1. write text

2. put in pictures      

3. put in podcast, which is sound

Generation X, then you..                    

Many times we think that we are just it. But you need to remember that it has all been done before.

Breaking the bank..         

I parked my car in the casino and walked into the gambling area assured that I  would be here to break the bank. I started betting with small bills with the expectation of warming up and eventually using the enormous amount of cash to fund my larger endeavours. As a consequence, I made a small fortune.

I pushed the first $5.00 into the slot and the machine ate it up and twinkled some numbers on the screen of the slot machine. It was only a 5 cent per bet machine but it was ready and I was also. So the betting and  the action began where immediately lost my first 25 cent, and the machine rewarded me in the second round with a win of 10 cent, and as it would have happened, this went back and forth for about 2 minutes until I discovered that I was down to my last 5 cent, so I checked out, got my receipt,  to show the world that I had made a small fortune from a large fortune.

The house had won again, I knew it would since the percentages were on their side, and who could imagine that it would lose, from the enormous building that was housing the casino and the elaborate shops that we were priviledged to deposit my money. The house never loses.

Gambling is exhilerating and exciting. It is based upon  getting something for nothing. Winning big without working and reaping giant gains with only luck. While anyone can win, millions will lose. I enjoy and pity the overweight, old, terminally ill smokers in the casino, who have made their deposits in the sinkhole that they are basking in. It is interested to see that these people would pour thousands into the sink hole in hopes that perhaps 10 cent would mirculously bounce back up out of the sink hole.

Moral: Gambling is a place to put your deposits without ever expecting to gain anything.

Runner be gone, or feets of speed..    

Anatomy of a runner is simple to understand. For the human, certain stages that builds up to the point of running begins. It begins for the toddler when he is about 4 months old and sometimes ends for the person about in the 80s when he can no longer stand. The toddler progresses as he begins to walk and when he reaches 2 or 3, he discovers that his walking can be modified into a fast walk, which can be interprete as a run. Again the process ends for the other end of the spectrum for the elderly when he realizes he can no long run when he reaches his 70s.

So the process of running can be seen in its developmental period, when a youngsters begins his elementary development in recess play. He discovers that his ambiant stages of running, but only for a short distance, and it proceeds into junior high where he further developes this skill of running, and this process  reaches maturity at the high school level where he/she can run for a sustained period.

Now whether the person carries this skill forward until his 50s and well into his 60s will depend upon how disciplined this person will be. But this skill of running can also serve to be a lucrutive endeveour when he realizes that there others who choses to stand still, while he runs.

This sometimes is preceed with some discussion with the stationary person. For example, “Give me your purse, or hand over your wallet!”, and then the practice of running begins. Other times maybe where there is no discussion and a simple grab and run proceeds.

So how can a stationary person compete against a runner. Simply by looking at their feet. One should note the kind of shoes, the other person is wearing, and a running shoe as opposed to flipflops is an obvious sign of fast intentions. Once noticed, then make precautions to either run yourself or “duck and hide.”

Moral: Watch the feet, it can carry you along way.

Time flies, so does every other event

Daja vu, time masters, time crossroad, and different deminsions are all the same setting in ones mind.  We never can control time, we only control the events that affect us in this framework of time.

It was in one those many ventures that I had when I was in my late 20’s, hunting for a good deal in the quest for a bargain. A Saturday morning, just right after the birds finish calling to each other from the treetops. In retrospect, gas was about 19 cent a gallon and transportation was cheap. The only obstacle was finding  the right item at the right price.

One turn led to another and each stop was the expectation of finding that lost treasure that no one wanted. And it was at this stop, unexpected, that the treasure was found. It was a young lady, clad in blue, fadded overalls, selling her not so precious treasures. She was attractive, smiling, but with the most beautiful blue-green eyes, that I had never seen before. And for a moment, a second, time stood still for me. I was beguiled, in a trance, did not know what to do or say. I wondered how such a beautiful woman could have existed. Thoughts of how Helen of Troy could have moved great number of men to fight wars over her. So awkwardly, I browse around, fumbling through the items for sale and could literally find nothing that would hold my attention, except to look into her eyes. But in a few moment, reality set back, and I was on my way to the next garage sale.

How did time stand still and stop like that? I could still remember the place, the time, the weather, the event. But yet, it was the right crossing of time for me when everything came to a stop, suspended for at least a solid moment. Time masters have imagine this moment and have tried to capture that feeling in their writings. Advertisers try to capture that suspended moment in their ads. And writers try to describe that feeling in their novels, but at last, it is elusive and can only be experienced by those who really experienced that moment in time.

Moral: When it is there, capture the seconds, moments, and enjoy.

Joyce has been married for six years and has a cute little daughter. She plays with her little girl, dresses her up, talks to her and watches her grow. Her husband also enjoys his daughter,  teaching her things that little girls need to know, and his next project is to teach her how to ride the bike.  A very tricky balancing act, but many have done that and she too will learn.

Joyce has a good job that test her talents in sells, negotiation, and marketing. It is a very challenging field and whether she is in China, India, or the US. the rewards and failures are all the same. Her husband’s job is also demanding, calling for him to make sacrifices, like long hours at work and sometimes unreasonable demands by his supervisors. But he will endure it.

After 6 years, the spark of their relationship has now dimmed. Instead of loving looks and touches to each other, their communication  has become quite strained. Their talks now become demands and expectations that are hard to meet, picking up the girl, cooking, cleaning house, and lots social and family demands. The balancing act of riding the bicycle is much easier than the balancing act of keeping the relationship together. 

So now little hints of riff takes place, a casual look at another man, another woman. The grass is always greener on the other side. So while the adage is not always true, because once there, the grass turns brown.

Couples need to rebalance their relationship and examine why they got together in the first place, and discover the joy of renewal. Every day an agreement to meet the challenges of the day,  and every year renew the reasons for getting together.

If not married or committed, imagine what that person is going to look  like and how he/she will behave in 50  years. Awesome image ,indeed,  but necessary to sustain and build a relationship.

Moral: Stop,  look, and listen to your mind before you let your heart go.

When one leaf touch another leaf, it makes a very soothing sound, almost indistinguishable. Yet when many leaves are moved by the wind, the sound is different, quite threatening. If one would listen closely and focus on the sound of a strong wind sweeping through the branches of a tree, the sound is very faint and very erie.

The same kind of sound can be heard when a tornado sweeps down on the plains. It is a concerted whoosing sound that sounds like a large train was running amuck across the land, much like the wind when it sweeps  through a tree.

One leaf falling in the forest makes an inaudible sound, but the swirl of a tornado is very deafening and very destructive.

As one voice cries out into the night for the tragedies in China’s earthquake, or screams about the way our world is getting warmer due to the neglect of human responsibilites, one voice is like a leaf falling in the forest. Yet when all the voices come together to shout the horrors of neglect, then the sound from the tornadoe is a force that bears consideration. By merely speaking, the problems that we see are brought not only to our mind,  but to the mind of others. 

One leaf, one voice is all part of the grand scheme of the universe, and neglect and apathy does not serve to solve problems.