Flower Gleam and Glow,

Let your power shine

Make the clock reverse

Bring back what once was mine.

Heal what has been hurt,

Change the fate's design

Save what has been lost

Bring back what once was mine.

What once was mine.

(Just watching a movie with the little girls...Dang Disney anyway:)

Friday's Personal Journal: Risk

Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.

You may avoid suffering and sorrow if you don't risk, but you simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live. The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing and has nothing. Only a person who risks is free.

(Author Unknown)

I happened upon this and thought it was quite poignant.  I have to say that in my life I have taken many risks.  Adrenaline, business, relationships....every life choice made has some consequence to it.  Some have turned out good and many have not.  I often wonder now if taking a risk and moving to Hawaii was worth it.  Would I still be married if we lived on the Mainland?  I have had many people suggest that it was all a huge mistake.  I don't know the answer to that.  It was definitely a risk.

Fortunately and unfortunately, none of us has the ability to see the future.  If we did and saw all of our "failures", chances are that we would never take a risk.  Nor would we ever know the satisfaction of succeeding.  Sounds like a wasted life to me. 

 I'm not talking about gambling or something like a really stupid Russian roulette game.  There is always a need for common sense.  I'm talking about seeing something you really want to do, be, go and doing it.  Good or bad, the consequences will fall and the one wild card is that you can never predict the behavior of another human being.  And that may be where the biggest risks are.  I'd trust the bungee cord at this point more than I trust people.  Hopefully that will change.

I guess the good thing is that we can learn from the failures we have and that future risks can become more educated and enlightened.  Hopefully not make the same mistake twice.  So have I been stupid or not?  I don't know the answer to that either.  I'm certainly no expert on the future. What I do know is that like everything, my move to Hawaii is a mixed bag.  Only time will tell if the rewards were worth the risk.  And as always, it's on to the next risk....either that, or get to the other side with a proverbial "buried talent".  I'd like to at least be able to say I always tried my best.

 

Thursday Treasure: The Joys of Menopause



Just had to share this as a Thursday Treasure since it's so near in my future....maybe.

Wednesday Pirate's Humor: But Why Is The Rum Gone....

~ No! Not good! Stop! Not good! What are you doing? You've burned all the food, the shade, the RUM!
~ Yes, the rum is gone.
~ Why is the rum gone?
~ One, because it is a vile drink that turns even the most respectable men into complete scoundrels. Two, that signal is over a thousand feet high. The entire royal navy is out looking for me; do you really think that there is EVEN the slightest chance that they won't see it?
~ But why is the rum gone?!

(The closest I've come to drinking is rum cake from Grand Cayman and one sip of an accidental real Pina Colada.  I could see this being the case for me if they were talking about chocolate...one track mind and all.  Later Mates!)

Tuesday Travel: Family Vacation

"And that's the wonderful thing about family travel: it provides you with experiences that will remain locked forever in the scar tissue of your mind."

Dave Berry-Author

(I am having to be very conservative with my time and select days to do long blog posts, but this one cracked me up!  I just had to share it.  At the suggestion of a few people, I'm actually working on an ebook for the blog so watch for something soon.) 

Monday Musing: Change

“Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have — and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up.”

Saturday's Inspiration: Disposable People

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.

Mother Teresa

 

Does anyone in your life feel this way?

Friday's Personal Journal: What Do You See When You Look At Someone...

One of the great things about my job is diversity.  Being the only dietitian on staff, I get to treat everything and everyone.  No specialty here, I get to deal with any disease that is thrown my way.  I like it that way.  I work in five different units that all interact in a fairly smooth, cohesive, friendly manner.....except for one.  It's the one no one wants to visit or work in because of serious misperceptions and stereotypes.  The patients there make everyone feel uncomfortable.  (For privacy reasons, I won't say which unit.)

I have been called in twice to consult on patients there.  When I took the job, I was told that we really didn't have anything to do with that unit, that maybe we would go over every six months or so...that they didn't need those services I provide.  I much to my regret, initially took that attitude.  I found that nothing could have been further from the truth.  I stepped back today when I was over there and really looked at the people, patients and staff.

The staff seemed surprised that I spoke to them with respect.  The patients must have thought I'd run away with fear instead of shake their hand.  The Doctor seemed shocked that I took him seriously.  It seemed strange that I would sit and visit with the patients and treat them as normal, decent human beings.  They were surprised to see me more than once for the same patient for followup education.  They asked tentatively if I would come to the multidisciplinary team meeting.  Of course I'd go. 

  Why that response?....I don't know.  To me, I'm just doing my job or more appropriately, behaving as a decent human being.  We all do that right?  We don't judge the things we can't understand?  Can you look in another human being's eyes and see a reflection similar to your own?  We all want the same things on some level:  Love, Respect, Kindness, Acceptance.  Why do we deny some people that privilege?  It's something to think about.

I left work today with a renewed sense of compassion for all human beings, not just the ones who make you feel comfortable.  I hope that you can look at the people you interact with daily and discover how you really treat them, feel about them, act around them...it may just surprise you and hopefully wisen you to the value of all or better yet, just one human being.  Be brave and let them know you love them.  It's therapy for the soul.  Later Mates.

Thursday Treasure: The Cure

“The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.”
--Isak Dinesen

My time has been so crazy the last week...employees sick, clinical training, single parenthood...it all takes it's toll. It's a wonderful, wild life.  One of the best things about it is knowing that at the end of the day, I can go sit on a beach and watch the sunset.  My energy is replaced and my strength renewed.  Thank heavens for the treasures as simple as the beach.

Monday Madness: Dr Seuss's Monday Motivation

I could have just used this for a Thursday treasure but Monday madness works too...You gotta love the guy and he writes like I've always wanted to.  Here is my favorite...the madness always teaches the lesson.

Oh the places you'll go!

• You have brains in your head.
  You have feet in your shoes.
  You can steer yourself
  any direction you choose.
  You're on your own.
  And you know what you know.
  And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go.

