"Reflections, Today..."

At the gym I was walking up the stairs to the second floor cardiovascular equipment mezzanine beside an elderly couple holding hands..."I'm hoping the elevator stays broken so that I can continue to help Marjorie climb the stairs for exercise!"...At the top a woman inquired about how long they have been together?..."67 years and counting and we are still in as much love as the day we met!"

 

In the news...

 

"1/3 of Americans do not have a penny of savings...and over 50% are currently on government food stamps."

 

"United Way is partnering with IRS to complete tax returns in West Palm Beach for those who earn less than $51,000 per year."

 

"The State of Florida is attempting to raise the median teacher's salary from $36,000, one of the lowest state averages in the USA, to $46,000."

 

"Florida is a right to work non union state, with no state income tax, and abundant resources but due to attempted over-regulation, businesses are continuing to depart from the state."

 

"Within a short number of years the freshwater Florida Everglades is going to be a salt water swamp."

 

"For the first time in recent history Florida has a $80 Million surplus in its $70 Billion annual budget, so the House and Senate are trying to determine how it should be directed."

 

"Walmart announced that they are limiting the sale of ammunition to 3 cases per person per day, due to the fear of oncoming gun control ."

 

"Brio Tuscan Grill is eliminating their bread dipping oil with Italian spices."

 

"Cruise ships should be avoided because some of their employees with gastric-intestinal disorders have been not following their medically directed isolation."

 

"On his wedding anniversary it was announced that former Miami Quarterback Dan Marino had fathered a "love child" seven years ago, but has spent millions of dollars in child support to its mother."

 

 

"A Friend's Passing..."

This afternoon, I  attended the gathering of friends and family at a local funeral home of my friend and my real estate broker, in that order...  his mass of Christian burial is tomorrow...

During my morning meditation in bed, I reflected on his life, and then I went to the computer to send the following...

 

Cutting edge, technology embracing, ZEST for living, true friend, a contemporary "Renaissance Man"...

 

"Ed (slapping me on my back)...It is GREAT to see you...where are you going, and what a re you doing next?  You are everywhere doing everything!"

 

"Chappy, what are you doing?"

 

A not too far from his reality answer...

"Water sports in Costa Rica, taking an Air Force stealth plane to Romania, hot air ballooning to Bordeaux for a fine wine, hopping over to Sydney for a concert and to study their real estate auctions, flying to Scottsdale to attend a motivational seminar, then to Munich to study a new real estate technology, back to take Emma to a fashion show...not too much this week (he grins)!"

 

In 48 short years, while living life to the fullest, Chappy positively touched the lives of so many...and set the groundwork for a legacy to live on...

 

The day after tomorrow, I'll be attending the memorial service of another friend who lived a full impacting life and also passed much too early...

 

 

Every day that we are given is a blessing...TREASURE it...

"Pre-Spring...Winter Cleaning Time..."

During today's daily morning (before getting out of bed) meditation..."It's partly cloudy...nothing specific is on my schedule...I've got to jump out of bed and complete a "To Do" list...it's just mid-winter, but it's a good day for "spring cleaning..."

 

Wash the car...clean the ceiling fan blades...clean the sheets...wash the wood floors...clean the bathrooms...after making a typically hearty" breakfast while watching the morning news and reading today's newspaper...

 

Open every closet...open every drawer...make a list of what's broken...it is said..."If you don't wear something in a year toss it"...my brothers are great at this...one due to his compact accommodations...one because  he took what the other did to another level (I always say that each consecutive sibling in our family absorbed from the previous and I'm the oldest!!!)...their closets are organized (looking like an expensive boutique display)...so are mine...but stuffed..."If I don't wear something in 20 years I "consider" recycling it...and if I see an item that I know I like, I may purchase it, but I leave it in the box because it takes me longer to switch to something new!"...this applies to all of our "tech" electronics...once again my tech younger brother is able to sort through chargers, adapters, electronics, accessories, etc. and suggest what goes with what and what can be recycle it!...

 

Purge drawers...toss financial records after their 7-year IRS mandated availability...check architectural drawings and projects..."But these may be needed if I become famous and someone needs to develop a museum of my career !"...haven't read a magazine  all year? Toss it!...Open cabinets...donate unused items...humm...tax deduction, and someone should be able to use my "good stuff"..."This is easier for me to do for others than for myself!"...TOSS, TOSS, TOSS...

