tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74985857548595446142024-03-13T12:35:59.030-04:00christopher's viewschristopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-83552343790535370962016-08-21T22:06:00.000-04:002016-08-21T23:39:38.422-04:00my frozen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XYsAKxrEymU/V7pceRKI9vI/AAAAAAAAAaM/uDCShskkWh4_NlW5Ezvmk0JnlSfBVxFOACLcB/s1600/my%2Bfrozen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XYsAKxrEymU/V7pceRKI9vI/AAAAAAAAAaM/uDCShskkWh4_NlW5Ezvmk0JnlSfBVxFOACLcB/s320/my%2Bfrozen.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I listen to
a lot of Sports Talk Radio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among the
most common themes of fans is to call in and debate who the top five or ten all
time players are in a given sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
baseball, Babe Ruth universally comes out on top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there are the Willie Mays vs Mickey
Mantle camps and Hank Aaron vs Ted Williams followers.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In
basketball there is more debate right from the start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jordan or LeBron?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">And
sometimes we look at our own lives and try to pick the best days of our
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I think it’s
redundant…superfluous perhaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
know…’my wedding day’…’the birth of my daughter/son’.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve been
fortunate to have some completely wonderful days. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose I could go to many days and nights
at the beach when young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many zany college
moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First time I was waved home. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">And they are
all up there…definitely near the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">More in the
forefront of my mind though are some seemingly simple days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vying for number one is a day in high school
when I used my God given speed to catch up with a ball and snare a game winning
touchdown while simultaneously tip toeing both feet in bounds.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">And though I
think I’ve spoken about it before in this forum, seeing the joy in my daughter’s
eyes when she finally completed a lap around the block as I followed behind
her, without touching her bicycle seat, is a top five moment for sure.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Recently I
took a week off to head down to Ocean City, Maryland with my 13-year old
son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a very simple
destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not Hawaii, Paris or
the Amalfi Coast.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">What I felt
though…for me…is that it is not where I am that matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s where I am in life.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fav bud has
grown into a place that balances maturity and kid at heart almost in complete
harmony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m good at trying to hang
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We played the arcades, the go
karts, hydro-biked around the bay, chilled on boogie boards, watched crazy cop
shows, Animal Planet and of course scored at Pokémon Go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We found a great rib place, a great pizza
place (with live music), cool sunglasses, tee shirts and had many
laughs…especially when I was wiped out at the bottom of the tri-level ramp on
the go kart track.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Obviously I
am a small cog in the wheel of all these tied together lives and all the lives
that swirl around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t even
comprehend holding back maybe becoming a grandfather, or seeing my daughter achieve
her boldest dreams, or my son experience using his talents to the max.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I dare not tempt the Gods that I would be
capable of picking a moment in time to surrender as number one or that I know
better the Rhythm of Life and Love. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Knowing all
this though…and grateful that I can still wake up and push through a very humid
5 mile run…shaded by the tall oaks along the Cathedrals and large homes that
surround me…I would be tempted to pick now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">As I surely
cannot predict the future I don’t know if my life will get better or worse….I
might be in Babe Ruth territory without knowing it though…and it’s all a very
simple life…and I just thought to say…maybe.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">© 2016
Christopher’s Views<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-81620677661412567262016-02-14T21:36:00.000-05:002016-02-14T23:01:06.236-05:00power of life or love?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DRpQYeqKSDU/VsE3RLow75I/AAAAAAAAAZ0/46P-lDLlLvI/s1600/power%2Bof%2Blife%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DRpQYeqKSDU/VsE3RLow75I/AAAAAAAAAZ0/46P-lDLlLvI/s200/power%2Bof%2Blife%2B1.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">When your
own driveway or garage is not in the home-sweet-home deal that you shook hands
on in NY, parking after midnight involves a long walk from the curb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last night mine was 3 blocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Layers, a
long coat, scarf, hat and gloves kept all but my face and ears bearably warm for
the 1000 feet of pacing to my front door in 100-year-old record breaking cold
temps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept my head down to keep the strong
winds from offering a free ride to my cap and flagging me with a 15-yard
penalty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My left hand pinched the outer
lapels of my coat tightly together and my right hand, gloved and all, doubled
up in the right pocket for extra warmth.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">On the way I
thought about the birds, the cats, the squirrels and raccoons that I knew were
silently huddled up somewhere nearby, living in the elements and without
radiators or hot water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to spin
and tip my cap to them, but I was too tucked in to allow for any alteration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I steadfastly approached my foyer as if it
were Nirvana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And once inside, I voiced many
words of thanks even though there was no one else there to listen.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Daybreak
continued with shivering mercury and on my way to visit my mother I passed by two
unique trees that have also been a marvel to me…but for months already.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have not
found it common to spot large bee nests anywhere in NY.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet six blocks from each other and over the
same stretch of road, two large bee nests cling to limbs, survive minus 20-degree
wind chills and blizzards in matter of fact, business as usual fashion, less
than 2 miles from my paradise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beyond
cap tipping, I would have to classify their designers as world class
architects.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Upon my
destination, the background info is that my mother is 93 and in failing
physical and mental health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She doesn’t
eat much, doesn’t sleep much and doesn’t move much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she can still make me laugh. She has a
very dry sense of comedy and pokes fun at her surroundings, circumstances and
thoughts of death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She asked me to
remind her how my father died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told
her that Dad had a golf ball size tumor right next to his carotid artery and
he was 91.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her dead pan reply was, ‘oh
yeah right…I thought he was going to lick that’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">My mother
obviously expects survival through hardship, where as I tend to marvel at it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">On this
famous 14<sup>th</sup> day of February I wonder about the power that keeps us
all moving through our hardships and toward our Promised land.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I wish I
knew what it is that powers the birds, the cats, the squirrels and raccoons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely that would be a power to harness.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">For me, love
among others and love of life are the motivators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hoping for some more special days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like days that allowed for letting go of my daughter’s
bicycle seat and seeing her ride for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or days allowing to see my son blow out his candles
and appear happier and more content than I.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">And power to
the days when we can reach out our hand and someone else grabs it in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Happy
Valentine’s Day to all.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1WbrnLguWFM/VsE3hD170RI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/yJENEXBBedE/s1600/power%2Bof%2Blife%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1WbrnLguWFM/VsE3hD170RI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/yJENEXBBedE/s320/power%2Bof%2Blife%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">© 2016
Christopher’s Views<o:p></o:p></span></span>christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-27527294467025569702016-01-23T18:38:00.000-05:002016-01-23T22:11:58.749-05:00blizzardry <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ugPWpLtzgLo/VqQL4sL0kxI/AAAAAAAAAZg/RofXLC4s7Zs/s1600/blizzardry.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ugPWpLtzgLo/VqQL4sL0kxI/AAAAAAAAAZg/RofXLC4s7Zs/s320/blizzardry.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">On my way home from work late
Thursday night I stopped at the local supermarket, bread and bananas were
already wiped clean from the store shelves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During my 3pm coffee stop at 7 Eleven on Friday I miraculously came
across the one last Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon loaf that fav bud likes (see
bottom right in fridge).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Combine that
accomplishment with 3 half gallon containers of milk to ward off any throwback
reminder to the powdered milk my mother served during the famous 1969 milk trucks
can’t deliver through unplowed streets crisis and I feel whole.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">At 6pm yesterday, as I was readying
to leave my office, the forecast was for 12 to 18 inches of snow for much of the
NYC area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feeding my no food left behind
anxiety I made another stop to the supermarket as my distress level increases
if I have to ration my fruit and cereal portions.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Around noon today as the blizzard
conditions began to kick up a notch I walked the ¼ mile to Stop and Shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time I had a craving for liverwurst and
blueberry pie—plus I validated my trek by picking up a large jug of the calcium
chloride blend of Ice Melt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stumbling over
snow mounds on the way back caused me to cross paths with a genuine rain, snow,
sleet or hail postal carrier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was very
impressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was very soggy and it made
me think about how low tech it is to be delivering mail in 2016.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">High tech doesn’t always mean wonderful
though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I shook the snow off my NY
Jets hat and placed my boots by the front door, the TV that I left on featured
a team of meteorologists explaining all the snow bands that would now drop 30
inches of winter white across much of the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love how they never talk about what their predictions were less than
24 hours ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead they contort their
bodies over the radar screen and wrap hands counter clockwise over Manhattan
detailing how the storm pivots back westerly to keep it from moving away and
thus steadily pounds the region with precipitation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">All has not been lost though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve kept myself occupied with catching up on
laundry, fixing the hanging lamp I accidentally damaged a few days ago, and I
completed a Swiffer tour of my place and then vacuumed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">With all this extra time afforded by
Mother Nature and the travel ban on our roads I tested my brain to see if I
could remember the password to the dashboard of my once in a blue moon post
upon a blog page.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Certainly there is much to reflect
on: movies, books, sports, politics.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I saw The Big Short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed it mostly for the attempt at a
quasi-documentary/drama style of presentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the end though the story is pretty simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A small group of opportunists masquerading as
prognosticators kept themselves afloat in the shark infested waters surrounding
Wall Street during the run up to the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The opportunists won big (Powerball type
big).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lehman Brothers filed
bankruptcy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bear Stearns melted down
into the hands of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in whiplash time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the U.S. Government came to the rescue so
that only a large minority of people had to walk away from their homes or file
for loan modification plans.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Star Wars was different for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fav bud and his friend loved it…5 star
like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it was an okay trip down
memory lane…not much else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did enjoy
seeing the Millennium Falcon fly again.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’m rooting for the Broncos over the
