Happy Saint Patrick's Day!



The Day Our Hearts Rejoice
The month is March, the day Seventeen.
Let's skip and dance on Erin's green, All on St. Patrick's Day.
http://stpattysday2013.com/....



~Traditional Gaelic Blessing~

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Leprechaun with Pot of Gold
http://fineartamerica.com/....
Photograph by Oleksiy Maksymenko
No Copyright Infringement Intended

I have never been one to drink very much, and it can often be cold in Minnesota in mid-March, so the whole idea of standing outside and watching a parade holds little appeal for me.  Because of this, March 17 is really just another day on the calendar, other than that I have a family member who celebrates her birthday today.

Nevertheless, it is interesting to see how others observe it.  Does Saint Patrick's Day have any significance to you?  If so, how do you celebrate it?  Please feel free to share your comments below.

Taking Action Instead of Just Complaining

Snow Plow in Washington, D.C. photographed April 2003
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowplow
Public Domain

The snow plowing on the street on which my Mom lives has been sub-par this year, but because of a combination of complicated weather patterns and residents who have consistently not complied with regulations to move their vehicles during snow emergencies, I can not place all of the blame onto our Public Works Department.  Believe me, I have called them after every snowfall this year to complain about the conditions, but all of the conversations have ended with me saying "I completely understand.  Thank you for your time."  Thinking that taking the argument to the citizenry will have some influence, I sent a letter to our local newspaper's editor, in the hopes that she will publish it.  

Here is a copy of the letter.  In the interest of my own privacy, I have changed some of the street names.  It goes without saying that the version I sent to the editor identified the actual locations.

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My Vehicle Parked at an Angle on 03/16/2013

The plowing in some parts of Black River Falls has been inconsistent with the quality to which I have become accustomed over the fifteen or so years that members of my family and/ or I have lived here. Two specific areas that I have in mind are some spots on East Main Street between South Roosevelt  Road and Winnebago Avenue, as well as North 6th Street between Monroe and Harrison Streets.

It is my understanding that the first snowfall of the season set the stage for significant problems, as a thick ice layer formed, making it difficult to clear the streets effectively.  I applaud our city's Public Works Department for their efforts in the face of these complications; however, as subsequent snowfalls have fallen, the concept of "curb-to-curb" plowing has become less and less of a reality.  On North 6th Street, I find myself having to park either far outside the solid white line demarcating the parking lane or positioning my vehicle at an ever-increasing angle. 

The Vehicle Parked Behind Me on 03/16/2013
Note that its position is significantly outside the parking lane.

Responsibility for this does not fall solely upon our public servants, however, as some members of  the public themselves have not moved their vehicles during snowfalls, necessitating that plows go around them, leaving snow to accumulate and compact.

We must work in partnership with each other and with our governmental service providers in order to create something  that is not just a place to live, but that is a community.  When individuals act outside of that goal, it compromises the quality of life both for themselves and for others.

I hope that the winter of 2012 - 2013 is an anomaly in this regard, and that we can all conduct ourselves with a greater good in mind throughout the future.

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One of my Mom's neighbors writes letters to the editor quite frequently, and almost all of the time, he just comes off like an angry and confused elderly man. I, on the other hand, tried to be respectful in my approach and indicate that there is a shared responsibility in this matter.

Have you ever written a letter to the editor?  Was it published?  Did you spark a conversation?  Do you read the editorials in your local newspaper(s)?  In this age of online interaction, do you even buy the newspaper anymore?  Please feel free to share your comments below.

One Aspect of Myself of Which I am Extremely Proud

At the American Red Cross with My Phlebotomist, Shaunda
Photo Taken September 2, 2011
Thanks to Medical Assistant Jeannine for Taking the Photo

I donated blood earlier today at the American Red Cross and am scheduled to give my fifty-sixth donation, equaling a total of seven gallons, on May 10th.

It all started with a wrong number....

Shortly after my Dad passed away (on December 18, 2003), I answered a telephone call at home, and the caller was a representative from the American Red Cross looking for the people who had that telephone number previously.  She went on to explain that her reason for calling was to ask them to donate blood.  After providing her with the new number, it occurred to me that I should donate too, and so a commitment was born.  With a few exceptions because of holidays, scheduling conflicts, and one four-month deferral*, I have donated every fifty-six days for the last nine years.



The need is constant.  The gratification is instant.  Give blood.
Image obtained from http://www.wiu.edu/....
No Copyright Infringement Intended



*I have a seizure disorder, and in September 2004, I had a seizure and was instructed at that time not to donate again until January 13, 2005.

Since each donation can save up to three lives, I have to date helped to save as many as 165 lives, and there is no greater reward in the world than that, at least not for me.

For more information about the American Red Cross and donating blood, please see their websites at http://www.redcross.org/ and  http://www.redcrossblood.org/,  their Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/redcross and https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossBlood, and their Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/RedCross.

Have you ever received a "wrong number" call, and it turned out to be something really important to you?  Have you ever placed such a call?  Please share your comments below.

I Wish You Peace

Saint Francis of Assisi
Original Artist Unconfirmed
http://www.catholic.org/

~Prayer of Saint Francis~

Lord, make an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. 

