Consider the problematic issues associated with California: earthquakes, fires, epic rain, epic drought, mudslides, unreliable water supply, collapsing economic infrastructure, and too many Chihuahuas. Yes, I said Chihuahuas. That is not an auto-correction. Chihuahuas became a problem for California beginning early in the 2000s when celebrities like Paris Hilton were shown shopping with the little … Continue reading Ay, Chihuahua!
Long Shadows
The people who influence our lives are like shadows. Depending on the slant of the sun’s rays, there are short shadows. These are the people with whom we may interact only once for a matter of hours, yet they leave an imprint on us. They may teach us a lesson we needed to learn or … Continue reading Long Shadows
You Can Never Have Too Much Heart
Hearts…they’re everywhere. A stock photo site I use brings up nearly 5000 possible choices. Facebook attaches a heart to a post you say you love. Over a million heart shapes are used online every day. We see hearts in cloud configurations and in rock shapes. Baristas may add a foam heart as a finishing touch … Continue reading You Can Never Have Too Much Heart
No, Actually I Am NOT Ready for Football
According to Heisman.com, the Heisman Memorial Trophy is an award bestowed on the college football player “whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.” It’s named for John Heisman, legendary coach and “all things football” man who considered legalization of the forward pass in 1906 his greatest contribution to the game because he … Continue reading No, Actually I Am NOT Ready for Football
There’s An Imposter In Our Midst
You read last Tuesday’s article, right? If not, read it here now because it ties into today’s post. Go ahead. We’ll wait for you to catch up. Raise your hand when you’re ready to move on. OK just admit it. You were highly impressed not only by Capt. Sullenberger’s piloting skills, but also his exemplary decision … Continue reading There’s An Imposter In Our Midst
Mayday, Mayday, Mayday
On January 15, 2009, commercial airline pilot Captain Chesley Sullenberger landed an Airbus A-320 on the Hudson River in New York City. It was one of those moments in our country’s fairly recent history that many adults remember with a sense of awe. To support that statement, consider this: the movie that retold the “Miracle … Continue reading Mayday, Mayday, Mayday
It’s Not Always About a Happy Ending
In wrapping up the preparation of a workshop for later this month, my presentation close is, appropriately enough, about endings. Endings are a big deal: We end our babyhood by learning to walk. Our little kid stage ends on the first day of kindergarten. High school or college graduation may be seen as the end … Continue reading It’s Not Always About a Happy Ending
The Pills In The Bottle Go Round and Round
My last post pointed out that in 2017 the pharmaceutical industry spent six billion dollars on direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. It turns out that’s just a quarter of what that industry spent in marketing those same drugs to the healthcare profession. Yep…over 24 billion was spent marketing to doctors in medical journals, at meetings … Continue reading The Pills In The Bottle Go Round and Round
I’ll Meet You In The Bathtub At The Water’s Edge
Advertising…from pop-up ads online to glossy double-page spreads in magazines to television commercials—we can’t seem to escape the constant barrage of companies trying to sell us stuff. In 2017 companies spent 206 billion dollars on advertising in our country. So advertising must work or why would so much money be invested in it? But consider … Continue reading I’ll Meet You In The Bathtub At The Water’s Edge
And It’s Not Even My Birthday
Aren’t unexpected gifts just the best? On birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas or Hanukkah, and other holidays, we are conditioned to be in the receiving mode. On those special days, we are not surprised to find a brightly wrapped package with a big bow or a festive gift bag, tissue paper popping up as if to beckon … Continue reading And It’s Not Even My Birthday