Patriots and the Cardinals over the Panthers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t think either one of my teams will win though and my bigger than
powdered milk fear is that Tom Brady and the Patriots will win it all again on Super Bowl Sunday.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Global warming is not the biggest
threat to the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The apex of
dysfunction in American politics and the dismal field of 2016 Presidential
candidate hopefuls is scarier to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
Michael Bloomberg, billionaire philanthropist and former Mayor of NYC, decides
to run as an Independent I will cast my vote for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure who he would take more votes
away from whether it be Trump, Sanders or Clinton but I would have to vote my
conscious for who I think would be the best person to step up.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Tomorrow will be dedicated to shovels,
sleds and downhill runs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Stay safe and warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">…..And just realizing I’ve had 101
blue moons.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">© 2016 Christopher’s Views<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-38425923450702833572015-09-24T23:51:00.000-04:002015-09-26T09:09:39.944-04:00‘Pope Day’ NYC<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the past
few months of summer I have been wearing thin socks to work each day to help
keep my feet cool inside the sturdy black shoes I choose to wear unchanging on
hot summer days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On this second day of
autumn I went with the thicker cushioned socks even though I knew the temps
would make it into the 80s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">St Patrick’s
Cathedral in NYC is at 50<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> St and 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Ave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a morning business meeting at 44<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
St and 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Ave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Penn Station
is at 34<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> St and 8<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Ave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured correctly that the fastest above
ground mode of transportation once exiting the train tracks would be the
sidewalk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so I walked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Seemingly, every
active police officer was on duty today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every intersection had two cops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every sidewalk had two cops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Subway entrances--two cops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Open
areas, two cops and three national guards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dunkin Donuts—Sergeant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Starbucks—Captain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Black Escalades abound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And a bit
different was the mood of the city. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People walked rather slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was more concerned about being relaxed in
my pace than being late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was day one
of ‘Pope Day’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why worry…just be…on this
fair weather Papal visit day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My meeting
was over by mid lunchtime and I had a 1:38 train to catch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throngs of other New Yorkers were making
their way for an early exit as well-not wanting to get stuck in traffic hell-hopefully
the Pontiff would understand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Settling in
after some Chinese take-out I watched the whole Vespers ceremony live on TV
from the comfort of my futon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you all
know from my writings I am not religious, though I am spiritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I admired
the ease and comfortable personality of Pope Francis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ignored the obvious that most of the
readers were literate but couldn’t read aloud---no flavor or emotion in their spoken
words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I liked the apologies by His
Excellency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no particular issue
with his homily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no feeling that
it would do much to cure the world’s ills either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I enjoyed
the music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My attention wasn’t diverted
as the Pope spoke in Spanish and the overlay was English, as I understand very
little Spanish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are
only a couple of days each year when the masses act in accord and peacefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas and Thanksgiving are among those
days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘Pope Day’,
when it’s Pope Francis (Francis of the people day), is a day when the masses
rest, and like Christmas—people think before doing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I like when
large crowds of people can get together in peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I look
forward to my run tomorrow morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
will pass by my local Cathedral and pray, even though I don’t belong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will feel
that the world is sometimes as it is supposed to be and I’ll wipe the tears
from my eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oGpCcW3rZno/VgTCBOzLq2I/AAAAAAAAAZE/THlMvX2rwAw/s1600/cathedral.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oGpCcW3rZno/VgTCBOzLq2I/AAAAAAAAAZE/THlMvX2rwAw/s200/cathedral.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">©
2015 Christopher’s Views<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-12787228353107291782015-05-03T22:15:00.000-04:002015-05-03T22:15:40.570-04:00everyday wonder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wO6ONWWWEKM/VUbTDUEP8QI/AAAAAAAAAYM/QgBKzsZ6dro/s1600/skywatch%2Bsunset.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wO6ONWWWEKM/VUbTDUEP8QI/AAAAAAAAAYM/QgBKzsZ6dro/s1600/skywatch%2Bsunset.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Generally not a sky watcher, though making an exception tonight.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Over lunch yesterday a friend and I were discussing how some things in life are just flat out complicated, like calculus, taxes and figure skate scoring<em>.</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Much of our existence though falls into the 'simple, not easy' category.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Birth, parenting, love. Goodbyes, diets, exercise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tonight's sky made me think there exists a third category. Simple, complicated and wondrous. How else could I describe a big bang, producing more stars than imaginable, more light than can ever be seen, more synchronization than calculable, beginnings and endings in perfect harmony...and supporting all life along the way.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IQNsx__SGV4/VUbTOlhNeSI/AAAAAAAAAYU/UpOyxT5sNGA/s1600/skywatch%2Bmoon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IQNsx__SGV4/VUbTOlhNeSI/AAAAAAAAAYU/UpOyxT5sNGA/s1600/skywatch%2Bmoon.png" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">(C) 2015 Christopher's Views </span>christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-67888734025265813812015-02-28T18:32:00.000-05:002015-02-28T18:32:55.542-05:00Looking ahead…and all around<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gq-1UCI3btw/VPJMlHF60QI/AAAAAAAAAXg/cMvVxX9g3SI/s1600/looking%2Bahead.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gq-1UCI3btw/VPJMlHF60QI/AAAAAAAAAXg/cMvVxX9g3SI/s1600/looking%2Bahead.png" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only deviation
in my diet the past couple of days has been about how much butter I spread on
my toast at each replicated meal…the Gatorade and tea remain unchangeable.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps I
picked up a bug at the petting zoo, in the overly tepid hotel swimming pool, or
from the Porta Potty (glad I uploaded the gross snow pic instead?) at the base
of the tubing park visited last weekend with fav bud.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of
course…there is always the random chance of shaking the wrong hand. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And so, as I
dream of jelly, and I attempt to erase memories of ‘sloppy’ the pig and a pool
full of people that probably used the unkempt johns just before making their grand
splash, I challenge myself to delete reminders of the winter hardships as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The shovel
remains in my CR-V, but my back is feeling better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pot holes still multiply, but I’ve only
had one flat tire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have enough shoe
polish and stain lifter left to keep the corrosive rock salt at bay.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I moved from
hating scarves to making one my friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I learned
how to bond with my son under 5 layers of clothing.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then forced
indoors, I gleefully smoked the fav 12 year old at an arcade racing game and
was equally delighted when he handily brought me down playing chess on the
rebound.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, the
winter was daunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Too windy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too immobilizing.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As March
approaches, I will be hoping for a speedy transition of seasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I know I won’t be alone in wishing for
early cherry blossoms.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before
whispering into any night skies though, I need to make sure that I don’t delete
the reminder about how challenges at our doorstep can sometimes beat a path to beauty
in our own backyards.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MRUiYObzdSg/VPJMyI16SMI/AAAAAAAAAXo/9BBGdynC5Rk/s1600/and%2Ball%2Baround.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MRUiYObzdSg/VPJMyI16SMI/AAAAAAAAAXo/9BBGdynC5Rk/s1600/and%2Ball%2Baround.png" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">© 2015
Christopher’s Views<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And as
Leonard Nimoy would add, “live long and prosper”.<o:p></o:p></span></span>christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-5543124247758542812015-01-04T17:13:00.001-05:002015-01-04T21:28:18.906-05:00the calendar’s hullabaloo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zrtJuOSbDwM/VKm4Y6WBrOI/AAAAAAAAAW0/nfWCcWpfQIM/s1600/the%2Bcalendars%2Bhullabaloo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zrtJuOSbDwM/VKm4Y6WBrOI/AAAAAAAAAW0/nfWCcWpfQIM/s1600/the%2Bcalendars%2Bhullabaloo.png" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday, January 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> 2015, and firmly positioned on
the testing grounds for New Year’s resolutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This morning’s rain and fog in New York convinced me to head to the
treadmills at the gym instead of the hills at the park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a bit surprised that the attendance there
was sparse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually it is difficult to
get both a locker and my first choice of apparatus in January with all the
newly inspired members revving up their regimens and commitments.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But today I got my customary locker and had pick of the best
machines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The faces around me were all
regular’s…like a typical weekend morning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the good, I am not a fan of big
crowds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the bad, maybe it means a
lot of folks are at the pharmacy getting flu medicines filled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not my thing to make a New Year’s resolution, but I do
like the typical vows that I hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Promises to eat healthy, exercise, lose weight, quit smoking, join a
book club, join a writing group, write a play, write a book, learn to dance,
learn to swim, take up yoga, run a marathon, pray, meditate, go back to school,
change careers, ask for a raise, clear out clutter, pay off debt, reduce
stress, work on anger, slow down, start dating, skydive and take a vacation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m sure there are some people who make New Year’s
resolutions and successfully see them through to fulfillment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are probably the people who possess
strong will power.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But most of the time when I hear people tell me of their
success stories for changes in their lives it does not involve the calendar and
most commonly involves the power of positive thinking, putting faith in God, or
'letting go and letting God', visualizing the future or writing down goals.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Resolutions aside, I try to move about my life as best I can
with positive thoughts and faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where
faith is concerned I do not have an unwavering faith that God will always bring
forth what I desire or that I will avoid pain and suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is more along the lines that I have faith
I will be able to find comfort and happiness wherever I wind up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mainly though, the New Year reminds me of the tricky
parallel between life and time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that
while there is often plenty of time for us to achieve our aspirations in life, time
can likewise move us by in the click of a finger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have a friend who recites mantras to me almost daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of her favorites is ‘stay in your
lane’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She repeatedly texts and says the
phrase as if honking and gesturing at me from behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, it is a reminder not to get