• You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
  You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
  Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
  Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

• I'm sorry to say so
  But, sadly it's true
  That bang-ups and hang-ups
  Can happen to you.

• On and on you will hike, And I know you’ll hike far
  and face up to your problems whatever they are.
  You’ll get mixed up of course, as you already know.
  You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.
  So be sure when you step.
  Step with care and great tact
  And remember that Life’s a great balancing act.
  Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
  And never mix up your right foot with your left.

• Will you succeed?
  Yes you will indeed!
  (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

Kid you'll move mountains so...be your name buxbaum or bixby or bray or mordecai ale van allen o'shea, you're off to great places! today is your day! your mountain is waiting. so...get on your way.

Sunday Jack: Somebody tell me why...

                        "Man hurts man, time and time again. 

And we drown in the wake of our power.

Somebody tell me why?"

That's just a quote from a song I like,  Lead Me On by Amy Grant.  This post has nothing to do with Capt. Jack today.  It's a day of reflection for me, and most likely many Americans as well as the entire world.  All anyone has to say is 9/11 and there is no doubt what is being talked about.  I remember when it happened.  Our family was enjoying the beautiful fall days with the annual state fair, Friday night football at the high school, and peace with everyday life in general.  That was all rocked by the terrorist attack that will live on in infamy.  So many lives were lost, and so many people were shattered.  It wounded America right in the heart.  There was no justification or explanation for it.  It was an evil act against innocent people.

My question is "Why?".  Many things bother me in this life but nothing as much as the cruelty that human beings can display to one another.  It has happened all through history from when Cain slew Abel.  I think of the Romans putting Christians in the Coliseum with lions for sport, Hitler, Stalin, gangs, child prostitutes, slavery, torture, war, murder...the list goes on and on of the sad ways human beings can treat each other.  It is astounding, horrifying, and tragic.  And unfortunately, the history book always repeats itself. 

The world has always said collectively that we have learned from our mistakes of the past, so we won't repeat them.  I don't believe that.  What many have learned, is how to do it better.  That is, how to hurt someone more effectively, how to destroy lives more efficiently.  True cowards spend their lives perfecting it and then hiding in holes to avoid responsibility and to selfishly protect themselves.  They truly choose to become the squalor of the earth.

I don't understand how people can be so evil.  What allows someone to make a calculated choice that purposely destroys another person.  We are all the same...no one better or worse than another and all equal in the eyes of our Maker.  The heavens must weep as they watch some turn into barbaric animals,  The heavens also know that justice will be served by the only ones who can truly judge.  I would not want to be in the shoes of those who have destroyed the innocent.  I have no answers for the question of "Why".  And I am grateful that I have no answers because if I did, it would put me in that category of the filth decent humans despise.

So what can we do?  Don't stand back and idly watch it.  The parable of the Good Samaritan is not just a bedtime story or a feel good moment, it is the way we are suppose to live.  We are suppose to care for each other starting with the first person you see.  And then the next, and the next, until our lives end.  It's the only way to combat the evil that rages over the earth.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if millions of good people do not remaining apathetic, but take a stand through love and kindness to better, not destroy, the lives of others.  It is one of my purposes and core values I have tried to establish...to love those around me, even the ones that despitefully use me.  I'll preach that message to anyone that listens until the day I die.  Thank Heavens, there are still many people who think the same way and I know most of you reading this practice the wise advice to Love One Another.  Thank you for many who have shown it to me. 

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

Mother Teresa 

Saturday's Personal Journal: Roll With The Changes...

So this week has been wild!!  I get frustrated on those weeks when I just have noooo time to write my blog.  But, I keep trying to.  Thanks for your patience, and hopefully some of what I say is worth it.  Work is wonderful and I love feeling like I can make a difference in people's lives.  It's something I have always loved about my career choice.  It is official that I am the Dietary Director/Clinical Dietitian at Kona Community Hospital which has meant starting the biggest job I have ever had at the age of 45.  What in the heck happened with that.

 

I am so thankful for that blessing and it was a miracle that the only job of it's kind on the island opened up at precisely the moment I needed it.  It has given me the opportunity to establish my own independence.  Yes it's busy and on some days overwhelming, but it may be the most liberating thing I've done in my life.  And that's a huge statement for me. 

As always, the major tests in our lives which seem to push us to the brink are most generally followed by the greatest rewards of our lives if we persevere, and gratefully accept them.  The trick is, to put your head down and just keep on rolling no matter what.  Life is going to happen good and bad.  Accept it and make the best of it, or wallow in it and endure the worst longer than you need to.  I am certainly in no way perfect in this theory, it's just not in my nature to give up.  Too stubborn I suppose. 

Answer this question:  What would you do if you actually gave up?  Where would you be?  What does giving up mean to you?  How would it feel?  Is there anyway you could make your way back?  Perplexing.  Those are answers that are different for everyone.  I know mine because on rare occasions, I've thought, "I give up."  About a minute after that, the thought comes to mind, "No, I don't."  I've almost gotten mad at myself and argued (yes me, myself and I often have conversations...kind of like Jack) that I should be able to give up.  Not so, and I know better.  Nothing ever stays the same...ever...might as well keep on living and living with joy and gratitude.  In the end, it's all good.  Especially if you did all you could to make it that way.

Many people know and I love to embarrass my kids with the fact that I love to jam to classic rock.  Not the heavy metal stuff but, Boston, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Journey, you know where I'm coming from fellow children of the stoneage.  (Actually my kids love it too.)  There were some great songs with some great messages.  One of my favorites is Roll With The Changes, by Reo Speedwagon.  It's been on my brain the last couple of days and is to relevant.  So, I thought I'd share it.  Enjoy it and sing along if you dare...I guarantee most of you know the words.  Later Mates!

Friday's Personal Journal: Same old story...

If You're Tired Of The Same Old Story...

Turn Some Pages!

(I switched Saturday for Friday because I had this quote stuck in my head.  It's actually my ringtone now.)

Wednesday Pirates Tidbit: Ghost stories...

"You best start believing in ghost stories Miss Turner, you're in one!'