Amen

 

I share this prayer today, not to impose Catholicism or Christianity upon anyone, but to ask you to examine the words of this the prayer.  If you don't like the word prayer, then think of it as poetry.  Please read them aloud, listen to them, and take them to heart.

 

I see a great many situations that degenerate from righteous indignation to bullying, with intolerance, anger, and utter disdain along the way. 

 

Redemption, by Ric Larson
Welded Steel on Stone
http://fineartamerica.com/....
No Copyright Infringement Intended

When someone does not meet my expectations, the first thing that I have to examine myself.  Am I being realistic and reasonable?  Does the person have the faculties and the tools to fulfill what I wanted?

Assuming that the answer to both of those questions is "Yes," someone is going to hear about it, but not until I confirm the root cause of the problems - poor planning or faulty execution.

We have the right to express frustration.  While I would never wish to take that away from anyone, my concerns are relative to the manner in which people conduct themselves.  Swearing does not go very far with me, and it often causes me to dismiss arguments wholesale.

If someone genuinely fails, we must hold them accountable for that and provide them with definitions of our expectations.  After that, additional mentions in context are merited in order to share cautionary wisdom with others; however, when those mentions come out of context, when the matter becomes an inside joke, when they just don't stop...  then it becomes bullying.

 

In spite of the very real hurt that we may feel, we must be better than to inflict that upon others.  Otherwise, it festers and gains a life of its own, defining us, consuming us.  There must come a time for redemption - or silence.

 

However you handle it, I hope that it is in such a way that you are able to find peace.

How do you feel about this?  How do you process dissatisfaction, anger, and hurt?  How do you help others to get through their frustrations?  Please share your comments below.

Viva il Papa!

Pope Francis I appears on the central balcony of Saint Peter's
Photo Credit:  Peter Macdiarmid/ Getty Images
Photo Obtained From http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2013/mar/13/pope-francis-life-in-pictures#/?picture=405548058&index=0
No Copyright Infringement Intended

I know very little about Pope Francis I, but my first impressions are very positive.  I like the fact that he is a Jesuit and that, while Ignatius might correspondingly have been an obvious choice (Saint Ignatius of Loyola founded the Jesuit order on September 27, 1540), he selected the name Francis.  The fact that he has a degree in chemistry shows that he is a man of science in addition to being a man - the man - of faith.  Initial analysis reveals that his lifestyle as a Cardinal in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was not one of opulence, but of humility, and his first appearance on the world stage seemed to be consistent with that.

The Catholic Church has a great many matters to consider going forward,  and while each of those has overwhelming importance, I want to focus upon today as a day for celebration - and hope.  Please join me in wishing Pope Francis I every success in leading the world's 1.1 billion Catholics.  

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Enthusiasms. Enthusiasms. Enthusiasms.

"A Mermaid," by John William WaterhouseOil on Canvas, 1901
http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/....
Public Domain

Anyone who gets to know me for even a very short while will know that I have two big interests - mermaids and burlesque.  Some people don't fully understand either one of those, and it is not my goal today to explain or defend my pastimes, except to say that there is much more to me than any one facet might suggest.

For example, two of my other passions are wineries and stage theater, and my home state of Minnesota affords me a wealth of outlets in both cases.

In all of my pursuits, the key word is "community," as I try to be as involved  and encouraging as possible.  It is often the case that I will develop an online relationship with a person or a business long before meeting or patronizing them, and when the propitious moment finally arrives, they recognize me before I introduce myself.  That is always a heartwarming moment for me, as it is universally the case that people will express appreciation for my support.

Burlesque (2010)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1126591/
No Copyright Infringement Intended

There is a fine line between enthusiasm and obsession though, and I do my level best to be on guard for signs of that within my own behavior.  When I recognize it in others, it makes me bristle and causes me a great level of personal discomfort.  I have two examples of this, one personal and one professional.

Long before creating my Facebook profile, I was well aware of one of my former classmates and his daily stream-of-consciousness posts, and how he allegedly put everyone into hysterics.  It was specifically because of him that I waited until October 5, 2010 to open a Facebook account, and soon after that, I began to see his daily posts on a mutual friend's wall.  Note well that "Michelle," as I call her (not her actual name), is a married woman, and that the "gentleman" in question is single.

My favorite drink is "Michelle-o shots."

"The Michelleminator" - my new name for Michelle as she blasts through the walls of unwanted carbs and calories.

My favorite band is Michilli Vanilli.

I would like to see The Simpson's version of Michelle sometime.

One time, Michelle expressed interest in going to the Maldives.  The response?  "Why do you want moldy olives?"  I was not amused.  It was as though she just couldn't have one thing for herself without his having to hijack it somehow.

Garvin Heights Vineyards LLC, Winona, Minnesota
http://www.ghvwine.com/grapes.html
No Copyright Infringement Intended

This involvement in Michelle's life seemingly never ended, and it actually compromised my ability to enjoy Facebook for a time, because I always found myself wanting to come to Michelle's defense - something which, I should add, she never asked me to do.  Although it was not finally my place to take on those concerns, it was nonetheless frustrating, as the whole thing reminded me of various incidents that ultimately led to the dissolution of my marriage.    Thankfully, that was not a concern for Michelle.   Since the former classmate was unreceptive to my uneasiness on this and several other matters, we are no longer Facebook friends, and in-person encounters at larger gatherings are brief and  forced.

