Heroes

So this morning as I drink my coffee and listen to some music; I have been pondering why people pick the heroes they do. Why do some people look up to Paris Hilton, and some look towards Mother Teresa for inspiration?

To me it is much more about daily life, than a celebrity. Now that doesn't mean that Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., the Dali Lama, Jesus etc have not had a a profound effect on my life. I strive to have half the impact they had on this earth, but what about the mom and dad that work so hard to raise a child in a harsh world.

I have some friends that have a 2 year old daughter that I love to death, and they have such a beautiful balance of life. He stays at home with her, and her mom works, not only does she work but she works extremely hard. They respect each other and know that the roles are perfect for them. So here is what gets me, are they any less powerful than Mother Teresa? Do they not have the same aspirations to make the world a better place? Maybe they are not feeding the hungry in Calcutta, but they are raising a child that may grow to be a great world leader, so who knows what there lasting impact will be. I truly believe that it will be a great one!

My grandfather who is 95, once told me to let no one man define the role you play on this earth. Seems to me that we to often look to the cool kids to find our role rather than just digging in and finding the role that suits us best.


NO DAY BUT TODAY!!

Wal*Mart

I have always joked that you know where you go for lying? WAL*MART.......It is not my favorite place for many reasons! So the other day I had to go to Sam's Club (Not quite as bad but still affiliated) because like it or not, sometimes it is just cheaper; I mean a lot cheaper than any place in town. After completing my shopping I was walking back to the truck and noticed an elderly lady standing in the parking lot talking to two men about something, feeling a bit nosey I walked down the isle of cars next to mine to get a better listen. As I approached it became very evident that she had misplaced her car and was completely turned around in the parking lot. Then the shock hit me, the men helping her were employees of Sam's club, now it has been my experience in the past that Wal*Mart / Sam's Club employees would much rather have a root canal without laughing gas, than help any customer especially someone that did not want to buy something. Imagine my surprise to find these men helping this little old woman find her car,
load all of her purchases for her, and make sure that she that she had everything that she needed.

This event made me wonder: just because you don't like a cooperation's values doesn't mean that the people working there have no values, or do not care. Who knows what would have happened if these gentlemen did not help out.


WHAT A WORLD!

Donations

So we just moved into our new house and are putting things away, and getting things they way we want them. We began to go through books and quickly realized that we don't have the space for all the books that I have acquired over the years. My wife made the recommendation that I go through the books and see what I want to keep and donate the rest. My thought was they are books and you don't donate books, you read them you keep'em! Then I began to think, and we all know that can be dangerous, you know maybe some people cannot afford to go buy books. Some people cannot read etc...... So then I thought where is the best place do donate books, a library, goodwill, salvation army.. I decided on goodwill more out of connivance than anything, because there is a donation center near our home. I then began to think maybe what I am doing is a good thing, no it is a great thing. I am providing someone, somewhere a good book to read that they bought with there money, and if nothing else I have helped them learn something new. So I think I have come to the conclusion that maybe everyone should donate books that they have read, and will not be using any more. Maybe just maybe if everyone donated books we would live in a better place? Who knows maybe I am crazy, but I think that it is a possibility!?!

Just something to think about.

Rescue Dogs

So this is the first of many appearance on the "Blog", so here goes. As some of you may know we are foster parents for heartland lab rescue, and currently have a black lab named Maverick. He is one of those dogs that never stops, he never stops running, tackling, chewing, drooling, biting, and living life. Maverick sleeps when he wants to, runs when he wants to and is never afraid to go for one heck of a swim especially if it involves fetch! What I have come to realize about rescue dogs is that they just aren't normal. Now some may take this as an insult, but ole Maverick would take it as the best compliment he has ever received. Maverick doesn't care about what is going on in life or how bad his past has been he is a fearless ball of energy that loves you till you are blue in the face.

One of the great stories to date took place this past Friday around lunch time. I had been doing some work around the house and decided to take a break for lunch and have a PB&J and some goldfish ( A personal favorite). I made my sandwich with all three dogs sitting directly behind me begging as usual. I told them all to go on because I was not feeling generous, I then picked up my plate (yeah a real ceramic plate) and began to make my way to couch to watch the news as I ate. I took about two steps forward when Maverick decided that I had gone far enough, and made his move. He jumped up landing both paws directly in the center of the plate catapulting the sandwich and goldfish though the air and onto the floor, where all the dogs joined in the festivities.

My first thought was to get them back and put a whoopin on Maverick and send him back outside, but I reconsidered and extended the dogs some generosity and allowed them to clean up the mess for me. I calmly picked up the plate that landed on my feet, saving it from shattering, and took it to the sink as the dogs feasted on the sandwich. I then proceeded to make another sandwich and eat it at the kitchen sink to overt any other attacks from the "Mav".

This is life with rescue dogs they are unpredictable and loving as hell. I just hope that I can return the favor and find him a fantastic "forever" home.