“All it takes for evil to succeed is for a few good men to do nothing...”

"You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.
"-William Wilberforce ​

How much do you know about human sex trafficking? According to the United States Department of Justice website over the past three years there has been a nearly 30% increase in human trafficking cases in the US alone. Most victims are between the ages of twelve to fourteen. Child exploitation most recently made the headlines with Operation Cross Country. The nationwide operation which took place over the weekend resulted in 150 arrests, with 105 children between the ages of 13 and 17 being rescued.(source CNN: Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division.)

Why are we seeing such a dramatic increase in the US?

Poverty is one major factor that plays into the tragic stories of children being sexually exploited, among many other traumatic factors putting them in this position such as divorce, absentee parents ,lack of role models, death of a parent or neglect. Many victims of human trafficking in the US are teen aged girls between the ages of thirteen and sixteen with little or no family ties. However, research shows trafficking can occur in any city where a family may lose touch with their own children. Teenagers without guidance, supervision or those testing the limits of their independence are at risk for criminal manipulation.
    

When does it become trafficking?

     Sex trafficking occurs when the trafficker or pimp uses physical force, coercion  and fraud to maintain control over an adult victim. Victims are forced to engage in sex acts to earn their right to stay alive. When the individual providing sex is under the age of 18, excessive threats, abuse, use of force and coercion do not need to happen for the situation to be considered trafficking.  Sex trafficking like all other types of abuse is about power, control and human greed. Gangs especially regard sex trafficking as a lucrative business because victims are reused again and again or recycled. Victims are considered a low risk "product". Criminals never see your children as defenseless, innocent human beings but as another money making product on the level of illegal drugs or weapons.  What is used to control and exploit a sex trafficking victim?

 Force – Physical or sexual abuse, often in the form of repeated rapes by one or more people to create submission. They are typically confined to a residence; restricted in movement and communication to their guardians, loved ones and friends.

Fraud –  Lies and promises of a better life through the trafficker acting as a boyfriend or protective figure; convincing the victim that law enforcement and social service providers will only see the victim as a "prostitute" and will have them arrested rather than saved and assisted. The victim is essentially brainwashed.

Coercion –  A trafficker will use threats of harm to the victim or victim’s family. They will use psychological threats to shame the victim by revealing they had sex for money to his or her family and others in their community. Verbal and emotional abuse, confiscation of birth certificates and other identification documents and sexual quotas bring about forced dependency on the controller. Exploitation of victims shame or low self-esteem is a common power play technique. Having a victim witness excessive violence of others at the hands of traffickers, reward and punishment and threats of deportation if a victim is a foreign national are used to dominate and control.

Law enforcement agencies across the country have identified online sex ads as the number one platform for buying and selling of sex with young women and children some as young as four and five years of age. Astonishingly enough the majority of the ads were posted on websites such as Craigslist.com and Backpage.com. Ads for massage parlors and escort services are carefully scrutinized. 

What can you do right now? Check your child's own social media websites. Who are they talking to or befriending? What websites are they looking at? Who are they texting? Who do they hang around with at school? Are they attending school or skipping class? If they work part time who are they associating with at work? Where are they after school? Children and teenagers who have a trusted and secure relationship with their parents are least likely to hide information from them. When you recognize that a child may be in danger or exploited speak up, speak out and do what you can to assist them. Children and young adult sex trafficking victims may feel too intimidated and frightened to speak for themselves. The youngest victims may have little or no way to articulate or comprehend why adults would hurt and brutalized them.  If you have or work with children or simply care about your own community, a child's sense of safety and security should be a priority.  The link below offers insightful and educational material for yourself, your family and especially your own children  with  20 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking  http://www.state.gov/j/tip/id/help/

"Enough about me. Lets talk about you ..what do you think of me?"

“It amazes me that we are all on Twitter and Facebook. By "we" I mean adults. We're adults, right? But emotionally we're a culture of seven-year-olds. Have you ever had that moment when are you updating your status and you realize that every status update is just a variation on a single request: "Would someone please acknowledge me?”
― Marc Maron, Attempting Normal     

     The human ego is a dangerous force. When humans fail to have their ego's attention appetite  fed enough  by others they eventually go on a feverish feeding frenzy. They resemble ravenous starving sharks in an ocean of scurrying fish or become like Anthony Weiner sexting his junk in a" desperately single" chat room.  No matter how saintly and pious we may portray ourselves we all have our proud moments a la Stuart Larkin, "Look what I can do!" Attention! Over here, please. Thank you. Modern technology and social media has provided us all with ample opportunity to voice our opinions and reveal our ugliest duck faces whether or not others want to see or read our BS. As a culture we have become more vain and  obsessed with ourselves due to social networking. And we are all guilty. At one time I belonged to three social media websites including Facebook, four work related networking sites, five freelance networks, Twitter,  and Google. Are you supposed to dread checking your email every day? We spend more time deleting junk mail and spam than responding to anything substantial..
      We are teaching our children to be self-absorbed, self- serving, self -promoting arrogant bastards just like their parents.  Adults are required to whore themselves on any number of employment/university related websites, Tweet thoughtful or amusing snippets of  daily existence and post endless photo streams of their adorable children, attractive mates or lovable pets for others to covet and admire. Whatever we think we possess we throw it at society like monkeys throwing poop. Here, take that shit and "like" it.

    On the flip side of our narcissistic tendencies we are also creating a culture of concerned advocates where  many teens and young people are more aware of local community and global issues. We are able to communicate and share ideas quickly and conveniently. We have access to unlimited online documentation, literature and information to assist in our own education. Technology has revolutionized advertising for business, fundraising and nonprofit groups. Freelance artists, writers and workers are no longer chained to a 9to5 cubicle. These are all incredible advances.

