It's that time of year again...

As 2009 comes to an end, I find myself spending a lot of time examining my life. A usual, my end of year evaluation comes up short in my mind, and I struggle with how to handle that feeling. Usually, I identify a bunch of New Year's resolutions that I have no chance of achieving. I wallow in my failures somewhere around the end of the summer, and start the whole process again.

This year I want to try something new. Thanks to the ever growing social networking scene, I want to reach out to all those I have met on Twitter and Facebook and ask for their help. 2010 will be my 44th year on this planet and I want it to be the most interesting, rewarding and satisfying year to date. I want to do that by creating a 2010 Action List. This will be a list of things that I will complete during the course of the upcoming year. The twist? I want all my friends to tell me what will be on that list. You give me the ideas and I will try to achieve them. Big tasks, little tasks, it doesn't matter to me. All I ask is that you make the task attainable. For example I work in Social Services, so clearly I can't afford to take a trip around the world!

Here's what I need from everyone:

1st - I need all my current friends to make suggestions, and more importantly, spread the word to your networks...retweet/suggest my blog to others. I want to make new friends as part of this process.

2nd - I want all the new friends I'm going to make to get to know me a little. Find out what I am like, and then with that information...make suggestions to my list!

3rd - Finally, hold me to my plan! I consider this a social experiment, success requires participation and encouragement. I have observed how Twitter has been used as a sales portal, I want to use it as a success portal. Every friend I have on Twitter and FB will be my personal Life Coaches. How can I fail?

I will periodically post my Action List, as well as my progress. So, that's it...that's what I'm asking for this New Year. Anybody willing to help?

Feel free to Tweet me, message me, or even send me an email at vipertim@gmail.com.

THANK YOU ALL!

The Prisoner - Lock It Up and Throw Away the Key!

This little review of AMC's The Prisoner is nothing more than me being pissed that I can't get any of those 6 hours of my life back! Not only was this mini-series poorly directed, poorly written and poorly acted, but it also lacked any continuity and/or focus whatsoever.

I can live with the fact that the first 2 hour episode was nothing more than a quickfire repeat of the 200 hours of commercials AMC jammed down our throats for this. There was absolutely plot structure (in fact, I would go so far as to say there was no plot at all). Whoever convinced these morons that constant and unexplained flashbacks, flashpresents and hallucinations was the way to go should immediately be transferred to Fox News...they would fit in just right over there.

Let me be clear that I was not expecting much, but I would've liked a reasonable little attention keeper. The wardrobe reminded me of Gilligan's Island, the big bouncing ball was unbelievably ridiculous, and the fact that nothing ever gets fully explained in any intelligible manner was just amateurish. Most of the characters were extremely 2-dimensional (I think on purpose), but several of them could have been explored in a way that certainly would have improved the movie...just as I know that better writing and directing would've elevated this series to at least interesting.

I really have no reason for writing this diatribe except for 2 things that really bothered me at the end of the series. First, AMC immediately starts advertising how we can own this piece of history on DVD...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! They are just a bunch of thieves. But even more criminal, and on this I will not budge...I observed an interesting thing in the closing credits The producers actually credited Jim Caviezel's Acting Coach. ACTING COACH!! Jim Caviezel was a suck actor before this, and he especially polluted the screen in this...I really just have one question for these producers...if you thought this "Acting Coach" was worth crediting, you got another do-nothing job for me?

Thanks to All!!

(Start of the 25 mile race)

I just wanted to thank everyone who donated to the Ride for Kids! It was a beautiful day for the event, and we had the largest number of riders (1100+) ever!! It is of course not too late to donate, just refer to my previous blog post. To all those that did, you have made

a difference in the lives of children.

Thanks again!!

Tim

Rodman Ride For Kids

"It's that time of year again...I need your help!"

Dear Friends

I am writing to ask you to support the Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps by making a contribution to the 2009 Rodman Ride for Kids on September 26. The Rodman Ride for Kids is an annual charity event that takes place in Foxboro. RFK Children's Action Corps has a special relationship with this event: it was our staff that started the Ride as an agency fundraiser in 1989. I think we raised about $8,000. Now, the Ride is overseen by its own separate organization and raises over $6 million to benefit over 24 Massachusetts child-welfare agencies. Over 1,200 riders cycle a 25, 50 or 100-mile route and 400 volunteers (including myself) help out throughout the day.

I have worked for the agency for 5 years. Every day we see kids who face some of life’s greatest challenges. Each year we work with over 900 kids who have been abused, neglected and/or traumatized, helping them through residential counseling, therapy and a solid educational program. That’s why this event is so important to me. Because the Rodman Ride for Kids matches every dollar raised, 15% of each contribution goes directly to the agency. It helps us provide our kids with things that wouldn’t be available to them otherwise, things that other kids might take for granted. RFK Children's Action Corps is sending approximately 150 riders to the event and every member of the staff has pledged to try to raise funds to support them. My personal goal is $500 and I hope you will help by making a contribution. To make a secure online donation, please copy and paste the link below. You may also mail a check (made out to Ride-RFK) to Tim Considine, Rotenberg School, PO Box 724, Westborough, MA 01581.