Hector Barbossa

(A great add for a moisturizer don't you think)

I'm not sure why I put this one up other than life seems like an alternate reality sometimes.

Tuesday Travel: Top Tips for Trippin With The Family

So...Many of us have nightmarish visions of traveling with children.  I understand and have spent many hours trying to replace the hair I've pulled out on family vacations.  However, they are some of the best memories I have that I wouldn't trade for anything.  This is a list of tips that I found on the travel channel that I think are excellent and right on the money.  I embellished a little to add some humor.  Hope you enjoy and learn something.

1. Attitude is everything: expect problems, go with the flow and everything will work out great. Travel is hard and traveling with kids is even harder. But if you treat your trip like an adventure, annoyances, missteps and mishaps simply become small obstacles for your hearty band of explorers to overcome. I mean, seriously, do you think Dora would let a two-hour delay get to her? Would Indiana Jones get stressed out because the restaurant doesn't have chicken fingers? This applies just as much for parents as for children. If dogs can sense fear, you better believe your seven-year-old can. If you get stressed when you can't find your hotel, your kids will get stressed too. When you think of it as "exploring the neighborhood," everyone will feel better.

2. Things to bring:

• Don't forget the drugs. It's always a good idea to travel with some children's Tylenol (or whatever you prefer) so that you don't have to worry about tracking down a drug store in a strange neighborhood at 11 P.M. Depending on how much space you have, you might want to bring small containers of cough syrup or Claritin as well. Finally, some parents swear by it and some parents detest it, but Benadryl can go a long way. Especially with long flights, giving you child something to help them sleep can make everyone a lot happier.

• And definitely don't forget the baby wipes. Even if your kid was out of diapers during the Clinton administration, baby wipes are invaluable when traveling. As one reader wrote, "You can clean hands, faces, toilet seats, almost anything with them. On a hot day you can even wipe your face & neck with them to cool down a bit."

• Other useful items. Kids get dirty, especially when they're traveling. Bring a small container of special travel detergent (the Tide from your garage won't work) so you can use your hotel sink to remove the damage from your child's meatball mishap. Ziplock bags have thousands of uses and take up hardly any space. Bring a variety of sizes if you can. Finally, a small, sturdy nightlight can help turn a scary hotel room into a cozy den.

3. Leave at the right time. If you kids nap, use their schedules to your advantage. For example, if you've got a long car ride, see if you can't leave an hour or so before their nap time. Most kids can entertain themselves for a little while so that buys you some time right there. Once they fall asleep around their normal nap time, you just bought yourself an hour or two of bliss on the way to your destination. This can work for flights as well. If you want to push your luck with this strategy, consider a red-eye flight. Especially if you're flying coast to coast (at least in the U.S.), you can try to entertain a kid for 6 hours on a daytime flight or you can have them sleep on a flight that leaves at 11 PM. Be warned, however, this is a high-risk, high-return gambit. When executed to perfection, you get on the plane, give your kid his teddy bear and wake up 3,000 miles away. When things go awry, however, you are awake all night enduring glares from the people seated near you and the whole family is transformed into cranky zombies the next day.
4. Getting the most out of your flight.

• Do a little pre-planning. I always start with SeatGuru.com to check out the layout of my flight and try to pick good seats. Map out aisles, windows and think about where to place your family. Do you want everyone in the same row or would you really rather spread them out a little because Johnnie is always getting under Janie's skin? You can get creative here.
• Special meals. For the airlines that still serve food, most have Children's meals. They tend to include more kid friendly options and often come with toys or stickers.
• Board separately. Lots of airlines have dropped special boarding for families with small children. If that's an option for you, consider using it, especially if there is only one grown-up. But for me, I like to split up the parents to minimize the amount of time you spend on the plane. Send Sherpa Daddy onto the plane first with as much stuff as he can carry. Keep Mom or Grandpa or whoever in the boarding area until the gate agents physically force you onto the plane. This way your kids can run around and burn energy in the much roomier boarding area than in the 672 square inches they will attempt to occupy for the next four hours.

5. Choose your toys and books wisely. Toys with lots of small, moving parts are bound to end up as vacuum food. "One-trick" toys also take the express train for boredom town. Things like a good set of portable art supplies with crayons, markers and some paper can transform into hours of amusement (or at least distraction). One school of thought is to bring your kids' favorites. If you daughter can play at home with her Groovy Girl for four hours, it's probably a pretty good bet it will entertain her in the car as well. Another school of thought suggests holding toys in reserve for travel. Save a couple of brand-new toys to be dramatically unveiled just when your child is about to meltdown.

Monday Madness: You ate what?!?

So I wrote a piece a couple of weeks back about who tried something first and where did they get the idea.  I was kind of focusing it on medications a bit as I have always wondered who came up with the ideas.  There is another line in my train of thought.  It is, "YOU EAT WHAT?"

I have a lot of thrill issues and have no problems stepping up and jumping in for a good adrenaline rush.  More than once I have been told I'm crazy for trying something.  I mean, being on Survivor looks like a fun vacation/wt loss camp to me.  I'm good with that and it's not going to change.  There is one thing I can't do, I repeat CAN NOT do and that is to force myself to eat something.

Have you ever watched Fear Factor?  I haven't much as I don't watch a lot of TV but from what I have seen, I can't even watch it if I wanted to.  Some of the stuff they make the contestants eat makes me want to hurl just watching it.  I couldn't do it.  Does anyone remember Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom?  Poor Indy gets thrown into a dinner with eyeball soup, a snake slit open with little ones slithering out, and monkey brains amongst other delicacies.  Almost ruined the whole movie for me.

I understand that there are cultural differences and tastes.  I don't judge anyone for what they eat as long as it is moral and ethical.  I'm certain many people just grew up with it.  (Literally if it was their pet dog.)  But dang!  Take for example a Bluet (sp? couldn't verify).  It is an egg with a pretty much grown chick inside that people eat whole, feathers and all.  Who on earth thought to try that one out?  And haggis?  You decided to stuff what inside of what and eat it?  One of the first fast foods!  

