Decorative Displays Doused

It is always disappointing when one single incident can ruin things for the masses. I hope that you will forgive me for diverting to a more serious tone about what I personally see as a complete breakdown in our society. I really like to keep things lighthearted here because there is enough seriousness to last us all a lifetime. But I feel strongly about this and I see these things beginning to happen on a daily basis in this country. In my opinion (however humble it may be) it is one of the most harmful and destructive behaviors leading us as a whole down a nasty and narrowing path of irresponsibility. The example I am going to use is true, but the same story is told daily in every town and city and state in this country, it’s just that the names and places change.
In Paulding County, Ohio, a family has been putting up a Christmas light display for the better part of twenty years. Let me pause here in the story for just one moment and interject that these are not just the typical twinkling lights and lawn displays that you and I put out each year. They boast 500 miles of lights and 50 miles of extension cords. They are very well known in most of Northwest Ohio. In 2003 nearly 23,000 visitors cruised through their circular drive (for free!) to see over 100 animated displays and one of only two Christmas Light Merry-Go-Rounds in the United States (according to some facts posted on a sign at their property.) It is a genuine “winter wonderland” and a holiday tradition for many each year.
Tragically, last year a group of people riding in a limo changed everything. I don’t know whether this group was in the limo for other reasons that night and were passing by or whether they intentionally rented the limo to go to this light display. For whatever reason, their limo turned into the circular drive, and upon realizing that the limo couldn’t quite get all the way off the road due to the line of cars already driving through, decided to back out onto the road again at which point an apparent drunk driver hit them. To my knowledge there were some serious injuries but no fatalities. A tragedy to be sure.

Here is where this sad story begins to irritate and grate at the last of my nerves. The group in the limo are suing who?……….the family with the light display. They are stating that it created a distraction that led to their accident. Hello?? See, this happens all the time. Forget that there was a drunk driver involved, forget that the group themselves were heading in to enjoy the wintry scenes, forget for a moment that unfortunate things happen to all of us (see “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”) It might not be necessary for me to mention that the family who has the light display every year is fairly wealthy! This whole scenario is in the same vein as the burglar who fell down through his victim’s skylight while trying to rob her (and who knows what else?!) and then sued her for his injuries…SUCCESSFULLY!! This happens daily and I find it disturbing that people have gotten so far away from the concept of responsibility. I imagine in some ways we are all guilty of this to varying degrees. But I wholeheartedly hope that I can teach my own children the value of personal responsibility and the consequences of such. In the meantime, the people of Paulding County and the outlying areas will no longer be able to enjoy the festival of lights as the family feels that the risk of liability and the pending lawsuit outweigh the joys of putting together the annual display. Merry Christmas everyone!Quote of the Day- "Personal responsibility is a difficult thing to ask for in a nation which has attempted to find a societal 'root cause' for all things." -S.R. Hunter
Part 2
The more I thought about the above scenario the more I wondered what my own kids would think about the situation. So I told them of the tragic accident. Then I said "Who do you think, if anyone, is at fault for this sad thing happening?"
Eight year old-"The drunk driver!"
Ten year old-"Absolutely!"
Me-"Anyone else?"
After a brief pause..
Ten year old-"Maybe the limo driver, it depends."
Me-What about the people who put up the light display?"
Both kids-"Why in the world would it be their fault?!"
Hmmm? Maybe we should listen more to our kids!

Kick Off

I'm baaaaaaack!

Newman

"The light that you think you emanate is not necessarily the light that other people see. You think of yourself as a shy, retiring whatever it is, and some other people will see you in an entirely different way. ... You have to constantly learn. Obviously, you have to start with some kind of gift, but people don't understand that. ... I don't have a gift for anything. I've only had a gift of pursuit." — Paul Newman, 1990.

One of the things I was doing in my absence was supporting my daughter in her writing competitions (yes, she has the writing bug, too, I believe she will be more successful than I ever could have been!) She is in a writing group at her middle school that entered the district writing competition and it was a whirlwind after that! At districts she qualified with her team to move on to regionals. At regionals, she achieved a personal triumph when she placed 6th among the entire 7th graders competing in our Northwest Ohio region. From there, she and three other teammates made the trek to state at Wooster College, in Wooster, Ohio where she wrote her way to a 12th place finish overall among 7th grade writers! She was among 7000 writers who entered the competition in the fall, and continued on to state with a personal victory. What a great experience and what a great achievement. We are so proud of her creative talent, but moreso, her true love of writing and literature. Way to go, Kayleigh!

