Sometimes We Need to Take a Leap of Faith

I recently was friended by a person on Facebook that I haven’t really spoken to in probably 5 or more years.  I honestly can not remember if my oldest son was even born yet the last time he and I spoke.  Of course this is all dull and irrelevent to the post I am about to make, but it was looking over his Facebook and what he has accomplished that made me stop and think about something;  Why are we all not doing what makes us happy?

I don’t mean having amazing sex or playing golf.  I am talking about our jobs, our careers, the hours of the day we spend awake.  Sure many will claim, and may be truthful, that the job they have is exactly what they are happy doing.  I think for most this is not the case.  We end up doing what we have been pushed into, prodded into, tested into or forced into.  Maybe it’s a lack of education or experience that keeps us from doing what we really want to do;  but I would say it is fear of failure more than anything else.

Most all of us have a passion.  Something that brings fire to our minds and hearts.  Most of us have steered clear of those passions for fear of failure or the idea that we should make more money, have more things, get a bigger car, etc.  Because of this we have many, many, unhappy people plodding away at mundane jobs that do little to light thier fire.

This person who friended me on Facebook had a passion that I never thought would go anywhere.  They are called starving artists for a reason.  But he had the drive and desire to follow his passion and make a living doing what he enjoys.  I challenge everyone to do the same.

Happy Holidays (also posted on my google+)

I hope everyone slows down this holiday season, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, or nothing at all, to take a moment and look at your friends and family. Look at the ones who you can count on and who count on you. Remember your neighbor, remember the ones who have passed on. Remember, think and reflect on how good you really have it. Are things always easy? No. But if you’re reading this then you have it better than a good many out there.

It’s difficult at times to celebrate what we have when we get so lost in what we want. So stop worrying about the next vacation, the bigger TV or that next gen computer gadget. Stop and hug a friend, a loved one or a pet. 

Happy holidays and God Bless. (Even if you don’t have the same faith as me or faith at all :) )

Are we thinking clearly?

When I was a kid I always thought it would be awesome to walk with dinosaurs.  Even now the idea of actually observing, interacting and possibly taming my own dinosaur makes me smile and chuckle.  Science has come a long way since I was a kid.  When movies like Jurassic Park came out the concept of taking previously preserved DNA from something 10,000 years old was only a gleam in someone’s eye – but now we think we can do it.

Below I linked an article to news article on northwestohio.com, the article is about scientists who are going to try and clone a mammoth.  You read that correctly, a mammoth.

http://www.northwestohio.com/news/story.aspx?id=693849

The researchers plan to produce embryos with mammoth DNA by replacing the nuclei of egg cells from an elephant with those taken from the mammoth’s marrow cells..”

While I am excited about the leaps and bounds our knowledge and science has come in my lifetime I am apprehnsive about cloning a mammal that has not been in our ecosystem for over 10,000 years. 

 

Christmas Present

My four year old informed me that he wants a dog that poops play-dough.  I asked him where he saw this play-dough pooping dog and he said he couldn’t remember.  A quick Google search yielded no results – which made me pause and ask “Do I really want to give my child a pooping dog for Christmas?”

Kids ask for some of the most outrageous and outlandish things thanks to commercials and paper ads.  Dolls that pee, dogs that poop, things that fart and things that cry.  Maybe it’s just me but I don’t think my kids will be getting anything that simulates bodily functions this year.. or next.

Wish he would ask for good old G.I. Joe instead.

 

 

How to Fall Off a Log

INTRODUCTION

In the course of human history there has been a saying that, though said differently in other cultures, is prevalent and deems exploring. This statement is ‘..as easy as falling off a log.” This statement seems ludicrous and haphazard, but it has become a crucial comment when dealing with acts of physical or mental prowess one deems easy when talking about it to someone who does not know.

But one has to ask, “How do you Fall Off a Log?” This article will explain, step by step on how to do this.

STEP ONE

Find a log. Make sure that it is of sufficient width to hold the length of your feet and of a height that makes the fall something that you care not to do.

STEP TWO

Stand on the log. This may take more coordination then you think. Logs can be slick, wobbly, and can roll away without warning once pressure is applied to them. I would suggest placing both hands on the log, then swinging one leg on, then pulling the other up. Slowly get into a crouching position and raise up from there.

STEP THREE

This is the trickiest step, falling off the log. You can not simply ‘jump’ off the log — the saying is ‘..falling off a log.” So, start moving on the log. Walking forwards and backwards, swing your arms wildly; anything to lose balance. Do not try and catch yourself. Allow the momentum to carry you awkwardly off the log. This may take some practice as you will continually JUMP instead of fall until you get the hang of it.

CONCLUSION

Next time someone says to you “…its as easy as falling of a log.” Look them in the eye and ask them, “Sure it is, have you ever tried falling off a log? If not, go try and then come tell me again.” This will confuse the person at first, but if he sees the conviction and honesty in your eyes, he will know that falling off a log is not as simple as it sounds.

The Shoe on the Other Foot

They say be careful what you wish for, to watch how you treat others and to always stand on high ground.  ”They” could be any number of people or organizations for the afore mentioned sayings.  I am linking an article from the Houston Chronicle (chron.com) about the Texas custom license plate issues of late.  I think anyone with a brain will find this article amusing.

http://blog.chron.com/texaspolitics/2011/11/some-specialty-license-plates-raise-questions/

Sorry it is the link only, but I don’t want to chance being sued by the paper for citing them without permission (freedom of speech.. yup).