Like many of you I'm sure, I was a bit disturbed when I heard the talk about a mosque where the Twin Towers fell.
First off, I am all for religious freedom and believe that in America, you are free to do as you like for the most part. Secondly, I think it is a good gesture that people who follow Islam want to do something at the site. Most of those who follow Islam do not condone the actions of radicals.
What I don't understand is: why a mosque? Unfortunately, you would be putting a polarizing structure at that place on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Bad choice, wrong time.
How about putting a counseling center, soup kitchen or homeless shelter there to help people? Make a statement that those in Islam that are peaceful want to help those in NYC not ruin their lives.
If you want to make a statement, build that something that helps people. That is a statement we can rally around.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Maizy's Lessons Part 6: Tougher Than The Rest
"I learned you get what you can get
So if you’re rough enough for love
Honey I’m tougher than the rest"
Tougher than the Rest is one of my fave Springsteen songs. I have two women in my life, my wife and my dog, who exemplify this for me every day.
A few weeks ago, we noticed Maizy had a pink, round bump on her hind end. We decided this probably wasn't the best thing for her so decided to take her to vet when we got home from work that day. My wife in her wisdom came home from work early that day and took Maizy in. She called me saying that Maizy was having emergency surgery.
It turns out Maizy had a ruptured anal gland. That phrase just sounds painful. The vet said it is painful and can become toxic. Waiting another day could have been very harmful to her, possibly fatal.
With all of this going on inside of her, Maizy was tougher than the rest. The amazing thing to me is that Maizy never cried or showed us she was in pain and always sat when I asked her to even though it was probably very painful to do so. But because I asked, she did it.
Unbelievable...
That kind of love and devotion is not something we see in most, if any, humans including myself. I told everyone that if something like that happened to me, you would have heard me complaining about it immediately and for the next 10-20 years.
Maizy has shown me an example of what true love and devotion looks like. She is tougher than the rest, current company included. She has inspired me to show that kind of love and devotion to Marybeth, Grant and Maizy, and the people around me.
She has left me big shoes to fill. Thanks Maizy for being a model to me, I have much to learn....
So if you’re rough enough for love
Honey I’m tougher than the rest"
Tougher than the Rest is one of my fave Springsteen songs. I have two women in my life, my wife and my dog, who exemplify this for me every day.
A few weeks ago, we noticed Maizy had a pink, round bump on her hind end. We decided this probably wasn't the best thing for her so decided to take her to vet when we got home from work that day. My wife in her wisdom came home from work early that day and took Maizy in. She called me saying that Maizy was having emergency surgery.
It turns out Maizy had a ruptured anal gland. That phrase just sounds painful. The vet said it is painful and can become toxic. Waiting another day could have been very harmful to her, possibly fatal.
With all of this going on inside of her, Maizy was tougher than the rest. The amazing thing to me is that Maizy never cried or showed us she was in pain and always sat when I asked her to even though it was probably very painful to do so. But because I asked, she did it.
Unbelievable...
That kind of love and devotion is not something we see in most, if any, humans including myself. I told everyone that if something like that happened to me, you would have heard me complaining about it immediately and for the next 10-20 years.
Maizy has shown me an example of what true love and devotion looks like. She is tougher than the rest, current company included. She has inspired me to show that kind of love and devotion to Marybeth, Grant and Maizy, and the people around me.
She has left me big shoes to fill. Thanks Maizy for being a model to me, I have much to learn....
Monday, March 29, 2010
Maizy's Lessons Part 5: Conservation
Even before working for a zoo for two wonderful years, I was into conservation. Using the resources we have on earth well became more important to me when I visited Africa and saw what unencumbered building does to a beautiful land much less the strip-mallization of America. I bought 13 acres in Mississippi a few years ago just to preserve a piece of beautiful land.
Our dog, Maizy has taught me new levels of conservation though....specifically water which I have stated in my other blog is the next big conservation challenge. (Please turn off the water when brushing your teeth!)
One morning while drying off after a shower, Maizy pushed her head in the door and looked at my feet. Two things meet together in her mind at that moment: 1. Water 2. That smells like Dad! What better things could she imagine?
Since that day, every time I take a shower she comes in and licks my feet. Once my feet are done, she then licks the water off the floor of the bathroom. (I do clean the bathroom so no worries there!)
She is ultimate conservationist....using resources well and enjoying it too! Maybe today we should all look for ways to see things in different ways. You never know, you could possibly find a way to make two things that don't always fit together a great combination!
Thanks Maizy for helping me see things in new ways......
Our dog, Maizy has taught me new levels of conservation though....specifically water which I have stated in my other blog is the next big conservation challenge. (Please turn off the water when brushing your teeth!)
One morning while drying off after a shower, Maizy pushed her head in the door and looked at my feet. Two things meet together in her mind at that moment: 1. Water 2. That smells like Dad! What better things could she imagine?
Since that day, every time I take a shower she comes in and licks my feet. Once my feet are done, she then licks the water off the floor of the bathroom. (I do clean the bathroom so no worries there!)
She is ultimate conservationist....using resources well and enjoying it too! Maybe today we should all look for ways to see things in different ways. You never know, you could possibly find a way to make two things that don't always fit together a great combination!
Thanks Maizy for helping me see things in new ways......
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Time to Wander Back
In an earlier blog post, I wrote about Joe Bednar which you can read here.
Most of us have something in our lives we look back upon and say “I really wish I could do that whole thing over.” For me, that was losing my best friend. His wedding was a breaking point for us. After 10 years, I don’t care who was right or wrong, most likely it is the same as any other situation: a bit of both.
Recently Joe wrote a blog about the whole situation based on a DA song. You can read it here along with the rest of his amazing writing. Joe and my wife (and John Irving of course) are my favorite current writers.
10 years have passed and I feel the loss of not having him in my life. No one can else understand the 13 years that we were best friends. You don’t lose that and not feel a void.
Joe says in his blog that life is sometimes what you wander into. He is right....
I think now is the time for us to wander back…
There are no do-overs in life but Beav, how about a game of wiffle ball with Nate? A minor league baseball game or two? A meal at Friendly’s and time to share the things we missed over the last 10 years?
Pick a weekend and I will be on a plane.
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