A group of 15-year-old girlfriends discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Dairy Queen next to the Ocean View restaurant because they had only $6.00 among them and Jimmy Johnson, the cute boy in Social Studies, lived on that street.
10 years later, the group of 25-year-old girlfriends discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the beer was cheap, the restaurant offered free snacks, the band was good, there was no cover charge, and there were lots of cute guys.
10 years later, the group of 35-year-old girlfriends discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the cosmos were good, it was right near the gym, and if they went late enough, there wouldn't be too many whiny little kids.
10 years later, the group of 45-year-old girlfriends discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the martinis were big and the waiters had tight pants and nice buns.
10 years later, the group of 55-year-old girlfriends discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the prices were reasonable, the wine list was good, the restaurant had windows that could be opened (in case of hot flashes), and fish is good for cholesterol.
10 years later, the group of 65-year-old girlfriends discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the lighting was good and the restaurant had early bird specials.
10 years later, the group of 75-year-old girlfriends discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the food was not too spicy and the restaurant was handicapped-accessible.
10 years later, the group of 85-year-old girlfriends discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Ocean View restaurant because they had never been there before.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Life Is What You Make It
Another story of "life is what you make of it". This had been a week of reflection and inward, self-examination. I hope these articles I have been sharing, will uplift you as they have me.
From Down and Out to Happiness: It’s a Wonderful Life (If you let it be)
By Lee Gaylord Thursday, July 14, 2011
I have learned that no matter how far down you fall you can still find good in your life.
After experiencing three stokes, cancer surgery, addiction problems, bankruptcy, and homelessness, I can tell you that the key to a good life is to know yourself, be yourself and love yourself.
I have had three strokes, four heart attacks and two car accidents that I was unscratched in while the cars were demolished. I have a pace-maker defibrillator implant to keep me from having heart failure again. I have died twice and come back to life. I was missed by two inches in a drive by shooting. I was robbed twice. (A third time, I talked the robber out of $5.00.) I was in between the police and drug dealers when shooting broke out.
I have gone from earning a good income to homeless, three different times. I have lived in the suburbs and the inner city -- living in the roughest neighborhoods in Detroit. But I was happiest when I was homeless.
I was a drunk, but have not had a drink in twenty years. Even though, later, I tended bar and lived in a bar, I never had the urge to drink again.
I went from being with the rich to being with the poor. Presently, most of my friends are addicts, former addicts, street people -- society’s invisible ones. When you are poor you know who your friends are. I once had the street name The Crazy Old White Man. Now those in the streets call me Mr. Lee.
I'll never forget the time, after I had cancer surgery on the right side of my head, when I went into the drug store, bald on the right side, with long hair on the left. My face was red and swollen. It was 2 days after Christmas. I saw a little girl with her mother. The both smiled and said hello to me, even though I made the Frankenstein monster look handsome.
I looked into the mother’s eyes and saw her inner beauty. I said, ”You are the most beautiful woman I have seen all year.”
She said, “You are the most handsome man I have seen all year.”
On the way home, a homeless man came up to me and said, “Mr. Lee, I want your to know that while you were in the hospital those of us in the street were praying for you and that no matter where you are in the streets, we have your back.”
To me those two events not only made my day but they also made my life valuable.
Life is what you make of it. With your mind you can control physical and mental pain. You can control your addictions. You can make sad times lead to happy times.
After the third time I went broke, I realized that God wanted me to stay down and help the lost souls to find themselves and their way back up. I have helped some. I listen to them and advise them. I show that I care about them and am there for them.
I have been in contact with many people in prison. I have seen that, in spite of the system, there are many bad people who are now good people and could help others find their way.
In my life I have found that everyone has good and bad in them. Like the old cartoons, we all have the angel and devil fighting for control. I have never met a person in whom I could not find the good.
You determine your destiny. You determine your happiness.
Again I say Know yourself, be yourself and love yourself. That is the key to being clean and sober. That is the key to happiness.
Lee Gaylord is the creator of an audio book, Words of Wisdom From the Crazy Old White Man From the Hood. Visit his website at the Crazy Old Man Network.
From Down and Out to Happiness: It’s a Wonderful Life (If you let it be)
By Lee Gaylord Thursday, July 14, 2011
I have learned that no matter how far down you fall you can still find good in your life.
