Memorial Day

Please remember those who have fallen today on Memorial Day.  MIAs and POWs will never be forgotten.

Happy April Fool's Day

I just wanted to wish everyone a...

Happy (and safe) April Fool's Day!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

I just wanted to wish everyone a...

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Deep Thoughts and Nuggets Of Wisdom

"Deep Thoughts" & "Nuggets Of Wisdom"
Some of these quotes are original, some are not, and some are both, but none are neither... ;-)

• A good example is the best sermon, and a pint of example is worth a gallon of advice. You must first follow a good example before you can lead one, and sometimes the best advice you can give is to not give any.
• Always remember Murphy's Law... "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." Try to view "a stroke of bad luck" more as "difficult lessons well learned", whenever possible. A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor, and if the going gets easy, you may be going downhill.
• Although multitasking is a wonderful talent few people have truly mastered, focusing your attention on each individual, sequencial task tend to lead to slower but better results. Be careful of biting off more than you can chew.
• Beggars can't be choosers. So if you are picky, it is best to work for what you want instead of asking for it. Appreciate all acts of kindness and gifts of generosity, since the giver had to work for what was given to you.
• Experience and knowledge are learned from making mistakes, whereas foresight and wisdom are gained from not repeating the same mistakes again. Since hindsight is always 20/20, hopefully your foresight should improve as well.
• Having a sharp tongue can cut your own throat. He who throws mud loses ground, so nobody raises his own reputation by lowering others. Treat others as you would like to be treated. In other words, "PLAY NICE!!!" Too many of us speak twice before we think, and putting your foot in your mouth leaves a bad taste. ;-)
• He who laughs last didn't get the joke. If anything, at least laugh at yourself. :-P~
• Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. This is being "realistic" and NOT a pessimist. Always be thoroughly prepared, and leave as little to chance as possible. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Caution is not cowardly; Carelessness is not courage.
• Ideas won't work unless you do. Inspiration -> Motivation -> Preparation -> Activation -> Perspiration -> Innovation (rinse and repeat) :-)
• It is not the load that breaks you down, but it is the way you carry it, and the happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts. So if you can laugh at it, then you can live with it.
• Jumping to conclusions can be bad exercise. Assume nothing. Assumptions tend to lead to disappointments and failures, whereas thorough analyzation and careful considerations tend to lead to satisfaction and success. There is nothing "anal" about being analytical. :-)
• Knowledge is power, and knowing is half the battle. G.I. Joe! LOL :-)
• No man knows less than the man who knows it all. Destructive criticism usually come from those who only '''THINK''' they can do it better, whereas constructive criticism usually come from those who are experienced and wise. It is much easier to be critical than to be correct.
• One who lacks courage to start has already finished. A quitter never wins, and a winner never quits. Failure is the path of least persistence, and people fail when they give-up. Change direction if you keep achieving the same undesirable results.
• Only when you take full responsibility of your own actions do you realize you have full control of your own destiny. Much of life is more-or-less "controlled chaos", and what you make of it determines its course.
• Seek joy in what you give and not in what you get. The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.
• Sometimes you need "a second pair of eyes" to find what you are looking for. Don't be afraid or too prideful to ask for help occasionally.
• The difference between ignorance and stupidity is the willingness to learn and understand. The difference between intelligence and wisdom is how the knowledge is applied and practiced.
• "Well done!" is better than "Well said!" However, actions may speak louder than words, but direction and forethought help actions speak more clearly; so think before you act or speak.
• When looking for faults, use a mirror instead of a telescope. The greatest of all faults is to imagine you have none. It is no crime not to be perfect.
• Work smarter, not harder. Keep well organized, and plan well ahead.
• You can polish a turd all you like, but in the end, it is still a well polished turd. LMAO 8-O

Many quotes are from "The Road To Success Is Always Under Construction" - Author Unknown

Wikipedia's List Of Virtues
Funny "Words To Live By" (PG-13: WARNING - Contains some offensive language!)

Friendship

I have learned a lot about friendship during the last week or so. Candice has taught me a lot, along with the dear friends and family that was there for me, to help keep me from going crazy, keep me "level-headed", and help me stay rational and to make rational decisions along the way. I can't even begin to thank my sis, Renee, my dear friend, Jen, even my Dad, and several other people listening to me, and for even giving me brutal honesty when I needed it the most. I also want to thank Mike and my wife's other friends she's met online for being there for Candice when she felt like she didn't have anyone she could confide in. Thank you for believing in me and Candice. I can only hope that I can return the same friendship, kindness, compassion, concern, and honesty as everyone mentioned has shown us.

While I'm on the topic of friendship, I couldn't even begin to try to describe why I even started thinking about this. Everyone knows that we all have different "degrees" of friendship we share with different people. And when you're going through really hard times, you find out quickly who's truly your friends. And I'm not just talking about people you can hang-out with and have fun. If that were the case, everyone on planet earth would be my friend! lol But the real friends, the ones that not only try to offer the best advice they can, but listen and really try to understand all of your thoughts and emotions as you describe the hardship you're having to endure. These are the friends that you hold very dear to your heart, and only hope that your spouce can share the same special bond with them as you do.

I've also learned that two people who are in a romantic relationship who really care and love each other may often confide in friends who doesn't associate with the other person in the relationship. And I'm cool with that now. Although Candice likes and gets along with all of my dearest friends very well, sometimes, she feels like talking to someone else "outside our little box" who's not strongly associated with me, and I understand why now. A very smart and wise dear friend of mine, Jen, has told Candice that she could talk to her about anything, but she already knew that Candice couldn't tell her EVERYTHING just because if it was about something that could drastically change mine and Candice's marriage and relationship, she would have a difficult time not telling me, since Jen and I have been friends long before I even met Candice. Also, it's very difficult not to judge or jump to conclusions in fear of someone getting hurt, especially when best friends are concerned. So, I definitely don't expect for Candice to make my best friends her best friends.

But, how close should someone become friends with their spouces best friends? Where do you draw the line before the point of where someone no longer feels they can talk to one of their best friends because of their spouce is now best friends with them as well? Should people attempt to become close friends with their spouce's best friends, or back away so their spouce can have someone just for them to talk to without worrying about any intereferences or judgements when problems arise? I just thought these were interesting questions to throw out there.

Now, let's take this to an even deeper and more serious level... what if your spouce has felt betrayed by one of your best friends by words said in confidentiality, or felt that that when they tried to have a serious talk with them about problems in their relationship, the best friend of their spouce turned their back on them? What do you do then? I suppose that all anyone can do is hope that eventually that your spouce and your best friend can work things out, since they share someone very important and special to them in both of their lives. Anyone has any thoughts?