Saturday, April 3, 2010
Friday, December 11, 2009
Funny Conversations: Em
In the files of: Favorite things my friends say:
My Friend Em looking over her tea cup....looks up at me dead in the eye and states:
"Perhaps I will write my book about myself when I am 60 and in need of attention" :-)
I of course after deeply staring into my tea cup, introspective and inhaling the steam of the tea, slowly look back up, give her a crooked smile and raised eyebrow and state:
"Perhaps I will attempt to write a book about my travels now....volume 2 about myself in entirety to be released upon my death" I will be at rest and still make people laugh long after I am dead.
To which we both start giggling...
And then.....
She calls me on it:
"CHICKEN"
The only thing I could reply with was:
YEP.....
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Sites That Rock!~Shared Electron
Innovative, Cool, Collaberation! A Place to share!
"I built a doomsday machine and all I got was this lousy t-shirt"
NICA Rocks! Way to go Matt!
I love hanging with my friends.
I want to thank Fritz for hanging with me for diner last night and mostly because he is an extraordinary inspiration.
Matt created the first Mountain Bike League in the US specifically for High School kids! He started by creating the Northern California High School Mountain Bike League in 2001 Then came SOCAL, and the rest is now the NATIONALS!
Well done my friend!
We have come a long way from my first triathalon with you 18 years ago. A long colorful journey from DVC, UCB and we keep riding forward!
See the dream and make it happen! YEA Team!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
A Salute to Veterans 2009
A moment of respect for all former, current and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our flag to still fly free... Thank you! Freedom is not free!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
My first trip to FRANCE (other than a layover at CDG)
Truth be told: Astonishingly enough in all my travels throughout the world. I have never been to France. Figured when I was old and tired I would go to France instead of trying to take on all of the third world countries (before they become second and first world leaders) Watching how an emerging market and nation socially, economically and environmentally develops....watching history unfold and being a part of it has always been more interesting to me than experiencing something that hasn't changed for centuries....Until I was accepted at www.insead.edu for an executive program in France. This forced me to go to France much earlier than I had intended. I have an amazing new respect for things that haven't changed and have stayed the same. There is something to be said pour le'change de resistance'!
I have traveled all over Europe but always for business or to visit people I love: England, Germany, Switzerland (ok that was for skiing), Belgium, Luxumbourg, Italy, etc. But never, France, Spain or Portugal. I figured I would leave that for when I was finished trying to make the world a safer and better place.
I will tell you, if you stay in Paris (of which I have not been too yet other than the airport again), My belief (perhaps soon to be proven wrong is:)Paris is a city, just like most others. Everyone is cranky doesn't have patience and is trying to make there way in the world. The leaders of the nation reside there so politics is always on the top of the stack. Kind of like university towns. The young and idealistic are the majority and proceed to protest everything from calling McDonalds , Le McDonalds to the importance of a call against France in a game ruled by FIFA.
However, my initial indoctrination to France is in the country. In the middle of the forest! But, upon my arrival, I must say the first thing when I walked off the plane that I noticed was that all the baggage trucks were electrically powered and recharged! Unlike the US which still utilizes small stinky petro fueled carts. Rock On! Kudo's to the green movement.
I arrived in the country and went to a small village named Samois sur seine. On the river. I stopped at the bakery picked up a baguette (whole grain with flax) a bottle of sparkling water, a chunk of fresh raw milk brie and proceeded to walk down to the river through the village of 2100 people (most likely during the summer)admiring the gardens, the amazing smells, the dogs, the swans, the sun, the trees....the chimes of the clock tower. I was quite sure I was in heaven. I ate on a bench and watched the wild life and people and giggled like a school girl. It was amazing.........
I have traveled all over Europe but always for business or to visit people I love: England, Germany, Switzerland (ok that was for skiing), Belgium, Luxumbourg, Italy, etc. But never, France, Spain or Portugal. I figured I would leave that for when I was finished trying to make the world a safer and better place.
I will tell you, if you stay in Paris (of which I have not been too yet other than the airport again), My belief (perhaps soon to be proven wrong is:)Paris is a city, just like most others. Everyone is cranky doesn't have patience and is trying to make there way in the world. The leaders of the nation reside there so politics is always on the top of the stack. Kind of like university towns. The young and idealistic are the majority and proceed to protest everything from calling McDonalds , Le McDonalds to the importance of a call against France in a game ruled by FIFA.
