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I Wish I Had A Chance To Say “Nice Shot” More Often! Here Is My Story Through Some Pictures…

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

 

Now that you have seen my story through some pictures, it’s time to fill in the blanks.

A few weeks ago I had an opportunity to visit my parents in Florida. I was staying at the house with my kids for the weekend and my Mom asked me to play tennis on a Saturday. Of course I said yes to the person who taught me how to play over 40 years ago. We woke up early and got out to the courts around 7:30. It was brutally cold and lots of her friends didn’t want to brave the weather so we had to wait a little to find some players to play doubles.

As we got started the match was filled with lots of high fives and comments of Mom nice shot! Way to go!  Even though there was no sun to be found we had a great time and I was smiling ear to ear for over two hours!

What an amazing experience it was to play tennis with my mom. Especially since I am approaching 50 very fast and she is approaching 77 in a few months!

  • Do you ever play sports with your mom?
  • Describe the last meaningful thing you did with your Mom.
  • What is your greatest memory you have with her?
  • Do you have a favorite event that you love to attend with your mom?

Thanks, Mom!  

PS – I wish I could say “Nice Shot” for many years to come! Spending time with my mom means more to me than I ever thought was possible and I hope that every reader has or has had the same feeling.

Posted in Life | Post Comments (1) »

2012 Is The Year Of Catch-Up For Me… How About You?

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

When the clock struck December 31, I knew something would be very different this year like no other. Yes, I will be older and in this case it is actually a benefit. This is very appealing to me because when I was younger (20’s, 30’s, 40’s) I didn’t save as much as I could or should have. I believe this is a VERY important lesson for younger generations and wish I had understood more of the benefits years ago.

Now to the exciting part of getting older! This is the year that I am allowed by the government (thanks!) to have a 401K catch-up contribution. In addition to the maximum, I am now allowed a $5,500 401k catch-up contribution this year!

Ok I must admit I am not terribly excited about being an age that starts with a 5 but this does make me happy that I now qualify for this additional benefit.

  • Do you have a 401K?
  • Have you always been in a position to maximize your contribution?
  • Do you contribute to your 401K?
  • Do you like the catch-up contribution as much as I do?

I look forward to reading your comments

Posted in Advice, Life | Post Comments (5) »

Help! My Back Is Killing Me – Any Advice?

Monday, January 16th, 2012

As I get a little older I have noticed my body speaking to me a little bit. Actually, a lot! More often than not I have little aches and pains that at times I can’t get rid of. Recently I have had some back issues that really had me in a bad place. I was having trouble standing up straight, walking was a challenge and yes, I looked like the leaning tower of Merrill! It wasn’t pleasant to see, let alone live through it.

I saw a chiropractor 4 times in one week and I am still going every other week. Lots of people have back issues, especially people who are in my age category. The question is, what do you do about it? How do you work through it?

I have done a few things that have helped:

  • Ice packs can ease the pain.
  • I use Biofreeze, which is an online product that I bought six months ago and it really helps the inflamed area.
  • I am stretching much more and especially working on my core – sometimes the easiest exercises give the most relief. A special thanks to my chiropractor C.T and personal trainer C.H. for helping me through this situation.

Those are a few things that have helped me but I know there are other things I could be doing.

  • Please let me know what you do for relief.
  • Any best practices that you live by?
  • How long have you had problems with your back?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Advice, Life | Post Comments (17) »

I Hope I Can Do ________ When I Am 90!

Monday, January 9th, 2012

Over the weekend the read an article about Bernice Bates who is a yoga instructor from Florida. Like most yoga instructors she teaches from the front of the room while laying on her mat and doing all of the poses. She leads the class step-by-step while having her students follow her every move.

This sounds like most yoga classes and Bernice is just another yoga instructor. Well, neither one is the case. You see, this instructor started teaching over 50 years ago – yes, 50 years ago. Some of us (me included) didn’t even realize that yoga was around 50 years ago. Well, it was and Bernice was involved. The amazing thing is, this lady is 91 years old and teaches a class every week. Her students absolutely love her energy and passion!

