. In the end, I am not sure it will really matter WHERE I live, as it has never really mattered all that much to me in the past. I think along the lines of a great Jack Johnson song called "Home".

If you don't know it, you tube it and listen to the words... I like it..

"Home is wherever we are, if there's love there too"

         No, this is not where I will be living :0). This is a glimpse of my "hometown" in Ohio.

                   No Go Out and Hug Someone Today!!!

 

Back on my Feet

I stumbled across a video yesterday that made me think, made me sad, made me inspired. It is about a young woman who started a non profit called Back On My Feet to help homeless people. Check out the 5 minute video below if you have the time.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/homeless-business-owner-one-running-154620319.html
(I am not promoting this organization directly as I know very little about it, but it seems great)

It made me think about homeless people differently. What are THEIR stories? How can we truly HELP? Is it possible to wipe out homelessness in the greatest country on earth?

It made me sad because I realized I JUDGE homeless people way more than I ever should! Every time I see one holding a sign, I think "Why don't they try harder to get a job?". I am not proud of this thought, but I still think it. I wish I knew how to change it to be honest. I don't like to judge people, honestly. I do my very best to never judge ANYONE. But I still do sometimes. Why? I am not really sure. Something I need to learn and work on! For some reason or other, homeless people are the hardest for me to think about, deal with, etc. Not sure why, but I guess it is probably because I have a brother who is homeless and I know his true character. Of course it is WRONG to lump all homeless people into a category that is my brother. And does it truly mean my brother is a HOPELESS lost soul? Or is there a way to help him too? I have no answer for that, but I pray he gets found somehow. I just can't help him. He wants handouts from me, not hand ups.

This video inspired me because it makes me think in a different way. I still don't know what I am going to do about it, but at least I am thinking. That is the first step in any struggle in my opinion. To think DIFFERENTLY about it than you had before. I might see if there is a local Back On My Feet in Salt Lake?

Please share any stories or thoughts you have on this subject! I am all ears and ready to learn!

 

Not a spectacular photo of course, but appropriate for this post. These are the feet of a runner.

 

 

Now Go Out and Hug a Runner or a Homeless Person!!

 

 

 

It's a Magical World

I have been reading a lot of Calvin and Hobbes recently thanks to a friend who sent me some books on C&H. It has to be one of the funniest, if not THE funniest comic every written. So smart and so funny. You can read deeply into it and enjoy it, or just read it on the surface and enjoy it. The whimsical mind of a 6 year old boy and his not so imaginary feline friend. One of the books is called "It's a Magical World". They could not be more correct in my opinion. It IS a magical world indeed. At the end of the book is  the strip where it is a pure white setting of snow. Calvin contemplates it and says he loves the new fresh snow and a world of pure white... the possibilities are endless. "It's a Magical World, Hobbes Ol' Buddy. Let's go explore". Some of that is paraphrasing of course, but the last quotes is exact I believe. Anyway, there are endless possibilities for this life and exploring is the best way to discover those possibilities in my opinion. So I urge you to go out and explore the world as much as your little heart desires!

                              A painting by my cousin Joslyn. It's magical don't you think?

"The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper" ~Eden Phillpotts


Now Go Out and Hug Someone! It's Magical!
 

Beslan

We are in the middle of the 9th anniversary of the Siege in Beslan. As you know, Beslan is near and dear to my heart! The school was seized by terrorist on Sept. 1st, 2004. Teachers, civilians and children were held hostage for 52 hours. 1200 people were held hostage in a small gym with no food, water or means of going to the bathroom! In the end 334 people were killed, including 186 children!

This means that there were 800 plus survivors who have to live with PTSD and survivor guilt. Nine years later and these folks still need help. They need respites from the horrible memories and they need help in learning ways of getting past being victims and becoming survivors instead. Many have done that, but they all still need help. My friend Maria goes there every year for a week long respite and friendship to do all of the above. It is a splendid week of learning and loving. I invite anyone out there to go, if you are willing to love and respect and accept all that the people of Beslan have to offer! If you can't go personally, you can contribute to Maria's cause on the link below.

