This is the time of year when we all should be reveling in the spirit of the season. Our hearts should be filled with the joy that we felt when we were children. Believe me, I want to feel it. I want my heart to be lifted by the true meaning of the Christmas season. But it’s not there. Not yet. But, why not?

Maybe it is the fact that we are bombarded on a daily basis with a litany of commercials, advertisements, and holiday sales. Every imaginable electronic gadget including the iPhone, iPad, iPod, Droid, Nook, Kindle, Netbook, Garmin, xBox, GameBoy and on and on are being touted as items that will change our lives. Kids are asking for these items which cost hundreds of dollars at a pop. And parents are obliging. My daughter is even worried that the Nook and the Kindle will replace the “book”. What a travesty that would be. Kids are getting smart phones with texting plans at a young age. If you are giving a child at such a young age a smart phone then what do you expect them to ask for at Christmas time?

No, this isn’t going to be one of those “When I was a kid everything was great” posts but I think it helps to put things in perspective. I remember Christmas as a magical time of year and I don’t think it was necessarily because of all the presents. Of course this was a factor. Standing in line with my brothers at the top of the stairs on Christmas morning before we all headed downstairs to see our bounty under the tree was certainly part of the magic. But maybe it was just a different time. For me, getting together with family was the magical part. Of course the snow and the weather added to the spirit of the season. We would always head into Boston around Christmas to see the Christmas lights on the Common and to experience an animated Santa’s workshop called the “Enchanted Village”. People tended to be nicer around this time of year and everyone seemed to be in a festive mood.

But then again, maybe I was just seeing the season through a kid’s eyes. A kid who was sure he saw Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve in the dark distance bounding through the starlit sky. There I was, sleeping on one of the three beds in a room that is barely big enough for one bed. I woke up and looked out into the clear Christmas Eve sky and saw what appeared to be a sleigh streaking across the sky. Maybe it was a dream. Maybe it wasn’t. To this day, I think back to that night. The wonder and anticipation of Christmas filled me and the proverbial “visions of sugar plums danced in my head“.

To this day, I try to rekindle the innocent feelings of my childhood. And it’s not only during the holidays, but every day. Sometimes we can get caught up in the drudgery of everyday life. Our time is limited. Our bills are numerous. Our lives are hectic. But recognizing this and trying to address this in our lives is a positive step that we can take.

This year, consider giving of yourself. If you are talented enough, make something for the loved ones in your life. Even if it’s simply a compiled album of pictures that you have taken throughout the year, this is the type of gift which will make a lasting impression. Don’t be sucked in by the marketers. The Christmas season is not about how much money you spend but more about the love you give. Help out a local charity. Volunteer some of your time at the local soup kitchen. Give of yourself and you will feel blessed.

If you have children in college and they are coming home for the holidays, spend time with them. Enjoy the time that you have together because in a few years they will be gone with families of their own. Make the time together special because these are the lasting memories that your children will have when they are your age.

Make some memories that will last a lifetime and maybe, just maybe, that spirit of Christmas that you knew when you were young will start to well up in your heart.

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OK, it’s that time of year again and the masses tend to spew the party line about being thankful or giving thanks. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not negative about people professing their gratitude for what they have in their lives. But, down deep, are you truly grateful and thankful?

To many, Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday. I for one, fall into this category. Thanksgiving is a time when we get together with family and friends without having to worry about for whom you didn’t buy a present. We can sit down to a great meal which tends to center around one large bird along with many delicious side dishes. Thanksgiving is a day to catch up on the lives of people that we care about and it gives us a brief respite before the storm that is the holiday rush.

I, for one, feel that in order to be truly thankful then you have to be content. You have to be happy with your life situation. An analogy could be that enduring phrase that you truly can’t love another person if you don’t love yourself first.

Socrates, the Greek philosopher, once said,

For a guy that lived from 469 BC–399 BC, I’d say that he was slightly ahead of his time. Speaking from experience, I can honestly say that in years past I wasn’t truly thankful. Living in a fairly affluent town I must say that I always thought the grass was greener in another’s yard. You see, we have one of the smallest homes in a town of castles. OK, they aren’t really castles but the houses are really big, at least in most neighborhoods. I guess from a real estate point of view, you really want to have the small house in a town of big ones. But, that didn’t mean anything to me. You know what’s funny? If we had visitors from other less affluent towns visit our home they would give us very favorable comments. To them, our house was the castle, so to speak. So I guess it’s all relative.