My friends and colleagues have always been so supportive of this great cause, and I truly appreciate it! Thank you for your support!

Tim

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To visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps, Inc., copy and paste the following into your browser: http://rfk.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=316345&u=316345-259514687

Where was I when...

9/11 -> At home getting ready for work...first heard about it while listening to the Howard Stern show. Turned the TV on in time to see the 2nd plane hit. My TV didn't get turned off for 3 or 4 days after that. I cried for even longer.

Flutie's Hail Mary Pass -> Sitting at my parents house telling my dad that the game isn't over yet. Needless to say, he was in the kitchen and missed it all!

President Reagan Shot -> Hanging out at Highland Variety after school.

Princess Diana Killed -> Laying in bed listening to my old AM/FM headphones.

Ball Through Buckners Legs ('86 World Series) -> Sitting in a tent in the middle of the Mojave Desert. I was in the Army and listening to the game on a transistor radio...with a Mets fan from NYC!!

Challenger Disaster -> Getting ready for an overnight shift as an MP in Bremerhaven Germany.

Magic Johnson Announces He is HIV+ -> Driving through Billerica Center. Very scary news about a virus that we didn't really understand too much about at the time.

Feel free to add to the list...

Dark Skies

Dark skies have been coming,
the clouds have been gathering
The wind is changing;
the barometer is falling;
a chill comes over my body.

I sit here confused.
If I look out my window,
I see the sun shining.
The tree tops are still,
and the birds are singing.

Why can't I hear them?
Why can't I feel the sun's warmth?
These are questions that haunt me.
This is the curse that consumes me.

My world is painted in shades of gray,
devoid of vibrant colors and
absent of joy and direction.

The clouds continue to gather,
the storm is upon me.

Dark skies are here.

Summer Book #1- Completed

I have been a David Baldacci fan for several years, but have just found the time to read this novel. If you like mystery and suspense, I am sure you will enjoy Simple Genius. It is filled with intrigue, misdirection and plenty of page-turning anticipation. I especially enjoy the way Baldacci can involve multiple plot lines in a way that remains intertwined and very easy to follow. Chapters are very short, 4-6 pages generally,which allows for the reader to easily retain the previous actions of the characters. The main characters, Michelle and Sean, are featured n several previous novels...but having read those novels is not a requirement to follow their story.


Baldacci is very good at using actual events and personal profiles to construct a story that is both believable and dare I say even probable! Of course he also adds a healthy dose of conspiracy theory to make things interesting.

MY RATING: A+ (A Must Read!)


The following is taken from davidbaldacci.com:






U.S. Release Date: April 24, 2007

A three-hour drive from Washington, D.C., two clandestine institutions face each other across a heavily guarded river. One is the world's most unusual laboratory, whose goals and funding are a mystery. The other is an elite CIA training camp shrouded in secrecy. Now a man and a woman are about to run a gauntlet between these two puzzle factories, straight into a furious struggle to exploit a potentially world-shattering discovery -- and keep some other secrets under wraps forever...

Former Secret Service agents turned private investigators Sean King and Michelle Maxwell have seen their lives splinter around them. Michelle lies unconscious in a hospital bed after a night of suicidal violence. And Sean is forced to take on a thankless investigation into the murder of a scientist just inside the CIA’s razor-wire fence near Williamsburg, Virginia.
Soon he is uncovering layer after layer of disinformation that shields a stunning world filled with elite mathematicians, physicists, war heroes, spies, and deadly field agents. Amid more murder, a seemingly autistic girl’s extraordinary genius, and a powerful breakthrough in the realm of classified codes, Sean soon learns enough to put his life at risk. Now more than ever, he needs Michelle to help him catch a killer, save an innocent life and solve a stunning mystery that threatens the very soul of the nation.

From Michelle's courageous struggle to defeat her long-buried personal demons to a centuries-old secret that surfaces in the heat of the action, Simple Genius pulses with stunning, high-intensity suspense.

Today's High School Graduates

The time has come for me to bitch and moan once again! I attended a high school graduation this past weekend and was just so disappointed at some of the things I saw. Excuse the "old timer" mentality, but when I was young, graduation was a time to be proud of your accomplishments. It was also a time that was very important for your family...often times because many relatives may not have graduated high school themselves. I saw very little of that pride this day.