My brother is great with this stuff...he will try anything!  Loves Rocky Mountain Oysters!  I did not inherit that genetic trait.  I'm sure if any of us toured processing plants and actually saw how some of the food we eat is made, we would all be eating apples and cucumbers.  The other food topic I'm not touching is the aphrodisiac one.  For heaven's sake date the right person, don't test drive every food option you can think of to put in your mouth.  Choose chocolate strawberries or an ED doctor, that's about it. 

So, now that I am sufficiently nauseated, I actually can't write anymore.  Yuck!  But the topic is out of my brain now and I'm not going there again.  I hope that I have helped you all in your weight management plans by ruining your appetites.  I know it's worked very well for me.  Maybe I'll market it as the next great breakthrough in dieting...simply think about disgusting food and all you will want is fruit, vegetables and water.  I let you know if it works out for me.  Later Mates! 

Sunday Jack: Silence...Maybe

What can I say...I'm speechless!  That doesn't happen very often for sure except for this entire week.  I sit down to write, write, and say there's no way I will publish that.  An hour and a half wasted.  I know what I want to say but can't do it.  It's actually quite frustrating.  I have a piece in the works about Blackbeard and the type of person he is and another piece about a flaw that Jack has.  Both are quite cheery and have that feel good quality about them...or not.

But what good is it at this point for me to be angry at the world.  I can't even say what the negative feeling is actually, more just a simmering, underlying current running just beneath the skin.  So why not publish the posts.  Perhaps it's because writing the posts was merely therapy for only myself to read.  And in my opinion, that's where the negative nonsense in our minds should stay.  There is no reason to go after a former friend, ex-husband, or anyone...because I wouldn't want it done to me. Like your mother always said, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all....very good advice.

But was this time spent in dealing with negative feelings wasted?  Only if I stay on that same course.  It's ludicrous to think that as humans, we can go through life and not get upset at times.  If that's the case with you, you better patent whatever your taking because it will make you millions.  The sooner your done with it, the sooner you move on.  Like the post I put up Friday from Bob Proctor said....what movie are you playing over and over in your mind.  I caught myself on that one, the reruns definitely stink.

One thing I like about Jack is his ability to change the course and move onto something new.  At the end of Pirates 3, Barbossa has run off with the Black Pearl again leaving Jack standing on the pier staring out after it.  Of course he's upset and he has a little meltdown.  Doesn't last long, doesn't do permanent damage, and doesn't sever ties to those around him.

The next scene shows Jack in a small dingy, hoisting the colors, humming and reaching for the rum.  It was not what he planned on sailing off to the horizon in...not by a long shot.  But the fact is, the goal did not change despite the unfortunate circumstances.  He simply changed the mode of attaining it and put the rest behind him.  Though less than ideal, it still worked and he cheerfully made the best of it.

So for me?  Time to shut up and put up. The past is the past and I can't do anything about it.  I can only change myself.  The opinions of my maker, my children and my own are the only ones that matter.  Well then Mates, let's just set sail On Stranger Tides, maybe for the Fountain of Youth (or in my case, The Fountain of Middle Age).  Negative vibes can stay with those who put them out there.  I personally don't have the time or desire to try to change them...I can only be responsible for my course. "Drink up me hearties yo ho!"

Saturday Inspiration: Rule to Remember

Here is the rule to remember in the future, When anything tempts you to be bitter: not, "This is a misfortune" but "To bear this worthily is good fortune."

Marcus Aurelius

(2nd century Roman Emporer)

Flowers After The Forest Fire

Pretty sound advice I'd say.

Friday's Personal Journal: STOP. look....and listen

Have you ever thought that you were going to do something, say something, write something that you just simply weren't meant to do?  I wrote an email to a friend yesterday that was very long and not nice in many respects and as I hit the send button, it deleted with a network error.  I just sat down to write a probably not nice post about my divorce being final, but decided to check my email first.  Of course I came across something so inspirational it knocked my desire to whine and criticize out of the park.  Dang it!  I'm just not meant to be onery, mean and nasty right now!  How come it seems like everyone else gets to!  (Ok, it's true, I really am not a mean person and I don't want to become one.)  Thanks to above for foiling my negative efforts and helping me remember that it really is always better to be positive.

Because it is one of the best things I have read in a while, I decided to share it with you.  It is written by Bob Proctor, whom I know personally as an amazing person and teacher.  I hope you enjoy it and gather some inspiration from it.  Stop, look, and listen...would probably save many of us a lot of grief.

"Have you ever wondered how children can sit through replays of their favorite Lion King or Little Mermaid video? It amazes me that they'll watch the same show every day without a single complaint or request for something new.

What's more amazing, though, is that adults do the very same thing with their days.  The majority of men and women play "movies" in their heads, day after day, relentlessly focusing on past events, most of which are unpleasant and disturbing experiences. If they're actually able to stop their contemplation of past events, then they allow impressions of their current surroundings and recent results to govern their thoughts. If they contemplate the future it is usually by worrying about it, or wishing that something better might come along. Then they wonder why bad things keep happening to them, or why they never rise above the issues and obstacles in their lives.

While it is true that people are free to think anything they please, as long as they remain set in their ways, there is very little that can be done to change the unpleasant experiences that keep cropping up in their lives.

Recently, the study of the mind, and its veritable unearthly power, is at last taking its proper place in modern civilization. Proper use of the mind and its various faculties will give you anything you choose - but the emphasis here is on the word "proper." To move in this direction requires study and focused, consistent effort with a good measure of creativity stirred in.

Just as the oak tree develops from the gene that lies within the acorn and a bird develops from the gene that lies asleep in the egg, so too will your achievements grow from the organized plans that first begin with your imagination. An image in your mind is the first stage of the creative process in life. From your imagination your visions and plans arise.

In his best selling book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill wrote, "You will never have a definite purpose in life; you will never have self confidence; you will never have initiative and leadership unless you first create these qualities in your imagination and see yourself in possession of them." He went on to say, "... imagination is the most marvelous, miraculous, inconceivably powerful force the world has ever known."

