Maxine for President

Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately: illegal immigation, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida. Not me. I concentrate on solutions for the problems. It's a win-win situation. Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border. Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levies. Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.

Sometimes I think Maxine should run for president. She was right on with this one!

Think about this one...

• Cows
  
• The Constitution
  
• The Ten Commandments

COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.

THE CONSTITUTION
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq .... Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this: You cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal,' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery,' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians...It creates a hostile work environment.

PART OF THE PROBLEM
Think about this: If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone-- YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!

It is Time for America to Speak up ! Yep, I passed it on! Thanks, Mom for emailing this to me!

A Good Sense of Humor is Essential to Survive

The world lost George Carlin last night. Whether or not you liked his comedy, and I recently came to appreciate it, you cannot deny the value of a good laugh. Laughing is supposed to keep us young. It's been medically proven that laughing - a real belly laugh - brings essential oxygen into your body. More importantly, laughing reduces stress, for free. It doesn't get any more Simple, Simple than this.

Personally, I would rather see a nightly venue of stand-up comedians on TV than the endless parade of medications designed to help you sleep, improve digestion, and help with depression.

Thanks, George for the many years of healthful laughter and mind provoking thought! Rest in peace.

Here's to Dad!

Today is Father's Day. My father passed away 12 years ago just shy of his 65 birthday. I am very lucky to still have my father-in-law, Stanley, who will be 87 in August. When my own Dad passed away, Stash told me not to despair, that he was now my father. So on this day devoted to fathers, I wanted to recognize these two men and the impact they each have had on me.

My own Dad, Bill, was a real character. He enjoyed life and lived it in an unorthodox way. Because he didn't care what other people thought of him, he was either very liked or very disliked. There wasn't much "gray" about Dad. He lived his life as it suited him. While this lifestyle wasn't always rewarding, Dad would have it no other way. He worked hard at maintaining his independent, free-wheeling ways. To me, he was a great Dad. We had a lot of fun together and he loved me unconditionally. From Dad I learned to be myself and to go after the things I want.

My father-in-law, Stanley, is a rock solid hard-working man who is devoted to his family. He is always there for his wife and four kids, their families, and his friends. He knows how to work hard -- he works with his hands -- and he plays just as hard. To me, he is a great Dad. And, he loves me as if I was one of his own children. From Stanley, I learned the value of family and I love his son dearly.

I am so very lucky to have two great Dads in my life; two larger than life kinda men. How blessed I am! As I think of how different these two men are, I'm struck by the fact that both are so outstanding -- and in completely different ways -- that they leave their mark on the people they know. I believe that is a sign of a life well lived.

Life's Too Short - Make the Most of It

Suddenly today, a well-known local and national news figure died - relatively young at 58. It's in these moments that you realize life is short and it could end at any time, without warning. It's always sad when someone dies at work without having the opportunity to prepare and make their peace with family, friends, and associates. Since I can't control when I'll die, I am going to make sure that whenever it happens, I am not leaving behind unfinished business.

Of course, I'm talking about the important business of life -- making sure family, friends, and associates know how I feel about them; making sure I leave with a few hard feelings about me as is possible; doing whatever I can while I'm here to make a difference in the lives of other people; etc. You get the idea. It's simple, simple.

I've passed the 50 mark and have important things left undone - such as making a new will, organizing my papers, disposing of all the junk I really don't need, writing my great American novel... oh yes, I've got at least one book in me.

In light of my new positive thinking philosophy, I have begun to visualize having these things done and being at peace (ready for the big one to hit without any regrets.) What about you?

It's a New Year for Me - It's Going to be Great!

I don't want to start another year without celebrating the great day that I'm having. Everything is perfect, from breakfast out with my husband and daughter to enjoying a slow paced, quiet day (away from work and the hustle of my job.) In line with my focus on being positive and visualizing how I want my life to be, I predict this is going to be a very good year.

I hope you are enjoying today too! (Feel free to celebrate with me today.)

The Return of Positive Thinking

Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) wrote the "Power of Positive Thinking" a long time ago. When I learned of it, I was seriously skeptical and didn't pay it any attention. Now, 35 years later, I am convinced this is exactly right.

For the past week, I have been making a concerted effort to focus on the good, to use the power of projection to visualize things the way I want them to be, and generally attempt to be positive. I know in the short term I was less stressed out this week. I'm hoping that the long term benefits are absolutely amazing... we'll see.

Regardless of whether or not my inner-most desires become reality in the long run, I truly believe that if everyone adopted a positive attitude, things would massively improve around the world.

Too simple? Well, that's how I prefer to work my way through my life - Simple, simple!

Thank you, Mr. Peale, you "Champion of Positive Thinking." Let's give this a go again, shall we?

Life is Good

What a beautiful day it was today. I spent the day with my family doing things together. Nothing out of the ordinary, but good stuff that the whole family took part in doing. It felt really good. So good that I wanted to memorialize this goodness here. It was a Simple, Simple day.

I think it's worth saying something good. Good thoughts attract goodness. It's a simple, simple law of nature. When you are happy you have a good day. When you are happy, the people around you can't help but be happy. I recently was introduced to a concept that states positive thoughts can enable you to create the life you want. Conversely, negative thoughts beget negativity and attract bad things to you.

Think about it. Now, go out and have a good day!