2006 was a strange year...

During the Oscars Jon Stewart noted, "Martin Scorsese zero and Three 6 Mafia one." Sometimes the world seems strange. They won the Best Song category for their song, "It's hard out here for a pimp" from the movie Hustle and Flow.

Teachers, police, fireman and our military all get paid a pittance for the work they do. Entertainers and sports stars are millionaires.

We give billions to help combat starvation and illness around the globe while children and families here in America go to bed hungry at night and when they are sick there is no affordable health care available.

Eating healthy became deadly when E.Coli outbreaks sickened hundreds who ate lettuce, tomatoes and spinach contaminated by the bacteria.

We were blessed that after a record number of hurricanes in 2005, no Atlantic hurricanes hit the US this year. Still thousands of Katrina victims remain displaced more than a year after that disaster.

First phone booths now Mailboxes. 10% were removed in 2006 for lack of use. Yet thanks to technology, more "mail" has been sent this year than at anytime before.

After years of questioning the integrity, bias and objectivity of our newspapers, many people now turn to the Internet for their news. Citizens have become today's journalists, using their cell phones to capture news as it happens. It was chilling to listen to the cell phone messages sent on 9/11; imagine what horrors we might have witnessed if today's technology was available then. Just as there was concern about the integrity, bias and objectivity in our newspapers we need to recognize that we need to be cautious when accepting everything we read and view on the web as authentic and factual.

Reality shows and self promotion seem to have become the source of entertainment today. People by the tens of thousand send in their own homemade videos to get selected for a Reality Show or place them on the ever growing popular YouTube.com Even the old days of writing your personal thoughts and feelings in a diary kept locked and hidden safely away, have been replaced by blogging and MySpace.com.

The 21st Century is in its infancy and 2007 is just about to begin. The only thing I know for sure is that the future will be made up of situations and circumstances that will seem upside down, inside out and strange.


Maybe life as depicted in the Jetsons may yet come true. Happy New Year!

The TV and radio is filled with shows featuring the best and worse of 2006 in a wide variety of categories.

Like everyone else, my 2006 had enormous highs and some challenges and disapointments. It was also a year of big changes. I moved to a new residence, incorporated my dream, and started to write my sales and marketing book.

My grandchildren gave me the best theme song for my year. Hope, Noah and Jake each sang it to me. It was fun to hear them sing it and it makes me smile when I listen to it.



If you had a bad year, I hope you can work at a smile, go for a ride and enjoy a blue sky holiday. Wishing you a most excellent New Year filled with good health, happiness and success.

It has occurred to me recently that we rarely see our parents as the people they are. We don't see life from their perspective. We are learning to find our own way and don't really know what life adventures our parents had that led them to being our parents.

Even as they live their lives as parents we don't comprehend all that is going on simultaneously in their world. It has become clear to me in the last few years that my parents were even more amazing individuals than I realized.

They took risks and chances and each had very interesting lives before they united in marriage. The thirties and forties and fifties world situation, economics and technology provided a back drop and environment that made growing up then a unique circumstance, much different than mine. Surviving a World War, an economic depression and a world going through "growing pains",wow,they did awesome.

Just as I grew up in a world much different than my parents, I realize that my sons are growing in a world different than mine and my grandchildren's world is even more different. The values today are distinctly different. Hope, Noah, Jake and Jonah will never have know a time when there were no computers, phones aren't connected to walls and the choice of what and when to listen and view messages and TV are theirs.

It is exciting the way it works. I wish my Mom a Happy Birthday today. I hope that heaven is celebrating her life as I am celebrating hers and my dad's life today.

Happy "unbirthday" everyone. Light a candle, make a wish and blow it out and then enjoy a piece of cake. Yummy.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas celebrations. I was one of the lucky ones that managed to escape the severe damage that Mother Nature bestowed on our area. Just north of me in Pasco County their are approximately 15 families whose homes have been lost and 80 to 100 others whose homes have received damage.