sidetracked by others anger, regret, jealousy, judgment, hate or other malice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Staying in my lane doesn’t mean I cannot stop, pause or even
change directions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It just means that the path I choose ought to be plied with
happiness, love, friendship and opportunity. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Otherwise, I am just on a bumpy ride with no idea when time
is up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">© 2015 Christopher’s Views<o:p></o:p></span></div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-8757389766784018692014-12-21T13:37:00.000-05:002014-12-21T13:42:11.772-05:00Just breathing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bxIVoxil0cU/VJcQpNS2ddI/AAAAAAAAAWk/PVka0fqWPV0/s1600/just%2Bbreathing%2B(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bxIVoxil0cU/VJcQpNS2ddI/AAAAAAAAAWk/PVka0fqWPV0/s1600/just%2Bbreathing%2B(2).png" height="200" width="153" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Among the
most difficult of all of life’s tasks, is to be in a relationship and yet to
feel all alone.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After three
decades together, my wife and I separated a couple of months ago, having fallen
into that lonely place.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Battling
through all the turmoil of emotions, lifestyle changes and financial
considerations I have been managing day to day living okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Staying in
the day…that is the hard part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not
a person who likes to sit around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
prefer to move around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I work through
most of my most pressing issues by going for a long run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thoughtful, but I do not like to
obsess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to think up all the sides
of a problem, decide on the best course of action…and then act…move on in
essence.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I am finding
out, this long stretch of holiday season and merriment poses a barrier for
anyone trying to work past such difficulties.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Add to that,
my birthday was a few days ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thought
(thoughtfully) that maybe dinner and a movie would move me on in the right
direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But, with
that prospect not on the horizon, I spent yesterday realizing that only time
will move me on in the right direction and no matter how fast I run I cannot
outrun the present and into the future. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It took me
all day, all night and until this morning to understand that.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started
off, of course, by moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time in
my car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving aimlessly, as if sitting
in front of a TV, but yet on the road.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the end
of my drive, I ended up in a dangerous place…a casino.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I played poker for about an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily for me, numbers unfold pretty rapidly
in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So even though I was still
mostly aimless, I backed away from the table down only ten dollars when I
accepted that this is a losing proposition all around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clearer in
my head, but without any real clarity, I drove home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And at midnight, feeling too tired to think
of waking early for my long Sunday morning run I was somehow compelled to
search online for something quieter. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I came
across yoga.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had never once before stepped
inside a yoga studio in my whole life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
website I looked at mentioned slowing down our bodies to find a better
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinking that maybe an opposite
notion would be worth a try, I set my alarm to make it to the 8am session.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will say
this gently….when I run…I make every noise known to man as I try to grunt and
push my way through from pain to gain.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yoga is not
conducive to that method by a long stretch…or lunge…as I have come to
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For an hour
and a half I followed along with an instructor and class and didn’t hear myself
even breathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I could feel my breath
in all parts of my body.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had slowed
down enough for that to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowed
down to feel better, rather than ran to feel better.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Certainly, I
will still run…but I will go back for more yoga as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps improving my balance.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And though I
may still want to leap frog into another year and another place overnight,
wiping the slate of loneliness clean, I have another tool to use…slow down today
and look forward to tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">© 2014
Christopher’s Views<o:p></o:p></span>christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-29920039936859309512014-09-01T23:31:00.000-04:002014-10-03T21:17:01.616-04:00silence of the chairs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qVHobWVEaXw/VAU3xb0RfAI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/7uw3a8eg68w/s1600/silence%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bchairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qVHobWVEaXw/VAU3xb0RfAI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/7uw3a8eg68w/s1600/silence%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bchairs.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Points of reference over dates are my
indicators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sample sized sunscreen becomes
more appealing at checkout.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Worn down to acceptance, the flip
flops are removed from the wiffle ball locker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>An end to sports camp pick-ups appears in sight.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Peace needs to be made with bananas again
and so the affair with blueberries and peaches fizzles out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Polo shirts are intermittently donned
when confronted by a draw full of faded tees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">TV’s allure overtakes citronella
candles on the patio. And baseball is eclipsed by football.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Grilled chicken becomes tasteless and
a temporary inability to ingest iced tea ensues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The running trail to the schoolyard is
rediscovered and the road to the beach seems distant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Writing in the basement may top reading
by sunset and pouring over a schedule may keep a wine glass empty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Unraveling the hose seems like a
chore.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And the stage is set when four X’d
out tennis balls have crossed my path on the workbench.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<a class="external" href="http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x2/thesmittenimage/POTW%20icons/POTW-mauve.jpg" style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="Opens new window"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x2/thesmittenimage/POTW%20icons/POTW-mauve.jpg" style="cursor: move; display: block; height: 215px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 256px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">© 2014 Christopher’s Views<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br />christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-73763192934310942202014-05-26T20:56:00.001-04:002016-05-08T00:52:53.582-04:00summer reading*<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A4wdYtXYWB8/U4PfdflBm6I/AAAAAAAAAV0/c8wzlMTAMA4/s1600/summer+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A4wdYtXYWB8/U4PfdflBm6I/AAAAAAAAAV0/c8wzlMTAMA4/s1600/summer+reading.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Given that a
passion for writing is often linked with a zeal for reading I need to put up an
asterisk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not an avid reader of
books and never have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">That’s not
to say that when I do read, however, that I don’t read with passion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">But for a
long time, and for no specific reason other than time management, most of the
books I’ve read have come off the shelves designated for sports or comedy. And nearly
all the rest of my reading has revolved around essays and self help.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">This past
Christmas, I received a New York Times Bestseller as a gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No sports, no comedy and well…everything
that’s good is self help I suppose…right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">So there it
was before me: ‘Wild’ by Cheryl Strayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>An inspiring memoir unfolded amid a solo long distance hike up the
Pacific Crest Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ironically put in
my lap by my fully citified daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Following
the pattern that change often happens so slowly over time that it can’t be
discerned, the sports and humor genres were safe in their thrones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weeks went by and I didn’t even crack the
cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Then on one
of those bitter and snowy nights of this thankfully elapsed winter I picked up
WILD and found a warm and quiet spot in my basement seated at the end of my futon
and nearby a portable heater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read the
first five chapters and was completely engaged in the style and substance of
her writing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Unfortunately
none of the other snowstorms helped me with my time management and WILD sat
tranquil on top of a nesting table at the other end of the futon, dog-eared at
page seventy five until this weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">No mini
vacation was in the plans for this Memorial Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I was annoyed with myself that I didn’t
go back to finish a book that I didn’t want to put down in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Once I
finally picked it up again, resting it was difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In between washing my car, playing wiffle
ball with fav bud and a trip to the Bronx Zoo I obsessively read through the
remaining 240 pages of this transformative human adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Almost
always as my mind was taken along this journey pulsating with fear, pain,
grief, hunger, and loneliness I was feeling the faith, strength, happiness,
contentment and love that Cheryl Strayed so perfectly sewed together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most enjoyable is that her forceful hike
through the wilderness and her experiences on and off the trail avoid and go far
beyond common catch phrases of change and inspiration and instead are hard,
honest, simple and real recognitions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I cannot
imagine anyone reading this story while not rooting for Cheryl and amidst the
heartache not also rooting for life well lived. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you are
searching for pages that are compelling, pivotal and moving while you place
your toes in the sand this summer I would highly recommend picking up a copy of
WILD, by Cheryl Strayed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">…And if any
of you have summer reading recommendations…please don’t be shy.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">© 2014
Christopher’s Views<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-86504024771809140642014-04-03T22:19:00.000-04:002014-04-03T22:19:10.954-04:00green, grey and approaching Earth Day<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VgvQ6OhxI7o/Uz4Sk83YppI/AAAAAAAAAVk/q0ldpik8SFQ/s1600/green+grey+and.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VgvQ6OhxI7o/Uz4Sk83YppI/AAAAAAAAAVk/q0ldpik8SFQ/s1600/green+grey+and.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Plastic
bags, bags, bags: they are everywhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Last Friday,
on my way home from work, a rogue bag kite flew out from the wooded area along
the Cross Island Pkwy and got caught in my front grille.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bristling noise interrupted an attention grabbing-War
of the Roses bit-on KTU. (sorry to those unfamiliar and from distant places)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Once
untangled from the nose of my CRV the circulating winds may well have carried the
fugitive bag toward Little Neck Bay and caused distress for a swan or an egret.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Weekend
getaway frustration involves more than just dodging potholes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered if the event was triggered by the negligent
disposal of another driver, or the untidy garbage collection of a nearby
resident.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I grumbled
above the radio, “Damn bags!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I
thought, “Damn dilemma”. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I tried to speculate
if I could go Costco style on everything I purchase and lug each item, for all
eternity, back home by transferring one or two at a time from cart to car and
car to house. “Doubtful”, I muttered. “I’d snap, surely”, is the confirmed
reply I issued to self.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then my brain
cramped a little more as I realized that I needed that flying bag kite back so
I could clean the cat litter box later that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And my neighbor needs two to clean up after
her dog.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I began
thinking about Mayor de Blasio and the recently proposed NYC plan to subject
plastic and paper bags to 10 cent penalties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As I
approached the LIE merge, it dawned on me that I’ve also been missing out on
the 5 cent per bag credit for packing with reusable’s that’s offered at my
supermarket.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Am I crazy?”
