That’s one off the bucket list, Las Vegas

Posted on April 26, 2012 by dfolstad58

Didn’t even know I had a bucket list but maybe we all do but haven’t written it down like in the movie.

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Two days ago, Klaus and I drove from Las Vegas to the west rim of the Grand Canyon. Sunny day for trip into the desert in a Crown Victoria (horse with no name) rental. Trip is about 120 miles each way and about 10 miles is rutted, dusty, gravel road. We looked at flying but this way we enjoyed the drive and shared philosophies of life.

Gravel roads aren’t that bad if you are the first one in line driving down one, unfortunately everyone left the reservation about the same time so the road on the way back was like clouds of white fog, dust permeating everything – heaven help the lungs of the poor guy we saw in a convertible.

The west rim is part of the Hualapai Indian reservation who are running the skywalk, and selling various trinkets and jewellry charging all and sundry to enter the area. You can also fly over and into the canyon by helicopter, and plane – I should have tried the helicopter, would have been a whoop. Anyway I have lots of pictures from a fun day, spent probably 45 minutes or so on the skywalk (still have my slippers!) and found it quite relaxing on the glass walkway. If it can hold a loaded 747 it can probably hold me, and it did.

Right beside the skyway I and others were clambering onto the open rock to take pictures. That was way more risky than the skywalk, no obstacles to going over the cliff there, and going over the edge there you are 4000 feet up, and no slowing down until you smack bottom. If I get 25 likes to this post I will consider myself bribed to try and upload my video from edge.

Posted in FAVORITE POSTS - A Few of them ♥, Thinking Out loud, Uncategorized | Tagged bucket list, grand canyon, Hualapai, las vegas, Las Vegas Nevada, Skyway, travel | Leave a comment

You’ve Heard that I’m Wild but soon I’ll be free

Posted on April 18, 2012 by dfolstad58

You probably haven’t given Conrad Black much thought as he has mostly been out of the newspapers and media but he came to mind to me again today.

Conrad Black, taken in 2011 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rich people don’t get much sympathy except maybe from their lawyers but in my opinion Conrad deserves some. I don’t claim to know everything about his court case for which he was convicted but based on what I have read the only true conviction is the obstruction of justice. I suspect that even Conrad Black would agree that his style is – take action and apologize later if proven wrong; his history certainly indicates that he is action oriented. He started comfortable but his gains are the result of his risks and action. But Conrad is not only a man of finance, he is also a scholar, and one who continues to share his opinion and views to Canadians via his regular posts in the National Post. Conrad challenges Canadians via those posts as his views invariably are insightful and demand extensive use of the dictionary.

But I digress, very Conrad Black of me, (chuckle), because my real thought today was that I think it was wrong, to cause Conrad to forgo his Canadian citizenship in order that he could be a member of the British House of Lords.

Here is the history on this point:

Upon the advice of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Queen Elizabeth II conferred in 2001 the dignity of a life peerage to Black with the name, style and title of Baron Black of Crossharbour, of Crossharbour in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.^[65] Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, gave the conflicting advice that a Canadian citizen should not receive a titular honour, citing the 1919 Nickle Resolution. The best-known modern application of the Nickle Resolution occurred when Prime Minister Jean Chrétien used it to prevent Canadian publishing mogul Conrad Black from becoming a British life peer. Chrétien held that, in spite of the fact that the British government was honouring Black as a British citizen, and that Black then held dual citizenship of Canada and Britain (allowed since 1977), he as prime minister of Canada had the right to keep Black from becoming a British life peer because he was also a Canadian citizen. In the end, Black gave up his Canadian citizenship in order to accept the British honour.

COME ON!

Stephen Harper, Canadian Prime Minister (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What ever is Ottawa thinking? Since this was a Liberal prime minister’s opinion, perhaps Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has a open mind about re-examining that opinion? I hope someone in Ottawa can fix this, it does not seem like heart surgery to me. Ottawa leadership – make it happen and fix this mistake – Conrad Black, born in Canada, was not seeking to join a bike gang, or a cult! I just think that is a wrong that should be fixed, and all it takes is someone in Ottawa to make a phone call. Hmmm, there are open minds there but what it takes I suspect is the willingness to make the correction, and I hope that willingness is there, so he can come back home to his home and native land.

My last word, I think joining the British House of Lords shouldn’t be considered contrary to being a Canadian citizen, regardless of who joins.

Conrad Black has requested his Canadian citizenship returned to him, but still no word as of June 2011.

Come on home to Canada Conrad and visit the Okanagan – I’ll give you a tour of our valley’s wineries, and we can toast to love for Canada together.