      Still, at some point or another I believe it's normal to be a little sick of yourself. It's normal and healthy to delete the Facebook account or shut down the Tumblr. We like to think we are utilizing these social media resources to effectively communicate with our families and friends. But are we really saying anything valuable besides "look at me?"  Why do we need people we barely know and "friend ed" on a whim to validate us when true validation only comes from within?  Are we keeping in touch because we truly love and care about others or are we just feeding that hungry shark?

" Call it what you want. Just call it what you want..."

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."-

 William Shakespeare- Romeo and Juliet

“I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I've never been able to believe it. I don't believe a rose WOULD be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.”

― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables     

    After great anticipation across the globe we know it's a boy for Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. The birth was announced July 22, 2013 via a formal press release issued by Kensington Palace, which stated that the duchess "safely delivered  a son" at 4:24 p.m., local time, weighing 8 lbs., 6 oz. What we haven't heard (as of this writing ) is what the royal baby is going to be named.
     Our names are more than a bunch of letters thrown together to sound pleasant to the ear. Names are more than a convenience allowing us to talk to each other. Names are a gift or a curse from our parents and ancestors. They may define our history, culture or traits of our family heritage. Is your name Rainbow or River? Apple or Tennessee? Rumor or North? Why? Every name has a story. Our names come to define us. It will be  interesting to learn the royal baby moniker but in the mean time there is plenty of speculation among Americans about what the name should be. Some have suggested George William Spencer or George Phillip William Edward. Thankfully, we have no say in the matter. Here is a just a small creative sample provided, overheard and read on recent blogs.

"As an English baby, John Paul George Ringo would be appropriate."

"I'm going to say Mountbatten or Arthur.. Maybe Oscar, or Winston, Calvin or Collin..something modern and off the wall unique.  How about Bean? Wade maybe."   (Wade?)

"They should call him, Junior." (from our Southern friends.)

one sports fan offered,  "The royal baby name should be Spenser Beckham Alexander, Prince of Cambridge"

"I hope the royal couple doesn't choose something ordinary and assumed. It would be more exciting if they went with a Benjamin, Trent, Brooks, something of that nature. Still a nice name, just not so typical as the ones suggested. That way, the child can make a name for himself and feel like it is his own. " -Sarah   

"If they named their baby boy Frances, that would seriously be the coolest thing considering that's my name!! And I really love John for the boy, it's simple but very authoritative!"-Frank

"My money is on Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All....or Alfie."-CNN poster


"I hope this Future King has an ORIGINAL name. Another King George will be as boring as watching paint dry!-Haley


Playing Vegas Odds in the United Kingdom

Ladbrokes odds:

George — George has been the consistent frontrunner for the male heir with odds running around 12/1. There have been six King Georges reigning over England, including the present Queen's late father who was born Albert but chose to be named King George after his coronation.(atleast that would cover one Beatle) 5/1

James — The name has strong royal ties, with two English Kings and six Scottish Kings named James. Lil' Jimmy Jam, Jamie,  Slim Jim, Jim Bob  2/1

Charles — Prince William and Kate may want to pay tribute to Prince William's father, Prince Charles, in the form of a middle name. There have been two Kings of Britain named Charles, with the name deriving from the French word for "Manly". Baby Chuckie, Chuckmeister,  Chaz.  20/1

Harry — Another possibility is that Prince William will pay tribute to his brother, Harry, whose name is used as a nickname of Henry and Harold and means "home ruler". Popular with Harry Potter and Harry Styles fans. (Henry 5/1)

Philip — The royal baby's middle name could honor William's grandfather, Prince Philip, who recently celebrated his 92nd birthday in June. Odds for Philip are 10/1

Alexander — Alexander has been a popular choice, but the royal baby wouldn’t be the first Alexander Cambridge in the royal family. Major-General Alexander Augustus Frederick William Alfred George Cambridge was the 1st Earl of Athlone and husband to Princess Alice of Albany (a granddaughter of Queen Victoria). This is all so Game of Thrones.  10/1

Richard — William and Kate might opt for a traditional royal name, like Richard, for their firstborn child. Little Ricky. 16/1

Louis – The royal couple may choose Louis for their little boy’s name, honoring Prince Louis Alexander ( my father was a Louis Alexander too. King Louie, House of More Ruler of Children. Are we royal descendants? Ah..that's a big negative.) of Battenberg who married the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and was grandfather of the Duke of Edinburgh. 16/1

Arthur – This name would pay tribute to King Arthur, the legendary British leader who led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. A 21^st Century King Arthur  may be a possibility. And not Dudley Moore's or Russell Brand's Arthur who I bet you were thinking of....16/1

  

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries...."

“The indifference, callousness and contempt that so many people exhibit toward animals is evil first because it results in great suffering in animals, and second because it results in an incalculably great impoverishment of the human spirit.”-Albert Einstein

Sunday, July 21st is "No Pet Store Puppies Day" On this day the ASPCA highlights awareness of the serious issues of puppy mills and over breeding in the US.

Thousands of pet store owners in your own neighborhood  may have adorable designer puppies for sale. Many stores and online companies advertise they can supply their customers with any and all "popular breeds". Where do the puppies come from? Store owners will tell you that they don't get their puppies from puppy mills and say their puppies are all from (United States Department of Agriculture) "USDA licensed breeders."  What does that actually mean? If you investigate a little further you will discover many USDA licensed breeders are no consolation.