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/beslan-colored-support-children-of-beslan/

As some of you know, Maria's husband died this year and he was a big funder of this event. She needs more help now than ever! Global Giving is a nonprofit and even though you have to give them 15% of the money, they do good things as well! It is worth it in my opinion and I have donated. I hope to be one of the people going this April if all goes well! Hope to see you there too!

 

 

                     Now Go Out and Hug Someone Today!!
 

Hope for Today

A friend of mine gave me a book recently called Hope for Today. It is a daily reader, where you are suppose to read one page a day for a year. I have read more than one page the past few days, but not many. I wanted to get glimpse of the beginning, Jan. 1st, and the end, Dec. 31st, and a few days in between. Just to see if I needed to read it front to back. Turns out you don't. So, I am going to read one passage a day from here til next August starting with Aug. 29th. I will probably even read the passages more than once during the day as time permits.

The book is written for Al Anon members, but I feel it can be helpful to anyone really. I don't think every passage will necessarily relate to me, but the ones that do will certainly stimulate thoughts and emotions. Those are good things in life I think.

For some reason today, my thoughts and emotions have been about reflection and Hope. I hope I continue to grow in a positive way and can be a positive influence on the people around me. I hope I learn from past mistakes. I hope I am strong enough to do the things I should. I hope I AM doing the things I should now. I hope for all of these things today AND tomorrow!

                                                         A day of reflection

                                       What do you HOPE for today and beyond? Do share.

                    Now Go Out and Hug Someone Today!!

Climb a mountain

So, I "climbed" a mountain this past weekend with a friend. It was... I thought.... a typical hike up and down. It would be a 3.75 mile hike up 2500 feet, and then back down. Now I have done hikes where you went up 2000 feet in 2 or 3 miles, so I didn't think it would be so hard. Wrong!

The last 1/4 mile I thought my legs were going to give out... and that was just to get to the ridge! Once on the ridge we had another 1/4 mile to the top! To get to the top we had to "climb" up rocks. It looked daunting, but also fun... and for some reason my legs kicked in and we scrambled up to the near top without much trouble actually.

We didn't go all the way to the tip top because we weren't sure which "road" to take. We were told to stay to the right, so we took a trail that went off to the right. The road less traveled apparently and I am so glad we did! We were treated to our very own secluded ridge to sit and eat lunch while we watched the mountains to the east turn into crevices and trees. The valley to the west with more mountains cascading down to the West Valley below. No noise, no people, just me my friend and a few butterflies flittering around... Oh, and a rattlesnake!

Yes, I got to see my very first rattlesnake in the wild. I could not have been more thrilled!! He was big too... or she? I didn't get THAT close. We kept our safe distance and it kept it's safe distance. But I got some wonderful photos of it. I could have stayed there and watched it slither all day, but at one point it did raise it's tail (did not rattle though), so I didn't want to upset it too much.

We hike our merrily way down. You would think going down would be super easy. NOT! It was easy at first, probably because of the rattlesnake sighing and my adrenaline flowing. The last 1/4 mile was the hardest once again. Even though we were going DOWN, I just felt like I could not take another step! Luckily with my friend's encouragement I inched down to my car and felt exhilarated, victorious, exhausted and a few other adjectives. I am so glad I got up at 530 on a Sunday morning to do it and that my friend joined me!

I have been in a little bit of a funk lately and this "climb" was just what I needed. So, if you are feeling a little down I highly recommend "climbing" a mountain, whatever that mountain may mean to you. To me, Mt. Olympus will hold a special place in my heart even if I never climb her again.

Now Go Out and Hug a Friend Today, but not a snake!

A Magical Time Wand

My dear friend Ilya Segalovich died today. I only knew him as a kind, loving, happy, vibrant clown. That is how I will remember him too. He gave anything and everything he could to the children of the world, especially the orphans of Russia, along with his incredible wife Maria! My heart bleeds for his family more than any other family I know.

