Quote of the Week

After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one.  Cato the Elder (234-149 BC)

Marcus Porcius Cato, a Roman Statesman, went by many names such as Sapiens (the wise), Priscus (the ancient) or Major. The "Elder" was added to his name to distinguish him from his grandson of the same name. 

He was not only a soldier and a statesman, but also an author and historian. His only surviving work, however, is a manual on agriculture which dealt with all aspects of farming, even including recipes. 

This quote seems to speak for itself.  It is better to live admirably and not be recognized publicly than for people to question why you received any recognition in the first place.

Running Behind?

It would seem Mother Nature is running a bit behind everywhere this year.  In many areas it is still snowing.

It appears to be a late Spring here too.  While it was a relatively mild winter with only a dusting of snow and a couple 5-minute snow showers, we had a cool March - or so I thought.  The first picture was taken today, and the dogwoods have been out for a few days.

As you can see by the second picture, they were in full bloom by the end of March last year, so that makes them about 3 weeks later this year.  

However, March 2012 was warmer than usual, with temperatures overall about 20 degrees above average.  In retrospect, that makes this year about average.

How is your Spring compared to last year?  

Average, warmer, colder, snowy?

Quote of the Week

The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me. ― Ayn Rand

Life is full of ups and downs and the occasional detour.  Whatever you aspire to, if you are determined enough, you will eventually get there.  Just remember, you are the only one in charge of you, and the only one that is going stop you is you.

Upside Down Sophie

If we could all just relax like a cat.

It's Friday!  Have a great weekend.

My How Time Flies!

Is it that time again?

Time sure does fly.  Twenty-six years ago today we tied the knot at the courthouse before the Justice of the Peace and immediate family.  It was a full day beginning with signing the loan documents on the house we still live in today.  After the ceremony, we loaded the car and headed to the beach.  While it is a day of many memories, oddly this one stands out.  It was the only time my Mom ever asked to borrow my car.  She made a last minute trip out to get a flower for me.  Since it was a simple ceremony, no one had thought about flowers.  

Happy Anniversary, Sweetie.  I'm looking forward to another 26 years.

Quote of the Week

Our job is to give people not what they want, but what we decide they ought to have. 
- Richard Salant, former President of CBS News

Salant was twice president of CBS, first from 1961-1964 and again from 1966-1979.  He was credited with raising the professional standards and expanding the news programming at CBS.

As we sit glued to the TV for the evening news or reach for the morning paper to find out what is going on in the world, maybe we should pause to wonder...is this the truth or just what someone wants us to believe?

The core of journalism is the search for and reporting of the truth.  Yet what is the truth? 

I will leave you with this bit of truth.  A wise woman once told me "never believe everything you hear". 

A Season of Growth

When you put aside your fears you grow stronger.

When you put aside your doubts you grow more confident.

When you put aside your prejudices you become more open minded.

When you put aside your negative thoughts you become a more positive person.

Embrace your new identity.

I wrote that about a year ago as my analysis of this quote "When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."  When I reread those words, I felt compelled to share them again.

Sometimes there are issues or situations in our lives that cause us to feel afraid or lose confidence in ourselves.  We may have formed opinions based on something we have read or simply accepted what we've been told we should believe.  

We often fear what we don't understand, and our doubts and prejudices can grow from that fear.

As we enter into Spring, a season of growth and renewal, let's enter into a new season in our lives as well.  We, alone, are responsible for ourselves, so let's put aside the negatives, embrace the positive and reap the rewards. 

The Hyacinth and Greek Mythology

These beautiful and fragrant flowers are native to the Eastern Mediterranean from Turkey to Israel and Northeastern Iran.  As pretty as they are, their bulbs are poisonous, containing oxalic acid which can irritate the skin.

The Hyacinth also has history in Greek Mythology.  It was said that Hyacinth was a young boy loved by both Apollo and Zephyrus, the wind god.  Hyacinth was throwing the discus with Apollo when he missed Apollo's throw and was struck by the discus and died.  This was not accidental, though, for Zephyrus, being jealous of Apollo, caused a shift in the wind which forced Apollo's discus off course, thus causing Hyacinth's death.  Apollo did not allow Hades to take Hyacinth, instead making him a flower.*

The hyacinth is sometimes associated with rebirth; maybe this is why.

*information source:  Wikipedia

Quote of the Week

Image Source:  Wikipedia

You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality. - Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand, a Russian-born philosopher, novelist, playwright and screenwriter, moved to the United States in 1926. She was most well known for her fictional novel "Atlas Shrugged". 

Reality: The state of things as they exist. You can choose to ignore a situation or pretend it doesn't exist. However, by doing this you leave yourself vulnerable to whatever is coming down the pike. You've heard about ostriches sticking their heads in the sand? Well, it's not true that they do that, but it does demonstrate the concept of avoiding reality. While you are not acknowledging what is going on, the reality is that the situation does exist and sooner or later you will have to deal with the outcome.

Too Busy?

 

I've been busy at multiple tasks this morning, and thought there's no way I can get a post up today.  I don't have any ideas, and I'm just too busy to take the time, so I figured I'd just share a picture.  In looking for just the right one, I found this one of Dood when he lived outside.  

It reminded me that no matter how busy we are or how long our "to do list" is,  we should remember to take time to relax and enjoy the good things in life.  

So as you face the busy day ahead or look forward to the weekend activities, take a little time to stop and smell the flowers.

What Is It?

Semi-Wordless Wednesday. 

I took this picture on April 1.  What is it? 

Quote of the Week

Image Source:  Wikipedia

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
  - Sir Winston Churchill


That being an apt statement in the days of Churchill, just imagine with today's technology how quickly lies and half truths can make their way into the minds and lives of millions of people.  

Thanks to the vast media of today, misinformation can circle the globe and be acted upon before the truth of the situation has begun to be sorted out.  As with Newton's law of physics which states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, actions without all the facts can have unintended consequences.