Michael

Giant Tree in Humboldt State Park

If you tell a joke in the forest, but nobody laughs, was it a joke? – Stephen Wright

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness. – John Muir

I’m currently traveling with my daughter and her boyfriend on Hwy. 101 in California or more aptly named “The Redwood Highway.” We came here to walk amongst some of the tallest trees in the world based in a habitat that goes back millions of years.

The day was sunny and quite warm. The humidity level was also high. We were expecting cooler temperatures. So, the air was thick walking under the canopy.

There is something that happens to you when you walk among trees that are hundreds if not a thousand or so years old. A connection takes place and you become part of something greater, something beautiful, something pure.

The tree shown in the photo is called “Giant Tree.” It rises to a height of 363 feet which is taller than a football (American) field is long. The first branches don’t start until 200 feet up. Wow!

Ferns in Founder's Grove

Walking in a old growth redwood forest is a humbling experience in many ways. The trees make everything seem small. They have been standing in one place for hundreds of years. There are very few if any birds because of the lack of insects. This makes these forests very quiet to walk through. It can be quite surreal.

We had several other adventures along the way to Arcata, California. It was quite a therapeutic day both emotionally and spiritually.

Plus, I’m getting to spend some time with my daughter, which makes the trip even more special.

I can’t wait to see what we discover tomorrow.

Have a great day!

Michael

Lead Guitar Player

Since I’ve been off from work since the August 15th, I needed a relaxing evening to unwind.

So, I drove down to Newport, RI this afternoon to meet Erica for the “Thursday on Thames” evening. This is a fun packed evening with a variety of free music, food and discounts in many retail stores. The Lower Thames Business Association puts on this event for several Thursdays in a row during the summer.

I particularly liked the band called The Buddy Roach Trio. The guitar player was very good and I liked their generally fast paced jazz music. There were three other bands down the street all playing different types of music. It was a lot of fun to check out each venue. Plus we got to taste some good food as we moved along the street.

The Rest of the Band

The streets were filled with a decent number of people. I always enjoying going to these kinds of events. They help take the mind off the normal day to day activities and help to get to a happier place.

I especially like the local events of cities and towns. There usually is a much more intimate feel to them and the people seem to be a bit closer.

A real bonus was that the weather was almost perfect. Partly cloudy, cool air, low humidity and a lovely sunset. You can’t go wrong there.

Michael

The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Clouds and steady rain greeted us this morning. The air was close to being chilly. All of our plans for the day were going to need changing.

Were we disappointed? Not really. A slight change of attitude was all that was required. It’s easy to get angry or frustrated with the weather, but I’ve found just adapting to the situation is not near as emotionally draining.

We ate a lot, played card games, watched movies, read, took naps, played with Tony the beagle, watched the clouds constantly rolling by, talked, visited some friends and ate homemade ice cream.

The day seemed to go by really fast and it was a lot of fun. It was relaxing and apparently just what everyone needed.

Sometimes if you can let go of the plans you have, life will jump in and give you exactly what you need.

Michael

If you aren’t playing well, the game isn’t as much fun. When that happens I tell myself just to go out and play as I did when I was a kid. – Thomas J. Watson, Sr.

Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play. – Heraclitus

There is work that is work and there is play that is play; there is play that is work and work that is play. And in only one of these lies happiness. – Gelett Burgess

Today was a play day. No work unless it was working at playing. No playing unless it had nothing to do with work. Erica and I just went through the day and did what we felt like when we felt like it. No agenda really; just following our impulses. The only thing we really had planned was to go to a movie. Everything else was impromptu.

It’s important to have days like this. Your mind begins to unwind and your body relaxes. Most of us see ourselves as what we do; work, relationship, a particular role and etc. When you stop and play every now and then, you begin to see yourself as something more. You start to connect more with you really are.

It’s important to give yourself these moments in time. When you pay yourself with days of play, the return on investment is priceless. It’s a great strategy for happiness.

Erica and I found it funny that time seemed to fly by today. It’s because we were focusing on the present moment. I think we’ll do more of that on Sunday.

Have a great day!

Michael

I play a game called Geocaching. I’ve been playing since February 2004. Last year I didn’t really play the game that much. Supercomputers in the Rockies are working on figuring out the reasons why.

It combines several things that I love to do; explore, travel, technology, figuring out puzzles, hike, walk, photography and just getting out in nature. I’ve been working on getting back into shape so I’ve been doing a lot of walking and hiking over the past two weeks.

Geocaching is helping me to fuel that goal. I’ve redirected by mind so that it focuses on finding the geocaches and it doesn’t notice that I walk many miles in the search. This plan works for me.

For over a year I’ve been really close to finding a career total of 900 geocaches. I made a goal just a few weeks ago to reach 900 by the end of May. Today I finally made it.