However, my initial indoctrination to France is in the country. In the middle of the forest! But, upon my arrival, I must say the first thing when I walked off the plane that I noticed was that all the baggage trucks were electrically powered and recharged! Unlike the US which still utilizes small stinky petro fueled carts. Rock On! Kudo's to the green movement.
I arrived in the country and went to a small village named Samois sur seine. On the river. I stopped at the bakery picked up a baguette (whole grain with flax) a bottle of sparkling water, a chunk of fresh raw milk brie and proceeded to walk down to the river through the village of 2100 people (most likely during the summer)admiring the gardens, the amazing smells, the dogs, the swans, the sun, the trees....the chimes of the clock tower. I was quite sure I was in heaven. I ate on a bench and watched the wild life and people and giggled like a school girl. It was amazing.........
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Denver Airport Delay
Chose to live, laugh, love and learn because this is all it is....if only for this one moment in time.
(The people around me are extremely upset (yelling at the poor ticket agents who obviously haven't remembered to bring their weather control devices for your personal convenience) because the plane is delayed for 2 hours (weather not silly stuff especially when you think of the plane lost in the ocean coming from Brazil this week)
Inconvenient yes (I would really like to see my kids) but life extinguishing I think not...) A deep breath and thought for all those who have much greater trials than being stuck at an airport with free wifi, access to food, shelter, and electricity!)
Ahhhh it's all good.
(The people around me are extremely upset (yelling at the poor ticket agents who obviously haven't remembered to bring their weather control devices for your personal convenience) because the plane is delayed for 2 hours (weather not silly stuff especially when you think of the plane lost in the ocean coming from Brazil this week)
Inconvenient yes (I would really like to see my kids) but life extinguishing I think not...) A deep breath and thought for all those who have much greater trials than being stuck at an airport with free wifi, access to food, shelter, and electricity!)
Ahhhh it's all good.
Quote of the Day: Attitude
Attitude
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude is more important than facts. It is more important than past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gifted ability, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act in certain way, we cannot change the inevitable. The only thing that we can do is play on the one string that we have, and that is our attitude.
I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to us and ninety percent how we react to it.
And so it is with you…we are in charge of our Attitudes.
- Charles R. Swindoll quotes (American Writer and Clergyman, b.1934)
Thank you Lyle for reminding me that I shouldn't be such a social introvert for the wrong reasons:-)
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude is more important than facts. It is more important than past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gifted ability, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act in certain way, we cannot change the inevitable. The only thing that we can do is play on the one string that we have, and that is our attitude.
I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to us and ninety percent how we react to it.
And so it is with you…we are in charge of our Attitudes.
- Charles R. Swindoll quotes (American Writer and Clergyman, b.1934)
Thank you Lyle for reminding me that I shouldn't be such a social introvert for the wrong reasons:-)
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Onward to another life: Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
May all be well with mankind.
May the leaders of the earth protect in every way by keeping to the right path.
May there be goodness for those who know the earth to be sacred
May all the worlds be happy.
One of my dreams was to travel to Mysore and study with this magnificent peaceful human being. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be in this lifetime. Sri Pattabhi Jois passed from this life to another world on May 18th 2009.
Someday I will still make it to Mysore to study with one of his sons and drink in the beauty and peace of one of my favorite places in this world, India. Until then,
Om Shanti, Om.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
OKC, The Lost Boys, Kenya Calling.....
On my way to Oklahoma City for the wedding of my colleagues daughter...I realized how happy I was to have my "traveling shoes" back on again. I really had only been in one place for 4 days, but nonetheless I was ready to hit the road and fill my senses with new people, places, experiences and things.
I always seem to meet interesting people when I am on the road. Perhaps it is because I am more open and not in an everyday situation. I love to watch people. I am not really a "talker" but if the right person walks into my sphere I engage because I know it is right. I love to hear their stories, life experiences, perceptions of similar situations.
On my flight today I was sitting in the airport watching and working on my computer sharing an outlet (which always seems to happen these days)and the man commented about my laptop which is dual English and Arabic keyboard. We started talking, conversations intertwining, synergistic. I noticed the the people who were sitting across from us.