 

This is empowering...liberating...refreshing...

 

While at it...limit associations with negativity in any of its forms...

 

CHARGE...I'm ready to attack another day...Are you inspire to do the same???

"More Observations..."

Sunday afternoon I decided to take my new bicycle (replaced, after the last two were stolen) for a ride, and  stored it in the locked garage (instead of protecting it inside the house) ,  and then I left for an hour at the beach. Afterwards, as I returned home I noticed two police cars in my driveway! "Oh no...I hope I was not robbed again!"   Leaning over one of the cars was a heavyset man handcuffed.  "Officers, what seems to be the problem here?"..."Nothing!!!"  Afterwards a neighbor related that this individual  tried to steal a car from the rental agency at the end of my street, tried to break into the prep school across the street, and then was spotted trying to break into my neighbors' homes before mine...Nothing worth reporting... in spite of telling the officers that there had been six other attempted break-ins on the street in the last few weeks!

 

Earlier that afternoon, I had purchased a two-pack of ink cartridges for my mother's printer for $72 $76.32 with 6% tax).  When I got home I discovered I had purchased a #96 (black & white)  and #97 (color) rather than buying two #97's ...I returned to the office supply store the next day to exchange the # 96 for a second #97.  The cost of two #97's was $86 ($91.16 with 6% tax), and the cashier at first could not subtract to to determine the difference was $14, and then was really flustered when the difference with the 6% tax had to be determined! 

 

From the last elliptical exercise machine on the balcony cardiovascular area of our gym, I'm able to have a good overview into the operations of the facility.  Of interest is the "floor mopping maintenance man".  He fills a rolling mop bucket with soap an water and proceeds to wash the entrance area tile...then the cafe area tile, then the "spin room" tile, and then the base of the treadmill, then wipes their handrails, all without changing the water!  Then he rolls into the restrooms and washes their floors once again without changing the water!

"2013..."

Happy New Year!!!
2013..."13"... a controversial number...most either love it or fear it...

It's always been my favorite number...and one that has had lots of importance and meaning in my life...Friday the 13th, September and December, 2013...wow...lots of positive energy...should be experienced on those days...unfortunately the full moon won't also fall on either, too...July 13, 2013...the scheduled last day of our entire family's reunion... 

This New Year's Eve, I chose to usher the year in with a small dinner gathering of Mom, my next brother, and a few close friends at the house; and then a champagne toast with chocolate and cheesecake while viewing West Palm Beach's fantastic waterfront fireworks display from the "flying bridge" of friends' yacht...

New Year's Resolutions...I don't make them on the 31st (hum...13's digits reversed!)...but instead make them continually through the year...daily reflection...

What have I accomplished in 58 years? How can I, and what can I, personally improve? What do I want to accomplish next? 

As a Country, where are we, USA?  Where are we heading? 

We have LOTS to do...

Surprisingly the "remnants" of out local newspaper has even had some positive "headlines" and "editorials"...Meanwhile the news was full of contradictions...murder rates are down...a national outcry for weapons government control...real estate is experiencing a value "upswing"...Florida still has the highest national foreclosure rate...burglaries are down...teachers should be given classroom weapons...the "fiscal cliff" was avoided in the final hours by Congress and the depressed stock market had a one-day large rebound....budget cuts weren't made...taxes went up...the President signed an across the board government employee raise...while expenditure cuts desperately need to be made...the country is experiencing record snowfalls, while the purported global warming is eliminating our glaciers...health insurance should be available to everyone...but good doctors and nurses are still not affordable, if they even can be discovered...child obesity is decreasing, but the cost of groceries has "shot through the roof"...jobs are  more available, but most I know are still looking for work, or are "under-employed"...educational testing scores are on the rise, but most young people can't "make change" or calculate a percentage gratuity...we have more electronic daily life "aids", but  I question how people can afford them, and when they get them, they spend more time trying to make them work...our world is getting more "global", but most people are afraid of the other nations and their people...

Wait a minute...turn back time...Merry CHRISTmas...turn back time again...the unifying, motivating London Summer Olympics are underway...crank it way back..."This country is founded based on the principals of..."