I wondered aloud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really fell down on
that one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s better than coupons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can by a bushel of reusable bags, pack just
a couple of items in each at checkout and walk away with about three bucks each
time I shop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But then between
my ears I heard a voice say “maybe that’s the wrong spirit”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to help the environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, help the environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Still driving
along, and feeling fuzzy about the details, I had to put on hold any attempt at
figuring out the dog poop with the bare hands quandary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just too complicated even with hands free
technology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with a determination for
openness I tried to presume that the research is done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All this must have been carefully figured out to address the major
culprit-those damn flimsy, omnipresent, flying high over ball fields and City
and Town Halls everywhere-bag kites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now with the
sharp turn of my exit near I wanted to make a decision and so I declared “What
the heck, I’ll try it, first thing in the morning I will go out and buy a bunch
of those reusable bags”.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I guess there
will be varieties and choices to make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Do I choose cotton,
canvass or polypropylene bags?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I look
for bags made in the USA?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe since
I’m new to this I should just stick with the cheapest products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, that makes sense; browse the section
made in China or elsewhere around the globe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The bags smartly produced on much more raw material and energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The well traveled bags demanding enormous fossil
fuel consumption on their trek back from Asia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The colorful, stylish bags made without any trepidation of lead blends
in the paints and dyes. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The bags
that I will vow never to leave at home, or in the other car, or with my son at
his Little League practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The magical
bags that will avoid contamination by spills and bacteria and muck and mud and
that will live on in the trunk of my car for perpetuity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
liberating reusable’s that I promise to monitor and cherish with honor and full
disclosure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The esteemed bags upon which
I solemnly swear to not accept credit for when hauling home cardboard and hard plastic
packaged vitamin supplements or thick plastic detergent bottles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And conversely, I pledge to speak up when the
gentlemen next to me buying pineapples in his kite bag at the express line is
penalized.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally now,
I reached home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Radio off. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more thinking or research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But then,
with keys in hand, as I tripped on my winter weary and organic lawn a different
vision and vow came to mind.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">An environmental
vow that is void of vagueness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A vow
that has clarity and that doesn’t involve a lot of math, variables and time
charts in order to pick the slightly lesser of two evils. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It goes like
this. I will care about our aquifers and waterways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will care about our wildlife and cancer
risks and will not use even one ounce of chemicals and pesticides between my picket
fences as we move headlong into landscaping season.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It is a
simple vow that requires no substitutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Grass already knows how to grow without chemicals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been happening for millions of years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I closed the
door behind me and thought, bags, bags, bags: we need to conserve and contain
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Water,
water, water: we need to love and respect it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">© 2014 Christopher’s Views<o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-339290947929205332014-02-23T20:52:00.000-05:002014-02-23T20:52:49.076-05:00clicking on preview
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9U94qMRDUGI/Uwqf3bZ2zYI/AAAAAAAAAU0/TmIJpIgeHEM/s1600/clicking+on+preview+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9U94qMRDUGI/Uwqf3bZ2zYI/AAAAAAAAAU0/TmIJpIgeHEM/s1600/clicking+on+preview+2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rFBGIGIomjg/UwqgZX-b3ZI/AAAAAAAAAU8/wA5lZ_0GaeU/s1600/clicking+on+preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rFBGIGIomjg/UwqgZX-b3ZI/AAAAAAAAAU8/wA5lZ_0GaeU/s1600/clicking+on+preview.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When we close out this day in New
York we will still have a few more weeks of cold and stormy weather to work
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the tantalizing glimpse of
the future offered through sunny skies and temps well into the fifties this
weekend felt as pleasurable as a first step in the sand at a favorite beach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Like a lesson in antonyms, crocuses
peeked through the soil across the street from giant mounds of mold laden and debris
peppered snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And skaters, cyclists and
joggers moved freely on trails and paths leading away from parking lots
featuring still stranded cars.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The heavy weight of three, four, five
or maybe even six wintry mix events has been lifted off of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Ice dams’ will soon be a phrase I can
forget I ever heard.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My shoulder is feeling better from
the break in shoveling and I believe I won’t have to see the orthopedist after all.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Bystanders and traffic can coexist
with tall buildings while no longer fearing large falling chunks of ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Streets are suddenly wider again and if I
forget to fold over my side view mirror it’s no longer synonymous with a
scheduled trip to the auto body shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The tilting patios are beginning to
level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe….just maybe…I will consider
driving on the Bronx River Potholeway again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I can think of a time when I will
open my heating bill without first shuttering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a good sign, I have forgotten about the portable heater that helped
keep the plumbing at the rear end of the house from freezing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And the self diagnosed frostbite on
my cheek was just redness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So too as I feel the seasons
hardships slip away I will miss the snow forts and snowball fights with fav
bud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m glad as well for the sleigh
riding trips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And thankful, yes I’m even
grateful, for occasionally being outside and in harmony with the quiet
peacefulness of fresh fallen snow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rGDBlhxQI2w/UwqhmTYPRII/AAAAAAAAAVI/SGMf6Wmq5wY/s1600/clicking+on+preview+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rGDBlhxQI2w/UwqhmTYPRII/AAAAAAAAAVI/SGMf6Wmq5wY/s1600/clicking+on+preview+4.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">© 2014 Christopher’s Views<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-70765810182628999422014-02-04T23:04:00.000-05:002014-02-05T06:32:51.362-05:00greetings from the basement<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUbKoa1b0NI/UvG25XYsrGI/AAAAAAAAAUk/f8M25vdhLZw/s1600/greetings+from+the+basement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUbKoa1b0NI/UvG25XYsrGI/AAAAAAAAAUk/f8M25vdhLZw/s1600/greetings+from+the+basement.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It is the
wallpaper on my phone.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I check on
it before I leave for work in the morning and before I go to sleep at night.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I make sure
it always has enough water, though I help guard against bloating.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I give it
plenty of exercise but avoid overworking it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I provide
for regular check-ups.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I listen to
it carefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am grateful to have
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I touch it,
talk to it, admire it, cherish it and rely on it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At 43 years
old I may soon have to assist it into retirement.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until then,
I am one with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I fend off winter’s
austerity to enjoy the beauty.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone—please
meet my boiler.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">© 2014 Christopher’s
Views</span></span></div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-78477648570000426282013-12-22T23:57:00.000-05:002013-12-23T21:46:06.042-05:00hoping to God<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NHOP9M4d3uk/Ure_JoWB4QI/AAAAAAAAAUM/3lQcNqworEE/s1600/hoping+to+God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NHOP9M4d3uk/Ure_JoWB4QI/AAAAAAAAAUM/3lQcNqworEE/s320/hoping+to+God.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After a stretch of time, when commitments in my business
and personal life keep me away from posting I sometimes feel like catching up
by integrating various topics into one piece.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A few days ago I was pondering how I might be able to
roll Duck Dynasty, winter weather anxiety and Christmas into one viewpoint. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then on Friday morning I walked upon a scene that eerily
resembled a sad memory from thirty five years ago involving a lunch hour
tragedy, a diesel truck and a young woman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On this day it was mid-morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had just dropped off my son, a ten year old
fifth grader, at his school and I was driving on my way to a business
appointment in Queens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The destination
was Northern Blvd in Woodside, to be exact, for those of you who are familiar
with NYC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I exited the ramp from the
Brooklyn-Queens Expwy several police cars and caution cones were in place and
traffic was being re-directed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
no obvious sign of trouble and at first I thought that this might be part of a
systematic shut down of ramps and roadways by the NYPD, which is routinely done
when a dignitary is escorted through the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was directed to the right when I actually needed to go
straight and so I chose to keep going right for a few avenues so I could get
clear of all the snarled traffic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I
looped left and back across Northern Blvd to a metered parking spot on a side
street within a couple of blocks of my meeting place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As I gathered my materials and headed for the office
building I was immediately struck by the vast silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned the corner onto the Boulevard and tip-toed along a city block that was entirely squared off by a police line
except for a small path of sidewalk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
large tractor-trailer truck sat dormant on the asphalt pavement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a few dozen police officers, some crossing
guards, many local residents, business owners and a news crew present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But most notably there was stillness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Remembering back to college and a similar scene in lower Manhattan
during a coffee break when I worked at Barnes & Noble I did not need to ask
anyone what happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But before being admitted into my meeting on the second
floor of the company two blocks away I asked the receptionist if she knew
exactly what had happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A young boy,
a third grader, was run over and killed as he was heading to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I feel bad for everyone”, she said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speechless and knowing this was the last day
of school before the Christmas break I nodded and thought how sometimes I wish
we could just turn back time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After the appointment I had to walk back past the same
route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked as if everyone had been
stopped in time for the entire hour and no one had moved. Few words were being
spoken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the periphery, by a 7 Eleven,
I could see some folks using hand gestures to explain where the vehicle came
