Love and gratitude

A bumpy start to Christmas Eve and an incredibly crooked railway of emotions.
Started the day with wishing Kevin a safe ride as he headed out on his bike. Moments later, the screaming sirens jolted me from bed (waaaay too close for comfort). Out the door in my sweats to clear my mind of the unthinkable fear that those sirens were too close to home. As I got to the end of the street and a flood of police cars filled the intersection, I was relieved to realize the screeching of tires and screaming of sirens were not for him. Perhaps my heart sat a little stiller into my chest. However that stillness dissipated quickly as it appeared the police cars were arriving in front of my neighbors home (a Palm Desert Police officer). No dear God, please.

It wasn’t until later in the day we were informed that the swarm of police were in response to the arrest warrant for a different neighbor who allegedly beat his girlfriend, my son’s teacher, to death. No! in our quiet neighborhood? A woman who was adored and respected by her students and peers? At Christmas time? So incomprehensible.

Please, all of you, despite any shortcomings or disagreements or differences, give thanks for those around you. Give thanks for the moments spent together.

Sadly, we never know if these may be our last. With a deep heart for the family of Ms Grant, her students and all those missing loved ones this holiday season and with incredible gratitude for those who surround me and my family with love, please embrace these moments. And spread the love.

Merit. Are you worthy?

A few weeks back as high school graduation ceremonies we’re taking place all over the country I began thinking about merit. By definition merit is having earned or being deserving of accolades or praise. I couldn’t help but wonder if a large portion of this graduating generation has a clue what merit really means.
In this day of instant gratification and ‘daddy ball,’ do these kids understand what it means to truly EARN praise or accolades? You don’t earn merit because mommy or daddy sits on the boosters or works for the school or district. You don’t earn merit by making noise and whining and complaining. You don’t earn merit by having mommy or daddy write a big check or pull strings with their social connections. And you most certainly don’t earn merit solely on seniority or merely by attendance.
You earn merit by digging in and giving your best. By educating yourself and pushing yourself. By going above and beyond to better yourself and putting in the hours, the training, the dedication. That’s merit.
All too often students (enabled by their parents) expect because they’re seniors they deserve more praise, and in sports, more play time. They have the convoluted idea (often caused by coddling) that newcomers, freshmen or younger students/athletes don’t deserve to be recognized for their ability. Parents complain to school administration and coaches that poor Jack or Jill aren’t getting enough attention or playtime — that the freshman shouldn’t be chosen over them. Are you serious? The incoming freshman have taken the extra effort and initiative to train harder, learn more, become better. Meanwhile Jack and/or Jill just showed up when they felt like it. They didn’t make any extra effort.
So tell me again why Jack and/or Jill deserve more attention? Because they’re older?
Let’s see how that plays out in the real world because I would think many of us can agree that high school is so far from real life in most cases. Is a CEO chosen because he’s the ‘hottest’ or because he’s dating the head cheerleader? Or because he throws the most Awesome parties? No. Not unless you think reality TV is actually real. Which, BTW, it’s not. (Sorry if I popped your bubble with that news flash).
If you want recognition or praise then you better be prepared to earn it because the popularity contest ends in high school unless, of course, you’re a Kardashian.
Best wishes to all the high school graduating seniors class of 2013. Get out there and do your best. Make an impression that matters.