But the point is that I was always envious of others who appeared to have it all. But, all the while, it wasn’t them who had it all. It was really me and I just didn’t realize it. I do regret feeling that way because I think I missed out on truly enjoying my life as I should have. But that’s history and I’m moving on.

Today, I can honestly say I am truly thankful for all I have in my life. I am content with what I have and I am also hopeful about the future and better things down the road. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on your life. This will be my first Thanksgiving I won’t be celebrating with my Dad. He won’t be there to slice the turkey and we will all miss him. But, I honestly think that his passing has changed me for the better. He was a simple man who was content with what he had and didn’t complain about the things he didn’t have. We can all learn from someone like him who felt his grass was green enough.

And this year I’ve been involved in charitable work helping out my wife and daughter with a non-profit organization called A Walk in their Shoes. It was founded to help raise money for the homeless and to support a local soup kitchen. Believe me, there is nothing more humbling than helping out people who are less fortunate than you are. You will quickly realize that you have it all and you will be giving thanks as a result. And after you get involved you will find that you simply cannot complain about your plight in life.

So ask yourself this question. Am I truly thankful this year? I hope, for your sake, the answer is a resounding “Yes”. And I hope you realized it a lot sooner than I did.

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Having recently returned from a 3 day anniversary break with my lovely wife of 24 years, my mind wanders with thoughts of having the freedom to enjoy life as I please. I woke up on one of those mornings during that brief respite to this site from our hotel room of the sun coming up over Penobscot Bay in Maine. This may just be the BEST picture I ever took in my life. I even got a seagull flying in the shot. I’m not a photographer, or anything close to one, but it’s hard arguing the fact that this is very close to vista nirvana.

You see, when I do eventually retire, my wife and I want to have a view of either the water or the mountains from our home. The view seen here would be the ultimate. To be honest, I really don’t want to wait any longer. Heck, I’m 52 years old and I want my freedom NOW!

I want to wake up each morning to a glorious view and sit on the deck and have coffee with my wife overlooking that wondrous vista.

I want to plan our day spontaneously while we are drinking our coffee knowing that there are no deadlines to make or meetings to attend.

Plan the evening meal together and maybe head out to a local Farmer’s Market during the day for fresh produce for that meal.

After coffee I might head into my office or bring the laptop onto the deck to check my email, write a new blog post, and check my online store for any new orders.

I may head out to my workshop and start on a new project. Maybe build something for one of the kids for Christmas.

We could sit and watch a movie in the middle of the day and maybe make up for all of the movies we missed because we never felt comfortable leaving our children in the company of a teenage girl.

We could take a drive along the coast and stop at a clam shack for one of my wife’s favorite foods, whole fried clams.

Visit one of the local wineries that have sprung up in the Northeast in the past few years and partake of some locally produced vino.

Sit at the computer together and design a new website and blog related to a mutual passion and build it in tandem.

Read!… Ah, read a book in the middle of the day rather than reading a page or two, too exhausted to continue, right before I go to sleep each night.

As I read my “during the day” book with the fireplace blazing, the sweet smell of garlic wafts through the air as my wife, a master in the kitchen, prepares a special dinner.

Shake up a couple of martinis, pour, and cheers glasses with my wife as I try to lend a hand in the kitchen.

And wake up each morning with those same freedoms to do what we please. Living life as we see fit.

You see, I’ve been working since I got out of college roughly 30 years ago and I want my freedom! Is this really too much to ask for? But I say all of this with hesitation because I know that there are people struggling out there. They are out of work while their savings are slipping away and they’re counting on soup kitchens to feed their families.

I know that my rant sounds awfully selfish and it is! I recognize that. I have a great job and a loving family, and I know that in time I’ll have everything that I want. But the question remains, will I have my health? Who knows?

So I guess for now I have to keep my nose to the grindstone and keep pushing on. I have a daughter in college and another one that will be there in three years. So I’ll get back to work, keep my nose clean, and tend to my parental financial responsibilities.