from and how the dreadful accident occurred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The truck’s bulky engine, cab and container were shrouded in yellow tape
and it loomed ghostly and mummified in the center of the street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was thinking about how it is typically challenging
enough to sense and feel the wonder and beauty of the world amid all the dangers
and heartache that abound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gut wrenching
events like these would seem to move the challenging to the impossible for the
families involved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This is the season of joy and merriment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s a man-made season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seasons of life and nature work beyond
our control and don’t always allow for concurrence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In times of despair some people turn closer toward
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others turn full steam away from
conviction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The longing for a higher power is clearly understandable,
especially in the face of the incomprehensible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the dismissal of any possibility of a Godly being is equally
understood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In my speechlessness, as I looked around, I can only
reflect upon the two thoughts in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eight year old boys go directly to heaven and I hope to God that it
exists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">© 2013 Christopher’s Views<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-13307939564805581072013-11-24T10:03:00.000-05:002013-11-24T20:18:23.706-05:00hitting my stride instead<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9QvxIoMrUVI/UpIMFiPiYyI/AAAAAAAAAT8/7BVXXqsBebU/s1600/hitting+my+stride+instead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9QvxIoMrUVI/UpIMFiPiYyI/AAAAAAAAAT8/7BVXXqsBebU/s200/hitting+my+stride+instead.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before the
sanitation collectors toss the lids off my garbage pails in the early morning
and ahead of the New York Times delivery person’s schedule for hurling all the
news that’s fit to print midway beneath the rear axle of my car I am usually
fast afoot and running a route towards the high school track a mile and a half
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few loops around and several on
the weekends helps me to clear my head and provide prep for the day to come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s
therapeutic for me and is akin to being in a special place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But lately I have encountered a high
frequency of negative interference during these runs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For as
dangerous as using handheld phones or texting while driving may be, the crack
of dawn hours are full of the worst drivers known to man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps they assume that no one else is on the
road as they blow through STOP signs as I approach the intersections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evidently their spouses, friends and children
run chronically late for the morning trains, in that I have nearly been run
over on two occasions recently while driver and passenger alike focus only on
the station 500 yards forward as they vie for the shortcut to the platform and seemingly
pretend to miss me by feet instead of inches.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My
grandmother used to have an apt expression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Racing to their graves, she would say, racing to their graves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And wise as that was, the flip side that
focuses on me, is what instinctively and gladly took over causing me to comply with a simple hands held wide apart gesture and mouthing, “Are you kidding me”, instead of punching the
rear window of the latest car to screech around a FULL STOP sign and ignore my
existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Confirmed to
me instantaneously is why I am out there in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m out there for pleasure, for peace and a
little bit of paradise each day.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just like
many of us I’m fighting the stress of a long day, traffic snarls, building back
up my 401k, emotional scars, grief, finding the right babysitter, weaning off
sugar and carbs, caretaking, and societal group depression as I marvel at the
incompetence of government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(PS…why
couldn’t the NSA just take a few extra minutes and set up HealthCare.gov?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We probably could have signed up for health
insurance faster if we accessed it through Angela Merkel’s cell phone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So yes…I
understand the world is a stressful environment.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But as miles
and minutes gave way to seconds my frosty nose met the warm air of freshly
brewing coffee as I habitually entered the luncheonette at the end of my run so
I could chug down a water and pick up my customary lottery ticket. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And so, as
the scents flowed, I sneezed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And four
regulars harmoniously rang out…”God Bless”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Politeness
and awareness aren’t totally withered away I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe the
Thanksgiving and holiday season will polish it up and dust it off a bit…well…perhaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In either case
I will keep on attending to my daily morning paradise, regardless of the
obstacles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if my lottery ticket ever
scores I will stick to the same route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I will be temporarily relocated to Nirvana.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">© 2013
Christopher’s Views</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-34077560682645548492013-09-30T22:00:00.000-04:002013-09-30T22:00:13.948-04:00common sense 101 vs. convolution 99.9<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PB5K7-gKcns/UkoqpctFLNI/AAAAAAAAATs/lPrFcz-0qTU/s1600/common+sense+101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PB5K7-gKcns/UkoqpctFLNI/AAAAAAAAATs/lPrFcz-0qTU/s200/common+sense+101.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The health
care system in the United States had been broken and bleeding money for a long
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Affordable Care Act makes an
attempt to change that scenario.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On June 28<sup>th</sup>
of last year the U.S Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act’s provision
that individuals may pay a penalty for not obtaining health insurance, as that
may be reasonably characterized as a tax.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The only way
to get a different result is to make a change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Granted, the new system with insurance exchanges will likely not solve
all the issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will likely make
insurance much more <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">affordable</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">accessible </i>for many people though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">People with health
insurance don’t wait as long to see doctors and so get care when conditions are
preventable, more treatable and less costly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">People
without health coverage wait longer to see doctors and so get care when conditions
are advanced, less treatable and more costly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And who picks up those increased costs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Well…there
is no free ride…on anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uninsured
people in any system do not get free health care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The costs are simply spread among everyone by
the way of higher fees, higher premiums and an erosion of benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Insurance 101
means gathering as large a pool of people as you can in order to collect the
lowest premiums possible to be able to cover the anticipated claims of the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having more people in the pool is better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except regarding adverse selection, and this can
be avoided if younger and generally healthier people are incorporated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But instead
of trying to work from simplicity and common sense there are too many people trying
to add complexity and nonsense into the equation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If the
Affordable Care Act were to fail, that’s okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another change can begin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Doing
nothing….well that’s a failure from the get go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">© 2013
Christopher’s Views<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span>christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-20701239857213019842013-07-03T23:21:00.000-04:002013-07-03T23:21:19.087-04:00Let freedom….<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iS3BAPaESCQ/UdTo5r9x2AI/AAAAAAAAATY/gejXJ2G_qsI/s1600/let+freedom....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iS3BAPaESCQ/UdTo5r9x2AI/AAAAAAAAATY/gejXJ2G_qsI/s320/let+freedom....JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few weeks ago a great old friend from my childhood
traveled up from Florida to NY with his family and together we barbequed with
my family in the backyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk of
Independence Day reminded me of how my friend was a fireworks aficionado.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we were kids, in the late sixties, he
would often remind me that 1976 was gonna be the big one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember him foretelling of an all night
celebration with crazy amounts of rockets everywhere.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My father was a fireworks heckler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One year when I was a teenager, perhaps it
was 1976 (though full clarity escapes me on this), my father remarkably agreed
to let me shoot off some firecrackers in front of our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there were rules. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could only do one at a time—and what fun was
that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well…he devised some sort of pipe that he angled into our
front garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, like the single at
a time rule, he was opting for maximum control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oddly enough, each crack was magnified and sounded like a mini
cannon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I sit quietly I can still hear
the ringing in my left ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure the
resulting effect was not what my father had planned. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over planning has its own set of pitfalls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When overdoing something, I sometimes think
about Isaac Newton and what he said about every action having an equal and
opposite reaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I begin to think
of moderating the course of action a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not that I can promote moderation as having any glitz or special
attraction, I can’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when thinking
about equal and opposite reactions, and without knowing a time frame, avoiding
the outlying choice of gluttony and the opposing choice of deprivation seems to
be wise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gluttony let to run amuck can
be about as devastating as deprivation winding up to backfire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When a government feels entitled to gather all the metadata
it wants and the people just shrug their shoulders I see both gluttony and
deprivation in play.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When not enough people favor closing the loophole on
background checks and too many people think the second amendment simply grants
hunters the right to own a gun I see gluttony and deprivation in play. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the NYPD thinks there is no need to independently
monitor their stop and frisk tactics and some people get detained on a regular
basis I see gluttony and deprivation in play.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When one day, instead of a salad, I may want to order bacon,
egg and cheese on something hydrogenated and I might not be able to wash it all
down with a Big Gulp….I will think of gluttony verse deprivation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Prohibition didn’t work for good reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to learn for ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is that easy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course it is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as a society it
requires great cooperation because we need to balance my freedoms, his
freedoms, her freedoms and their freedoms.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perfect and pure can be thrown out the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will never reign. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is disappointing though to see how often we work to chip away
and gnaw off one another’s freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially
for a nation that tops off a building’s spire at the 1776 foot mark to