After experiencing three stokes, cancer surgery, addiction problems, bankruptcy, and homelessness, I can tell you that the key to a good life is to know yourself, be yourself and love yourself.
I have had three strokes, four heart attacks and two car accidents that I was unscratched in while the cars were demolished. I have a pace-maker defibrillator implant to keep me from having heart failure again. I have died twice and come back to life. I was missed by two inches in a drive by shooting. I was robbed twice. (A third time, I talked the robber out of $5.00.) I was in between the police and drug dealers when shooting broke out.
I have gone from earning a good income to homeless, three different times. I have lived in the suburbs and the inner city -- living in the roughest neighborhoods in Detroit. But I was happiest when I was homeless.
I was a drunk, but have not had a drink in twenty years. Even though, later, I tended bar and lived in a bar, I never had the urge to drink again.
I went from being with the rich to being with the poor. Presently, most of my friends are addicts, former addicts, street people -- society’s invisible ones. When you are poor you know who your friends are. I once had the street name The Crazy Old White Man. Now those in the streets call me Mr. Lee.
I'll never forget the time, after I had cancer surgery on the right side of my head, when I went into the drug store, bald on the right side, with long hair on the left. My face was red and swollen. It was 2 days after Christmas. I saw a little girl with her mother. The both smiled and said hello to me, even though I made the Frankenstein monster look handsome.
I looked into the mother’s eyes and saw her inner beauty. I said, ”You are the most beautiful woman I have seen all year.”
She said, “You are the most handsome man I have seen all year.”
On the way home, a homeless man came up to me and said, “Mr. Lee, I want your to know that while you were in the hospital those of us in the street were praying for you and that no matter where you are in the streets, we have your back.”
To me those two events not only made my day but they also made my life valuable.
Life is what you make of it. With your mind you can control physical and mental pain. You can control your addictions. You can make sad times lead to happy times.
After the third time I went broke, I realized that God wanted me to stay down and help the lost souls to find themselves and their way back up. I have helped some. I listen to them and advise them. I show that I care about them and am there for them.
I have been in contact with many people in prison. I have seen that, in spite of the system, there are many bad people who are now good people and could help others find their way.
In my life I have found that everyone has good and bad in them. Like the old cartoons, we all have the angel and devil fighting for control. I have never met a person in whom I could not find the good.
You determine your destiny. You determine your happiness.
Again I say Know yourself, be yourself and love yourself. That is the key to being clean and sober. That is the key to happiness.
Lee Gaylord is the creator of an audio book, Words of Wisdom From the Crazy Old White Man From the Hood. Visit his website at the Crazy Old Man Network.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
No Excuses
Here is another of those stories that peel off the excuses I use in my life--when things are hard, or not fair, or just plain confusing to understand. Reading about Tara, and seeing her beautiful piece, makes me want to put my "big-girl panties" on and just go after life. See if you don't agree:
Legally Blind Photographer Snaps Stunning Award-Winning Photo
By Good News Network Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Judges of the Eye Remember photography contest in Canada had no idea Tara Miller had any vision problem whatsoever, let alone having only 10 percent vision in one eye.
The blind commercial photographer from Winnipeg won the nationwide contest, which anyone could enter, with her stunning landscape, entitled “Fortuitous Twilight.”
"I will never forget how my 12 year old son was there to help me capture this image," said Miller, who began to lose her vision to glaucoma in childhood.
She takes photos by using what little sight she has to plan and frame the shot. Once shooting is complete, she hooks her camera up to a large 27-inch monitor and blows the image up to 200 percent so she can see the results.
"I found my "inner peace" when I took up photography again using the technology of the digital age. I want urge other people not to give up on what you are passionate about."
As winner of the contest launched by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), Miller and a guest will be heading to Quebec City, Quebec, later this year for a free weekend hotel stay and an opportunity to explore and photograph the historic city.
“People with vision loss can do the same things as sighted people, but just in a different way,” says Miller.
CNIB offers a variety of rehabilitation services for Canadians with vision loss. Miller has taken advantage of the charity to learn the skills necessary to live independently despite her blindness. Working one-on-one with CNIB’s specialists, Miller learned to travel on the bus alone, use a computer, and take care of her home and family.
Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer, CNIB’s Eye Remember photo contest is designed to educate Canadians about the importance of detecting glaucoma early in life and to remember to be proactive about their vision health.