     The standards of "care" required by the USDA are disturbingly inadequate and not what most people- animal lover, advocate or not- would consider the least bit humane. According to the ASPCA, under this federal Animal Welfare Act, which is enforced by the USDA, dogs in commercial breeding facilities can legally be kept in cages a mere six inches longer than the dog in each direction. If you have difficulty picturing what this looks like go to the ASPCA website and you can view some appalling photographs recently taken at these "breeder" facilities. It's extremely hard for people to look at  photo's of animals being tortured and it damn well should be. If you have a conscience it should invoke feelings of sickness and disgust. There are other countries in the world that are much more brutal with dogs. Their treatment is  much more severe and citizens, law enforcement and activists are working together to stop the greedy vicious cycle of stealing, maiming, skinning alive and then selling dogs and puppies for food. We as Americans cannot allow this to happen in our country.  In the US right now dog cages in puppy mills and breeding facilities are stacked on top of one another as dogs live out their entire lives this way. They never step paws on the ground or the grass, breathe fresh air, receive veterinary care or even get cuddled or stroked by a human hand. Some breeding dogs will spend their lives outdoors exposed to the elements or crammed inside small dog house like structures. They are suffering in pain, hungry, there fur is matted and covered in urine and feces.
   Believe it or not, it's completely legal in the US to house dogs and pups in cages with wire flooring. The standards of care currently required are leaving disastrous loopholes for dogs to be severely mistreated.  Female breeding dogs have little or no rest and recovery time between bearing litters.  Even more unbearable is the fact that when, after a few years, the females can no longer reproduce or when that "popular breed" goes out of “style,” the dogs are often abandoned, shot or starved to death. Most of the female breeder dogs are only fours years old when put to death. As painful as this may sound,  please imagine your own pet. Imagine what it would be like for you to see your own dog or puppy suffer. You would never allow this to happen if you could prevent it, right?  You can. You can do more than you realize. Imagine that you do something to save just one animals life. Imagine if we all did something to help. Now stop imagining and  please, do it.

For more information please go to http://nopetstorepuppies.com/puppy-mills-are-cruel

“In our day, there are stresses and fractures of the human-animal bond, and some forces at work would sever it once and for all. They pull us in the wrong direction and away from the decent and honorable code that makes us care for creatures who are entirely at our mercy. Especially within the last two hundred years, we've come to apply an industrial mind-set to the use of animals, too often viewing them as if they were nothing but articles of commerce and the raw material of science, agriculture, and wildlife management. Here, as in other pursuits, human ingenuity has a way of outrunning human conscience, and some things we do only because we can--forgetting to ask whether we should.”

― Wayne Pacelle, The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them     

" energy creates energy....."

"Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you."-
Oprah Winfrey

We all want to begin each new day with intention and energy but it's normal and natural to have a morning when we just don't want to get out of bed. When the days we struggle seem to out number the days we rise with enthusiasm it's time to examine our own mental motivations. There are physical reasons we have difficulty with our energy levels as well. Here is a daily dose of energy boosting reminders often ignored or forgotten.

Water- Dehydration causes fatigue. We need that high quality H20 to survive. When we feel fatigued we are more likely to be unfocused and unhappy. One sure sign of dehydration is dark urine rather than a healthy pale. We need water to energize our cells and stay alert. Sipping six glasses of water or more a day will make a huge difference in how you feel.

Caffeine- Did you know the average American consumes 200 milligrams of caffeine per day ?Contrary to many studies low to moderate caffeine consumption is good for us. Caffeine gives you an extra dose of energy by helping your body fuel itself by stimulating lipolysis. Lipolysis is the breakdown of stored fats into fatty acids which can then be used by muscle and other tissues as energy. Most supplements marketed as energy boosters for athletes and those trying to lose weight are caffeine-like stimulants. You get the same effects from drinking coffee and it's probably safer. You should always consult a doctor before taking any supplement.

Go Outside and Play-  If you spend most of your work day indoors behind a desk it's imperative that you take a mini-outdoor nature break. Eat lunch outside or take fifteen minutes to soak up the sun while exploring your surroundings. Fresh air and oxygen is recharging physical energy and stimulating mental activity. Essential advice for cubicle monkeys every where is move, move, move. You don't have to spend hours and hours at the gym. Many of us have a daily exercise routine such as cycling or yoga but even if you don't a simple afternoon or evening stretch can boost your mood and energy levels enough to make a noticeable difference.

Music- There are few things in life not made sweeter by adding music. Did you know it actually energizes your body and mind? Music has the power to alleviate pain, soothe our souls, spark our memories and inspire our movements.  Music has the power to motivate us during a run or a work out or jump start  brainstorming ideas while sitting at our desk. So when you're feeling low and lethargic download your favorite band or movie soundtrack. Music is so deeply personal to us even tempo and beat will cause varying reactions in our body. Choose music that makes you move and feel good.

 Remember a temporary loss of energy can be associated with any of the sources mentioned above and more.  Most importantly, we sustain and renew our energy levels by focusing on our true passions.

"dreams were the first movies..."

“Certain things leave you in your life and certain things stay with you. And that's why we're all interested in movies- those ones that make you feel, you still think about. Because it gave you such an emotional response, it's actually part of your emotional make-up, in a way.”
― Tim Burton, Burton on Burton     

 

 My family loves movies. When we have a chance to be together during a holiday or a visit we usually plan a trip to the movie theater. Recently, my sister Laurie had the opportunity to take time away from her busy schedule to enjoy a film with her family. She agreed to answer a few questions about one of the hottest summer movies out right now, The Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger stars Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer with an appearance by Helena Bonham Carter. This particular 2013 version of the American western film is produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films and was directed by Gore Verbinski.