Winning attitude

Sitting in the stands watching my daughter’s club Waterpolo team compete in USA Waterpolo’s Junior Olympics is such an honor. A few weeks ago they battled it out with the best teams across the country to qualify for the platinum bracket. Now here we are beneath the sunny skies of Southern California on the pool deck cheering our girls on! Only one thing is different today. Where’s the fire? Where’s the drive? Because today, in this match, I don’t see it and it upsets me.
It seems the girls knew this match would be tough as the opposing team was the top seated in their bracket and they did not show up to win. They hardly showed up to play. Wait! Before you accuse me of being an overbearing parent with high expectations ….oh hell, perhaps I am a little. But here’s my point of view. Would you get into a car and say “oh well, we’re going to crash anyhow, so why steer?” Of course not! So why show up to a game and not give it your best?
Case in point, a few weeks back, I competed in a mountain bike race–my first in a few years. As we headed off the line and along the course, there was an obstacle blocking one of the directional signs (honestly, it was a spectator who shouldn’t been where he was). Several of us at the head of the pack missed the arrow pointing to ride over the ridge and instead we followed the established trail down a steep descent only to dead end a good 1/4 mile off course! Angry and upset, we turned around and had to now climb back up that steep slope as we helplessly watched many slower riders pass by and take a substantial lead! Are you kidding me?!? By the time we were back on course, their dust had settled and we were at an extreme disadvantage. This was just the first loop. Did we quit? Did we lay our bikes down and return to the start for a DNF? No! We rallied and we pushed each other to try and make up those several lost minutes. We encouraged each other although we were competitors. In our attempts to get around the slower riders we encountered multiple obstacles that wouldn’t have come into play had we not fallen behind. Riders who couldn’t maneuver the loose sandy corners or the rocky climbs and they slowed the course. In the end, I didn’t finish nearly as well as I would have hoped for but I finished despite the issues. And I finished proud because I gave it my all and did my best. Sure I was disappointed at first, but in the end I was thankful. Thankful for my health that allowed me to even be there. For my strength, both mental and physical, that carried me through. And, yes, thankful for the lesson that sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned but we can still make the best of them. Mostly, thankful for a winning attitude!
So ladies, don’t sell yourselves short…ever. Don’t throw in the towel before the bath has even begun. Dig down, do your best and, win or lose, come out with a winning attitude. It means more in the big scheme of things than any scoreboard could ever mean!

Happy New Year!

This gallery contains 2 photos.

As the New Year rolled in, millions of people scattered across the globe were pondering their New Years’ resolutions.  I’m not much different.  I am hoping, however that my resolution has resounding repercussions as I set my sights on having more resolve !  It should be a win/win situation . . . .I’m obviously optimistic! […]

The Dangers of Joshua Tree National Park

The Dangers of Joshua Tree National Park

Great documentary film (with a brief appearance by our dear friend Sharon Ollenberger of DSSAR).  It’s a National Park that is underestimated by most but the dangers are real.  Video produced by Marilyn Chang at The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, California. 

When Irish eyes are smiling!

There is no doubt that I am of Irish decent.  It’s quite obvious by my red hair, my fair toned & freckled skin and my blue/green eyes!  Not to mention the slightly demented sense of humor and distinct love from beer!!!  So, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day I would like to share my favorite Irish blessings (in no particular order):

“May you be an hour in heaven before the Devil knows you’re dead.”

“May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you’re going, and the insight to know when you’ve gone too far.”

“Here’s to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and an honest one. A cold beer and another one!”

“May God grant you always…A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you.”

“May those who love us, love us; and those who don’t love us, may God turn their hearts; and if He doesn’t turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we’ll know them by their limping.”

“May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.”

“May God give you…For every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, for every sigh a sweet song and an answer for each prayer.”

Ta Mile Failte!

Pandemonium

I’m still laughing at the excitement that was caused on Twitter last night where the subject “Earthquake Warning” was at the top of the trending list.  Really?  Earthquake Warning!   Wow!  I didn’t know that it was possible but obviously thousands and thousands of others believe it to be true.  They retweeted it over and over again.   But did they really retweet because they felt that it was a credible warning or did they retweet so in the odd chance that SoCal did experience an earthquake as predicted that they could tell all their followers that they warned them!?!  I’m betting on the latter.

Ok, so say they DID come up with a reliable method to predict an earthquake.  Then what?  So we know an earthquake is eminent and we do . . . . .what?   Evacuate?  Seek shelter?  Board up our windows?  Run out for supplies?  What?   Seems to me that an earthquake warning would merely generate widespread fear, panic and pandemonium.  Those who are truly terrified or who work in high-rise buildings would reasonably opt to stay home from work.  Those who live in high rises would leave home.   Parents would keep kids home from school.  Would everybody just hang outside for the next 72 hours until the warning expires?

Not only does it seem very unlikely that they’ll be able to predict these seismic events but it seems to me that warning the general public of them might actually be more harmful than helpful.     Just sayin’.

War Zone Fun

This is just plain funny!  Gotta admire these guys for being able to have fun in a war zone!!!!

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2010/0430101afghan1.html