celebrate its freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Someday it may be hard to read the whittled away bottom
line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps as difficult as it would
be to read the bottom of the bent and battered license plate of an old pick-up truck
driven through the dirt back roads and rugged terrain in the White Mountains of
New Hampshire for several years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We may have to get down on our hands and knees with a
magnifying glass in hand in order to read about what we build towers to proclaim
….”Live Free or Die”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope that never happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If it does, then all those grand pyrotechnic shows will ring out just about
as loud as a single dud.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
© 2013 Christopher’s Views</div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-73309578490138500322013-05-31T00:54:00.000-04:002013-05-31T07:32:41.681-04:00NY Interleague Play…just can’t beat it down<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->Of course many of my postings revolve around political
issues, hot topics and current follies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though,
perhaps as a surprise, a worthy blog trivia question might be to ask: what was
the topic of the first post in Christopher’s Views?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hint: When driving in my car, besides occasionally flipping
back and forth between right and left wing talk radio for a few chuckles, I
tune in to <a href="http://tunein.com/radio/WFAN-Sports-Radio-660-s28671/">WFAN NY.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://tunein.com/radio/WFAN-Sports-Radio-660-s28671/"> </a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tomorrow will be fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I actually got through to the prime time afternoon program once, back in
the Mike and the Mad Dog days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was the
first caller into the show that day and got in some of my thoughts on Darryl Strawberry.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway…without digression…the lines will be fully lit as
fans of the hapless Mets will not be able to get the thoughts out of their heads fast enough to quell their exuberance since just completing a 4 game regular
season series sweep of the 27 time World Series Champion NY Yankees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Displaced fans will be calling from everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much so that if the <a href="http://applicants.mars-one.com/">Mars One</a> project had
been in place already I’m sure the afternoon drive spot would take a call on
the cell from Mike from Mars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it would probably go something like this:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The baseball God’s were NY Mets fans this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure we know that the Yankees had key players
still out rehabbing injuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes
three of the four games were close scores and could have gone the other way
except for a play or an at-bat or two.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But three consecutive hits off the great <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/stark_jayson/id/9321743/the-great-mariano-rivera-blows-save">Mariano</a> in the
ninth?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Could the mortal <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130528&content_id=48909716&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb">Terry Collins,</a> all on his own, channel
Ruben Tejada’s pick off blunder into the resolute turning point of the series
by kicking around some bases and being thrown out of a game? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.sportsmedia101.com/newyorkmets/2013/05/30/dillon-gee-k%E2%80%99s-12-new-york-mets-defeat-new-york-yankees-3-1-to-sweep-subway-series/">12 strikeouts</a> recorded by Dillon Gee?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Events such as these are not possible without big-time
spiritual intervention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And what about the slow grounder by John Buck that rolled
down the line to hit the exact center of third base?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spirits…Spirits…Spirits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And they were just having some fun while giving payback for
the ball they popped out of <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mets-luis-castillo-dropped-pop-yankees-dramatic-9th-inning-victory-article-1.378733">Luis Castillo’s glove </a>a few years back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
© 2013 Christopher’s Views</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Besides some digression I apologize for the loose references that only
fanatics may get.</i></b></div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-11081843603826590432013-05-27T22:46:00.000-04:002013-05-27T22:46:04.407-04:00Remembering…because they can’t forget<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qWI2yxyJJ7c/UaQZDoEGXRI/AAAAAAAAAS4/UHqERBcr-pc/s1600/remembering+because+they+can%27t+forget.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qWI2yxyJJ7c/UaQZDoEGXRI/AAAAAAAAAS4/UHqERBcr-pc/s320/remembering+because+they+can%27t+forget.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I could skip into my garage, pirouette with my arms fully
extended and not risk the domino effect of tumbling bikes, beach chairs and
shovels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I have not been able to say
or do that since 1999.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This long Memorial Day weekend has been a success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cleared out behind the garage, thinned out
the rafters above and delivered many items of no useful value to the curb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of these objects were big and heavy and
some were dated remnants of the previous owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I fear that the sanitation collectors will not be happy tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My own exuberance is set to grow even greater
though when the last of three window air conditioners and the carefully packed
area rugs are soon hauled off to their new homes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It rained hard in the early part of this 72-hour unofficial
entrance to summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Saturday morning
our thermostat even began to call the boiler for heat before I shut it down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we took shelter through indoor visits, IHOP pancakes and fully
engaging my fav bud as we watched ‘42’ on the big screen with Doritos and
Arizona iced teas in hand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And given that I have no musical ability I was then fully
engaged watching MFB playing with kids mostly two grades older as the school
band joined the VFW to honor the fallen along our finally sun soaked local
streets this morning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I never served in the military and I usually don’t pay
attention to the various Memorial Day parades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ballgames, trail runs, golf and BBQ’s usually steal the time away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know only of second hand stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And my father use to well up into too many tears
to amply convey the tremendous amount of death, carnage and suffering the world
endured to bring forth a change of directions during World War II.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But in a different business and a different time I was in my
mid thirties when I helped impart some sales skills to a twenty-something year
old veteran of Desert Storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember one lunch break in particular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stopped at a Deli or Café of sorts with
outside tables and chairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took out
some photos he had taken while the tanks had stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pictures were like no others I had ever
seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were images that would never
make it to news reports, documentaries or even the most notable and honored
films.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were painfully harsh,
unforgiving and merciless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in
shock upon viewing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was seemingly
proud and excited.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We started back to my car and to our next scheduled
appointment of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Halfway there
this young and strong man started to breathe oddly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then started to complain about
palpitations and chest pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rushed
him to a nearby doctor I knew in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The doctor took him in immediately and spent at least 45 minutes or
perhaps an hour by his side in the examination room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily for him, this physician was experienced
in treating PTSD.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An hour or two later we quietly left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We quit work early; we had enough action for
the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never heard about those
pictures again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am confident, however, that the real reel still haunts and
replay’s the gory camera roll in the mind of that former Marine each and every
day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, a day to remember indeed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
© 2013 Christopher’s Views</div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-35367026873314876092013-05-11T11:30:00.000-04:002013-05-11T11:30:20.399-04:00first to follow<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is a person among us with an
unbeatable resume</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She’s a nurse, a doctor, a vet and a shrink</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I often see her coach, teach,
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She is a fortune teller </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And a professor of history</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And your staunchest advocate</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you could find someone you could
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And her kitchen dually serves as a
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You will never find a better guide</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A more welcoming lighthouse</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Or a better pillow</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She could requisition a fortune</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yet she lives only for love</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And from atop the mountain</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She thinks that you are the best</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Happy Mother’s Day</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">© 2013 Christopher’s Views</span></div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-87617644932149652962013-03-03T10:55:00.000-05:002013-03-03T22:25:34.755-05:00sequestration…part of the journey I suppose<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lPeOe8vd1YE/UTNwsOb3jVI/AAAAAAAAASM/oLSFdBx1KaE/s1600/sequestration...part+of+the+journey+I+suppose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lPeOe8vd1YE/UTNwsOb3jVI/AAAAAAAAASM/oLSFdBx1KaE/s320/sequestration...part+of+the+journey+I+suppose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">In
remembering the list of the seven deadly sins of lust, gluttony, greed, sloth,
wrath, envy and pride what stands out to me is that the order is of no
consequence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">There is no
single transgression that is more foreboding than another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">An unchecked
obsession with any of the indulgences can equally bring on a life filled with
chaos leading to a downward spiral.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Today I
think of pride.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think of
months, years, and decades of self-importance masquerading as service before
self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think of
uncompromising, unreasonable, egotism masking insecurities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think less
about the sequestration and more about the infestation of smugness and arrogance
on both sides of the aisles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think of
little connection to cooperation, rationality and humility.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think of
acquiring diplomas and degrees and exercising scant intelligence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think of
one step forward and two steps backwards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think of
confidence lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think of
years of doing and years of undoing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think
about a casino mentality over capitalism and free enterprise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think of
endless poker nights rather than checks and balances.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think
about winning over being right and personalities over principles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think
about being upside down and backwards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think
about dysfunction and progression and getting worse before getting better.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think of
taking a haircut by someone wearing a blindfold, chancing the desired length, but
