Ireland

Ireland, what can I say about it? I am sitting in Panera looking for flights to Ireland for the summer and am thinking that I have done a good deal of traveling in my 25 short years. Ususally you need to be in the army to have seen this much of the world. I have been to 4 Europeon countries and will go to at least 3 more on this trip. Perhaps four if I can work it out. When I think about all that I have learned on the trips I have taken already I am overwhelmed by the similarities between the cultures. If you examine the way that most countries do business, On the local level you see that the market is running the daily lives of the people. Then you can expand to the macro level and you see a central planned system, (if the country has one), and although I have never been to a true centrally planned system, the differences between Switzerland, Germany and Italy, are dramatic. These differences fly in the face of the Europeon Unions control over the countries. In this regard there is still a good deal of autonomy despite the trading block the the Union is attempting to create. Ireland now as undergone a major transformation into the capitalistic world by all but aboloshing their corporate income tax. Now this might be a vast oversimplification but the results speak for themselves. Take a look at the major companies that have moved in the area and you will be amazed at the names that are there. From as little as one to two centures ago, thier citizens were suffering from mass poverty, now, most of their country is in world terms, upper middle class. I will continue to post about Ireland, especially about the towns and regions that I am going to. I wanted to get a post out about the trip though because I am increasingly growing excited about this trip. It will be the longest that I will have been abroad, additionally, I plan on using this as a test to see if I will be able (mentally) to be an international attorney. How hard will it be to be across the world from my family for extended periods at a time. Although this is not a perfect example as I have no wife or kids yet in my life, I hopefully will at some time and if this is the business that I want to go into, I will have to get used to these extended trips. Well, I guess if you have to leave the ones you love, where better to do it than Europe?

Nonsense - enjoy the food

I was looking through some picture and ran across this one. I remember this day as the day I ate 18 apples. Although every apple tasted good, there was definitely the law of diminishing returns working against me. I kept getting fuller and fuller but they tasted so good. Some times you just need to live a little even though it will hurt a little later. With Christmas eve and Christmas coming up, remember it was worth it, look at that smile.

Standing on a Bridge

Every year around this time I begin to get flooded with memories of the past. New and old memories alike rush to my brain in what seems to be chronicle of my life. On the outside I may look like another average person but I look at what average means. There is no such thing as an average person. Average is the sum of all available persons divided by the total number of people. Although it is possible that someone fits this average exactly, the probability is very slim. So I will now classify myself as unique. ... In my unique life how did I arrive at the man... boy... person...that I am today? Look at the picture and you will see a visual representation of what I have become. I am standing on a bridge, trying to get to the next stage of my life, (the working years), praying to make those around me proud of me. In this context, to my right you will see what I have learned over my short 25 years. To my immediate right is a girl who has done nothing in her life but made me proud. I look at what she has accomplished in her minuscule 15 years and am awestruck at the young woman she has become. Her accomplishments at such a young age remind me that if I do not stay on top of my game, I will no longer deserve the title of role model. I am glad for the inspiration that she provides for me, I am also proud to know that perhaps in some small way my attitude has helped shape this person.... Now look to the right again. You will see the biggest smile that can come out of someone. Although he is just a little boy still I see what he can accomplish. I love his attitude when he has lost or is hurt and he bounces right back up and gets on the horse. He has the brain to accomplish anything and now he is beginning to learn the lessons that his sister has taught him. That critical lesson is that the only way to success is though hard work. This lesson is clearly sinking as shown through his new skills on the saxophone. He is beginning to develop good practice habits and learning that real mastery is through hard work. With little ones like this I can be confident that the future of our family is in good hands.

With that said, don't think this is a post about me being down about my self. Understand that through writing I am learning about myself and you are privy to my inner growth. This leads me to the last person in the picture. As an ex-girlfriend, I have learned a lot from her. I have greatly improved who I am, but I have learned something more that I never realized, nor she, that I was learning. I was being taught what I didn't want in my life. I think that she is a great person and I wish nothing but the best for her in her future endeavors. Out of that friendship I have learned that there are only a few people that you will have close to you heart. I wrote in an earlier post about an inner circle, I will refer you back to that post for in this stage of my life I look to see who still means something to me. How many people in this world would I really want locked in a room with me for all eternity, how many people would I give my life for? As with anyone, there is only a small number of people that I would be willing to subject myself under those conditions for. I sometimes think that it is easier to see who those people are when you are on the bridge. Look around me in this picture. You see nothing cluttering my sight. There are no trees, no buildings, no distractions. Only myself and those in the picture know what is below me and this will be our little secret. Take comfort though in the fact that on the bridge, I can see what those in my life feel for me. It is easy to see who leads you on the bridge, who follows you, and who walks another path. For those things that will soon come to pass in my life will reward those who have stuck with me and lose those who have strayed. I am ever growing and adapting. I don't know when one changes, on my bridge now, I am under the belief that being a boy has its advantages. Soaking up all that is in front of you. Being a man has advantages, pride in raising those behind you. Perhaps it is when we lose one or the other (boy or man) that we fall off the bridge. I will strive to stay on course and succeed so that those who count on me, and those who look up to me, will be able to speak to their friends and proudly say, I love him, he is a friend.

A Real American Hero

To the left of this text is a man who built this country. When the country was founded a dream was created in the hearts of men. This dream allowed anyone to succeed if they worked hard am made good choices. This man grew up with little to nothing and created a family. He employed scores of others so that the could help their families. He lent a hand to brothers and sisters who needed him. Gave back to his community. A man like this isn''t put on television. No newspaper writes about this man. Yet without him we would have no country. Many people do things for money, glory, or recognition. Yet that is not the motivation of this man. He does it for the good of others. Now, even beyond the grave his work still builds. He is in my heart, driving me to push forward. I know there are others who look to him in their time of need. When courage is needed, his lessons of sacrifice drive us on. When something needed doing, questions weren't asked, work was done. This man sacrifices his life for the benefit of others. No matter what the cost, he made sure that if it was wanted, it was gotten. This is what made America great. People like him to build the country up. Now we owe his memory a duty. We must continue his legacy and build the house stronger. Our task is to make a better future for our issue. We are fortunate enough to have been given a concrete foundation. Now, if we don't make the walls strong we are not honoring his memory. Stay strong, for his memory dictates it. This is what a real American Hero looks like.

Thoughts of Being Done

The time I spent doing things preparing for finals means that I let the dust bunnies begin to take over. I am now in a war to take back the homestead. The dust bunnies are a formidable foe. The are masters at hiding and evade a rag like seasoned soldier. This war can only be fought on the ground because once they take to the air, the have air superiority. I feel like I am fighting the Luftwaffe. I have heard that the scientists back home have been inventing a great weapon with sucking power that will turn the tide in our favor. I have been working from the top down. I believe the only bunnies left are laying low. Wish me luck for the war is on. If God is on our side, by sundown I will prevail. Down with the dust. God Bless Cleanliness.

Robin Hood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_or3MKiU8Rw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPnJGHXiSXI&feature=related