Wow – Bernice to be able to do something you love for that many years is magical and a dream come true. At 91 there are so many things I would still like to do – that list includes: playing softball, running around with my grandkids, or actually maybe great-grandkids. My long list of what I hope to still be doing at 91 brings three things to mind:

  • Play tennis – I would love to be able to play tennis (not in a wheel chair) with my friends S.S  and K.W. This would be important to me to still be able to walk and run and be physical later in life.
  • Play cards, specifically gin. The reason I love gin is because it has so much strategy and in a lot of ways takes the luck aspect out. To be able to play that with A.S, S.S., G.S and A.B would be amazing and means that I still have all or at least most of my faculties.
  • Be a guest lecturer at a college. To be able to continue to teach, mentor and help people becomes even more meaningful later in life.

So, Bernice and I ask you, what would you like to still be doing at 90?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Life | Post Comments (8) »

If I Agree To Tweet I Get Better Seats? Really?

Friday, December 30th, 2011

If you look around everyone is on their blackberry or smartphone. It seems like everyone is making a call, responding to an email, sending a text message or tweeting. However, there are a few places that frowned upon using your smartphone. Announcements are made at Broadway shows, movie theatres and the ballet requesting that you turn off your electronic device and don’t send any communication while you are in the performance.

Well, that may change in the future and in fact in a few spots is has already changed! Connecticut’s Norma Terris Theater, Raleigh’s Carolina Ballet, the Indianapolis Symphony, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Dayton Opera have all set aside seats for those who wish to live-tweet performances.

I understand technology of today and the need for speed but tweeting during a symphony? Seriously! These theatres might be ok with it now ASSUMING all of the tweets are positive! What if the people send negative tweets? Are the ushers going to go down and take them out of these “special” seats? Are these “special” seats the best seats in the house? If they are isn’t that creating bias with the people tweeting?

To me cell phones, texting, etc. takes away from a performance and doesn’t add any value at all!

I think this is a horrible idea and one that I hope doesn’t work! Can you imagine the announcement that is made prior to the curtain coming up? ‘Everyone please turn off their electronics device except the special 6 people in the second row who are allowed to tweet during the performance!’

  • What do you think?
  • Would you like someone sitting in special seats and tweeting at a performance that you attend?
  • Would you buy seats so you can tweet?
  • Would you not attend a performance if people were allowed to tweet?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Life, Social Networking | Post Comments (14) »

When Did I Become A SIR?

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

This morning it is 25° in Dallas, which is clearly not the norm. When I got to work the card reader on the side door wasn’t working (perhaps frozen) so I needed to enter through the front door. As I was walking through the lobby I said “Good Morning” to the security guard who said, “Sir, have a good morning.” In the last week I can recall at least 5 people calling me “Sir.” At least 5 people! My new chiropractor said, “Sir, how can we help you?” A stranger at the airport said, “Sir, let me get this door for you.”

  • When did I become a sir?
  • Why did I become a sir?
  • Is it my age?
  • My gray hair?
  • My limp?
  • My suit?

Help please……..

  • When did I become a ‘sir’?
  • When do you start calling someone a “Sir”?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Life | Post Comments (12) »

Am I Lucky Or Unlucky? You Tell Me!

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

For years I have been flying a lot. In fact, during my lifetime I have flown almost 1.7 million miles on American Airlines alone.  When you fly that often, lots of things can happen. From mechanical delays to people watching, it really is like a reality show every day of the week.

In the past 18 months I have had a few things happen that were a little different:

    1. On takeoff from O’Hare, we hit a flock of birds and lost our left engine. We needed to make an emergency landing. We were greeted with 5 fire engines and other emergency vehicles back at O’Hare 5 minutes later.
    2. Our flight in Ft. Lauderdale was forced to abort landing (we were about 500 feet from landing). The pilot made an announcement after we went vertical and said it was weather related.  
    3. I had another aborted landing in Atlanta a few weeks ago. This time we were less than 400 feet from the ground (as I am leaving the flight I always ask the pilot how close we were) and again went vertical this time even more quickly.

