They are someone's sons....

Three handsome young men, no more than 20 or 21 chuckle as they are frisked at the security monitor - my heart grows heavy... large size 12 combat boots are inspected and given a dusting....they could very easily be my son.......pockets of nearly new fatigues are padded down - I can't take my eyes off them....good heavens you are but children...a tear leaks through..... the inspector gives them "that look"... A bit of pride.....a bit of thanks....but mostly that look of "God be with you young soldiers".

A friend shouts past me to the boys...."Good luck in Afghanistan....."

I must turn away....tears fiercely welling.....they are someone's son.... change thoughts...and quickly....

Travel Blog - June 2009

Punctuality, meticulous.....OC...

Toronto, Canada, L.B. Pearson Airport - 545 am - One lonely man sitting at gate 120, legs crossed, coffee at his side, engrossed in a novel. I glance up to the flight informatiion - Montreal 800 am.... No fear of missing that flight....

Find a Job in Canada

Joe Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock - (MADE IN JAPAN ) for 6am.

While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA ) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA).

After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) filled it with gas (from SAUDI ARABIA) and continued his search for a good paying Canadian job.

At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day, checking his computer (MADE IN MALAYSIA), Joe decided to relax for a while.

He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in CANADA .

Just a Dog

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile, because they "just don't understand."

Life is the Hot Chocolate

This random thought is timely. With my ongoing search for a home to call my own; I am obsessing over wall colours, flooring and counter tops."the cup" so to speak - I now realize that I must choose with my head, a little of my heart (ideally my wallet) in the end it is up to me to make this house my home. "the hot chocolate"
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A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired.

During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups -porcelain, glass, crystal,some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: 'Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in somecases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups...And then you began eyeing each others cups.

Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the qualityof life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate that has been provided us. The hot chocolate is there for the taking, man chooses the cups The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate

Rename this blog?

I'm thinking i need to journal my life with Jake... he is such a character and he seems to get into everything as a regular part of his day. I'm embarassed really, because I have taken such care in basically puppy proofing the house, and i never take my eyes off him... I blame Jake's last three incidents on someone else.. and rightly so...everything happened while in someone elses care... not really blaming... but shifting the focus off me!
I feel like I'm living Grogan's life with Marley... Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog! I am looking forward to the movie coming out at Christmas time...

Basking in the sunshine....