There is a concept called "Fantasy - Theory - Fact." The premise underlying this concept is that everything has its origination in the form of Fantasy, which some adventurous souls dare turn into a theory and then boldly turn into fact. Give this serious thought for a moment. The idea of moon landings, communicating by email, traveling on jets, cellular phones or wearing synthetic garments was, a very short time ago, sheer fantasy. Today, they are considered commonplace.

Your marvelous mind has factors that you can, with little effort, develop to use to improve the quality of life, not just for yourself, but for human kind. Imagination is one of those creative faculties. The individuals who were responsible for the conception and creation of the email, cell phones and any of the thousands of modern conveniences we enjoy today had a highly developed imagination.

Furthermore, they were not easily influenced by the opinions of the masses, the naysayers who historically have criticized and ridiculed anything they do not understand. These pioneers used their mental faculties to fantasize, to build wild and wonderful pictures in their mind. Then, holding their thought with their will, they watched their fantasy unfold into a theory and then into fact. They seemed to have an innate awareness that if they could visualize it, they could do it.

Use this power to let your mind play. Fantasize a much better life than you presently enjoy. Draft your future with imagination, ponder and calculate with intelligence and awareness, then knit it with care. Next, devise paths and find tools to help get you there.

Commit to reach new goals. The only barrier separating you from your goal is ignorance - ignorance of how simple, and simply powerful, your mind really is."

Thursday Treasure: Mo's Clam Chowder Recipe



Cannon Beach

I was feeling melancholy this week and wanted some comfort food for thought...No comfort food to eat.  Although I am a chocoholic, the best food I have ever eaten is the clam chowder served at Mo's Chowder house.  They have several locations along the Oregon coast with my favorite one being in Cannon Beach.  That glorious, soul fulfilling chowder is my Thursday Treasure. 

They ship chowder all over the United States except for Hawaii and Alaska, so for me that stinks.  It means I have to cook it myself.  Of course their recipe is a secret and of course people claim to know it.  This is the one that I found that is the closest taken from Oregon Living Magazine. 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. Bacon, diced
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4 lb smoked ham, diced
• 6 cups minced clams, drained
• 6 cups chopped onions
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 5 cups water
• 6 cups whole milk
• 12 cups diced potatoes
• Butter and paprika

Preparation:

Saute bacon and ham together, add onions and saute until limp. Set this
mixture aside, but do not drain.

In 5 cups of water, add potatoes, salt, pepper and any collected clam juice.
Cook until potatoes are tender. Set aside and do not drain.

To the bacon, ham and onion mixture add the flour and make a roux. Mix the
roux into the potato mixture, bring to a boil. Stir down when the boiling
point is reached and add the milk and clams.

Do not allow the chowder to boil again once the milk is added. Garnish with
a dollop of butter and add a dash of paprika.
Serves 12-14

If you love chowder, you have got to try this.  When I eat there I always get it with small bay shrimp added to it and often in a bread bowl.  I hope you like it.  Bon Apetite, and Later Mates!

Wednesday Pirate's Trivia: I got none...Just the coolest video ever

Well, I have no trivial thoughts at the moment soo....

We have a big summer swell here in Hawaii today and it's always a good day for some wave watching and soul searching.

(Not to mention, the surfers.)

Enjoy it...it's my new favorite music video and song.

Tuesday Travel: When preparing....

“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money”. – Unknown

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
Yogi Berra

I'm just messing around because I have no thoughts of travel at the moment except to go back in time and find my brain cells! 
Later Mates!

Monday Madness: Darn you Angry Birds!

Let me see by a show of hands, who has the Angry Birds ap on their phone or ipad or whatever?  Go ahead, come out of the closet.  Seek counseling like the rest of us...we are here to support you.

So on a recent 6 hour airplane flight, my son introduced me to Angry Birds.  I had seen everyone else playing it but had resisted the urge to go there.  I just hadn't quite grasped the birds killing pigs thing in all of it's glory.  However, that all has changed.  I downloaded it and was off and running.

To say the game is maddening is an understatement.  I'm a science person  (IE, I understand physics) and am stubborn to boot.  I was convinced I could beat every level and wasn't going to pay the additional $.99 it costs for the destroying angel eagle.  Wrong, because some marketing genius made it so there was a level where the birds couldn't even get to the pig fortress.  I relished having the big eagle destroy the pigs then!  That level and the one where the pigs are in the concrete block semi are the only ones I used it on.

I couldn't just casually play the game.  I had to finish all of the levels!  If I didn't, it would only be there like a silent menace on my phone screen.  I practically did a touchdown dance in the end zone when I beat the last glorious level and killed the last king pig.  Truly one of the grandest accomplishments in my life!  Ok, that's maybe a little dramatic, but dang...it felt very rewarding. 

I hadn't picked it up at all after that...psychological victory in the 12 step process.  Then...Angry Birds Rio!!!  So the 13 step is back to the game!  I am confident I shall conquer again!  (And since I'm working, I honestly will spread my playing time out.  Seriously.  No really.  You're right, maybe not)

But thanks to the sick, twisted freaks who invent this stuff to afflict and torment man!

Later Mates!

Sunday Jack: Where there is anger...

"Where there is Anger, there is always pain underneath."

Eckhart Tolle

I sat down to write a post of inspiration and I just didn't have it in me.  My friend Tiffany on Facebook posted this and I decided to share it here.  Fortunately with a little Divine help, anger and pain can fade away...just takes a little time.

Saturday Inspiration: My little girls...the sun is still in the sky

I had a completely different post written for this, but my little girls Summer 9, and Saige 5, inspire me differently.  The words are from a song Chiquitita by ABBA which in Spanish means, little girl.  They love that song.   I even let them pick the colors.  The meaning works for all of us I think.

Chiquitita tell me what's wrong.  I have never seen such sorrow.  In your eyes, there is no hope for tomorrow.  How I hate to see you like this, there is no way you can deny it.  I can see that you are oh so sad, so quiet.