I then recollected a story of being in Washington D.C. with my 1 1/2 yr old twins and Sabrina traveling to KY for my nephew S's graduation. On the way we were stuck at DCA for quite sometime due to the usual onslaught of June thunderstorm season rolling through D.C. Eight hours in the airport with a set of twins provides for loads of interaction with people and interesting observations and conversations.
As we wonder around the airport trying to induce sleep by letting the twins walk off all their energy (I know now, it has the exact opposite effect at that age. They become physically exhausted however mentally they are completely afraid if they close their eyes they might miss something new and spectacular. Thus it creates stumbling exhausted children) we move closer to our gate hoping that perhaps we might get them to lay down on a blanket or in their stroller and take a brief nap. I notice a group of various age young boys and men, all with white packets in their hands. They wore various t-shirts with designs on them but what caught my attention was they way were walking or sitting and staring at their feet. I mentioned to Sabrina that these boys and men had obviously never worn shoes before, and looked as if this was one of the first flights that they had taken....They were obviously a long way from home.
In the tired state of mind my son walked up to a young man around 12-13 yrs of age and grabbed a hold of his leg and hugged it. I thought the boy was going to jump out of his skin, but he looked down at my son with the kindest eyes... as I walked up to him and smiled and apologized. Of course he understood nothing that I was saying but the smile and the eyes spoke a thousand words, that were understood by all of us.
He picked up my son in his arms away from his leg, my son looked at him in the eyes and smiled and proceeded to put his arms around this young mans neck and his head upon his shoulder, closed his eyes and fell directly asleep. I put my hand on the boys shoulder motioning if I should relieve him of his un obligated duty. He smiled and sat down with my son and held him until the plane started to board. I wish I had a camera for that moment.
My daughter of course continued to romp around drunk tired.
As the plane began to board, I could sense the anxiety and fear that had risen in the air...all of the boys and men looking at their tickets pointing... I then knew they didn't understand where, when or what seat they were supposed to be boarding too. Sabrina and I pre boarded with the kids onto the plane, my daughter fell asleep immediately. I walked back out the door and went to the boy who had held my son, I grabbed his hand and pointed to his ticket. I walked each one of them to their seats on that plane. A sigh of relief washed over all.
I was very happy to arrive in KY everyone safe and sound. I was even happier to see as I deboarded the plane with all my "ducklings"safely following closely behind. There was entire crowd of people with "Welcome to America" signs waiting for my ducklings :-) I smiled and hugged the boy and looked him in the eyes and said "Welcome to America" he smiled back with a tear in his eye and said "thank you".
My sister in law met us at the airport as always ready to give the twins huge hugs and love. I explained to her about the hug and the boys. She explained to me that their is a huge population of immigrants that are sponsored by local charities to bring them to KY....who would have ever thought. This is where they go after arrival:
http://www.lostboysfilm.com/learn.html
Popping back into the current days travel and story:
The man smiled. He explained that he was an ER doctor from Nairobi, Kenya and he was here to ensure one of the boys made it to San Antonio. He would return to Kenya the following day... What a wonderful man he is.... Now I have a new pen pal. We exchanged email addresses. I hope to be fortunate enough to return to Kenya someday. Perhaps, I can convince a few of my MD and Dentist friends to come along and help plow the way to peace together.
All from a random meeting at an airport....
I always seem to meet interesting people when I am on the road. Perhaps it is because I am more open and not in an everyday situation. I love to watch people. I am not really a "talker" but if the right person walks into my sphere I engage because I know it is right. I love to hear their stories, life experiences, perceptions of similar situations.
On my flight today I was sitting in the airport watching and working on my computer sharing an outlet (which always seems to happen these days)and the man commented about my laptop which is dual English and Arabic keyboard. We started talking, conversations intertwining, synergistic. I noticed the the people who were sitting across from us.
I then recollected a story of being in Washington D.C. with my 1 1/2 yr old twins and Sabrina traveling to KY for my nephew S's graduation. On the way we were stuck at DCA for quite sometime due to the usual onslaught of June thunderstorm season rolling through D.C. Eight hours in the airport with a set of twins provides for loads of interaction with people and interesting observations and conversations.