When you realize what might have been...celebrating a soggy Christmas away from family with a tempermental phone has tinges of terrific about it (smile).

Wishing you a most excellent day. If you are traveling, I hope you are safe.

You can only go halfway into the darkest forest, then you are coming out the other side.

Yesterday I received an e-card that had a wonderful message. I loved it and wanted to pass the wish on to all who read my blog. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read my ramblings and thoughts.

"In the flurry of the season remember to dream
Remember to take time to wonder
Remember to celebrate
And remember to be."

Merry Christmas

Starting today and continuing throughout New Years, several people I know have planned to travel. Yesterday, just driving around St. Petersburg and Tampa was a challenge.

Some people have their turn signals on and have no intention of turning. When I mentioned my frustration at this, I was told that some people turn on their signal when they pull out of the car lot after they purchased their car and it has remained on ever since.

Impatience and frustration seem to be the most descriptive words for travelers this time of the year. I'm sure studies would show more yellow lights are run and more accidents occur in store parking lots than at any other time.

To all my family and loved ones who will be traveling, I wish them a safe and fun-filled trip. One that will result in fantastic, happy memories. As for myself, I won't be traveling far from home. I will keep my suitcase in the closet and enjoy the Florida sunshine.


As the traditional postcard greeting says, "Having a wonderful time. Wish you were here!"

The weather here in Florida is sunny and a warm 80 degrees is forecast for today. We may not have blustery cold weather or snow on the horizon but we still enjoy many of the same traditions of the season.

The air conditioning in the mall is turned down low so hot chocolate is the beverage of choice.

Lights decorate both houses and boats. Some are traditional and some are in the shapes of dancing dolphins and decorated palm trees.

You are more likely to see Santa laying in a hammock or dressed in a tropical shirt than dressed head to toe in a red suit.
He is still jolly and happy. The reindeer are playing on the beach and he is jet skiing. I even saw a Santa look kite surfing and of course there are many Santas traveling on their Harleys throughout the land.

My tree is decorated with ornaments that I have purchased during my travels. I'm going to write down a little memory trigger for each one to pack away with them at the end of the season. My memory is not as sharp as it once was so these notes will remind me of my adventures in years to come. I figure I've had so many twists and turns and adventures during my life's journey that my brain is on overload and not just getting weak.

As I head out to run errands with the top down on my convertible and walk on the beach, I think Florida at Christmas is a wonderful place to celebrate a "traditional" Christmas. Afterall if your heart is happy then you can have Christmas anywhere. The only thing missing to make it perfect is my loved ones. Happily my sons are creating their own traditions with their families and that brings me joy.

I don't know who gets credit for that quote but at this time of the year it seems far from true. The stores both local and virtual are filled with shoppers trying to find that perfect present that will bring happiness to their friend, colleagues family or loved ones.

Charities are pleading for money to sustain their acts of charity or for research to find a much needed cure. The many who are without NEED money to pay for the necessities of life, food and shelter.

People wish for a little extra money to buy a gift for someone to show they care. People need money to pay their bills, to keep their businesses alive, to pay for needed medicine.

It is true that "Money can't buy happiness." But sometimes, not always,the side effects of having money can provide the opportunity to make choices. Money can provide the tools that allow survival.

I have seen people with very little remain happy and filled with faith and hope. I wish that, happiness could buy money.

Despair and the feeling of hopelessness aren't the exclusive property of the poor. Maybe these depressed people would find the happiness and joy that eludes them by sharing with those less fortunate. When it comes to caring and sharing the return on the investment is fantastic.

Maybe those that are in the final chapters of this life and no longer feel they have purpose or direction, but have funds that will exceed their life might find happiness and purpose spending their money as a mentor or anonymous benefactor instead of leaving an inheritance to be spent after they are gone.