Chiquitita tell me the truth, I'm a shoulder you can cry on.  Your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on.  You were always sure of yourself, now I see you've broken a feather.  I hope, we can patch it up together.

Chiquitita you and I know, how the heartaches come and they go and the scars there leaving.  You'll be dancing once again, and the pain will end, you will have no time for grieving.

Chiquitita you and I cry, but the sun is still in the sky and shining above you.  Let me hear you sing once more like you did before.  Sing a new song Chiquitita.  Try once more, like you did before, sing a new song Chiquitita.
 
(Try once more....Don't forget to teach your kids the same lessons you need to learn for yourself.)

Friday's Personal Journal: Remembering Rome...

Strange title, considering I've never actually been to Rome.  It's on the bucket list somewhere after bungee jumping off the bridge in New Zealand.  I've always been fascinated with Roman culture.  I took a mythology class in college and it was one of my favorites.  For history's sake, around 44 BC- about 400 AD, much of the world was under the rule of the Romans.  The reality is they were considered to be cruel and controlling.  That's not the Rome I'm  talking about.  I'm talking about the Rome that exists as the pinnacle of so many of our modern day legends and comparisons.

Rome was a dream or ideal initially.  The idea that government, knowledge, art, religion and philosophy could progress to somewhat of a state of perfection.  Rome is often spoken of in romanticised tones or a place in time where harmony existed.  Of course it was far from it.  The Roman Empire eventually fell apart but the grand remnants remain to be enjoyed by all.

I asked myself,  "At what point in my life did the dream of Rome exist...the idea of perfection on this earth.  Was there a moment in time that if I could recapture it, I would live in that state forever?"  (Yes, I think strangely sometimes.)  Initially, I thought there is, there has to be.  Maybe it was sometime during my marriage when all of my family was together, maybe a holiday, or a vacation, or a warm fire in the winter...it had to exist somewhere in time and that was probably the closest I could come up with.

The fact is, in this life, perfection seems to happen for only moments at a time.  Once you perceive that it is present, time moves forward and new levels of discovery and change are reached.  Nothing stands still.  Fond memories taint the surrounding circumstances that existed in an imperfect world, but allow us to remember the world as we might like it to always be.  Have you ever noticed that good memories are always perfect. 

Sometimes, perfection can crumble, just as it did in Rome.  But a beautiful city has been rebuilt around it that is even richer in culture brought on by the Renaissance.  The idea of perfection was redefined and the dream of Rome lived again.  I take that lesson to heart.  Memories are great things to build on.  Take the good things and focus on that verses the bad things.  It's ironic, but you always get more of what you focus on..good or bad.   

I remember my Rome...it has existed all throughout my life.  The dreams, and hopes, and wishes all colliding into perfection at one moment in time, and then another, and on and on.  It's heartening to know that Rome can be rebuilt even better than it was.  If you aren't living proof that it can be and that it is time after time, then something is terribly wrong in your life.  Just understand, Rome wasn't built in a day...the old adage applies well. 

And at some point, in another place and time not on this earth, perfection does exist and to me, that is not a dream, but comforting knowledge to look forward to, to build on, and to plan for.  I'm excited for that Rome.

Thursday Treasure: Colors....Caribbean Blue

One of the biggest surprises for me in writing this blog is how much I enjoy using color in it.  I love finding pictures (someone is going to hunt me down and arrest me sometime) and matching the color of the text to it.  I hope that you all enjoy it as well, as I try to make it appealing and pleasant to look at.

And therefore, Color is my Thursday Treasure.  What would our world be without color.  It can warm us up just by looking at it, or make us calm, hyper, and about every other emotion imaginable, just by the hue of the color.

We all have our favorite!  I bet you can't guess mine.  Well, maybe it's obvious.  Always has been blue in all hues.  Especially the color found in clear blue ocean water...to me there is nothing like it.  It calms me and I feel at peace.  I'm drawn to it.  My kids must take after me because my 5 year old will see a wave break and say, "Mom, there's my favorite color."  I'm not sure if I can live somewhere without the ocean again.

One of my favorite songs is Caribbean Blue by Enya.  This video says it all for my favorite color.  I hope you take the time to watch it, I promise it will make you feel good.  And for heaven's sake, take the time to find your favorite color in nature and enjoy it!  Man made objects can't compare.  Later Mates!

Wednesday Pirate's Tidbits: The Design of Jack Sparrow

I wanted to do a piece on what went into designing Jack Sparrow as I had heard the story and found it to be quite fascinating.  I started researching it and came across a wonderful description of it in the Disney film archives.  This piece is taken directly from it as I couldn't have rewritten it any better.  I will rarely not write the piece myself but this is an exception.  If I use a reference such as this, I will always site it.  Jonny Depp, who plays Jack Sparrow, had very specific ideas for the character.  Depp is eccentric and often designs his characters.  I don't know about you, but I think it worked out pretty well.

Ouch!

"Jonny Depp wore a wig to portray Sparrow's dreadlocks, an aesthetic influenced by Depp's rock n' roll approach to pirates.  In addition to a red bandanna Sparrow wears numerous objects in his hair, influenced by Keith Richards' (Rolling Stones guitarist who plays Jack's dad Captain Teague) habit of collecting souvenirs from his travels;  Sparrow's decorations include his "piece of eight".  Sparrow wears kohl around his eyes, which was inspired by Depp's study of nomads, whom he compared to pirates, and Depp also wore contacts that acted as sunglasses. 

Sparrow has several gold teeth, two of which belong to Depp, although they were applied during filming. Depp, who forgot to have them removed after shooting The Curse of the Black Pearl, decided to keep them throughout shooting of the sequels.  Like all aspects of Depp's performance, Disney initially expressed great concern over Depp's teeth.  Sparrow wears his goatee in two braids. Initially wire was used in them, but the wires were abandoned because they made the braids stick up when Depp lay down.  Sparrow also has numerous tattoos, and has been branded a pirate on his right arm by Cutler Beckett, underneath a tattoo of a swallow. In At World's End, one of the "Jack" incarnations is working stripped to the waist, and a full body tattoo of the poem Desiderata is clearly seen.