Glaucoma, which usually progresses slowly and painlessly, is the second most common case of irreversible vision loss in seniors and affects more than 250,000 Canadians.
Miller’s photo was also chosen the winner from among 128 submissions by visitors to the contest’s website. To see more submitted photos, visit eyeremember.ca.
Legally Blind Photographer Snaps Stunning Award-Winning Photo
By Good News Network Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Judges of the Eye Remember photography contest in Canada had no idea Tara Miller had any vision problem whatsoever, let alone having only 10 percent vision in one eye.
The blind commercial photographer from Winnipeg won the nationwide contest, which anyone could enter, with her stunning landscape, entitled “Fortuitous Twilight.”
"I will never forget how my 12 year old son was there to help me capture this image," said Miller, who began to lose her vision to glaucoma in childhood.
She takes photos by using what little sight she has to plan and frame the shot. Once shooting is complete, she hooks her camera up to a large 27-inch monitor and blows the image up to 200 percent so she can see the results.
"I found my "inner peace" when I took up photography again using the technology of the digital age. I want urge other people not to give up on what you are passionate about."
As winner of the contest launched by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), Miller and a guest will be heading to Quebec City, Quebec, later this year for a free weekend hotel stay and an opportunity to explore and photograph the historic city.
“People with vision loss can do the same things as sighted people, but just in a different way,” says Miller.
CNIB offers a variety of rehabilitation services for Canadians with vision loss. Miller has taken advantage of the charity to learn the skills necessary to live independently despite her blindness. Working one-on-one with CNIB’s specialists, Miller learned to travel on the bus alone, use a computer, and take care of her home and family.
Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer, CNIB’s Eye Remember photo contest is designed to educate Canadians about the importance of detecting glaucoma early in life and to remember to be proactive about their vision health.
Glaucoma, which usually progresses slowly and painlessly, is the second most common case of irreversible vision loss in seniors and affects more than 250,000 Canadians.
Miller’s photo was also chosen the winner from among 128 submissions by visitors to the contest’s website. To see more submitted photos, visit eyeremember.ca.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Modest Is Hottest!
"I find the whole concept of being ‘sexy’ embarrassing and confusing. If I do an interview with photographs people desperately want to change me - dye my hair blonder, pluck my eyebrows, give me a fringe. Then there’s the choice of clothes. I know everyone wants a picture of me in a mini-skirt. But that’s not me. I feel uncomfortable. I’d never go out in a mini-skirt. It’s nothing to do with protecting the Hermione image. I wouldn’t do that. Personally, I don’t actually think it’s even that sexy. What’s sexy about saying, 'I’m here with my boobs out and a short skirt, have a look at everything I’ve got'? My idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal the more people can wonder.
- Emma Watson
![]()
Boy, what would it be like if the world took her viewpoint? It would sure be easier to raise a modestly dressed girl. And it would be less stressful trying to dress age-appropriately. And I'd have fewer worries about sending my son out into the world on his own (someday). Plus I'd have less awkward moments with my family when we are faced with this "worldly sexy" idea common out in public.
I have always liked this girl. Now this statement is just another reason to applaud her success.
- Emma Watson
I have always liked this girl. Now this statement is just another reason to applaud her success.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Repticidal
This is EXACTLY how I feel about snakes too. I can't stand to watch them--the way they move--is just creepy.
On our visit to a ward Girls' Camp last week, one of our just graduated YW showed me her battle scars following a near-encounter with a rattlesnake.
Rattlesnakes are my most hated of snakes. But anything without legs is worthy of hatred and death, in my eyes, so there you go.
Kathryn had apparently been at the head of the group as they hiked one day and just as she glanced down, she saw the predator stretched out across the trail, with rattles shaking. She had enough sense to stop the other girls from getting any closer and they careful made their way around the vile creature as it curled itself under a rock, coiled, with rattles rattling.
Somehow in all this carefulness, Kathryn slipped and scrapped up her arms and legs and hand pretty bad, but luckily wasn't attached by the snake itself. In her recounting of the event, she told me she had a death-defying day. I'll say.
Just seeing that snake on the trail, and not either a) hacking it to pieces, or b) screaming bloody murder to the point of passing out is success more than I would expect of myself.
But hearing about it again, doesn't make me any more anxious to mow the grass anytime soon.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