Posted in Thinking Out loud, Uncategorized | Tagged Canada, Conrad Black, National Post | Leave a comment

What phase of FACEBOOK are you in?

Posted on April 13, 2012 by dfolstad58

One of the many nice things about Toastmasters is discussing different themes. The theme for our last meeting was FACEBOOK.

FACEBOOK is the social phenomena connecting more than 300 hundred million people around the world and making Billions of $$$ for it’s shareholders.

Facebook facts ~ Did you know ?

that close to a BILLION photos are uploaded to FACEBOOK every month?
or that one out of every 13 people on earth is on FACEBOOK?
In 20 minutes 1,587,000 wall posts are written?

Our Toastmaster (Derek) for our Facebook themed meeting , started our recent meeting by describing what he called the “Five Phases of Facebook” – here are my notes.

– What phase of Facebook are you in?

1. Discovery phase – you just created your page, you go online and the world of Facebook is overwhelming and fun. You upload pictures, and enjoy looking up pictures of your friends, and maybe even old ex- friends!

2. Getting to know each other phase – the initial wonder is gone, now you are getting better at using Facebook, you explore and visit pages and tag photos. It’s a fun world, and Facebook is taking a chunk of your life every day but you look forward to it.

3. Bump in the Road phase – something has happened to jolt your romance with Facebook, perhaps someone posted an unflattering picture and tagged you in it, and you are NOT happy.

4. Maybe we shouldn’t be spending so much time together phase – you have facebook jitters if you go too long without checking your page. You check Facebook when you wake up first thing in the morning, and sometimes even in the middle of the night. Facebook is on your phone, and on your desk computer.

5. the “ I don’t think this is working out anymore” phase – that’s it! you had it – it’s the breakup you thought would never happen. You go weeks at a time without Facebook, and can even talk about at Facebook as Toastmaster.

Thanks Derek for the inspiration!

Posted in humor, Uncategorized | Tagged Facebook, Phases, Social phenomenon, Toastmaster, Toastmasters International | Leave a comment

Put aside your worries, and do something that makes you smile

Posted on April 9, 2012 by dfolstad58

I enjoy learning every day. Every day I read various blogs and email learning about historical events, inspiring quotes, travel, and even food.

One of the blogs that often gives me food for thought is called Rox Does Yoga. by R.H. Ward

Today from Rox does Yoga , just a quote to share:

“If there is a cure, what good is discontent? If there is no cure, what good is discontent?”

– Shantideva, 8th century master, quoted in Mathieu Ricard’s Happiness, page 72

I love this quote because it really emphasizes what’s important. If you have a problem that can be fixed, there’s no use worrying about it, because you can fix it.

If you have a problem that cannot be fixed, there’s also no need to worry, because it is what it is – better to spend time learning how to deal with, move forward from, or otherwise overcome the problem than with worrying about something that can’t change.

There’s really no situation where worry or discontent is helpful, but we still spend so much time on these things!

I hope this quote inspires you to leave your worries aside today, just for a few minutes, and do something you value instead, like taking a walk, calling a friend, or reading a good book.

Another person that is often quoted is Clint Eastwood – he gives inspiration also, but just a different sort. He does it with the biggest handgun, a .44 Magnum and he does it via the persona of Harry Callahan.

Enjoy Harry’s quote !

Posted in humor, Thinking Out loud | Tagged beach boys, clint eastwood, discontent, don't worry baby, harry callahan, smile, Worry, Yoga | 2 Comments

Avoid the top 5 Regrets in life!

Posted on April 7, 2012 by dfolstad58

Where do you find inspiration? I don’t have to look far as I belong to Toastmasters, and each meeting I attend brings for me inspiration, or at least education. Here is what I learned, I hope you find it thoughtful and beneficial.

Months back, my friend Greg shared at our Toastmasters 641259 meeting the research he had found on what he felt was going to be a tough topic “REGRET“. I want to share with you what I learned that day, courtesy of Greg, and his source “ Bronnie Ware – Inspiration and Chai ”

Bronnie Ware worked in palliative care, and in the last twelve or so weeks that she spent with her patients she culled this list of insight into the TOP FIVE REGRETS. When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Bronnie developed this list of the top five regrets; her thoughts and the five regrets are listed for us below.

Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness. Everyone finds their own way – this man PLUNGED INTO A NOMAD TOUR and shares his around the world experiences travelling on a shoestring, or less. – Happiness Plunge.

*special thanks today for the images from Bent Objects, the imagination and whimsical creations of Terry Border.

https://youtu.be/nayz3xJxRTA