Depp collaborated with costume designer Penny Rose on his character's appearance, handpicking a tricorne as Sparrow's signature leather hat: (the other characters in the series could not wear leather hats) to make Sparrow's unique. For the scene when it floats on water in Dead Man's Chest, a rubber version was used.   Depp liked to stick to one costume, wearing one lightweight silk tweed frock coat throughout the series, and he had to be coaxed out of wearing his boots for a version without a sole or heel in beach scenes.

The official line is that none of the costumes from The Curse of the Black Pearl survived, which allowed the opportunity to create tougher linen shirts for stunts. However, one remains which has been displayed in an exhibition of screen costumes in Worcester, England. It was a nightmare for Rose to track down the same makers of Sparrow's sash in Turkey. Rose did not want to silkscreen  it, as the homewoven piece had the correct worn feel. Sparrow wears an additional belt in the sequels, because Depp liked a new buckle which did not fit with the original piece.

Sparrow's weapons are genuine 18th century pieces: his sword dates to the 1740s, while his pistol is from the 1760s. Both were made in London.  Depp used two pistols on set, one being rubber. Both props survived after production of the first film.  Sparrow's magic compass also survived into the sequels, though director Gore Verbinski had a red arrow added to the dial as it became a more prominent prop. As it does not act like a normal compass, a magnet was used to make it spin. 

Sparrow wears four rings, two of which belong to Depp. Depp bought the green ring in 1989, and the gold ring is a replica of a 2400-year old ring Depp gave to the crew, though the original was later stolen.  The other two are props to which Depp gave backstories: the gold-and-black ring is stolen from a Spanish widow Sparrow seduced, and the green dragon ring recalls his adventures in the Far East.  Among Depp's additional ideas was the necklace made of human toes that Sparrow wears as the Pelegosto prepare to eat him, and the sceptre was based on one a friend of Depp's owned."

Whew..that was quite the description of a very complex thought process that took place to design Jack Sparrow.  Hopefully it was fun and a bit enlightening.  Later Mates!

Tuesday Travel: Grenada, "Islands of Spice"

I am not sure why I picked this destination other than the fact I had been thinking about it a lot...weird.  Anyway, Grenada, or the Islands of Spice, are about as far south in the Caribbean as you can go.  Pretty much right off the tip of Venezuela and the furthest point south in the Atlantic that I have been.  It consists of the main island Grenada, and six smaller islands in the southern Grenadines.  It is absolutely beautiful there!

The history is quite fascinating for an island so small.  It was first sighted by Columbus on his 3rd voyage in 1498.  (The man puts modern day cruise itineraries to shame!)  It was inhabited by the native Caribes and they called it Camahogne.  The Spanish didn't settle there and the English failed at it in 1609.  In 1649, the French did settle it and drove most of the native people out or killed them.  The typical French, British, French, British thing took place through the 1700-1800s when the island finally settled in as British crown colony.

Independence was granted in 1974.  Nice and calm then right?  Not even close.  I'm going to try to summarize what happened next.  The government was rocked by a series of uprisings and takeovers that basically lead to a military party in control that had communist ties to Cuba and the Soviet Union.  This did not sit well with neighboring countries or the United States.  Grenada was a perfect port and was building a huge airstrip that was assumed from which the communists could shuttle insurgents into South America and throughout the Caribbean.  So, the United States controversially invaded Grenada on Oct. 25, 1983 by order of President Ronald Reagan.  (Seems a bit of a mismatch to me, but the cold war stuff was pretty serious)  The pre-coup government was reestablished and the country moved forward.  What a history for such a tiny island!

 

There must have been some reason for all of the fuss.  Location, beauty and resources.  Grenada is one of the spice capitals in the world.  Nutmeg was introduced when a bunch of trees were left by some merchants.  Now Grenada supplies 40% of the worlds supply.  They also produce cloves, ginger, allspice, mace as well as wild coffee and cocoa beans.  These all equal 20% of the worlds entire spice exports.  One of my favorite things that I ever purchased in the Caribbean was spice necklaces that I hung up at home and the smell was amazing.  As it went away, you simply wet it down and the smell comes back.

I have been to Grenada twice.  The first time was in 2004 and the island had just been walloped by Hurricane Ivan.  Ninety percent of the homes were damaged or destroyed so much of the tourist industry was not functioning at the time.  We went through the streetside markets where the people are friendly yet not too pushy and bargains abound.  I collect shells and got a Trident's Horn and Queen Conch for a total of $10.  It would have cost me $150-$200 in Key West.  I went back again in 2007.  I got to see what Grenada was truly like...amazing.  I went diving and it was spectacular.  Healthy reefs, lots of fish with an underwater art gallery that had man made statues of all types.  I would go back for a week just to dive.  Others in our group went on a party cruise and had a ball.

There are beautiful beaches, the highlight being Grand Anse beach which commonly is featured in the top 10 best beaches in the world.  Grenada pioneered organic cocoa production so you can get your fix at the Grenada Chocolate Company.  Waterfalls, ziplines, ecotours of the lush tropical forests...it's all here.  The residents take great pride in the ecology/preservation of the island so it is relatively safe and clean.  Sailing is also big with many races hosted throughout the year.  You won't find miles and miles of resorts, but rather a range from posh like the Spice Island Beach Resort to quaint like the Mango Cottages.  It's uncrowded leisure at it's best.

Many of the southern route cruises stop here and I would highly suggest looking for an itinerary that includes it.  Otherwise, hop on a plane and treat yourself to one of the places in the Caribbean that I consider to be the most peaceful, strikingly beautiful and fascinating.  Later Mates!

Monday Madness: Who tried it first?