Me: What was your first impression of the movie?

   Laurie:   I couldn’t believe how well the make-up crew did in the opening scenes.

 Me: Did you ever watch the Lone Ranger TV show?

 Laurie:   I watched a few reruns when I heard the movie was coming out.  I’m much too young to

         remember the series. 

  Me: What did/ or didn't you like about the Lone Ranger?

   Laurie:   I didn’t realize the Lone Ranger was a wimpy character.

  Me: Did you go see The Lone Ranger movie just to watch Johnny Depp's performance?

    Laurie:  Of course,  I’m a Johnny fan.  Hadn't heard of Armie before but he was very good and I would  go see another one of his movies.

 ( side note; this means she thinks Armie is hot. She loves Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson too. Her husband is going to get upset with me if I reveal all of her movie star crushes so to be fair my celebrity film infatuation is the luscious lipped British actor Tom Hardy.)

  Me: What is your favorite Johnny Depp movie and why?

   Laurie:  I like the Pirate of the Caribbean series.  Just look at his eyes and his smile and you can tell why.  He was a very intelligent pirate. 

(first requisite for any pirate, eyes and smile)

  Me: Would you recommend seeing the Lone Ranger movie to everybody?

   Laurie:   I’m upset with a few comments that have been made about Johnny and the movie but I recommend  that teens and up see it.  Walt Disney had high standards and this movie is just another example of this  

 To read more regarding the controversy follow this link .http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/12/disney-tonto-offensive-lone-ranger-film_n_3263071.html

  Me: If you had directed this movie what would you have done differently?

  Laurie: I thought it was well done.  Didn’t like Cavendish’s character but the good guys always win.

  Me: Who is your favorite sibling? 

 Laurie: Trick questions I see.  Ron Piggy, no doubt!
 (Drat! She didn't fall for it. She was supposed to say me of course)

Speaking of "Ron". Happy 17th Wedding Anniversary to Dave and Krissy on the 13th! 

  Me: Who is your favorite actor of all time? 

  Laurie: That is a hard question.  I don’t think I could pick just one.  I know there are some actors who are good in whatever movie they are in.  I like comedy and romance mostly.  So different actors try different genres. 

  Me: What movie are you looking forward to seeing next?

   Laurie: I’m going to see Grown Ups 2 with Ron.

Me: Excellent. I would like to see Grown Ups 2 as well. We all need a little more arrow roulette in our lives. Thank you for the interview my beautiful sis! Hugs and kisses.
 Love you and sweet dreams!

What do your celebrity crushes reveal about you ? http://lkmore01.hubpages.com/_1ohrv6clpciqg/hub/How-Do-Celebrity-Crushes-Spice-Up-Your-Sex-Life

 

“The poetry of the earth is never dead.”

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

                                                                                                                                           

The definition of poaching is

 the illegal taking of wildlife, in violation of local, state, federal or international law. Activities that are considered poaching include killing an animal out of season, without a license, with a prohibited weapon, or in a prohibited manner. Killing a protected species, exceeding one's bag limit or killing an animal while trespassing are also considered to be poaching. Poaching is not the same as legal hunting by any means and it has existed throughout history.

        Opinions among experts vary as to who and what is at the root cause of wildlife loss. Poaching, whether for meat, harvesting the latest commodity, or labeled trophy hunting all impact the continued decline of  wildlife, especially the leopard, lion and rhino.  With great sadness this naturally leads to more animals and birds on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) endangered species list.

      Organized crime is considered to be at the very core of many problems. These are the same groups, gangs or individuals who are behind both drugs and human and weapons trafficking. Killing wildlife becomes just another way to make money. Leopards are being poached for their skins, rhinos for their horns and lions for their commodity of bones. Beautiful animals that are an essential part of a delicate system are simply slaughtered by human greed.

      The survival of  our wildlife species are not being considered at all and an animals right to life is being tragically ignored. Exploitation. Money. Ego. All of these factors are destroying the natural balance of our wildlife and we cannot continue to brush aside this issue. Looking at documentary films, talking to wildlife experts or reading about poaching is extremely difficult. Most of us have a really hard time watching or hearing about what is being done to these animals.  But if we want to prevent or change the circumstances we need to be brave. I know from personal experience that looking at these films and seeing what happens to these animals makes me sick enough to throw up. Thankfully, there are thousands of people in this world who have much more courage reporting and documenting what we understandably can't stomach or what we choose to ignore. Although we like to think we are all separate and everything happens "out there" or "over there" it affects all of us. We are all connected.

 Below is a link to a fascinating, disturbing and hopeful series called BRINK. Warning: Graphic Content http://www.weather.com/weather-films/shows/brink/ep01.html

  

"smiles everyone, smiles...."

"Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all that."-George Carlin

         Laughter and physical exercise may have a lot more in common than we think. Both can boost our health and immune system.  All of us have been advised of the numerous benefits of an active lifestyle, but did you know that laughter not only supports the immune system, improves blood pressure, stimulates the organs but it also reduces pain? Levels of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine tend to decrease during bouts of laughter. These hormones can suppress the immune system, opening the floodgates to a host of infections, illnesses and general poor health. One study found that laughter significantly helped reduce stress and improve immune function which is an indication that laughter may be an extremely beneficial addition to treatments for cancer patients.  

          Laughter has been discovered as a very complex physical process. There are several theories on how to classify what we find humorous. Just listen to one of thousands of comedians or watch your favorite variety show. (Right now I'm working on an article about the best sketch comedy shows for another forum)  Any extreme emotion can make us laugh, which is sometimes why we laugh in what are considered "socially inappropriate" moments (like funerals or at accidents). When we hear someone else laughing it also triggers laughter, so it really is contagious. There is a great deal of research that indicates laughter is healthy, boosting our immune system but if you feel like you're getting sick or you don't have any energy, stop worrying about going to the gym, you just need to find people with a good sense of humor. 