Some might say it’s a small goal, a silly goal. I disagree. No goal is really silly. If it is something you want, then it’s important. Plus I’ve lost 3 pounds since I started the intense walking/hiking again. Not bad for a silly goal.

Michael

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. – Ben Williams

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. – Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912

We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. – George Eliot

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. – Gilda Radner

Flo talked about her basset hounds in Basset Babies and Homer Update. It made me think of our (my daughter) beagle Allie. She had surgery last week for something turned out to be benign. But, you think about them during these times just like they are friends. And really, they are. Simply as that.

One of the many reasons I love dogs is that they are the perfect examples of how to live with unconditional love. They know no other way. Dogs possess the amazing ability to make almost anyone smile and feel better about themselves. Some people resist but most succumb and feel better.

I can think of many times when Duncan, our golden retriever, or Allie have lifted my spirits just by being themselves. They seem to have an uncanny ability to know when people are feeling low. At that point, the dog will insert themselves into the situation and make sure you are feeling better in short order.

Thank God for dogs. And if you’re not a dog lover, no worries. There are many other pets that can give you similar feelings.

If we could learn to have just a fraction of their unconditional love, the world would immediately be a better place to be. Why wait? No time like the present to make a positive change like that.

Have a great day!

Michael

Cats regard people as warmblooded furniture. – Jacquelyn Mitchard

I took care of Erica’s three cats this weekend which means feeding them twice day, cleaning out their litter box and playing with them. Each one is quite unique and has a definite personality. I really enjoy playing with them. My favorite game is to use a laser pointer. They, especially the young one Lily, go absolutely bonkers trying to chase the red light all over the room. It gives me loads of fun and I laugh almost constantly.

It’s a wonderful way to keep your mind in a positive place. In fact, pets are great in this regard. Their interaction can give a boost to someone who is down or needs some unconditional love. Just petting cats and dogs can cause relaxation and happy feelings. I’ve heard of dogs helping out in hospitals to boost the spirit of people dealing with serious illnesses.

Pets and children can really help to bring us back to a state of curiosity, wonder and fun. If you want to break out of your “adult” rut, then find a dog, cat, or child you can play with for a little while. You’ll feel much better afterwards.

Have a great day!

Michael

After a nice dinner of sushi, I went with my daughter and her boyfriend to a climbing gym. I had always wanted to climb a rock wall. I put on my harness and after a brief training session by both of them, we were ready.

My daughter is good and her boyfriend is really good. This sport requires strength, agility, intelligence, patience and trust. I have a least two of the five qualities. Well, maybe I have three.

I don’t have a fear of heights. But I definitely don’t like the idea of falling down from a high place as I don’t like the sound of bones breaking. It’s just not my cup of tea. But, enough of that.

One person is the climber and the other person is the belayer, i.e. the one who will stop you from falling if you miss a hold. This is where the trust part comes in. I watched both my daughter and boyfriend climb first. My turn came very quickly as Pat seemed to climb to the top in about a minute.

I took my time and followed the expert advice I was given and made it to the top on my first climb. Pat was guiding me by climbing right next to me. The wall was about 30 feet high and I have to say that the hardest part was letting go of the holds, sitting down in my harness and allowing the belayer (my daughter) lower me to the ground.

I did one more climb after that with only ground guidance this time. It was a little bit harder, but I made it to the top. I found this one to be a little scary because the wall jutted out a few inches. A few inches that high up seems amplified. A few deep breaths helped me work through it.

Another item checked off my list of things to do. It’s been a great trip so far. Each activity I do like this increases my self-image. It’s a great feeling.

Have a great day! Oh by the way, go climb a wall. It’s a lot of fun. I’ll be doing it again real soon.

Michael

I wish you and your family a very happy holiday.

My day was full of:

Great food.

Nephews, nieces, sister, parents, grandmother, aunts, uncles and girlfriend.

Games, laughter, movies, laughter, star gazing, laughter, more games, laughter, more food, laughter and dessert.

I’m exhausted with a big smile on my face.

I send my daughter a big hug. She may not be here physically this time, but she is always in my heart.

Hope your day was fantastic!

Michael

I was awakened this morning by a soft “Are you awake?” My body was saying no, but my mouth said yes. Erica was awake and couldn’t go back to sleep. It was important to give my support in her moment of insomnia.

She had fallen asleep around 8:30 p.m. and I had fallen asleep at 11:30 p.m. Given that, I would have expected myself to be quite tired and groggy. Surprisingly I was wide awake in moments. I think she was surprised also.

Normally, Erica watches television or reads a little to help her return to unconsciousness. But, tonight we were away from her house and staying at my parents. Her normal methods were not available. Knowing that, I chatted (quite coherently I might add) for over 30 minutes until she was sleepy again.

I enjoy these moments of intimate conversation. They are important for growth in relationships and help to increase the bonds of intimacy. Plus I was able to be the first to tell her Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday Erica! I hope this day was as special as you.

Michael