Feelin hot, hot, hot

Have you ever looked at something and wondered who invented that and who tried it first?  I have kind of a personal story that goes along with it to illustrate what I'm talking about.  I went to Belize a couple years back on a dive trip with a couple of friends.  I think they may have brought me just as insect repellent because the sand fleas and mosquitoes all love me and leave everyone else alone.  So by the third day I stopped counting at about 100 on my legs and was trying to figure out how to stop the itching.  I don't know why but my friend and I thought, well maybe lime juice would help.  And, it did.  Weird stuff.  Being a science person, I thought cool, let's try more.

So we expanded the thought to something even hotter and more acidic, the habanero pepper.  (Except for the ghost pepper, it's the hottest one there is.)  After dinner, we cut it up and rubbed it over the bites on my legs.  Yup, it stopped the itching!  One small side affect though.  It burned so bad I could barely put my diveskin and dive boots on the next day!  It was a true dumb and dumber moment in my life.  Lime juice, good thing, habanero pepper, not so good thing.  If I had the time and resources I could have taken the knowledge I gained and developed an itch relief cream from limes...I still might do it.

Point is, that's the process of discovery.  You see a problem and try to find the solution.  Just some musings here: A caveman has a headache.  His buddy hits him with a club and knocks him out. Problem solved.  Then Dolf  wakes up and decides he would like a less painful remedy.  So he sees a plant leaf and eats it, then breaks out in a rash.  Lesson learned.  He sees another plant and eats it, then vomits.  Another fail.  Still undaunted, the third plant works and the headache is gone.  Score another point for science.

Did you know that some corals have been proven to help with cancer?  I mean, who thought of that?  Brilliant!  Why cancer...did they try it on say diverticulitis first?  I'm not even going to think about what happened with the whole Viagra/Cialis thing...holy cow, that's some sheer desperation there.  But it's all quite fascinating.  And here's a shout out to the volunteers for the trials (that Viagra one took some guts for sure).  Someone steps forward and says I have this problem, bring it on.  An unselfish gesture for the betterment of humanity.

Thomas Eddison said: 

"I have not failed 1,000 times.  I have
successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."

I don't know about you, but I'm extremely glad he didn't give up.  So here's to all those people who have a problem, come up with a theory, try it out (maybe over and over again) until they got it right for all of us.  It's amazing the genuis of the human mind with some divine inspiration.  (I don't know that lime juice was inspiration, but hey, it worked!)  Later Mates!

Sunday Jack: Dieing Is A Day Worth Living For

This post is going to leave Capt. Jack for a bit and focus on one of my favorite lines in Pirates 3.  It actually is one that Capt. Hector Barbossa says.  If you haven't seen the movie, I'll set the stage for you.  Barbossa is the pirate who led a mutiny against Jack to take command of the Black Pearl.  While in command, he and his crew took cursed Aztec gold from the Isla de Muerta.  The curse they bore was that they could not die nor could they fully live.  The moonlight showed them for the hallow beings they had become with no flesh and no way to feel what humans enjoy feeling.  The curse is broken when all of the pieces of gold are returned to the chest and Jack kills Barbossa.  The sea goddess Calypso brought him back to life.  His greatest fear is of returning to that fate again.

At the end of Pirates 3, the pirates are set against apparently insurmountable odds to go to battle with the English fleet.  They need a pep talk as Barbossa tells Elizabeth that revenge for her father's death isn't something that he is willing to die for.  She replies by asking, "Then what shall we die for?"  She gives a great speech that I'll save for another post.  The pirates head into battle as Barbossa ponders what she said to him.  The waters turn into a maelstrom and they need the best captain to steer the ship:

Elizabeth yells, "Captain Barbossa, We need you at the helm!"

Barbossa, who has been looking at his hand apparently remembering his own death, replies as he turns and grabs the wheel, "Aye, That be true...Brace up yars you cacan of deck apes!  Dieing is a day worth living for!!"

What a great line!  Just think about it for a minute.  We are all going to die.  That and paying taxes are the only sure things it seems.  Is dieing a day worth living for?  Absolutely and I have two trains of thought on that.

The first is what type of a reception do you want on the other side.  What did you do while you were living to warrant your place after death.  Was living worth dieing for to receive your eternal reward?  That is a question that only we can answer ourselves.  I for one want to leave this life with no regrets.  I want to be able to say that I helped everyone that I could, that I was a good mother, that I endured life's trials with dignity and that I have been a "good and faithful" servant.  If I am able to do that, then dieing IS a day worth living for.

The other line of thought is that it really is a tragedy to think that many people are dieing while living.  Sounds strange.  But living must be worth dieing for.  Here's an illustration.  I spent all week at work indoors.  That's a new concept for me because I don't like to remain indoors alot.  I love my job and it is worth living for.  But a visitor to a patient made a comment that caught my attention.  A simple comment of "Oh, it's raining outside."  What?  I realized that I hadn't taken the time to even glance out a window at work all day.  I had spent the week with my head buried in training, reports, and charts.  One of the things I live for wasn't even on the radar...that is...being outside and enjoying the beauty.  I made sure that this weekend, I went to the beach and just sat there to soak it up. 

Those experiences with the people you cherish and the places you love are worth living for.  Try this...insert a word of something that makes you happy into the phrase like "DIVING is a day worth living for!"  If you can't think of something then you bloody well better get a life!  Don't make the mistake of really dieing when you weren't even living.  Because in my opinion, Dieing is a day worth Living for.  Later Mates! 

Tuesday Travel: Just keep swimming....

Saige and Summer trippin at the pool

Hey all...I must apologize for my lack of new posts as my job is requiring an enormous amount of training, the kids are all starting school routines, and life is all basically chaos!  But what we do if it was any other way but get bored and die.  I will be back to writing nice, long, hopefully enriching posts by the weekend hopefully.  In the meantime, it is definitely "Just keep swimming".  (I love Dory in Nemo).

By the way, need a quick pick me up?  Head to the local pool, or lake, or beach and find some water.  The power to rejuvenate is remarkable...just spend a few hours swimming and relaxing.  It's like taking that vacation you always dreamed of.  OK maybe not that far, but hey, you can always dream!!

(And here's a funny first....I had a patient ask to order a beer today.  Hmmm, probably not.  Later Mates!)