May You Stay Forever Young

This is a prayer for my family and friends...

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

The start of the shop

What a kid!

New: Liberator Online

* BORROWING TO POLICE THE WORLD: "Across Europe, our NATO allies are slashing defense to maintain social safety nets. But Uncle Sam, he soldiers on. We borrow from Europe to defend Europe. We borrow from Japan and China to defend Japan from China. We borrow from the Gulf Arabs to defend the Gulf Arabs." -- Pat Buchanan, November 26, 2010.

 

* THEY GOT WILLIE NELSON: "Willie Nelson was arrested for possession of marijuana. Nothing yet on bin Laden, but we got Willie Nelson." -- David Letterman, Dec. 6, 2010.

 

* WILLIE NELSON ON POT: "Tax it, regulate it and legalize it. And stop the border wars over drugs. Why should the drug lords make all the money? Thousands of lives will be saved." -- country music legend Willie Nelson after his latest arrest for marijuana possession.

 

* JAY LENO ON WIKILEAKS: "President Obama's pledge to have the most transparent administration in history has come true. Thanks to WikiLeaks." -- Jay Leno, Dec. 6, 2010.

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A piece of beauty from our Averee.

French Press

So last night, my daughter wanted Starbucks (she had a giftcard burning a hole in her purse) so we went and had a nice “coffee” - it was nice.

While there, we also splurged on a couple of french press cups - I’ve always heard how great they are and how much better the coffee tastes when “pressed” rather than “brewed” - so I went for it. Call it a celebratory purchase - I bought 2, one for me, and then of course - one for the wife.

This morning, I’ve tried this method for making my coffee and I must say, it’s a whole new ball game - as in, it isn’t even in the same ballpark as regularly brewed coffee. OUTSTANDING!

I highly recommend it, if you happen to be a coffee drinker.

Is cholesterol really bad?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/the-cholesterol-myth-that_b_676817.html

Cholesterol could easily be described as the smoking gun of the last two decades.It’s been responsible for demonizing entire categories of foods (like eggs and saturated fats) and blamed for just about every case of heart disease in the last 20 years.Yet when I first opened my medical practice in the mid 80s, cholesterol, and the fear that yours was too high was rarely talked about.Somewhere along the way however, cholesterol became a household word — something that you must keep as low as possible, or suffer the consequences.

7 Pieces of Wisdom from Socrates

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2010/06/7-pieces-of-wisdom-from-socrates.html

7 Pieces of Wisdom from Socrates

Socrates is considered one of the chief founders of Western philosophy. We know Socrates primarily from the accounts of other writers: from his student, Plato, from Xenophon, the historian, as well as from the plays of Aristophanes.

Through Plato’s writing (primarily) we’ve come to comprehend the depth of Socrates’ wisdom. Today I want to discuss seven life lessons based on the teachings of Socrates. Socrates said, “I cannot teach anybody anything; I can only make them think.” This article was written to make you think. He said, “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” Let his words, kindle your flame.

7 Must Read Life Lessons From Socrates:

1. Be Content
   
   

   “He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.”

   
   Having a beautiful home and a gorgeous car will not make you content. Contentedness is birth from the inside, it’s a decision, it’s your choice. Things will never make you happy, happiness is a choice.


2. Faithful are the wounds of a friend
   
   

   “Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults.”

   
   The Scripture says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” A true friend will reprove your faults; they will tell you when you are “out of line.” Be wary of friends, who only say kind words. A true friend will tell you the truth, and often the truth hurts. Socrates said, “Do not be angry with me if I tell you the truth.”


3. Study

   “Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for.”

   
   Do you realize that you can read a book in a few hours and learn what it took someone twenty years to learn. You can literally pick someone’s brain for $19.95. Learn to cultivate the joy of reading, and you will gain with ease what others have sweated for.


4. Be by Doing

   “To do is to be.”

   
   As the quote goes, “Be the change, you want to see.” Don’t just talk about it, be the example, be the leader. Socrates said, “Let him that would move the world, first move himself.” If you can move yourself, than you will easily move others.


5. Gaining a Good Reputation

   “The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.”

   
   Solomon said, “A good name is better than rubies.” And the way to gain a good name is to be how you want to be perceived. Be, in the dark, the way you want to be perceived in the light. If you can master that, you will never need to worry about your reputation. Socrates said, “It is not living that matters, but living rightly.”


6. Avoid False Words

   “False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.”

   
   Labor for accuracy in your speech! Don’t stretch the truth, don’t bend the truth, only speak the truth. Exaggerations infect the soul! You can be just as truthful and accurate in your speech as the most honest men who have ever walked the earth.


7. Beware of a Busy Life

   “Beware the barrenness of a busy life.”
   

   
   If you don’t take anything else away from this article, please remember this question, you should ask yourself this question everyday. The question is, “What am I accomplishing?”

Never get lost in the “busy-ness” of life, avoid all of the distractions and attractions.

Examine your life. Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” So ask yourself daily, … not: “What am I doing,” but, “What am I accomplishing?” If you do this, you will begin to awaken to your true potential, you will begin to become who you are.

Thank you for reading, and be sure to pass this article along.

(source: http://www.dumblittleman.com/2010/06/7-pieces-of-wisdom-from-socrates.html )

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Red Meat Gets Red Flagged

http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/abs_and_health/263

A recent study by the U.S. National Cancer Institute claims that consuming red meat contributes to a host of health risks, including cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and stomach ulcers.

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It is a paradoxical but profoundly true and important principle of life that the most likely way to reach a goal is to be aiming not at that goal itself but at some more ambitious goal beyond it.

(via mnmal)

HANDBOOK 2010

A good friend of mine emailed this to me earlier - thought it was nice, and made good sense; enjoy:

Health:
1.       Drink plenty of water.
2.       Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3.       Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4.       Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5.       Make time to pray.
6.       Play more games
7.       Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8.       Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9..       Sleep for 7 hours.
10.    Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11.    Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12.    Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13.    Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
14.    Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15.    Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16.    Dream more while you are awake
17.    Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18.    Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19.    Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20.    Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21.    No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22.    Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23.    Smile and laugh more.
24.    You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree…

Society:
25.    Call your family often.
26.    Each day give something good to others..
27.    Forgive everyone for everything..
28.    Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of  6.
29.    Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30.    What other people think of you is none of your business.
31.    Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32.    Do the right thing!
33.    Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34.    GOD heals everything.
35.    However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36.    No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37.    The best is yet to come..
38.    When you awake in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39..    Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

17 years.

Today marks the 17th year without my mother. I can’t begin to describe how much I wish my mother were able to see what her boys have become - and the lives we’ve built. There are times throughout the years, as they go by, when I think about little things my kids do and wonder what my mother would be saying about it.

I think most of all, I am sad that they (my brother’s and my kids) never got the opportunity to know her. I can only imagine my mom as a grandmother.

My mom was an amazing woman, and the world lost a twinkling star when we lost her, there’s no doubt about it. I miss her like crazy.

I don’t want to say I have “bad” days on this particular day - as I don’t - but there is always a tugging at my heart when this day comes year to year - Don’t worry Mom, I’ll never forget you. I know you are smiling down on us. So I’ll smile here & remember the good times.