At first they looked like white birds skimming across the ocean surface before diving into the restless water. But we were in mid-Atlantic, far from shore, sailing on an ultra-luxury cruise ship from Barbados to Cape Verde, off the coast of West Africa.
Archives for June 2012
In Search of My Past
I spent seven years in the U.S. Army and traveled extensively; three years in Berlin (prior to the Berlin Wall falling) and four years in Wiesbaden, Germany. On a recent trip to Frankfurt, Germany, I decided to take a Sunday road trip to Wiesbaden to see what itwas like almost 30 years later. The first […]
My Sister’s Mother
My sister is dying. Of course we are all dying, but she is withering in the advanced stages of Huntington’s disease. We have not been close, my sister and me; ten and a half years and different mothers separate us. She was beautiful, and ebullient, and loved life; many years ago.
Off-Road Paradise: 5 Trails You Must Try Once in Your Life
North America is the ATV rider’s paradise. With miles and miles of trails all over the territory and an incredible variety of landscapes, picking up the best trails of the continent is almost impossible. But a few places are worth mentioning and should attract attention more than others. Here’s a top 5 trails every ATV rider must try at least once in their life.
To Be Or Not To Be? – That’s A Stupid Question
Human beings are obsessed with two things – Life and Death. After all, what else do we truly have? The death part is a consideration that varies widely, depending on what your beliefs are – for some, death is the reward for living. And for others, death is the tragic end they either refuse to acknowledge or dread with a daily fear.
Minute to Freedom #37: Owning My Talents
Today let’s talk about owning your talents. Have you ever felt like you can’t appreciate your talents the way you could for someone else?
Crossing The Line
I hear that a teacher in Alberta is going to get fired because he gave out zeros to students when they didn’t even bother to submit assignments. Is the prospect of getting a zero mark for zero effort truly so terrible that a young person’s dignity will be destroyed? Or perhaps, is the lesson instead being taught that there are no consequences for laziness?
Say Something!
I hate this. This silent thing where feelings are hurt, egos bruised, where we (I) retreat to our corners and silently live separate lives under the same roof. Marriage sucks today. It was better last week. It will probably be better next week, but today I am not amused.
Dogs, Science, This, and That
It’s fun to explore things in depth and see where they come from, where they go, and even if we can be better or smarter about them. I tend to be scientific in my approach to most things. I like to break them down, see how they work, and be able to put them back together again. But I recognize that not everyone shares my systematic approach to dogs and dog training. So why is “science” considered a bad thing by so many dog trainers? Just a thing that makes me go “hmmm” I guess.
Last Hours In The Tower
So this is what it is like – to know that this is one’s last day on earth. A strange quiet fills me. I want now that the deed be over with.