But, wouldn’t it be nice to live that life? I hope I find out someday. And I hope it’s soon.

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Sometimes it seems like we are always chasing the mighty dollar. We work and work, and work some more to pay our bills and to add to our coffers. We can really get caught up in doing for ourselves and, at the same time, maybe we are overlooking a very important part of being a human being. What might that be? How about caring for your fellow man?

How about those poor souls who have lost their jobs and their benefits are running out? They may have gone through all of their savings and they either have lost, or are on the verge of, losing their homes. They may have had to move to a shelter for their families and need government assistance for food. These are the people who need our help.

So what can you do?

Fortunately, there are people in this world who think about the plight of others, especially those who are less fortunate. Sometimes, we adults can learn a little something about being charitable from our children. My daughter and a group of her friends have started a non-profit organization called A Walk in their Shoes. The group is working in

conjunction with a local charitable organization based in Manchester, NH called New Horizons for New Hampshire. A Walk in their Shoes is currently engaged in a year-long project to raise money and awareness for the homeless. Throughout the coming year the group will document their journey using technology that has been made available to them through their high school. At the end of the year a documentary will be aired and presented to the public detailing their journey. It will also raise awareness in the community of the great work being done by New Horizons for New Hampshire. The documentary will include footage of fundraisers including a walk for hunger bringing together three communities, volunteering at New Horizons for NH, interviews with homeless survivors, and other events which will generate money and awareness for the homeless.

My wife has been extremely instrumental in working with town and school officials in the local communities to aid the group in getting the word out about the upcoming events. I have been able to help out by developing their website, AWalkInTheirShoes.com,

which includes a blog and details about the group and their mission. I welcome you to contact the group or make a donation using your PayPal
account or use a credit card. I guarantee you that all funds will go directly to the homeless.

So the next time that you start feeling sorry for yourself, think about the truly needy out there among us. They need your help. Get involved in a charitable organization. Help out in a soup kitchen. Join a walk for hunger. Basically, just give of yourself.

You just might realize that you are truly blessed in your own life, and you’ll be helping out people who desperately need your generous gift of humanity.

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In my latest post on WorkAwesome I write about how my company’s policy on locking down internet sites has affected me. In years past I was able to listen to my favorite streaming radio, check lottery numbers, read my favorite blogs, and access my personal email. Now with the advent of the new internet policy, things have changed. I listen to a transistor radio, access my personal email using a basic phone, and wait until I get home to read my favorite blogs. Maybe you have experienced a similar policy at your work. If so, please leave a comment here or at WorkAwesome.

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Please check out my latest post on Work Awesome. It is the recipe for a pomegranate cosmopolitan. Pomegranates are in vogue these days in both cooking and drinks. I have started introducing 100% pomegranate juice into my drinks of late and this cosmo really hits the spot. You can use this same recipe using grape, cranberry, or pretty much any type of juice. I always stick with the 100% juice because if you don’t you will notice on the label that the predominant ingredient is apple juice. You’ll pay a little more but it is definitely worth it to get the 100% juice. Enjoy.

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Please check out my latest post on Work Awesome. It is the 10 Life-changing benefits of the internet age. The internet has led to many conveniences in our lives that I think some of us take for granted. For those of us who were around before the internet exploded onto the scene, I think we tend to appreciate the advances of the internet age. I would love to see in the comments some of the advances that you feel that the internet has given you. I hope you will enjoy this article and I welcome you to leave any comments on WorkAwesome or below.

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On March 1st my Dad passed away. This is my first post since that sad day. Today, May 13th, my Dad would’ve turned 87 years old. He meant a lot to me and, to be honest, since that day I have had no desire to blog. Since his death, I realized that the process of blogging was adding anxiety to my life. I was so concerned about my posting interval that it consumed me. I started blogging because I enjoy writing and I wanted to build something that was my own. I think now that I am going to start blogging again, my philosophy will change. I won’t care so much about the posting interval. It will not consume me. You know what? I haven’t blogged in over two months and apart from my traffic dropping considerably and my Alexa rating going from about 150K to almost 300K, the world goes on. What I have learned is that we can all take a break. I don’t do this for the money. Maybe someday it will be a source of income but, since it’s a hobby, it was no big deal to take some time off.