Just as I know Michelle personally, we all "know" news anchors in some sense, given that they appear on our television screens, in our living rooms, every night.  Just as with the observations made about my friend, I witnessed something similar unfold on a local television journalist's Facebook profile.

Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota
http://www.hennepintheatretrust.org/....
Photo Credit:  Mark Vancleave
No Copyright Infringement Intended

One night, I was watching the news, and the anchor - let's call her Linda Belton -  captured my attention, so I opened Facebook to see if she had a fan page.  What I found instead was that she has a personal profile, on which hundreds of members of the public have become her "friends."  Scrolling through the past week of updates, I noticed that one person's name kept appearing over and over, and his writings seemed alternately strange and off-putting to me.

Hey, L-Bell.  You rocked the lodge tonight! 

Loved the earrings you had on tonight, L-Bell!

Rocking the lodge in a yellow blouse!  L-Bell:  an anchor with integrity.

Animotion (Performers of 1984's Obsession )
http://www.animotion-obsession.com/frontpage
Cropped Without Permission
No Copyright Infringement Intended

Never having met Ms Belton in person, it seemed awkward to me to ask her to be my Facebook friend, and I knew that seeing these posts on an almost daily basis would cause no end to my chagrin.  It all became a moot point for Linda Belton after she accepted an opportunity in another market a few months ago, but the man continues to post similar comments on other broadcasters' walls, incessantly calling each one by some pet name that he has contrived.  Speaking very candidly, the guy creeps me out, and his demeanor reminds me very much of the faint memories that I have of the 1982 Morgan Fairchild movie The Seduction.  Thankfully, it is my understanding that the personalities and the stations are well aware of the situation.

The Seduction (1982)
http://www.amazon.com/....
No Copyright Infringement Intended

In closing, let me acknowledge the fact that it would be extremely easy to ignore comments of the sort that I describe above, to accept them as the input of troubled minds, or to consider them with the humor that so many of my peers do.  For me, however, it is just not that simple.  I see interest that becomes obsession and even harassment, and my natural inclination to help, deflect, re-direct, or deter comes into play.  This is further complicated by the fact that I detest cross-chat between commenters.  Apart from further taking the thread away from the original intent of the person who posted the update, cross-chat is completely pointless, unless the people involved stay on the thread and are committed to arguing with someone else.  Whenever I see a hijacked thread now,  my only options are to walk away and to communicate through behind-the-scenes channels.

We all see posts and comments that rub us the wrong way.  How do you handle them?  Do you let them bother you?  Do you say anything, or does it make you cringe when people cross-chat?

Please feel free to share your comments below.

The Great Green Challenge

KARE 11 Great Green Challenge
Image Obtained from http://www.kare11.com/....
Copyright 2013 by KARE.  All Rights Reserved.
No Copyright Infringement Intended

The NBC affiliate in the Twin Cities area, KARE 11, launched an eleven-week initiative called the "Great Green Challenge" on February 5.  In weekly segments, meteorologist Laura Betker has been providing ideas for businesses to adopt simple and effective methods for reducing, reusing, and recycling.  

Six weeks into the challenge, there have been some excellent recommendations:

1)    Identifying someone to lead the charge, and for that person to establish partnership throughout the organization.

2)  Making sure that recyclable items such as beverage cans and bottles are actually recycled, and not simply thrown away.

3)  Not printing unnecessary documents, and using double-sided printing otherwise.

Laura Betker
Image Obtained from  http://www.kare11.com/....
Copyright 2012 by KARE.  All Rights Reserved.
No Copyright Infringement Intended.

4)  Confirming that the process is visible and accessible to everyone by providing a sufficient number of recycling bins.

5)  Donating and reusing unwanted items.

6)  Using (and washing) silverware for meals served during staff meetings instead of disposable plastic flatware.

I would encourage everyone to adapt and adopt these recommendations within our own homes as well.  In the apartment complex where I live, for example, we have placed a recycling bin in the clubhouse, and the 96-gallon containers at our central collection points have been replaced with four cubic foot bins.  No longer are people stacking recyclables in the driveway and running the risk of them scattering in the wind, nor are people just throwing up their hand and placing recyclables in with the trash.

For more information about KARE 11's Great Green Challenge, please go to this link:   http://www.kare11.com/news/greenchallenge/default.aspx.  They are working in partnership with a company called Rethink Recycling, about whom more can be found here:  http://www.rethinkrecycling.com/businesses/recycling-disposal-info.

Do you see opportunities for improvement in your own household or workplace's conservation efforts?  How will you take action to implement your observations?  Please feel free to share your comments below.

I will provide a recap of the Great Green Challenge at the end of the eleven-week period. Special thanks to Ms Betker and to KARE 11 for underscoring the importance of this matter.  Please join me in applauding the initiative.