expecting no smiles returned by the outcome.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I think
about exploring the cliff’s edge verse living on the cliff’s edge and about toughness
verse madness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Hopefully I think
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">© 2013
Christopher’s Views.</span></div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-71838322438927886982013-02-09T22:43:00.000-05:002013-02-09T22:58:21.686-05:00first pull<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zwXQb6-fr6U/URcVHJ3tqfI/AAAAAAAAARw/-vd2Ty2BtZY/s1600/first+pull.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zwXQb6-fr6U/URcVHJ3tqfI/AAAAAAAAARw/-vd2Ty2BtZY/s320/first+pull.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thankfully I
am physically fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my 53<sup>rd</sup>
year, however, shoveling snow has lost the last threads of any luster it may
have momentarily held.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I fall into
the category of fairly handy as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
neighbor to the right, a couple of years older, meets the benchmark of being
expertly skilled with tools and craftsmanship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even so, sometimes snags with tasks can occur that can slow us down
tremendously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A few years
ago during a winter storm both of us headed to our garages to fire up our snow
blowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simultaneously we discovered
that our gas was stale, our carburetors were gummed up and changing the spark
plugs or adding doses of starting fluid was of no help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were quite peeved that we had to hand shovel
more than a foot of snow that was lining two driveways, yards and sidewalks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So each year
now I attend to my aging apparatus in the fall for a light tune-up, a test run
and a self certified seal of inspection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then I cross my fingers of course.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Especially
crossed because I know there are many days and weeks that traverse the calendar
between mid October and mid February while my machine may sit idle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enough time in fact to cause me to break out
into an easily recognizable case of throttle anxiety as I await the real test
imposed by a big drop in barometric pressure and blizzard conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fair lady
certainly sensed my fear today as I unsuccessfully tip-toed back to our bedroom
to grab a pair of warm socks while interrupting her last few minutes of
dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I hope you
don’t plan on making noise outside before 9 o’clock, on a SATURDAY, was her
phrasing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The new guy diagonally
across the street already blew out his whole driveway was my informed response
at 7:45 am. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, and
that was totally annoying came the retort.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anxiety
often gains the upper hand though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rules
or no rules I couldn’t wait until the late hour of 9am to learn my fate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suited up for go time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My elderly
neighbor to the left is a woodsman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
spends much time traveling in the far North Country and has planted evergreen tree
saplings in his yard that have grown to dwarf the surrounding homes and
yards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in the dead of winter there
is enough wildlife nesting up in his sanctuary that most days our awakenings
are timed to a Cardinal or Blue Jay happily plucking a berry, seed or nut and then
making a flyover outside of our hallway window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some days a squirrel will miss a step from high above and slide down our
shingles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This morning
was different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time for change I suppose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At precisely 8:05 am Eastern Standard Time I
poured a half gallon of fresh gasoline into my cold and inactive assistant in
the hopes of bringing it to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
carefully primed the engine with nine pumps, as a friend of mine who is into
Feng shui recently clued me into the goodness of nines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I backed
off, adjusted the choke to a spot I felt lucky, and moved the red lever to the
on position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I clumsily stood behind the
rear bar and yanked the pull cord while my feet wobbled on a patch of ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rope snapped back sooner than I preferred
and for a split second I felt doomed...visions of ice picks circled my dizzying
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then suddenly and magically my
world changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As if the engine
was briefly shaken by the same patch of ice, it vibrated and transformed itself
from a near stall out sounding tremor to being all revved up and then it spewed
out an ironically large, healthy puff of smoke from the exhaust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The start held.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was solid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was not feeling doomed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt
great.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No Cardinals,
Blue Jays, transplanted Orioles or falling squirrels would beat me to it
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of the block was to be
awakened by my uncontrollable and glorious reaction as I proclaimed it across
the driveway drifts, ‘FIRST PULL BABY…F-I-R-S-T P-U-L-L'. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">© 2013
Christopher’s Views</span></div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-45782177260850509482013-01-25T00:05:00.000-05:002013-01-25T00:05:03.970-05:00It’s only make believe<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yuz96tdzylI/UQIO0fZWN0I/AAAAAAAAARg/uFGU8KtAtwA/s1600/it%27s+only+make+believe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yuz96tdzylI/UQIO0fZWN0I/AAAAAAAAARg/uFGU8KtAtwA/s320/it%27s+only+make+believe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I love <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Joan Jett.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now to be clear-- she is not my girlfriend
and I’ve never even met her—but I do love her music, songs and the songs of
other artists she’s performed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her music
is real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Joan Jett</i> is real.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Fake Friends’</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> is one of my favorite short songs
put out by this long time rock n roller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It came to my mind when I heard about the Manti Te’o story last
Wednesday and I’ve been humming many of her tunes for the past week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In case you
are not aware of the Manti Te’o saga, it is a strange and lengthy story that was
brought to light most notably on Deadspin.com <a href="http://deadspin.com/5976517/manti-teos-dead-girlfriend-the-most-heartbreaking-and-inspirational-story-of-the-college-football-season-is-a-hoax?tag=no-such-dame">here.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://deadspin.com/5976517/manti-teos-dead-girlfriend-the-most-heartbreaking-and-inspirational-story-of-the-college-football-season-is-a-hoax?tag=no-such-dame"> </a> </span>The ordeal begs many questions and offers few
answers about the Notre Dame star linebacker’s fabricated sweetheart, Lennay
Kekua, who was thought to have been in an automobile accident, slipped into a
coma, then recovered to be diagnosed with leukemia and died the day after Te’o’s
grandmother also died.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Problems
arose when she turned up alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Evidently due to the contagiously high desire to attend the ball games played
at South Bend, Indiana, and on the road, Te’o and seemingly no one else ever really
visited her in the hospital or had ever really gone to her funeral
services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whereas, I suppose, if they
had made some trips they would have found out that she wasn’t in the hospital
and she didn’t die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a glitch that
they figured out during an investigation a few months later, around the time
the season was winding down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s pretty
wild stuff…right? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It got me to
think that many of you who read my posts have never met me and may wonder if I
am real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all some of you live in
other states or other countries, so it’s plausible that ‘Christopher’ could be
non-existent as well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But of
course that is not the case, for I am Christopher, real and a realist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All along I thought that fabricating
someone’s existence and their death while deluding a large group of people was
reserved nearly exclusively for sitcoms like Seinfeld.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet truth trumps fiction once again and we
learn that such a grand hoax can be developed using electronic messages, a few
pictures, the media and either an extremely clever or extremely inept target. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Few in the
media seem to know what questions to ask because the events are so bizarre it’s
difficult to relate to or approach with sincerity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve only seen snippets from Katie Couric’s
interview with Manti and from what I’ve seen Katie hasn’t uncovered much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making the headlines is that she asked him if
he is gay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Forget about
being gay or not I want to know how all the other people in his life were
fooled down the line as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my
world, no matter who dies if I tell my mother she calls me back in two hours
asking where she can send flowers and a donation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides crying on Katie Couric’s set, what
did Te’o’s parents do in the aftermath of Te’o’s and their loss?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is more missing here than being
presented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And the
<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/voicemails-manti-te-o-lennay-kekua-ronaiah-tuiasosopo-202503620--ncaaf.html">voice mails </a>that have been released are ludicrous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I genuinely hate to try to get inside the
head of a person thinking irrationally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But why, when Te’o himself is at least the one person who knows he never
met Lennay, does he not run for the hills after Lennay leaves a crying message
wrought with anxiety over another girl possibly being with him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had never met, she’s crying and jealous
and he’s not scared?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he’s willing to
go back for more?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I vote guilty by
reasons of insanity or guilty by come on already. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If I were
sitting across an armchair from Manti Te’o I would want to know why he
waited until after the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crimson verse
Clover</i> BCS Title Game was played on Jan 7<sup>th</sup> to address any of
this to the public when it had actually been known back in December, as reported
<a href="http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2013-01-17/manti-te-o-girlfriend-s-death-apparently-a-hoax">here</a> and he now admits. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Does <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">he hate himself for loving her? </i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Or does he
want us to believe he was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">j<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7498585754859544614" name="_GoBack"></a>ust a victim of circumstance.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Will he need to keep ever more focused on
football and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not give a damn about his
reputation?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe he even needs a break from love, for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">love is pain.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Would he
have liked it if someone in the studio offered to provide him with a tour and
remind him <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that love is all round, no
need to fake it?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I really did
hope that writing would provide me the distraction needed to clear my head of
the tunes, but still <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I feel the beat</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least I can look forward to a fresh round
of melodies between my ears as I set off to get some sleep.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Can you hear
it too? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I kiss and you kiss…and la de da de da de
da…I’m in love but it’s only make believe to you…oh yeah…..</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">© 2013
