It's the little things....

I often enjoy walking through the gardens at home here in Palm Springs to admire nature. The west garden in particular has a beautiful arrangement of various cactus and succulents I've planted over the years. It always feels like I hit jackpot when I come across a cactus in bloom. Depending on the variety the flowers don't often last long, so when you see one it's a real treat.

This particular little cactus had three beautiful yellow flowers that made me smile. It reminded me how important the little things in life are to find happiness. Don't make the mistake of complaining about everything in life. Instead seek out the beauty in the world- and allow yourself to be happy

You can teach some men to fish, and they will still starve

I've often felt some hobbies are best kept to one self. Having been a writer and radio host for many years, many aspects of my life are shared willingly, but you might be surprised to know much of my personal life is like an iceberg...people only see the very tip. I suppose from time to time I share a glimpse of something new, but often in code to protect and maintain some element of privacy for others in my life. Take for instance fishing. It's not something I've much written about before. Fishing has always been of those sacred activities reserved for the closest of friendships. About twenty years ago I had a boss who loved to fish more than anything. It was where he did all his deep thinking, relaxing, or just to let off some steam. I always admired his passion for fishing and on many occasions found myself on the boat in the wee hours of the morning to hurry up and wait.

I learned that fishing was a great sport to learn about life. Patience, friendship, and instinct were all lessons learned early on the boat. Interestingly I acquired my early angling skills along with virtues of catch and release, from my grandmother. She wasn't a great fisher-woman but enjoyed taking me fishing. I never did learn for certain whether or not fish could see in color, but years later I learned to appreciate fly-tying from my step dad. That was one hobby I never understood. Just the loss of eye sight alone seemed insane to me, but it was his private passion. Anyway, this famed Chinese Proverb would seem to sum it up best: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." The problem I've found is that you can't always teach every man to fish. Some just don't want to learn or listen, so they starve.

Back to my old boss from twenty years ago. He used to tell me about a guy he fished with who would insist he knew the best places to fish; refusing to rely on charts, current-reports, weather factors or other oft used fishing tips. My boss would be upset about the money spent on boat fuel, not to mention a long boring day with no action. He would end up being furious at his friend, holding-in blame and anger. Finally my former boss told his friend he was on his own, that he didn't want to have him on his fishing boat anymore. It ruined their friendship, and they never spoke again. My old boss started charting his own course to decide where to cast his line. He caught the same amount of fish...no more, no less. The difference was he had become his own man and no longer blamed his former fishing buddy for what he thought were bad decisions. My old boss taught me that in fishing, there are no losers. He felt that even on a bad day fishing, life goes on whether you catch a single fish, or nothing at all. All those afternoons on the boat taught me about patience, self-reliance, personal accountability, building short term goals, and the Chinese philosophy for taking a long term perspective on life. So while you might not ever know me as a fisherman, now you know about one of the more formative sports that influenced my adult life, and continues to do so even today.

Toe Tapping Tunes of 'The Company Men'

Friday evening I attended a private party in Palm Springs that included live entertainment from a local singing band known as 'The Company Men'. The Company Men have a fresh sound by mashing together six decades of music and adding a dose of their own style. They effortlessly blend Motown, The Four Seasons, Michael Buble, The Temptations with contemporary songs. During the evening I found myself singing along, swaying, and tapping my toes as they crooned their way through the set. The four vocalists Daniel Tatar, Shawn Perucca, Stuart Ambrose and Brian Purcell seem to genuinely enjoy performing; they glide across the stage in a series of well-choreographed dance routines paying homage to the many great bands of the 50's and 60's. Sure, they are easy-on-the-eyes, but they are more than just pretty faces. 

Performing at a private function in Palm Springs

Their vocal ranges and depth showcase their talents, supported by a smooth stage presence and warm connection with their audience. The only complaint I had was their set was too short, as there was another group performing that night. Luckily for me I found their album on iTunes and downloaded a copy when I got home. If you enjoy vocals and appreciate the music of multiple generations, you'll love The Company Men.

How to Tie an Ascot

Don't fret...its easy to tie an ascot. Just check out this vid:

HM The Queen...in Cake!

If you like cake, and you admire Queen Elizabeth, check out this video as part of the Jubilee Celebrations. It's kinda fun!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17945052

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17945052

Time in Thailand

My travels take me all around the world, and then some. A last minute trip to Thailand came up so I packed my bags and was on my way. Nearly all of the trip my time was occupied with other matters for work, but the client I was visiting, did their best to show hospitality and brought me to a few local sights while on our way to and from the office each day. Thailand is a very interesting place, I've come to really like the people and their culture a great deal.

No matter where I travel, people are almost always proud of their community, and love to show off the best of the area. In the photos in this post, I was in the south oh Thailand where it is less touristy, but still has some interesting things to see.  This standing Buddha was high up on a mountain and was so beautiful. Peaceful too, don't you think?

The golden Buddha could easily be seen from far away, as it was up so high. Even on a cloudy day the sunlight reflected beautifully on the gold surface of Buddha. I was mesmerized, and had a few moments to pray, as I always do whenever I visit spiritual sites, regardless of the particular religious affiliation. Personally it doesn't matter to me, I find inspiration from all such things.

This was a rather interesting sight. A set of stairs up to another Buddha led into an open mouth, presumably of a dragon or something. It was interesting to see from afar, and also rather unusual to walk into...I did pause for a brief moment, but quickly reminded myself it was merely art.

And speaking of art, check this out. A golden Phoenix bird perched at the top of the mountain , near the Buddha. You can see the temple with incense burning. I was amazed by the beauty of this site. The remarkable part of this was that it was so unremarkable. By that I mean this was not a major destination or attraction, it is just part of the community. As brief as my visit was to this location, it left quite an impression on me. The week in Thailand flew by so quickly, perhaps because most of the time I was working. Still, I consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity to see such fascinating places in the world as part of my job. Blessings indeed.