Another positive aspect of my hiatus was that some of my fellow bloggers, whom I have never met personally, went out of their way to contact me. They had a feeling something was wrong in my world. People that only know me by corresponding through our blogs went out of their way to find out to see if I was OK. It just shows you that there are some truly caring people out there in the world and a lot of them are in the blogging world. I want to thank those individuals for reaching out to me during a tough time. I may not post as regularly moving forward but I’m looking forward to getting back at it…

Best, Bob

Given the tragic circumstances surrounding Haiti, and the devastation in that area, there has understandably been a huge outpouring of support for those poor people.  Unfortunately, one of my co-workers grew up in Haiti, and he still has family over there.  The support he has received at my work has been uplifting to him and his family.  At a time like this, it is not unusual to think seriously about how you can help out your fellow man.  Giving blood is a way you can do just that…

For the first 50 years of my life I had never given blood.  When my eldest daughter turned 17, she was eligible in our state, to give blood.  Without hesitation, she decided to donate.  I was intrigued by the fact that she decided to do this, given that neither I, nor my wife, had given blood in the past.  She simply wanted to help out her fellow

man and this was a substantive way for her to do so.  She didn’t have any money, but she did have something she could give that was more valuable.

Seeing how generous she had been, I decided, at the ripe age of 50, to give my first donation.  The fact that I waited this long to donate, was not for any particular reason.  I am not afraid of needles, and I don’t have any pre-existing conditions that would prevent me from donating.  I can’t really explain why I waited so long.  All I can say is that my eldest daughter inspired me to go make that first blood donation.  So, what are the benefits, you may ask?

You may help as many as three people with one donation.

This is the #1 aspect of giving blood that the Red Cross mentions in their literature.  Heck, if my blood helped out one person who needs it, that would be good enough for me.

You’ll get to spend some time with quality people.

Having given blood now on three occasions, you start seeing some of the same people at the donation center.  The volunteers tend to be elderly people who have been doing this for a very long time.  They are sweet people who like to socialize, and, at the same time, they also do their best to put people at ease, if needed.  The fellow donors will strike up a conversation at the drop of a hat, as you all wait to be called to donate.  It is a feeling of camaraderie that is not typically felt with strangers.  Then again, these people are not truly strangers.  They are fellow human beings doing something for a common cause; helping others.

You get free food!

At the donation center there is always a myriad of juices, bottled water, cookies, pretzels, etc.  It is important to replenish yourself after you donate, and to hydrate before and after.  Since I donate after work, there has always

been a meal served by the volunteers.  The last time I donated there was a full spaghetti dinner with sausages, meatballs, and rolls for the donors.  You get to sit with other donors and volunteers and socialize while you eat your meal.  It’s a great ending to a very gratifying experience.

You feel great afterwards.

Being around like-minded people, and doing something for your fellow man, is very fulfilling.  Even if you went into this with second thoughts, you will leave happy and content that you just did something so selfless.

If you have never given blood before, I urge you to consider it.  Go to the Red Cross Donating Blood website and learn more about how you can reach out and help your fellow man.

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(This post is written in association with a Group Writing Project initiated by Daniel Scocco of DailyBlogTips.  Daniel will publish the list of all participants in the project on his blog on Monday, December 14th).

Walter Cronkite

Walter Cronkite died at age 92.  While I was growing up he was the news anchor that all other news anchors aspired to be.  My remembrances of Walter Cronkite was his distinct voice and sign off every night “And that’s the way it is” at the end of each news cast. He was also broadcasting when John F. Kennedy was pronounced dead in 1963. I remember distinctly that he could not speak at one point.  My parents met him a number of years ago on Martha’s Vineyard while waiting for a ferry to bring them to the mainland. Walter and his wife were heading to the mainland to attend a christening. He was very easy-going in his manner and was very approachable.  Ironically, we were vacationing in Martha’s Vineyard this past summer when we heard of his death.  Walter had a home on the Vineyard and was an avid sailor.  I remember looking at his home overlooking the harbor in Edgartown the day we heard of his death.  Needless to say, he was a giant in the broadcasting business.

Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze died at age 57 from pancreatic cancer.  I remember him from three different movies.  The one that was most popular was “Dirty Dancing” and his infamous quote “No one puts Baby in the corner”.  His dancing and acting talents truly shined in that movie.  The second most-popular movie of his was “Ghost” with Demi Moore and Whoopie Goldberg.  The other notable movie that I particularly enjoyed was “Roadhouse” in which he plays an undersized bouncer who turns a honky-tonk saloon into a respectable establishment through some strong-arm tactics.

Ted Kennedy

Ted Kennedy, after a battle with brain cancer, died at age 77.  Regardless of your politics you have to admit that this man worked tirelessly as a legislator for the common man.  Some ofthe legislation that Kennedy played a major role in include the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Votings Rights Act of 1965, the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, and the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act.  He also had to withstand the tragic losses of his two brothers, John and Robert, by assassination.  His oldest brother Joe Jr, also died tragically in a plane crash in World War II. He did have a failed attempt at the White House in 1980 running against then incumbent president Jimmy Carter.  He will be forever remembered for his car accident in 1969 on Chappaquiddick Island, where Mary Jo Kopechne drowned and he pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of the accident.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson died on June 25^th, 2009 at the age of 50.  He was probably the most recognizable performer in the world.  Michael and I were born in the same year two months apart so, needless to say, we figuratively grew up together.  I distinctly remember his music with his brothers in the Jackson 5 when I was younger.  According to Wikipedia, the Thriller album in 1982 is the largest selling album of all time selling over 100 million copies worldwide.  I will never forget the video that was also went along with this smash hit.  Michael will always be known for his changing appearance including his skin color and nose starting in the late 1970s.  He was also accused of child sexual abuse in 1993 but was not brought to court but in 2005 was accused of multiple counts including the molestation of a minor.  In June of 2005 he was found not guilty of all charges.

Farah Fawcett

Farah Fawcett, known for her distinct hairstyle and her role on Charlie’s Angels died of cancer the same day as Michael Jackson, June 25^th.  Farah, one of the stars of the blockbuster TV show, “Charlie’s Angels” was also known for the famous swimsuit poster (seen to the left) which sold 12 million copies in 1976.  She documented her cancer struggles in “Farrah’s Story” which was broadcast on May 15^th by NBC.

Ed McMahon

Ed McMahon, sidekick of Johnny Carson for roughly 30 years, died at age 86 also in June.  Ed was known for his “Heeeeere’s Johnny” introduction on every Tonight Show.  He was also known for his belly laugh at Johnny’s every joke.  His financial problems were well-chronicled later in his life.

David Carradine

David Carradine, known for his role as Kwai Chang Caine, in the TV series Kung Fu also died in June at the age of 72. He was the son of legendary actor John Carradine. David died accidentally of asphyxiation in Bangkok, Thailand.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, known as the founder of Special Olympics, died at 88 years old. She was the 5th child born to Rose and Joseph Kennedy. Her husband, Sargent Shriver, was George McGovern’s running mate in his failed 1972 Presidential campaign. Her daughter, Maria Shriver, married to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is also a journalist and author.

Bea Arthur

Bea Arthur, was known for two roles in particular, Maude Findlay in the situation comedy “Maude” and Dorothy Zbornak in “The Golden Girls”. She was 86 when she died on April 25th. She won Emmy Awards for her roles on both sitcoms. She was not only a TV star but a stage actress as well winning a Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 1966 for her performance as Vera Charles in the original cast of Mame. I distinctly remember first seeing Bea Arthur in “All in the Family”, as Edith Bunker’s cousin, where she burst onto the scene with the pronouncement of “Maudie’s here”.

Ricardo Montalban

Ricardo Montalban died on Jan 14th, 2009 at 88 years old. When I think of Ricardo Montalban there are a number of images that come to mind. One, of course, was his role in Fantasy Island as Mr Rourke opposite Tattoo, played by Herve Villechaize. Another image I have is of Ricardo Montalban’s Chrysler Cordoba commercial where he extolled the virtues of “Corinthian Leather”. But, probably the most famous image I have of Ricardo Montalban is his role as Khan in both the original Star Trek series and a re-creation of that same role in the 1982 film Star Trek II, The Wrath of Khan.

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