Christopher’s Views</span></div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-70063967639468703662012-12-24T00:26:00.000-05:002012-12-24T00:26:22.133-05:00…anything but fine<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vvZ1yM9M8vA/UNfjwYN5vaI/AAAAAAAAARQ/kzepH3jSo-0/s1600/anything+but+fine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vvZ1yM9M8vA/UNfjwYN5vaI/AAAAAAAAARQ/kzepH3jSo-0/s320/anything+but+fine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Often times when I’m about three-quarters through my cool
down after a long run I am most at peace with myself and my environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mind is clear, my body is strong yet
relaxed and I haven’t answered a call or an e-mail in an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel recharged, self-assured, confident, and
newly ready to focus and take on constructive challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s therapeutic for me and I’m thankful for those
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are other times when I’m not confident and not
relaxed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t like being tossed in
with crowds of people and lots of chatter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I become unfocused and uneasy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps
it has something to do with having grown up in a large and loud family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any case I accept my shortcoming and am
grateful for my awareness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also don’t like when the world around me is spiraling
downward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only detach so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Major events in society affect me because I’m
not good at putting up walls and I don’t see the point in assuming things will
get better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some things get worse before
they get better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since the nightmarish massacre in Newtown, Ct. almost ten
days ago much has been said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hear the
daily talking points about mental health, personality disorders, autism and
Asperger’s syndrome in the media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
provided this information in a manner similar to getting our Dow Jones Stock Index
report as if it credibly explains what’s really going on in the financial
world.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We hear about allowing teachers to carry guns in school
verse gun control laws needing to be tightened and all the while knowing the
ideologies have been clashing and at odds for years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We hear people speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have heard President Obama
speak and seen him cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve heard from
Governor’s, Senator’s, Congressional leaders and Mayor’s. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve read editorials, seen guest
psychologists and priests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we’ve
heard from the N.R.A., courtesy of Wayne LaPierre.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fingers are pointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One group blames another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>News
anchors may call invited experts ‘stupid’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Self appointed experts may polish up their retorts and call another host
‘obtuse’. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps the silver lining is that the horrific events that
unfolded at Sandy Hook Elementary have made it clear to nearly everyone that
big changes are needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I’m
less sure that nearly everyone realizes that working together provides for a
greater probability of success than working separately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is no single answer to thwarting or preventing a
crazed gunman’s delusional carnage whether in a school, in a movie theater or
at a shopping mall.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Prevention is not singularly about mental health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not singularly about gun control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not singularly about violent video
games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not singularly about
security.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about all that and more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And where do our rights fit into the puzzle? Of course we
all have rights under the constitution and rights to our own opinions as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tricky part is working
together so that everyone’s rights are in harmony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giving and receiving, strangely novel concepts,
may be worthy of further exploration.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gun control is vital and I hope it materializes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the N.R.A. will one day move away from
its worn adage that ‘the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good
guy with a gun’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mom (Nancy Lanza)
was their good guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The son (Adam Lanza)
was their bad guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the ‘good guy’
didn’t have a semi-automatic assault weapon capable of rapidly shooting
hundreds of rounds and inflicting maximum bloodshed that would ultimately fall
into the hands of a ‘bad guy’ living under the same roof, the Sandy Hook
atrocity may never have happened.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s not kid ourselves though about getting to work on the
needed mental health reforms, developing real awareness and bringing forth
meaningful results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will take much
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It won’t get better
overnight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the short term, having
police in our schools may not be such a bad idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly no prevention methods are
perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we do need the police
involved to figure out what more can be done on the security front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doing nothing more on security seems
foolish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly I wouldn’t want mere
armed security guards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They lack the
training and supervision of active duty police. And I think arming teachers and
principals on such a large scale would be a step, two or three backwards.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the moment, the carols are fully piped into our
surroundings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reindeer antlers pass on
the left as they protrude from SUV side windows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The festive meals and pies are being
prepared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The liquor has been
delivered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone in each town is
waiting to win the holiday light show contest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The guns, high powered rifles and ammunition sales are
soaring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Twenty first-graders have just been laid to rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And several wonderful teachers and staff will
no longer be sharing hugs with their loved ones anymore either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Merry is out of step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I all but exclusively use the word ‘holiday’ as I feel the best messages
of the season grow more and more fleeting, even among folks with religious
connectivity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe next year will be different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When trying to get somewhere new, having
clarity on the current position is helpful.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The starting point at present is a society that is anything
but fine and the most appropriate gift under everyone’s tree would be 52 weeks
of psychotherapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone who’s been lighting
more than seven strands of blinkers from their home this past week may want to
double down and splurge on 104. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or, an alternate plan could involve boosting the sale of
sleep aids in the hope and quest for visions of sugar-plums dancing in our
heads.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
© 2012 Christopher’s Views.</div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498585754859544614.post-26765400104406461942012-11-24T23:15:00.000-05:002012-11-24T23:15:24.089-05:00Irving…we have a problem<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Il7uzGtE3q4/ULGVjpTzmdI/AAAAAAAAARE/y54Uwfa6uXo/s1600/irving...we+have+a+problem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Il7uzGtE3q4/ULGVjpTzmdI/AAAAAAAAARE/y54Uwfa6uXo/s320/irving...we+have+a+problem.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the second time within 30 days, a food (for lack of a
worthy synonym) I was attempting to purchase had been wiped clear from store
shelves here in NY.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I feel a need to
share some thoughts about this upheaval, while I simultaneously attempt to move
away from the hard and sad realities of my last few posts and speak to a
lighter topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Contrary to what you are about to hear and may not read
between the lines, my diet has long been mostly Mediterranean and in the year since
I have given up chocolate I have brown bagged and packed considerably more
fruit, vegetables, granola, and whole grains into my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can certainly attest to a daily fiber
intake that is up in the 90 percentile range.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hidden amongst all the eggplant and olive oil though are
the experiences of a boy who grew up just blocks from a <a href="http://hostessbrands.com/Closed.aspx">Hostess/Wonder Bread</a> outlet in Brooklyn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yankee Doodles and a
glass of milk were a foundation of existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no mystery as to why I am a recovering chocoholic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For almost as long as my memory permits
recall my chocolate dependency caused me to stop whatever I was doing at 3PM
each day, then find and consume something, anything, whether it was a natural
or man-made cousin of the cocoa bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, in my youth, a ballgame or chore would cause me to get to the bread factory a
bit late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorites might have been
snatched up already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the sweet smell
of freshly packaged artificial flavoring was too comforting to pass up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely I would walk away with at least a box
or two of Devil Dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As an adult one of my longest periods of destructive
behavior, one that I would estimate at about 5 years, put either two chocolate
CupCakes or Yodels in my digestive tract everyday…rain or shine…winter, spring,
summer or fall. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In time my addiction
spilled over the aisles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I weathered a
Dove Bar era, ushered in by the large size dark chocolate variety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m grateful to be past a Hershey’s Malted
Milk Ball chapter, plus an M&M’s stage that was maybe the roughest of all as
I would crave those smooth and brightly colored, glistening candy coated
morsels at mid-afternoon and then again at 10PM.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Occasionally I would try to wean myself off
the brown sugar by making a different choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All that did was to make me a professional sampler of various brands of
Coffee Cake’s and Fruit Pies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you were
to cut up the pie treats and blindfold me I could tell the difference between a
Hostess, Drake’s or Entenmann’s fruit pie, whether cherry or apple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you were to ask me my favorite: the two
Drake’s squares have the best overall texture, glaze and close to real fruit
flavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you were to dangle the rarely
found blueberry pie snacks in front of me, you would have me at hello.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But mostly I want to know where is the next businessman
or woman who wants to take a crack at peddling these finely refined
frills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every once in a while I want to
be able to dunk a Twinkie into my coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I stand ready and willing to pay an additional 25 cents per serving
to get myself off the newly forming long lines of sugar deprived refugees who are
too frazzled to quickly open up a flattened plastic bag, pull out a glazed donut
from the bakery display without blocking the tongs and the wax paper and, in
effect, creating a big kink in the whole process of pulling off the road and into
7-Eleven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">World peace?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
just want short, no-nonsense lines when I get my gas or when I slip into a
craving for a cup of coffee along with a synthetic pink, coconut sprinkled, and
expertly preserved cream filled core of compressed Doodle-like chocolate hidden
beneath a tangy marshmallow ball---in a twin pack of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Any questions?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">© 2012 Christopher’s Views</span></div>
christopherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717459430504797508noreply@blogger.com9