These situations happened very quickly and there is little time to freak out. Because I was traveling with my son during the Ft Lauderdale flight, I had a little more reason to pause and think about what happened.

The question is, am I lucky or unlucky?

I am really curious how people view this. I can argue both sides of the coin. Wow this happened 3 times clearly you are unlucky with the other side of the coin is yes it happened but I landed safely and not one person got hurt so that makes me lucky.

From my standpoint I would say I am lucky. In fact, very lucky!

Typically I am pretty positive about things and wonder if there is a direct correlation between people who would view my experiences as unlucky to being pessimistic in nature and people who would view them as lucky being optimistic most of the time?

Just a thought.

So I ask you….

  • Am I lucky or unlucky?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Life, Travel | Post Comments (7) »

What’s Your Price To Take Another Plane?

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

A few weeks ago I was boarding a plane to Las Vegas and as with most flights, the plane was sold out. Actually, it was over sold. The announcements started with “we are over sold and looking for volunteers to take another flight about 90 minutes later and were giving a $300 travel voucher.” Well, apparently not enough people thought that was an appetizing offer so 10 minutes later the offer was raised to a $400 travel voucher.

When I was younger I may have jumped at both of their offers – but today, no way! I want to get where I am going and as fast and easy as I can. I don’t like being part of any delays and more importantly I don’t want to create a delay for myself for $300-400 travel voucher.

Funny I am not sure I am alone – I watched and very few people rushed to take the offer.

  • So I ask you what are your thoughts?
  • Do you have a price that you would take a later flight?
  • How would you feel if you took the $300 travel voucher and 10 minutes later they were offering $400?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Life, Travel | Post Comments (5) »

Hunting? Really? It Doesn’t Sound Like Fun To Me… What About You?

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

I recently had a few discussions about hunting. A few weeks ago I was speaking with a co-worker about what her plans were for the weekend and she said it would be a quiet weekend since her significant other was hunting. Then, a week later a buddy of mine that I play softball with was telling me about his latest hunting trip. He goes a few times a month and truly loves it.  I must admit that I don’t get it!  During my two discussions I had tons of questions since I have NEVER been hunting:

  • Are they hunting with a gun? Bow & arrow?
  • How long do you go out and hunt for?
  • How cold is it early in the morning?
  • Is it just a bonding experience with some buddies?

I realize that you need to be still, quiet and not move a muscle, which isn’t appealing to me since I am very hyper!  Also, to be sitting in one cold place with the wind howling doesn’t seem appealing to me.

I wonder if people who hunt love it and people who don’t hunt don’t like it or understand it.

I can’t imagine going out and hunting a deer, cleaning it out and eating the meat. I know that plenty of people (especially in Texas) do it, enjoy it and can’t wait to do it again!

What are your thoughts?

  • Do you hunt?
  • If so, what weapon do you use?
  • What is the biggest animal you have killed?
  • Do you eat the meat?
  • Is it a very somber time and are you deep in thought while you are waiting for an animal to pass by?

I really look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Life, Sports | Post Comments (8) »

Who Owns That Armrest?

Monday, November 21st, 2011

I remember growing up with my 2 sisters and taking a very long trip up to Montreal to visit my mom’s family every 3 or 4 months. During the 6 hour car ride one thing was for certain, we would ALL fight for the armrest. Back in the day, that was the trophy in the car, the Holy Grail and the thing we all coveted most.

Speed up 35+ years. I guess the same thing is true but this time you are playing the game with strangers, in fact most of the time total strangers. Have you gone to the movies recently and sitting on your left side is a person (stranger) who is hogging the armrest? He/she got there before you and they have the inside position and aren’t moving an inch? Or what about when you are sitting on a 4 hour flight in a row of 3 people and have 4 armrests – who gets what armrest? Does the left rule? Is the 1st to arrive the king/queen?

I know most of you are laughing and thinking I am 100% nuts, but seriously…….what do you do?

So I ask you:

  • How do you handle the situation when you need to share an armrest?
  • Does the situation change when you know the person sitting next to you?
  • What is the protocol?

I know this situation has happened to everyone but the question is what do you do?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in General Comments, Life, Travel | Post Comments (6) »

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