A friend of mine sent me this quote from Ilya. Ilya was fairly famous, especially in Russia and the internet world, but I really didn't know that Ilya. He is always the loving clown to me. Here is his quote in one of his many interviews. The question to him was "If you could give birth to one invention, what would it be?" He is referring to the Harry Potter series in his response.

“I translated all seven volumes of the story and read it aloud to my children. I would like some kind of miracle, a magic time wand, and for all orphans to be taken into families. For this invention I would pay any amount of money,”

To me, that is the pure essence of Ilya Segalovich! The funny thing is, to a lot of kids and people like me he WAS a Magical Time Wand! R.I.P. my dear friend!

                                  Ilya Clowning around in Stratford Upon Avon in England

Ilya with some of his "children". An orphanage near Beslan. The kids are ALWAYS drawn to him!

   Go Out and Hug ALL The Children You See Today!!

 

Thank a Kid

I must say, if a kid is kind enough to offer you their hand, hugs, playfulness... Thank them for it! I had a blessed day yesterday with my cousin Earl and his wife Mary at Lagoon Park. It is an amusement park near Salt Lake. Mary's nieces were there and they are soooooo cute! The 6 year old twins ended up "sharing" me on the day, with a few moments with their 3 other sisters as well. Amusement parks are fun, but they are enchanting with young kids.

The twins and I spent most of the day going from ride to ride, hand in hand. They welcomed me into their fun and I gladly accepted! The other girls warmed up to me at the end of the day, and a lovely time was had  by all, I hope. I hope I thanked them enough and that they know how much I appreciated them sharing with me!

   

 

Kids are like beautiful flowers, don't you think.

 

Now Go Out and Hug a Kid Today!!

Attitude of calm melancholy

Well, this is the last post of the week. I am off to my dad's funeral and have a feeling/attitude of calm melancholy. It is a good attitude for the day I feel. No matter what happens today I will be calm and relaxed. I will be around family, so all is good. I hope you all had a fun week of exercising your attitude. You can continue the experiment from here on if you wish. I will be exercising everyday.

                                           You'll remember me when the west wind moves
                                           Upon the fields of barley
                                           You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
                                           As we walk in fields of gold

Lyrics from "Fields of Gold" by Sting, also sung by Eva Cassidy. Beautiful song if you care to look it up. And though the photo doesn't match the lyrics exactly, both remind me of my dad.

             No Go Out and Hug A Family Member Today!!!
 

Attitude of Gratitwo-d

This morning I am having another day of Gratitude. I am so grateful for my friends who send me loving thoughts when I need them. I am grateful for the children I get to work with, as they make me smile. I am grateful for my family who does things like drive me to where I need to be and clean my house without me even asking. I am grateful I could be with my dad for his last moments on earth.

I hope everyone's week of Attitude exercising is going well. You are all participating right?! Well, I am enjoying exercising my attitude. It has really helped me. Not sure what my attitude will be tomorrow, but whatever I feel in the morning will be what I feel.

                           I am also grateful for the beauty on this earth to help me feel peace.

                    Now Go Out and Hug Someone Today!

Attitude of Work Ethic

Not sure if work ethic can really be an attitude per se, but I am going to say it is. I am going to work today and will have a good work ethic in doing so. My dad was a worker all his life. We saw a man on the street bumming for money on Saturday and my dad's response was "I would rather work". There was more to the conversation than that and it was not a callus statement on my dad's part, just a reflection on himself.

To be honest, it won't be too hard to have a good work ethic since I am working with kids :0). But either way, I am going into the day with that thought process, thinking of my dad and hoping I don't cry at work. The kids might wonder what is up, Ha ha Ha.

Even in the last few months of his life when he was feeling weak. Even when he HATED the cold weather, my dad was out helping his sister shovel her driveway!

By the way, is anyone else exercising their attitude this week? If so, do share!

                Now Go Out and Hug a Worker Today!!

Attitude of Fun and Storytelling.. The story of my dad

Today I wake up with an Attitude of having fun and telling stories. So, I am going to tell you the story of my dad's last weekend on earth and his death. It truly was a magical event, if a death can be so. It is a little bit longer than my usual posts, but my dad deserves that in my opinion :0). So grab some popcorn or perhaps a glass of wine in honor of my dad and read on....