Quote of the Day-"if you don't dream big, What's the use in dreaming? If you don't have faith, There's nothing worth believing. It takes one hope To make the stars worth reaching for.So reach out for something more! "-Emily Shackleton

A Very Long Absence

Okay, I have been MIA for quite some time. I guess I should mention that I went back to work last fall after being a stay-at-home mother (the best job I've ever had!!!) for 12 years!! And then having hit 40 last summer (which, incidentally, is the BEST age I have ever been!!!) I decided to make even more changes in my life and decided to go back to school to finish the degree I never did--FULL TIME. It has been a great challenge, and though there are days when I feel like I am drowning, literally, I am actually SUCCEEDING at this!! Who knew???!!! I hope to begin to visit here more regularly as this is where I feel at home, where I get to use my writing and journaling skills. I will keep more up to date from now on. For those who read it (all 2 of you!) and most especially for me!

Last Lecture

Randy Pausch reprises his "Last Lecture" (originally given to his students at Carnegie Mellon) on the Oprah show. Please take a minute to watch these words of wisdom from a man facing his final months with pancreatic cancer. It is inspiring.

http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw


Visit Randy's website:
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/

Happy New Year 2008!!!!

As is every other year, my New Year's Resolutions always begin with "I will be healthier...." I saw this today from Ask Dr. Mao at yahoo.health.com website and thought I would share it. It seems so simple, doesn't it? I will be trying out several of these tips! Have a wonderful and safe New Year.


New Year's Weight Loss: 6 Tips Posted Tue, Dec 18, 2007, 12:16 pm PST

It is a time-honored tradition to make resolutions at this time of year. If your resolution is to lose weight - and keep it off, then keep reading! Here are six simple tips that will have you losing weight in a balanced and healthy way.

1. Lose weight with water. Water is essential for everybody - it is also the key to losing weight. If you haven't been drinking enough water, your body has developed a pattern of storing water. This water retention equals extra unwanted weight.
By drinking more water, you are not only flushing out toxins, you are also teaching your body that it no longer needs to store water. Drink at least 60 ounces of water (about 8 glasses) a day. Boil water and sliced lemons, and drink this throughout the day to help with fluid retention. If you are still not sold on the merits of water, try this on for size: water is a natural appetite suppressant.

2. Soup up your weight loss program. A simple dietary change will have you shedding pounds: eat a bowl of soup at least once a day. Nutritious, low-salt soups will nourish you as they flush waste from your body. People who eat a serving of soup daily lose more weight than those who eat the same amount of calories but don't eat soup. Go for homemade soup whenever possible, as canned soups are loaded with salt and chemicals.

3. Eat early to keep weight off. The human body follows a circadian rhythm, which means that the same foods eaten at breakfast and lunch are processed differently than when eaten at dinner. Studies show that when you eat your daily protein and fat at breakfast you tend to lose weight and have more energy; however, eating the same things at dinner tend to increase tendencies toward weight gain. I suggest that you eat your last meal of the day by 7 p.m.

4. Eat smaller meals, more frequently. Follow an eating schedule with five little meals every day. Eating steadily through the day keeps you from becoming famished and overeating at your next meal. Make a low-fat trail mix from raw almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried plum, and apples and have it available at all times to avoid the tempting lure of high-calorie snacks.

5. Adopt a balanced approach to your diet. Most of the fad diet programs out there nowadays are extreme in a few recommended foods, or else deprive the body of food altogether. This works in opposition to our metabolism and the results usually don't last, producing a yoyo effect that depresses your metabolic function - not to mention your self-esteem. We are natural beings that need a balance of nutrition from all sources. Your diet should consist of a balance of organic sources of lean protein, complex carbohydrates, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Instead of white rice and pasta, opt for brown rice, bulgur, millet, or buckwheat.
Eat more green, chlorophyll-rich foods such as broccoli, kale, spinach, and asparagus. Eliminate candy, sugar, soda, and all simple sugars from your diet. Excess sugar ends up being stored as fat in your body, which results in weight gain. Also, keep dairy to a minimum because most dairy products are high in saturated fat. Avoid fatty foods, processed or fried foods.