"Money can't buy happiness." Examples that this is true are too many to count. The person who wins the lottery and then goes on to squander it and alienates their loved ones in the process. The person who is rich beyond belief but can't purchase a cure for the terminal illness that plagues their family. The person who would sell everything they had and pay anything to have one more moment with a loved one who is gone. The person who has spent all their time and energy making money and now reflects on how they missed the experience of being involved in their children's lives as they grew up.

"Money can't buy happiness." This is true but without it or some way to barter for the needs necessary to survive the absence of money can result in desperation.

A minister here in Tampa last year gave each member of the congregation money to pass along a kindness and help someone. I gave money to my family and asked them to do the same. It wasn't much but I loved the idea. Oprah gave each of her audience members $1000.00 to pass on to make a difference. These acts are helping people and bringing happiness both to the giver and receiver.

Sometimes, "Money can buy a little happiness."

Lately I have been feeling like I am treading water. I want to make progress, to complete writing my sales and marketing book and launch my company.

I keep paddling and working but so far my forward movement has been slow. I have confidence in what I am doing and faith that when given the opportunity I will be able to help grow my business as I work with other entrepreneurs to remove obstacles to their success. It will be awesome to help them increase their visibility, sales and profits.

I am working on juggling patience with eagerness. I guess I need a life preserver to keep me afloat.

After a night of tossing and turning I woke up with the strangest thoughts filling my head. I was trying to remember and sort out the Fairy Tales, Rumpelstiltskin and Rapunzel.

I don't have a clue as to why either would have been in my thoughts. The only thing I can imagine is that I must have gotten tangled in my hair while I tossed and turned through the night. My hair has never been longer and is golden and unfortunately has a little straw like texture that needs to be spun into gold by Rumpelstiltskin (smile).

Happily thanks to the Internet and a resourceful, kind savior the details of the story were found and read to me. Thus eliminating the lingering confusion and sleepy cobwebs in my brain.

Now on with this beautiful sunny Sunday I will go and find some mischief to enjoy. I love this time of the year and all the excitement seeing children mesmerized by the lights and sounds and anticipation. It is the perfect time of the year to let all my child like wonder have carte blanche and run wild. I hope you have a fun day.

Caution: Stay away from those Grimms Fairy Tales. There is a reason their name is Grimms.

This is one of my favorite quotes.

"People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, People may Accuse you of Selfish, Ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be Honest and Frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis,it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway."

Several years ago I received a musical Christmas Carousel for a gift. I love it and take it out each year. It plays an assortment of Christmas Carols and when switched the other way it plays everyday songs like the theme from the movie the "Sting."

I have always loved riding on a Merry-Go-Round. Whether it was at Glenn Echo, or the Magic Kingdom or on the carousel in front of the Smithsonian or in the neighborhood Mall, I love going for a ride.

I have concocted my own little game. The person riding the horse, or camel or whatever that ends up highest at the end of the ride wins. In my imagination I am not going up and down and around in circles. While I am riding I feel joy and just plain happy. One time I might feel like a princess riding across the field, another time my imagination might have me riding along the beach.

It is fun and certainly safer for me to ride a Merry-Go-Round than to ride a real horse. My carousel is playing as I am writing so I will wish you a day filled with memories that make you smile and an imagination that takes you to places that fill your heart with joy. As for me, I'm going to select a special horse on my carousel and watch it while my imagination takes me for a ride.

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." Thomas Edison

On December 7, 1941 a surprise aerial attack was launched by the 1st Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy. They achieved complete surprise when they hit American ships and military targets on Oahu shortly after 8AM that fatal morning.

Below is a little glimpse into the events of that day. As you read it, I hope you will take time out from the hectic activities of this holiday season and remember the men and woman who are serving in the military today, their families and our veterans. Today, 65 years after Pearl Harbor, our troops are in harms way, families are seperated and loved ones die in war. Thanks to their courage and honor we remain protected. May God bless our Veterans, military and their families.