Whenever I came home from work my dad would tell me about the news of the day as he watched CNN and other channels thru the day. It was usually horrible news of killings and fires and things. Sometimes it was good, how a boy was doing well after almost drowning. Or how a cop saved someone's life. Saturday I came home from running an errand and he said "There is going to be a super moon tonight, we should go see that". He had heard about it on the news. I said "OK". Around 8pm we headed out. He said "Bring your camera, I would like some photos of it". So I did.

We drove up thru Emigration Canyon and stopped on a high point with a parking lot. It overlooked mountains and part of the valley in one direction and a large reservoir with hills behind it in the other direction. Within about 15 minutes of sitting there, the moon peeked it's face out. Slowly, ever so slowly... then faster and faster it seemed, it rose over the hills behind the reservoir. Dad was walking around the parking lot talking to other people who were there to photograph the event. I was busy taking tons of photos, but at the same time watching him smile and chat! He loved to talk!

After a half hour or so he started getting chilly so we drove on thru the canyon. He was telling me about the lady he talked to and the nice camera she had and how excited she was to be there. He conveyed that excitement thru his own. As we drove down the canyon towards the reservoir we saw a deer. That thrilled my dad too as he loved wildlife. He said "I would love to see a bear". We did not see a bear, but it did not diminish his excitement of seeing a deer in the wild. He talked about the deer and the moon the rest of the drive home.

After we got home he spent another two hours talking about the moon and the deer and I knew he had had a wonderful time. Fortuitously I decided to download my photos that night rather than wait til the next day. Another great lesson in life.. don't wait too long to do something you want or should, time may pass you by. I had them loaded and somewhat edited enough and I got to show them to dad before we went to bed. I also got to show him some other photos from my computer of bears and moose and other wildlife I saw in Alaska. He had seen the photos before, but didn't remember seeing them. So, I guess he did get to see a bear that night :0), just not IN the wild. Close enough I say.  We went to bed around midnight, planning on going fishing the next day. Something else my dad liked to do, but I never knew about til the past few months.

The next day I woke up and was putzing around. Dad was up in the bathroom. He came out and said "My chest is really hurting". He has had chest pain off and on the past year. Rest and Morphine usually helped. So I gave him some morphine under his tongue and tried to get him to relax. He continued to complain about the pain and he asked "Do you think I am having a heart attack?". It was the first time he ever said anything like that... so I said "You might be dad. I am not sure (even though I was fairly sure), but there is no need to take you to the hospital because they won't do anything there other than give you pain meds and I can do that here." He said OK, but I could tell he was hurting. So I gave him a glass of red wine, his favorite drink. Red wine usually helped him to relax. He sat and drank his wine. I gave him a morphine tablet as well. He got up and walked some and I told him to lie down and rest and see if the medicine and rest would help him feel better. He sat down and then he said "I wish those damn kids would stop running up there!" We had neighbors upstairs and we could hear their kids above us. It was quite funny to me (inside of course) to hear my dad yell at the kids while he was having a heart attack. I said "I know dad, but just lie down and try to rest OK?". So he laid down on the couch. About 5 minutes after he laid down he took a gasping breath. I sat down next to him and held his hand as his eyes rolled back and he took a few more breaths.

In the end he died relatively quick and peacefully, with little suffering. My biggest fear was that his health would deteriorate and he would be bed ridden for a week or more before he died. That would have been miserable for him. He suffered with pain for a year before he died, but overall it was as good and magical as a death can be. And in poetic fashion his last drink/food on earth was a glass of wine. And his last words were truly funny, even though he yelled them.

This was the very last photo taken of my dad. It was about two weeks ago as we drove north thru another canyon and came upon this rock formation. It was titled Devil's Slide. My dad was talking about it on the Saturday before his death and how he wanted to go up there again to see it. He will now have to watch it from heaven.

I am not an aficionado of Shakespeare or anything, but I came across these two quotes that seemed appropriate for my dad.

"When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry". ~W.S
My dad was very sentimental and did cry fairly easy. He also laughed easily too!