6. Walk off the weight. The No. 1 cause of weight gain is inactivity. Physical activity is the key to speeding up your metabolism and burning excess calories. The best way to be physically active is to use your legs! Walk as often and as long as you can. Always take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Step outside during your break at work and take a walk around your building. Consider joining a local hiking club. Try taking a walk 30 minutes in the morning or 30 minutes in the early evening.I hope this article helps you shed some pounds and add on the years! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me. May you live long, live strong, and live happy!-Dr. Mao

Quote of the day~“It is often FAITH that makes HOPE possible, and when hope is present, new things begin to happen... HOPE is believing in spite of the evidence, then watching the evidence change...” Author Unknown

Letter to Me-Revisited

I've mulled over the thought of what I would say to myself if I could write my 17 year old self a letter and I have decided what I might-and definitely might NOT- say. If teens listened to one half of what adults said, they wouldn't make nearly as many mistakes. But then, they also wouldn't learn as many lessons. Sometimes lessons have to be learned the hard way. And being the stubborn child that I was, I wouldn't have listened anyway. Any sentence that began with "Don't do this" would have guaranteed my doing just that. But if I could, I think I would offer my young self some words of encouragement, something to possibly motivate a more positive outlook and a higher self esteem. I would tell myself to try band, to try the drama club, to try a new sport, to sing in the choir. I would say not to take things so very seriously. I would tell myself that I'm a better person than I think I am. I would encourage myself to look for my faith, I would tell myself to give that one particular person a chance, I would tell myself to keep my chin up, to pay more attention to my grandparents because some would be gone sooner than I thought. I would say that these are the best days of your "young life" and to not squander them, but that even better days are ahead.

It goes without saying that everything happens for a reason and that the path we take and the choices we make lead us to right where we are supposed to be and that changing any one thing may alter the course of one's life. I wouldn't want to do that. But if I could offer myself a glimmer of hope...maybe that little girl would get to this point in her life with a bit more self worth and a better attitude "if I could write a letter to me...."

Letter to Me

If you aren't a country music fan, you may not have heard this sweet song yet, but it makes me wonder what I would say to myself if I had the chance to talk to the 17 year old me? I will ponder that and answer later. What would you say to yourself?

"Letter To Me"

If I could write a letter to me
And send it back in time to myself at 17
First I'd prove it's me by saying
look under your bed
There's a Skoal can and a Playboy
no one else would know you hid
And then I'd say I know its tough
When you break up after seven months
And yeah I know you really liked her
and it just don't seem fair
All I can say is pain like that
is fast and it's rare

And oh, you got so much going for you, going right
But I know at 17
it's hard to see past Friday night
She wasn't right for you
And still you feel like there's a knife
sticking out of your back
And you're wondering if you'll survive
You'll make it through this and you'll see
You're still around to write this letter to me

At the stop sign at Tomlinson and Eighth
Always stop completely
don't just tap your brakes
And when you get a date with Bridgett
make sure the tank is full..
On second thought forget it
that one turns out kinda cool
Each and every time you have a fight
Just assume you're wrong and dad is right
And you should really thank Mrs. Brinkman
She spent so much extra time
It's like she sees the diamond underneath
And she's polishing you 'til you shine

And oh you got so much going for you, going right
But I know at 17
it's hard to see past Friday night
Tonight's the bonfire rally
But you're staying home instead
because if you fail Algebra,
Mom and Dad will kill you dead
Trust me you'll squeak by
and get a C
And you're still around to write
this letter to me

You've got so much up ahead
You'll make new friends
You should see your kids and wife
And I'd end up saying have no fear
These are nowhere near
the best years of your life.
I guess I'll see you in the mirror
When you're a grown man
P.S. go and hug Aunt Rita every chance you can...

And oh, you got so much going for, you going right
But I know at 17
it's hard to see past Friday night
I wish you'd study Spanish
I wish you'd take a typing class
I wish you wouldn't worry, let it be..
I'd say have a little faith and you'll see
If I could write a letter to me...
To me
-Brad Paisley