Source: Department of Defense. 50th Anniversary of World War II Commemorative Committee. Pearl Harbor: 50th Anniversary Commemorative Chronicle, "A Grateful Nation Remembers" 1941-1991. Washington: The Committee, 1991.

"There was a short lull in the fury of the attack at about 8:30 a.m. At that time the USS Nevada (BB-36), despite her wounds, managed to get underway and move down the channel toward the open sea. Before she could clear the harbor, a second wave of 170 Japanese planes, launched 30 minutes after the first, appeared over the harbor. They concentrated their attacks on the moving battleship, hoping to sink her in the channel and block the narrow entrance to Pearl Harbor. On orders from the harbor control tower, the USS Nevada (BB-36) beached herself at Hospital Point and the channel remained clear.When the attack ended shortly before 10:00 a.m., less than two hours after it began, the American forces has paid a fearful price. Twenty-one ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet were sunk or damaged: the battleships USS Arizona (BB-39), USS California (BB-44), USS Maryland (BB-46), USS Nevada (BB-36), USS Oklahoma (BB-37), USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), USS Tennessee (BB-43) and USS West Virginia (BB-48); cruisers USS Helena (CL-50), USS Honolulu (CL-48) and USS Raleigh (CL-7); the destroyers USS Cassin (DD-372), USS Downes (DD-375), USS Helm (DD-388) and USS Shaw (DD-373); seaplane tender USS Curtiss (AV-4); target ship (ex-battleship) USS Utah (AG-16); repair ship USS Vestal (AR-4); minelayer USS Oglala (CM-4); tug USS Sotoyomo (YT-9); and Floating Drydock Number 2. Aircraft losses were 188 destroyed and 159 damaged, the majority hit before the had a chance to take off. American dead numbered 2,403. That figure included 68 civilians, most of them killed by improperly fused anti-aircraft shells landing in Honolulu. There were 1,178 military and civilian wounded.Japanese losses were comparatively light. Twenty-nine planes, less than 10 percent of the attacking force, failed to return to their carriers.The Japanese success was overwhelming, but it was not complete. They failed to damage any American aircraft carriers, which by a stroke of luck, had been absent from the harbor. They neglected to damage the shoreside facilities at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base, which played an important role in the Allied victory in World War II. American technological skill raised and repaired all but three of the ships sunk or damaged at Pearl Harbor (the USS Arizona (BB-39) considered too badly damaged to be salvaged, the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) raised and considered too old to be worth repairing, and the obsolete USS Utah (AG-16) considered not worth the effort). Most importantly, the shock and anger caused by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor united a divided nation and was translated into a wholehearted commitment to victory in World War II."

Sometimes corny can make you smile. I hope this will add a little karaoke fun to your Christmas. Enjoy. http://us.video.aol.com/video.index.adp?pmmsid=1786113

This morning I listened to Bette Midler sing "From A Distance" on the Today Show. One of the lyrics caught my attention, "God is watching us from a distance."

At this time of the year we celebrate the birth of Christ. It is a joyous time for many and a sad one for others. If each of us would keep in mind that "God is watching us" maybe would behave differently.

Instead of the Golden Rule..."Treat others as you would want to be treated." We would practice the Platinum Rule..."Treat others as they would like to be treated."

Despite the stress and hectic demands of the season we can be nice and charitable. Even if our pocketbooks can't afford it, we can be charitable by having patience when lines are long and the parking lot is mass confusion. A smile, a phone call, or offering a helping hand are gestures that would make God smile as he watches us.

May you find a way today to give God reason to smile as he looks down upon our troubled world. I guarantee that the side effect will be that you will smile too.

Instead of waiting until January 1st, I made resolutions yesterday. Maybe I won't run out of time in 2007. It is quite possible I may have too many hopes and goals for 2006 and too little time left to accomplish them all before it runs out. I will work hard to get them all done and at the same time try to get a headstart on 2007.

Get ready, set, here I go!