 Below is a clip from comedian Jim Gaffigan espousing the joys of birthday cake.  

"what we think, we become...."

“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.”
― Leonard Cohen

 One of the reasons I love having an online forum is the ability to share information about people and organizations that truly inspire. As some of you may know I was planning on participating in the Marine Corps Marathon this October in Washington DC. The choice was influenced by a personal goal, my admiration for a nonprofit called the Mission Continues and it was the impetus to engage in a physical fitness routine and stop smoking. (A swift kick in the ass so to speak). Three weeks after committing to the marathon, I quit smoking cigarettes for good after twenty years of holding on to an addiction that my family hated but most of my co workers never knew about. Currently, I'm running/walking/weightlifting/stretching five times per week and running 5k's. The choice to raise funds and awareness for Team Mission Continues was made in April. Monday will be the half way point on the timeline to Sunday, October 27th. Nearly fifty percent of my personal fundraising goal has been achieved. A sincere thank you goes out to those who have contributed. My former cigarette and snack food money goes toward my goal. All donations are applied to a philosophy of service much greater than ourselves.

 A few days ago I received an email inviting me to attend the NASDAQ opening bell ceremony in New York City as a Mission Continues team member. What? They are inviting me to be there? Are they serious? Is this a "real" invitation or am I being punked? After reading the invitation in amazement I felt a sense of honor and pride. How could my emotions and feelings possibly come close to the sense of achievement and determination the Mission Continues fellows and all those who have dedicated their lives to the Mission Continues feel?  Restoring meaning, and purpose, strengthening community and camaraderie is why the Mission Continues is so life altering for many veterans.

 On  Monday, July1st, 2013 at 9:30am The Mission Continues which is a national veterans' service organization that helps post-9/11 veterans transition from the military to leadership roles at home through community service, will visit the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square. In honor of the occasion, Gonzalo Duran, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Mission Continues Fellow will ring the Opening Bell. Although attending is not possible, I will be watching the live webcast:
 NASDAQ Opening Bell will be available at: http://www.nasdaq.com/about/marketsitetowervideo.asx.

Founded in 2007 by author, retired Navy SEAL and TIME 100 2013 honoree Eric Greitens, The Mission Continues has  currently assisted nearly seven hundred post-9/11 veterans use their varied skills, talents and energy to overcome challenges facing all of us right here at home in the US. Through a revolutionary model that provides for both veterans and the local community, a six-month service fellowship, veterans volunteer to help others and build new skills that create a meaningful civilian career. http://missioncontinues.org/#&slider1=2

The Mission Continues tagline is "It's not a charity, it's a challenge."  They are changing one life at a time and many of us are not even veterans.

"Happy Birthday? No such thing......"

"Well, birthdays are merely symbolic of how another year has gone by and how little we've grown. No matter how desperate we are that someday a better self will emerge, with each flicker of the candles on the cake, we know it's not to be; that for the rest of our sad, wretched pathetic lives, this is who we are to the bitter end. Inevitably irrevocably; happy birthday? No such thing."-Jerry Seinfeld Seinfeld episode, "The Visa"

 You were born  in 1973 and will be turning forty this year or this month or tomorrow. What exactly was going down in the world when you decided to grace us with your presence?
 The Watergate Hearings began in the United States Senate and President Richard Nixon told the nation , “I am not a crook.”
Chrysler and other US car makers closed a number of plants affecting 100,000 workers.
Gas was 40 cents a gallon and you could purchase a dozen eggs for forty-five cents. The average cost of a new house was $32,500.00 and the average American workers salary was $12,900.00.
    U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam and the United States involvement in the Vietnam War ended.
   Skylab, the United States' first space station, is launched.
Popular films include:
 The Exorcist,
 The Sting with Paul Newman  and Robert Redford
 Deliverance
  and American Graffiti directed by George Lucas featuring a very young Richard Dreyfuss and some kid named Ron Howard.

 Popular TV programs were The Partridge Family, The Price is Right, Columbo, The Odd Couple, the Waltons , M*A*S*H. and "School House Rock" made it's debut on ABC. (Check it out here) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-__GGvzmfXQ
 Popular music included  Sweden's ABBA, David Bowie, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, the Eagles, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones had one of many hits with "Angie". The number one album for most of 1973 was " The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd.
 June 26th, 1973 the London production of Grease premieres. It also happens to be the premiere date of my brother Steve.
 Superbowl VII Miami beats the Washington Redskins.  The Braves, Hank Aaron hits his 700th homerun.  George Foreman defeats Joe Frazier by a knockout in two rounds to take the world's Heavyweight championship. Believe it or not it's HBO Boxing's first telecast.
 Richard Petty wins the Daytona 500 in the #43 Plymouth for Petty Enterprises.

So what does the face of forty look like? Try Mario Lopez, Paul Walker, Heidi Klum, Brady Smith, Jason Kidd, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kate Beckinsale and Jim Parsons, American television actor best known as the character Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory.


Turning forty is not a big deal unless you make it a big deal. Honor it. Own it. Instead of  feeling intense regret over what "should a, could a, would a.. have been" or spending months in somber reflection get over your SELF. Be happy you are here to celebrate another day. Truthfully, if you think you're old at forty you are going to have a hell of shitfest time aging. And all of us are aging. So if you want to define all of your deepest human emotional experiences on this extraordinarily unique journey by a simple set of BS digits be my guest. But I wouldn't waste valuable time. You have family to love, things to do and see. Get on with it.  Happy Birthday! Love you!

