Blog

    Game Night

    A question I’ve been asking (in the right situations) over the past few years is, “What would your 80-year-old self-tell your present-day self?”  The general purpose of this question is to help bring some clarity to a current situation that someone may be facing.  In my perspective, it helps bring me out of the details of the current moment in order to look at the bigger picture from a different vantage point. 

    Happy 74th Birthday, USAF!

    When talking to one of my Aunts this past week, she asked, “Am I missing your weekend emails?  I haven’t seen them for a few weeks.”  I explained the reasons to her about why I’ve been absent, and I will share them with you as well.  The first was the news of the 13 service men and women who were killed in Afghanistan.  The Navy Corpsman, Max Soviak, was a young man from Berlin Heights, Ohio, literally minutes from my house.  Frankly, I was not in a good place to write.  Then I was working at the Cleveland Airshow for the entire Labor Day weekend.  Finally, I was at the airbase all last weekend, again with no time to sit and write.  My Aunt then asked whether I planned to write this weekend and about what if I did.  I told her, “Yes, I’m writing about the Air Force birthday”.  She simply replied, “Oh, that makes sense.

    Do You Have a Bucket List?

    Have you ever watched the movie “The Bucket List”?  Do you have your own ‘Bucket List’?  The idea of having a list of items we want to accomplish often comes up in client conversations.  In the movie, starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, two terminally ill characters set out to complete a list of things they want to do before they die.  I find that a little morbid and why do we need to wait until we’re “terminal” before we try to accomplish some “to-do” list?  I have a better idea – why not “do” things all along one’s life?  Why wait?

    Harvest Time Food for Thought

    Has this happened to you?  Since we were hit with this pandemic, have you found yourself shopping more locally?  I know I have.  I have been visiting farmers’ markets more than I ever have before too.  The variety and taste of local products, the sense of community that comes from supporting neighboring farms, and studies of the high nutrition value in fresh produce all make me come back for more.

    Read It: Out Loud

    When was the last time you read anything out loud?  Either to yourself or to someone else, it doesn’t really matter, just the simple act of reading out loud – when was the last time? 

    From the Sun God, Apollo

    It’s the Olympics!  It is my (quad-annual) time to be interested in all sorts of sports, some of which I wouldn’t have known even existed if not for the Olympics.  Who knew that “Canoe Sprint” was not just an official sport but also an Olympic event?  However, if video gameplaying ever becomes an Olympic event, I might need to change my view on the Olympics.

    Namaste!

    Chances are, as you are reading this right now, your shoulders and neck are a little rounded and compressed, and your upper torso is leaning forward.  You may not think of yourself as “slouching” but, most likely, you’re probably not sitting straight up either.  (Did I nail that one?

    You're Now Free to Move About the Country

    Do you remember when Southwest Airlines used this slogan?  To me, it seems that phrase has never been more appropriate than right now.  Everywhere I look there are record numbers of people driving and flying; in my area rentals are booked out to Labor Day, campsites are full.  In short: Americans are getting out and about. 

    Want to Take a Bike Ride?

    Have you ever crashed on a bicycle?  I have – numerous times.  How I got the scar on my knee from 1986 I remember vividly.  My best friend, Roger, and I were being chased, we decided to split up.  I took a corner a little tight, hit gravel, essentially slid under my bike across the road.  I still remember pulling the leaves OUT of my knee.  (I’m chuckling a little as I write knowing I just made my Mother & Aunt squeamish when they read this) I remember the trip to the ER when my mother could turn her vehicle into her own personal ambulance at a moment’s notice (this was not my first ER/stitches trip).  Roger didn’t wreck that day but I do remember one epic crash of his.  Yes, loose gravel was the culprit once again but at least he didn’t require stitches and an ER run.  Unfortunately for Roger, he wrecked near my grandmother Merckens’ house.  When it came to “cleaning out wounds” that women used a Brillo pad!

    Happy 23.4° Tilt Day

    When it comes to the sciences (with the exception of Economics – debatable, I know) I have an affinity toward the physical sciences versus life sciences.  The physical sciences just made more sense to me, life sciences not so much.  I still remember an interaction with my Biology professor during office hours as I struggled to see some part of a mushroom under microscope.  After numerous (failed) attempts to show me whatever it was I was looking at in the microscope, I finally looked at him and said (ok maybe pleaded): “I’d love to get out of this class with a passing grade.  I promise to never – ever – take another biology course.”  To be fair I did work my butt off trying to pass that class.  However, to this day, I have no idea if my hard work paid off or if he obliged me with my final grade.  In any event I did uphold my end of the deal and I never stepped foot near the biology lab/rooms again.