"It is a wise father that knows his children". ~W.S.
I feel my dad knew his kids well. He treated us all differently as we are all very different people. He gave me the freedom that is my essence. We didn't talk much over the past 18 years, but we both knew we loved each other and I hope he didn't take my "silence" as non loving. I am confident he knew me well enough. The last few months of his life he dreamed of hitting the lottery so he could give me enough money to travel the world. He gave me so much more than that!

It definitely reminds me of the song "The Leader of The Band" by Dan Fogelberg.
"I thank you for the freedom, when it came my time to go
I thank you for the kindness, and the times when you got tough
And Papa I don't think I said, "I love you" near enough" ~Dan Fogelberg

                Now Go Out and Hug a Father Today!

Attitude of Peace

I am taking my own advice and kicking off my week with exercising my attitude of the day. Today I am talking myself into having an attitude of peace today. My dad died yesterday and I need to be at peace with it. I feel like I am, but need to keep that attitude as I go thru the process of arrangements, dealing with family stuff and so on. I really do feel at peace and even writing this blog helps. Pray that I can keep that attitude going and stay tuned to see what my attitude will be tomorrow. Can't remember the 5 stages of grief off hand, but I am sure I will go thru some of them or all of them and my attitude may resemble that? Anger, denial, acceptance and so on. Whatever my attitude is and whatever I try to exercise, I do know that my friends have been a tremendous benefit in helping me thru this process. So, if you are my friend then know that I APPRECIATE you!

I imagine being on the moon right now would be very peaceful. Just me and the Sea of Tranquility!

This was the last photo I took in the presence of my dad on June 22, 2013. He died the next day, PEACEFULLY!

                     Now Go Out and Hug a Father Today!

Attitude of Gratitude

A friend of mine recently emailed me saying she had an Attitude of Gratitude today. I like that! I believe so much of life is about attitude. If your attitude is in a great frame of mind, then your days will be better and funner and joyfuller! Don't you think?

So today, I AM going to live with an Attitude of Gratitude. Grateful that I have such a wonderful job, AMAZING friends, a funny dad, a caring mom, God's creations like the super moon last night and so on. There are too many things I am grateful for to list them all here, but you get the point I think.

I encourage you to shape your attitude every morning when you get up. Talk to yourself in the morning about what kind of attitude you want to have for that day. It can be anything from gratitude, to playfulness, to seriousness. Every day is different! That is what makes life wonderful.

Seriously, people spend time shaping their muscles and even their minds. It helps when you do those things, so why not shape your attitude with talk or exercises? Every morning this week when you wake up THINK about what kind of attitude you want to have for the day, exercise that attitude and make it happen!!  Just give it a try and let me know the results.

                                   Super moon, June 22nd, 2013. Rolling up the mountain.

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
― Maya Angelou

I came across this quote below. I really like it! Don't just feel gratitude, but EXPRESS it!
"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not giving it."
~William Arthur Ward


    Now Go Out and Hug Someone Today with Gratitude!

Be A Kid At Heart

I am a photographer at heart and I try to be a kid at heart. I highly recommend either one, but especially the "be a kid at heart" part. Being a kid at heart can do a lot of things. It can make you smile and laugh. It can make others smile and laugh. It can relax you in a tense situation, lower blood pressure and make you healthier. Just pay attention to some kids sometime. Most kids see the unusual, the unique, the world as it is meant to be... fresh and new.

Below is a link to a photographer who has fun with his photography. He uses toys and every day objects to make fun scenes. Scenes that are out of place. Scenes that will make you chuckle and smile. Maybe even make you think... What would happen if this person was in a different light?... or if this place was misplaced?...  or if we just tried to think about certain situations in unique and fun ways.

Give it a look C.

http://blog.flickr.net/en/2013/06/07/pop-icons-in-unfamiliar-scenes/

                                                            Something a little different.


                      Now Go Out and Hug Someone Today
                           "as if  you were a kid at heart"
 

Man's Best Friend

A change of pace this week... a tribute to a friend of all of ours... The Dog.

a friend of mine passed on a story about dogs, and so I will share it along with some things we should learn from dogs. Enjoy.