"if the moon was made out of spare ribs would you eat it?"

 

 

Moon-Catchin' Net

 By Shel Silverstein

 

    I've made a moon-catchin' net,
And i'm goin' huntin 'tonight,
I'll run along swingin' it over my head,
And grab for that big ball of light

So tomorrow just look at the sky,
And if there's no moon you can bet
I've found what I sought and I Finally Caught
The moon-catchin' net.

But if the moons still shine in' there,
Look close underneath and you'll get
A clear look at me in the sky swingin'free
With a star in my moon-catchin' net.

    There is something intensely beautiful  and profound knowing that the ones you love may be standing on the earth marveling at the same night sky,  magnificent moon and dazzling stars wishing, " if  only you were here with me..." Here is your gift.. the unwrapped moon, bow tied splendor of a supermoon that shines like all the light in my heart. Look up. Look up. You are always loved.  

" eyes without a face..."

"It's not even enough to write what you know. You have to know interesting things. You have to put yourself into a world where you have experiences"- John Hodgman

                                                                                                                                                                            A   few years ago an unusual trend called planking was all the rage being captured on cell phone cameras and gaining notoriety in YouTube video clips.  Although planking has been around since 1994 the general public was now being made aware of its dangers due to a few unexpected and tragic accidents.

     Acton Beale, a 20-year-old man, plunged to his death after reportedly "planking" on a seventh-   floor balcony in Brisbane, Australia. Planking is also called the "The Lying Down Game"  which consists of lying face down in an obscure location with both hands touching the sides of the body. The term planking refers to mimicking a wooden plank. Yes, planking sounds a bit odd but not nearly as unbelievably strange as the new but probably now passe fad among Japanese pre-teens called "worming"

 or eyeball- licking.

     Apparently, this bizarre fetish is a display of affection equivalent to getting to second base with your crush. The Japanese media have reported the trend started a little over a year ago from a music video by the Japanese band Born, in which the lead singer gets his eyeball licked by a seductive woman. It's a damn good thing boy toys One Direction didn't initiate an armpit-licking craze featuring Harry Styles. Even a nostril lap up would be preferable and genuinely more healthy. It seems obvious that affectionately licking your loves eyeball might not be among the best ways to show you care, doctors have concluded the practice can spread viral conjunctivitis or "Pink Eye,"  Conjunctivitis is an itchy and highly contagious eye ailment feared by grade-school teachers and especially parents. It took awhile for adults and authority figures to catch up with the trend. "Honey, why is our son wearing an eye patch to school?"  By the time parents, adults and the media figure out what's "cool" the craze is cold. But that is the way of the world.

      Luckily, here in the States the trend hasn't appeared to have caught on. Our enterprising American youth spend so much time playing with their smart phones they have developed a phenomena  known as "sleep-texting" which all things considered is better than "sexting" or using snapchat.  Snapchat is a mobile photo-sharing app with one distinct feature compared to other ways people might share photos on their cellphones. Snapchat photos, once viewed, disappear from view, after a pre-set length of time. However,  as we all know phone or computer data never really disappears completely. So even photo's of freakish eyeball-licking can be recovered. Bad news for impulsive teenagers but great news for protective parents.

"don't make me turn this car around..."

“I never got along with my dad. Kids used to come up to me and say, “My dad can beat up your dad.” I’d say, “Yeah? When?” ~ Bill Hicks

Happy Father's Day! Here is a very entertaining video compiled from actual photo's shared by families for the website Awkward Family Photo's.com. Have a good laugh and enjoy your time together. It goes by in the blink of an eye.

"Drew, Drew Bo Boo, Banana Fanana Fo Foo..Fighter..."

" Happy birthday to Drew... you live in a zoo.."

Drew,
 Happy Birthday, my handsome sweet nephew. This is your monkey card (blog). The monkeys name is Uncle. The monkey, Uncle bought you a hat for your birthday. He got it on sale at Target. It was marked down to 99 cents. Uncle had saved part of the paycheck he earned playing cymbals while accompanying a singing street vendor. Uncle complains day and night, "Oh, my arms hurt." But really what are his alternative employment options? Now with the internets people aren't sending as many monkey cards by mail. They don't need monkey models any more. Everything is monkey air brushed and Photo shopped.  Anyway. Uncle loves your hat so much he won't give it back to me. We even took it to a mall kiosk and had it Bedazzled with" Drew Myshirtfits"   He has been asked politely over and over but he refuses to take it off. I had to chase him through a Kirklands, a Dollar Tree, Old Navy and finally Hot Topic before he set off an alarm running out an emergency exit. Imagine my embarrassment, being seen in a Hot Topic. After chasing him around and around in the parking lot for an hour there was no possible way to grab the hat, package, address it and ship UPS before the close of business so it would arrive on time for your 22nd birthday. Uncle said he is deeply regretful and wants to cheer you up by telling you a few of his favorite jokes.
 So there is a man in a movie theater who notices what looks like a monkey sitting next to him.
"Are you a monkey?" asked the man, surprised.
"Yes."
"What are you doing at the movies?"
The monkey replied, "Well, I liked the book."
Okay, so you don't seem satisfied? You act like a monkey tells you jokes every day. You, Millennial's and your laissez faire attitudes.  I suppose if he had texted you a joke you would be more impressed. Okay, how about this one?

