Month: December 2015

Fearsome, a sentimental Capricorn

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The Christmas season is a sentimental time for many. Fearsome is a sentimental beard. The traditions, music, memories, decorations, rituals and spirit all seem to coincide into a yearly sentimental journey for us. All one must do is add up the holiday hubbub with the wrapping up of a year past and the prospect of a birthday nearly a week after a new year arrives to realize the emotional experience we embrace. The sentiments give us solace as we set our goals for not only a new year, but yet another trip around the ball of fire to which we rise each day.

Therefore it is comforting for our soul to establish and continue a tradition, or four. Last year was Fearsome’s first holiday season in blog land, well at least as an actual blogger. He had a post or two he feels he may repeat with yet an updated interpretation. So this is sort of a warning. If you see something familiar just enjoy it and look for possible nuances that Fearsome may take, or that you yourself may notice differently. We all change throughout time. Hopefully we grow. With growth our priorities change and morph. I like to call it developing character. Kind of like those little teeny tiny lines residing on my face…character.

Enough of being a sentimental, on with establishing tradition. Our favorite rendition of a holiday classic:

Fearsome and I hope you enjoyed it as much as we do. For an encore we decided to add this 1949 version from Neptune’s Daughter featuring none other than Esther Williams and Ricardo Mantalban:

http://youtu.be/Y8gu2s7iY4M

 

Life is a banquet

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…..He that is of merry heart hath a continual feast.     ………Proverbs 15:15

Fearsome and I are not ones to go around quoting out of the bible. However the bible does have many bits of wisdom that do apply to living a good life. We didn’t even find the wonderful words above in the bible. It’s not something that we read. We found this inspirational phrase in a little book we picked up at Comic-Con 2015.

Worthwhile Comic-Con purchase.

Worthwhile Comic-Con purchase.

This nice little book was purchased because we believe in the Snoopy Dance. We are fans of Snoopy. The little book is full inspirational quotes from many different sources and many walks of life. There is a character that I adore that said something similar in the short 10 second clip below:

Yep you guessed it, Fearsome and I are cup half full, actually full to over flowing kind of guys.

Mmmmmm, Fresh Made Garlic Rolls!

Mmmmmm, Fresh Made Garlic Rolls! Fearsome loves them. You’d better have one too, especially if you plan on kissing him.

Our point is this, when you are merry of heart the world really is a great place! Go ahead….Live!… and do the Snoopy Dance!

 

Humor helps

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Getting through these last few days of holiday madness I’ve found that a sense of humor helps. After driving through a significant portion of San Diego today dropping off gifts, I have witnessed first hand the madness. Drivers, mad drivers are definitely a majority. Their antics reminded me of Barbra’s 1967 classic Christmas album. The opening song that is. Given that Barbra didn’t produce music videos of that 1967 classic, I decided to let Babs Levine try her hand at lip syncing Barbra’s frantic opening song. Take it away Babs…

Much more fun than looking at a slide show of dramatic Barbra photos or sentimental Christmas scenes. Drive safe out there and watch out for Babs on the road. I swear she was one of those drivers that almost landed me in the median…upsot.

Makin’ ‘Lectricity

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It’s household chore day here in blustery San Diego. Given we had a bit of cloud cover and the solar panels have dropped off in electrical production a bit, I gave in and climbed up on the roof to give them a long overdue cleaning.

Solar panels should be cleaned once every six months. The 24 panel 6.6 kW system was installed and turned on two years ago this week. Last time I cleaned them was 18 months ago. Oops! Time slips away and then you decide to check on this years production vs last years production. We are down 800 kW from last year. Lightbulb….I haven’t cleaned them.

With a few hours in between holiday gatherings, I decided to take a social break and have some meditative alone time on the roof. Partially overcast with a cool 64 degree breeze made for enjoyable conditions.

Looking west toward Point Loma with San Diego bay and then Pacific Ocean visible in upper left corner.

Looking west toward Point Loma with San Diego bay and then Pacific Ocean visible in upper left corner.

Looking south with San Diego skyline in the background.

Looking south with San Diego skyline in the background with San Diego bay and the Pacific visible in upper right corner.

Mission accomplished, the panels are sparking clean and ready to increase production.  The only thing that fell two stories to the ground was the hose nozzle. Now it’s time to gussie myself up and head off to the next item on the busy holiday season social agenda. An agenda that only the most Fearsome of Beards could imagine maintaining.

 

Inspired by Dad

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As many of you know, my father passed unexpectedly sooner than expected back in September. He had a favorite movie starring Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt. Both big names in Hollywood. Both playing supporting roles to a kid. A kid named Haley Joel Osment. What is bigger than any star in the movie is the message. The message in the title, Pay It Forward (full movie behind this link).

My father was so inspired by the message, he did his best to share that message with everyone. Dad wasn’t perfect at getting messages across and he wasn’t perfect at always practicing the message. The important thing was he tried. Another important thing was he got the message through to me. When asked to speak at Dad’s memorial I instantly knew that I had to speak this message. It was easy. I didn’t need to write a speech or practice. I just got up and shared about sharing what we have, and not asking anything in return. Only ask to keep sharing it forward. To spread gifts, love, possibilities, knowledge and peace.

Yesterday I posted about my dog Abner. I shared about Paying It Forward. Today I share the clip of a little boy and his dream. May it be an inspiration to all of us.

Humane Leaders’ Circle

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Zero

That’s the goal, Zero.

Zero adoptable and treatable pets being euthanized. Through medical treatment and behavioral rehabilitation all pets in permanent homes. Period.

image

We adopted our beloved Abner through our county dog pound as a spirit fund dog. He was a medical patient that required thousands of dollars worth of medical care to save his life and make him adoptable. The dog attack had left this little six pound poodle with multiple lacerations, an evicerated eye, many stitches and a broken foot. Today he is a happy and healthy nine pound cream colored poodle thanks to the generosity of people who cared to give to make him an adoptable boy.

Abner in March 2012 newly adopted.

Abner in March 2012, newly adopted.

Abner today a happy healthy boy.

Abner today, a happy healthy boy.

With Abner’s inspiration The Better Half and I set a goal to make the San Diego Humane Society a charity one of our choice charities. We set a goal to be able to give significantly as time progressed. Every dollar helps, every single one. We have been giving what we could as we went along. Thanks to the many blessings in our life, today we stepped up to the plate. We gave our first of hopefully many significant donations and joined the Humane Leaders’ Circle (go ahead click the link embedded there and learn more).

Zero. Zero euthanized is the goal. No kill, no way, not ever. Spay, neuter, foster, adopt, give. Forever homes is the ultimate goal. Years from now I hope this entry is one I will look back on with tears of gratitude for all we will have done to help. One little step at a time, each little step in the right direction, will make a big difference. Someone’s donation made all the difference for Abner. Abner made all the difference for us. It’s time for us to pay it forward.