Thursday, December 31, 2009

Sun setting on 2009


"Be at war with your voices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better person." Adapted from Benjamin Franklin. This was a difficult and amazing decade and I look forward to seeing what all of us can bring to the next. Happy New Year everyone.

Some things to consider:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
26. Always choose life.
27. Forgive everyone everything.
28. What other people think of you is none of your business.
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
32. Believe in miracles.
33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
35. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
36. Your children get only one childhood.
37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
41. The best is yet to come.
42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
43. Yield.
44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Move over Donner and Blitzen


Here come Forrest and Jenny and they are gunning for the lead positions on Santa'a sleigh.....

Road to?


It's been a long time since I posted one of these - I bet if you have looked at my others, you may guess where it is, but its more interesting to let your imagination run and see where it takes you.

Previous "Road To" post from March.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Shark fishing in Boca Grande



This is a very different post about Boca Grande compared to my previous posts. We were down tending to the issues outlined in the post from 12-3 and had a moment to drop a line in the water. While Daniel and I reeled in and released a few snook and lady fish, the gentleman next to us brought in a five foot bull shark. There is never a lack of good fishing in Boca Grande, particularly when fishing off the south end of the island in the Boca Grande pass.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Alice B. Hoguet aka Nini July 21, 1914 - December 3, 2009


The last of a kind. My Grandmother, the matriarch was brilliant, beautiful and generous beyond words in every way possible. We thank God for her life and now pray that he receive her with the same open arms that she offered us. Goodbye my dear Nini.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Waiting for my Real Life to Begin: Colin Hay



For those that do not recognize his name, he was the lead singer of Men at Work back inthe ealry 80's - talk about a musical epiphany.