    A policeman in the big city stops a man in a car with a monkey in the front seat.
"What are you doing with that monkey?" He exclaimed, "You should take it to the zoo."
The following week, the same policeman sees the same man with the monkey again in the front seat, with both of them wearing sunglasses. The policeman pulls him over.
"I thought you were going to take that monkey to the zoo!"
The man replied, "I did. We had such a good time we are going to the beach this weekend!"

 So I hope this blog will suffice for now. I miss seeing your adorable face and hope you have a wonderful celebration. Give your Mom, Dad and Bri a hug from me. It really was a beautiful hat.  Happy Birthday!! Love you. Auntie, Lisa

"Ready, steady, go..."

"Sergeant Hulka: Soldier, I've noticed that you're always last.
John Winger: I'm pacing myself, Sergeant." -Stripes

      People with a fierce competitive drive appear to have an extra edge in life. They seem to possess that elusive inner spark or divine force propelling them to win.  It's an admirable trait I lack. My non competitive spirit is made even more apparent as I watch highly motivated runners sprint right past me during a race.
      When I worked in customer service, management teams tried to create competition between consultants with smack talk. "Hey, Lisa. Rey said he helps more customers in thirty minutes than you can in eight hours. More calls, more customers, more money." "Oh, that's awesome. Tell him I  said congratulations on his success and don't forget, Friday is Hawaiian Shirt Day" This slightly sarcastic compliment would inevitably frustrate managers who were trying to analyze  your psychological weaknesses. They wanted to discover your motivations so they could break you down, remold your psyche, transform you into the ambitious goal oriented associate that made them appear more successful. Being non competitive can be frustrating  for others. "Increase sales or you may be looking for a new job" is a phrase that has "inspired" few.  When we evaluate our own motives and look deep inside we know what allows us to be successful. The  majority are motivated by money, others fame, power or competition. This is the fuel which drives business and industry across the globe, the movers and the shakers. We are all driven to pursue our passions. We are driven to pursue our own passions.
      My motivation for participating in this mornings  5k race was to pet dogs. Honestly, it was to raise money for spaying and neutering programs, a park and it featured a canine expo. My registration number should have inspired me to "go fast" since it was "88" or Dale Earnhardt Juniors National Guard Chevrolet race car number. But the Run, Walk and Wag 5k was over flowing with many pleasurable sensory distractions.  Besides creating awareness for spaying and neutering the race also raised funds for a beautiful park with a gorgeous cross country trail.  However, after several days of rain in our area the course was rather slick and muddy. Hiking up my dirt splattered running sweats I splashed in pools of murky rain water. As a kid that is a major treat but somehow loses its appeal as an adult with a time limit. At one point I had to laugh at myself for tip toeing through the treacherous terrain like a spoiled prancing princess. Where was my chivalrous prince charming to lay down his royal cloak so a fair maiden could cross the puddle? All the focused runners were trampling unfazed through the cool morning air of forest foliage. The pack began to stride ahead of me as I struggled not to lose balance or fall in the mud. Soon all the runners were lost in the distance out of sight.
     Alone with my ipod charged I was listening to Foster the People's "Call It What You Want" happily half jogging, half dancing along a slick slippery trail. Was that a snake? Are there bears in this area? What if someone jumps out at me from behind a tree like a Ninja? Where is the water stand? Surely, it's been more than four miles by now. Maybe I should buy a watch. What a fabulous view and no camera!. What if a tick attaches to my ankle and I get Lyme disease? Look at that gorgeous Golden Retriever, how can I not stop and pet him? Where is the finish line? Oh look, a Labrador! Let me pet you too. Maybe I should stop at the restroom. Hello, may I pet your dog? Hey, that guy is hot! Finish line.
 This was not my best race record time. It was a really fun, enjoyable way to spend little over an hour and raise money and awareness for a great cause I believe in. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves our journey is always more important than our destination. 


.

..."great dog or THE greatest dog ?..."

"All dogs are Zen Masters. They teach us awareness. They teach us the only moment is now."

        Life Lessons from My Little Buddha was a tribute article I wrote to my dog Maddie (or unofficially Maddie Mooshie Diamond Lotus Buddha). Maddie passed away from an inherited blood disease one year ago this month. She was just shy of her twelfth birthday. Although I love dogs and  consider my self an animal advocate , I have yet to completely mourn the loss of my "Little Buddha". When the time is right I will  be able to adopt another dog. There is an affinity I have with the cocker spaniel breed. In my experience most cockers are happy, goofy, soft, snuggly and sweet little cuddle bunnies. Cockers always want to be by your side. They shadow you from room to room, swirling at your feet like the great train of a wedding dress. A spaniels gentle expression and large soulful eyes melt my heart. I love all dogs and even have a habit of saying it aloud. My sister-in-law's pup, Parker  is told daily and my sister Laurie's dog, Dash  gets a "hello" over the phone. An " I love you, Dog" goes out to strangers pets being walked down the street or those seen playfully romping in the park. Yes, I adore children and love a multitude of human beings(faults and all) but there is something about dogs that bring out all the"feels" in me. 

 Below is a link to the complete tribute article.

Be in the Moment

http://lkmore01.hubpages.com/hub/What-My-Little-Buddha-Taught-Me

"Chuck E. Cheese for my birthday, Chuck E., Chuck E. Cheese for my birthday..."