As we wonder around the airport trying to induce sleep by letting the twins walk off all their energy (I know now, it has the exact opposite effect at that age. They become physically exhausted however mentally they are completely afraid if they close their eyes they might miss something new and spectacular. Thus it creates stumbling exhausted children) we move closer to our gate hoping that perhaps we might get them to lay down on a blanket or in their stroller and take a brief nap. I notice a group of various age young boys and men, all with white packets in their hands. They wore various t-shirts with designs on them but what caught my attention was they way were walking or sitting and staring at their feet. I mentioned to Sabrina that these boys and men had obviously never worn shoes before, and looked as if this was one of the first flights that they had taken....They were obviously a long way from home.
In the tired state of mind my son walked up to a young man around 12-13 yrs of age and grabbed a hold of his leg and hugged it. I thought the boy was going to jump out of his skin, but he looked down at my son with the kindest eyes... as I walked up to him and smiled and apologized. Of course he understood nothing that I was saying but the smile and the eyes spoke a thousand words, that were understood by all of us.
He picked up my son in his arms away from his leg, my son looked at him in the eyes and smiled and proceeded to put his arms around this young mans neck and his head upon his shoulder, closed his eyes and fell directly asleep. I put my hand on the boys shoulder motioning if I should relieve him of his un obligated duty. He smiled and sat down with my son and held him until the plane started to board. I wish I had a camera for that moment.
My daughter of course continued to romp around drunk tired.
As the plane began to board, I could sense the anxiety and fear that had risen in the air...all of the boys and men looking at their tickets pointing... I then knew they didn't understand where, when or what seat they were supposed to be boarding too. Sabrina and I pre boarded with the kids onto the plane, my daughter fell asleep immediately. I walked back out the door and went to the boy who had held my son, I grabbed his hand and pointed to his ticket. I walked each one of them to their seats on that plane. A sigh of relief washed over all.
I was very happy to arrive in KY everyone safe and sound. I was even happier to see as I deboarded the plane with all my "ducklings"safely following closely behind. There was entire crowd of people with "Welcome to America" signs waiting for my ducklings :-) I smiled and hugged the boy and looked him in the eyes and said "Welcome to America" he smiled back with a tear in his eye and said "thank you".
My sister in law met us at the airport as always ready to give the twins huge hugs and love. I explained to her about the hug and the boys. She explained to me that their is a huge population of immigrants that are sponsored by local charities to bring them to KY....who would have ever thought. This is where they go after arrival:
http://www.lostboysfilm.com/learn.html
Popping back into the current days travel and story:
The man smiled. He explained that he was an ER doctor from Nairobi, Kenya and he was here to ensure one of the boys made it to San Antonio. He would return to Kenya the following day... What a wonderful man he is.... Now I have a new pen pal. We exchanged email addresses. I hope to be fortunate enough to return to Kenya someday. Perhaps, I can convince a few of my MD and Dentist friends to come along and help plow the way to peace together.
All from a random meeting at an airport....
Saturday, May 23, 2009
I'd forgotten how wonderful and amazing the fire flies look floating and flickering out in the open fields. So brilliant and delightful to watch! So simple, yet so complex.... Ah just to sit and think of all the permutations and combinations that act and react to allow the earth and universe to continue to exist. Perhaps, we as humans need to take a step back, breathe and learn how to coexist before we cease to exist. The simplest solutions seem the most difficult for people to grasp.
Good night, muffins, moon, stars, fire flies, people and universe. I look forward to greeting you again if I am lucky enough to wake and drink you in again tomorrow.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The Whirlwind U.S. Tour
Well I dont know quite how to start this other than describing these last 4 weeks as amazing. Dropped into NYC, LAX, LAS,LAX hit the red eye back to NYC, went and changed the clothes out of my suitcase, got in the car and was dropped off at 1500 in time for the CIO Forum cruise on the Norweigen Dawn for 4 Days... Back on the ground for 2 days, D.C. for a week, home for Mother's Day, back to D.C. Now I am back in CT for 4 days then off to OKC for 4 days.....
Stay Tuned.... More tomorrow after a bit of sleep and snuggle time with my darling little girl...
Stay Tuned.... More tomorrow after a bit of sleep and snuggle time with my darling little girl...
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