Some parents wondered out loud why dogs live such short lives. Their six year old said he knew why and gave the explanation below...

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

About as good of an explanation as I can think of. Whether a 6 year old really came up with it or it was conjured up by some adult doesn't matter. The sentiment is sweet.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk;

 

Play in the snow

 

Enjoy a good rest next to a friend

 

Check out the whole world

 

Run, romp and play daily

 

 

If dogs were our teachers, this is what we would learn... among other wonderful things;

• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them;
• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride;
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure DELIGHT.
• Take naps;
• Stretch before rising;
• Run, romp, and play daily;
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you;
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do;
• On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass;
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree;
• When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body;
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk;
• Be loyal;
• Never pretend to be something you're not;
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it;
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently;

There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it.You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good, so, love the people who treat you right and some of the ones who don't.Pray for the ones who don't ~

life is too short to be anything but happy.Falling down is part of LIFE...
Getting back up is LIVING...

                   Now Go Out and Hug a Dog Today!!

 

Live Like Bella

Bella was a beautiful child! My dear friend Tootsie had the honor and pleasure of knowing her and clowning for her. I am sad to say that Bella lost her 6 year fight with cancer on May 28, 2013. She was 10 years old. Yes, she fought cancer for more than half of her life. She fought it well. She fought it hard. She fought it with a smile. She lost, BUT she put up a GREAT FIGHT!!!

One of my biggest regrets in life is that I never got to meet Bella. I heard Tootsie speak of her, so I feel I know what kind of girl she was. Fun, fun LOVING, full of LIFE and energy while on this earth. We should all have been so lucky to know her like Tootsie did and to Live Like Bella did!

I dare you! No, I double dog dare you to Live Like Bella lived! No regrets... giving it your all for as long as you can, and when death comes knocking... greet it with a smile. I am sure Bella did. Although the rest of her family and friends will find it hard to smile for a while I think.

 

I don't know who came up with the above quote, but I love it! Don't just Keep Calm and Carry On, but Keep Calm and Live Like Bella!

 

 

Look at THAT SMILE!! Not sure when this was taken, but it was somewhere near her death I think. And just look at that big smile! How can you not go out and SMILE today? Your life is precious!

 

 

Now Go Out and Hug a Child Today!!

 

Hey Hey

Hey Hey, it is Mark Conselyea. Mark is a childhood friend. We have been friends since I was 8 or so. We played soccer together for 15 years. He was perhaps the best player on our team, but sadly our coach didn't know it. Mark went along as a faithful team member without whining about non playing time. He worked hard to make himself better, and he did. I learned a lot from Mark, even if he didn't know I was paying attention. Mark is a quiet unassuming man, but when you get to know him he is quite fascinating. He is also a good man in general. Whenever I seek donations for my travels to Russia or Rwanda or wherever, Mark steps up. He has donated soccer jerseys to Russia and soccer balls to Rwanda. He also helps to raise money in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio for his own causes.  I really can't thank him enough for his support of my endeavors and helping the less fortunate. Again, he does it all quietly, but I notice a lot more than our old soccer coach.

I remember the day I really realized what a unique, interesting individual Mark is. We were listening to some Led Zeppelin music (this was in the early 80s remember) and I asked Mark what his favorite Zeppelin song was.... I was expecting Stairway to Heaven of course, or even Kashmir or Over the Hills.... but his answer was Hey Hey. I thought I was a Zeppelin fan back then, but I had to admit I didn't know the song. I have gotten to know it quite well since then. And although it is probably my 2nd favorite Zeppelin song, it would not have even made the radar if it wasn't for Mark.

                                 Kids in Rwanda playing with a soccer ball donated by Mark.

                         "Quiet and unassuming should not be mistaken for boring and simple."

                    Now Go Out and Hug a Friend Today!!