“Last week the candle factory burned down. Everyone just stood around and sang Happy Birthday.”- Steven Wright

 

   
          According to a public record births database there tends to be more births in the months of September and October. There may be a correlation between holiday seasons nine months before. Couples are snuggling up and getting busy on the longest nights of the year in the Northern Hemisphere nine months prior. A Harvard University research study showed September 16 to be the most common birthday at one point in the United States. December 25 is the least common birthday. Now October 5 and 6 are the most frequently occurring birthdays. However, in my family June is the most popular birthday month. My sister, brother, his wife and my nephew will celebrate birthdays in the month of June.
     A symbol that is closely tied to a birthday celebration is the custom of putting candles on your birthday cake. How did this tradition start? The Greek people who took their cakes to Artemis placed candles on the cake because it made the cake look as if it was glowing like the moon. "Hey, if the moon was made out of birthday cake would you eat it? "The German people were known as excellent candle makers and started to make small candles for their birthday cakes. Some people say that the candles were put on cakes for religious reasons. In some countries of the world they place a big candle in the center of the cake to symbolize the "light of life". Others believed that the smoke from fires would take their wishes up to heaven. Today many people make silent wishes as they blow out their candles. They believe that blowing out all the candles in one breath will bring good luck. Our family has an uncommon tradition of finding unique birthday cards featuring monkeys. We are not sure how this started but believe it originated with my brother, Steve. The tradition of sending birthday cards began in England over one hundred years ago but I doubt they featured lovable chimpanzees' in pink fairy godmother tutu's waving a magic wand to grant your birthday wish. With any "luck" people will forget it's your birthday as you get older or at best remember Robert Frost's sage advice, “A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age.”   Then there are those who believe in joyously celebrating each year on earth. How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were? It's not age or maturity we are celebrating but a love of life and an appreciation of acquired wisdom.
Happy Birthday,to my sis.. Love you!

 

"happiness is a warm puppy..."

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.”
― Milan Kundera

      The more I thought about it the more I realized the following statement rings true, if you don't like dogs I won't trust you. Period. You may be a fantastic person worthy of like status but I won't LOVE you or fall in love with you. Sorry. There are some relationship deal breakers you don't compromise. Luckily, there are millions of animal lovers in this world and even thousands more closer to home. On Saturday, June 8th 
 you can join me, a few of my family members and many beloved animal enthusiasts to benefit the Northern Virginia Spay Neuter Clinic and The Philip Bolen Memorial Park for the 2nd annual Run, Walk & Wag 5k run and pet expo. You can run the 5k on the USATF Certified cross country course or walk in the dog and family friendly 1 Mile Fun Run. You and your canine companion can even participate in one of the dog contests. The 5k will be a professionally timed race with awards for winners. Most importantly your registration fee and participation is applied to much needed spaying and neutering programs in Northern Virginia.
Check out the website link below for more event information:
http://northernvirginiaspayneuterclinic.org/EVENTS.html


  Here are a few more educational facts about spaying and neutering.

 Spaying and neutering allows us to help fight pet overpopulation.

Every single year, millions and millions of innocent cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized or suffer tremendously as strays. The high number is the direct result of unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering. If you are a pet owner there is no excuse not to get your dog or cat spayed or neutered. Be responsible.

 Don't be selfish and uncaring. Your pet doesn't need to have a litter of puppies or kittens for your children to learn about the "miracle of birth."

Allowing your pets to produce offspring when you have absolutely no intention of caring or keeping them is inexcusable, irresponsible and just plain selfish on the part of human beings.  Do you want to teach your children a good lesson about being a responsible  parent? Don't allow millions of  unwanted animals to end up in shelters or continue to be euthanized There are hundreds of books and videos available to teach your children about birth in a more reasonable way.

Spaying and neutering  is good for an entire community.

Stray animals pose a real problem in many parts of the US. Stray dogs can prey on wildlife, cause car accidents, and frighten or attack children and adults. Spaying and neutering is the most powerful way to reduce the number of animals roaming the streets.

 Think of your pets life and health.

Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, which is fatal in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your female pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases. Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering your male dog or cat prevents testicular cancer, if done before six months of age. If you really loved your pet you would do what's best for their health and for the continuation of their long happy life with you! If you are not concerned with the well being and happiness of your dog or cat then you must seriously consider why you own  a pet at all. For even more great information about spaying and neutering programs in your area visit the ASPCA website. http://www.aspca.org/

"the memory shall be ours..."

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”-Joseph Campbell

      It is easy for many civilians to forget that American troops are still deployed overseas in  places like Afghanistan for up to twelve to eighteen months at a time. They leave behind  friends, families and loved ones while putting their lives at risk to continue to protect our freedom.

Memorial Day was first enacted in memory of the soldiers who fought in the American Civil War but later, Memorial Day was expanded to commemorate the soldiers who fought in all American wars, including the World Wars.

 Many civilians are also unaware that active soldiers, veterans and their families are in need of long term additional support. This is where many non-profit organizations pick up where sadly our government has left off. These reputable hard working non-profit organizations assist all of us in giving back to our troops and their families who have sacrificed so much.

 Monday, May 27th, my sister-in-law and I, as well as thousands of grateful supporters will be participating in the Memorial Day "Ringing in Hope  Salute to Our Troops"  5k and 10k run/walk. Below is a list of the organizations the run will benefit.

Fisher House provides a "home away from home" for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.

Operation Gratitude seeks to lift morale in the Military Community by sending care packages addressed to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed overseas, to their children left behind, and to Veterans, First Responders, Wounded Warriors and their Care Givers. Operation Gratitude Care Packages contain food, hygiene products, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support.

Wounded Warrior Project provides programs and services to severely injured service members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life.

This run/walk and other 5K-10K runs in the next few months will also help me prepare for the 26K Marine Corps  Marathon in October as a proud member of Team Mission Continues.

Most people spend precious time with loved ones on Memorial Day traveling, cooking or enjoying a day off from work but we must also take time to reflect on what Memorial Day truly means.  Remember those who gave their lives in service for a cause much larger than themselves.