My Left Foot

I just watched an interesting movie today called My Left Foot. Why I had not seen it or heard of it sooner is beyond me. It was made in 1989 and is about an artist who was born with Cerebral Palsy. His name was Christy Brown. Even though some of the story was glamorized, it does a good job of depicting the struggles a lot of folks go thru with their disabilities. Daniel Day Lewis does an amazing job, in my opinion, of showing how folks with CP struggle. I know a few people with this infliction and almost all of them have the same kind of muscle twitches, speech struggles, etc. that Daniel exhibits. I believe he won an oscar for the movie, and for good reason.

Anyway, this post is not about the actor or even the artist it is about. It is about everyone else out there who struggles with society's perception of them. Many people like Christy Brown have been shunned or shutout because folks didn't think they amounted to much. So, I challenge you to look at people a little differently from now on. See what is behind the "masks" or twitches or whatever. And if you are looking for a good, thought provoking movie into this subject I highly recommend "My Left Foot" to educate yourself. Pay attention to some of the minute details as you watch. Or even read the book, which is what I plan to do soon.

                 No particular reason for this photo really. Just a rainy Monday photo to share.

                      Now Go Out and Hug Someone Today

Barbie Cutie

I met Barb Raudonis via Danny Donuts. She is now his bride and what a lucky fellow he is! Barb is one of those people who makes sure that everyone around her is comfortable and happy. She can strike up a conversation with a statue and the statue would become her friend, guaranteed!

She is affectionately known as BBQT or Barbie Cutie. She makes a great clown when she decides to dress up a bit. Not sure why she isn't in the entertainment business to be honest. She sure entertains me when I am around  her, and I know she entertains Danny.  Thanks Barb!

           BBQT and a mystery person who got a pie in the face. I wonder who that could be?

                       Now Go Out and Hug a Friend Today!

Make-A-Wish

A friend of mine organized a fund raiser for a bud of hers in Make A Wish. He looks like a great young man full of spirit and fun and Cystic Fibrosis. He already has a sister who has succumbed to this disease and surely his life will be shortened as well. But from the video below it seems to me his life, though it will be shorter than most, has been fuller than most and there is time for it to be fuller. His wish is to go the Thor premier in November. I believe it is in NYC. I am sure he will get there thru the generosity of wonderful, kind people who know how important Make A Wish is.

We all have our own causes. I certainly have mine with Maria's Children and a few others. But if you are looking for a cause to support or just have some extra money around, I do HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Make A Wish Foundation as they do wonderful work for kids who should be allowed to have their moments in the sun! The video below is an interview with Alex's parents and Alex himself with some clips of his sister and her Make A Wish dream come true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fy3q_CM99MY

I hope to meet Alex someday and watch him do improv. When I do, I will do a follow up blog on him for sure. So stay tuned.

                      Now Go Out and Hug a Child Today!!
 

Big Money Sucks

Now, I know there are some companies out there with Big Money who do good. But companies like Western and Southern are disgusting!

I recently read about Western and Southern Insurance company buying out The Anna Louise Inn in Cincinnati Ohio. The Anna Louise has been a safe haven for battered women and other women in general need for over 100 years. Now they are FORCED to move from their HOME, thanks to the greed of this "insurance" company. What kind of insurance can they provide you, if they won't even insure that battered women can stay in their HOME! I can't imagine why anyone would ever purchase insurance from them ever again?! It makes me sick to my stomach!

Their CEO has been quoted as saying "It is important to the economic development of the area." And "these women don't belong in this neighborhood". It WAS their HOME! Why don't they belong there? Oh, they are building a new place for them, but in a lesser neighborhood with more dangers around! And the CEO, John Barrett has the gall to say "This truly is a win for everyone and will make Lytle Park a destination like no other."  Everyone? Really? Who does he consider as everyone? Certainly not these women he has displaced. Of course he has denied any interviews on the matter. Chicken Shit!

Read the article below for yourself and form your own opinion. I for one will never purchase insurance from a despicable company like this!

http://news.yahoo.com/women-sad-angry-over-sale-nonprofit-ohio-home-152229520.html

                                                                Kiss My Hairy Ass!!

            Now Go Out and Hug a Battered Woman Today!