I admit that the day started off rather nostalgic, as the ceremony was taking place at the high school football field, just as mine had some 25 years ago (sigh). It was a beautiful day and the sun was in full effect. Caps and gowns were plentiful and parents arms were well-stocked with flowers and gifts galore. My first disappointment came when I noticed that many, if not the majority, of students were wearing a myriad of everyday clothes and sneakers to the ceremony. Now, I am not a stuck-up prude, but I believe you should at least look presentable at such an occasion. Kids wore shorts at my graduation too (it was 90+ degrees that year), but they were dressy shorts with appropriate footwear...not cargo shorts or basketball shorts with flip-flops! Many of the kids were dressed nicely, and I commend them, and their parents for that. I had all but written this off to a sign of the times when I noticed him. He was walking proudly in the procession between several people dressed nicely. He was clearly wearing shorts, as was evident by his pasty white legs, and flip-flops...and was later revealed to be completing the ensemble with a t-shirt! What makes him different than any of the other slacker students you ask? Well, he wasn't a student...he was a TEACHER! I guess it does trickle down from the top.

Well, I figured that I'm only here to support one of the girls I used to work with, so no need to get so concerned. That's when the 2nd punch in the gut took place. As the school band begins playing a surprisingly good version of the National Anthem, I notice several people just ignoring it and still sitting...including my co-worker. As I glared at her, she looked at me and glibly said "I'm not very patriotic" and chuckled. The Army veteran in me only kept from punching her in the face because she was a woman, I was that mad. It's funny, because I know that bitch didn't work on Memorial Day...I guess she's patriotic enough to get a paid day off from work. Needless to say, I moved to the other side of the stadium and all but ignored her the rest of the day. You don't have to wear an American flag to make me happy, but show a little damn respect, and understand what the anthem is all about.

So, if you are still reading my drivel, you must be thinking it can't get much worse...well of course it did. Most graduation ceremonies include several student speakers, and they are generally boring as all hell. They usually spew forth the usual "we will never forget" and "we are the future" lines. This school mus have thought they would do something different. Apparently they found the dumbest rock in the class to speak, and I would insert a blond joke here, except she WAS blond! This brain surgeon-in-training got up and expressed her "fear" of going into the real world and surviving in college. OK, I can understand that, who isn't scared with that proposition? But she didn't cite the fear of college pressure or achieving more difficult goals, no...no...no! She is worried about her dirty dishes! As she claims, and please notice the quotation marks, "I've never made my own bed in my life" and "I don't even know how to load the dishwasher". This was part of her commencement speech. Her parents must be be so proud, and a couple of assholes! She also apologized for not citing current events in her speech because "I've never even read a newspaper, and I don't watch the news". At this point I almost cried. I was witnessing a young lady who, according to this school, was worthy of speaking on behalf of 500+ of her classmates.

Is this what has become of our younger generation? I admit, we were not choirboys when I was growing up, but we certainly had a respect for the way things are done. I couldn't even eat breakfast if I didn't make my bed, and this 18 year old dumb-ass doesn't even know how to make a bed! I was listening to the radio the other day, and the guests were talking about the difference between WWII and the wars we encounter today. Back then, people in the country would sacrifice everything to insure victory over tyranny and aggression. Times were simpler and the focus was unified and stalwart. Today's youth show very little evidence of that determination. We are a much more narcissistic and apathetic country. Freedom and progress are great, but thy come at a cost...our cost is the lack of respect and responsibility we have bred into our youth.

I served 3 years on active duty, and I was lucky enough to have been honorably discharged before the 1st Iraq War. I was ready and willing to fight to defend this country and what it stands for, and so were many of the high school graduates that day (they recognized those going into the military). If you are reading this, I am going to ask you for something in return for my service. If you are under 25 years of age, read about your country's history. Know why we have the freedoms we do, and know what it cost to achieve and preserve those freedoms. Don't just know who won what wars, read about the battles and the people that fought them. Learn about what was at stake and what happened to those countries that didn't stand up to the oppressors. If you are over 25, TEACH the youth of this country. Don't let them become that girl who never read a paper and couldn't make a bed. Teach those younger than you to respect those that came before them. Teach them the basics of please and thank you, and what that might get them in life. Don't let these kids end up screwing everything up. I'm still doing my part...are you?

Here endeth the lesson.

Sanctuary

So, I've been a little depressed lately and I took a well-needed vacation from work. What I needed was a place I could go to just relax and not be annoyed by life passing me by. Well, I certainly found it today...my sanctuary. About 20 minutes from my house is the Tower Hill Botanical Garden (http://www.towerhillbg.org/), a place that I really thought was just another garden. In reality, it is a place where you can enjoy a wide variety of nature experiences. They a have a 1-mile loop walking trail, several different gardens and numerous areas to sit, picnic or just space out!

I discovered this little place set apart from the main area, and the view (picture above) was just so peaceful. There was nobody else there, and I hope it stays that way, because I plan on making it my home away from home. It's a place I can go to do some reading, or more importantly, some thinking. I really need to take stock of my life...where I'm going and where I need to be. I wish I knew exactly what I need to focus on, but I suppose there wouldn't be any problems if I knew the answer to that question.

So, over the next few months, if I'm missing from twitter, or facebook, or anywhere else...this is most likely where I will be!

Star Trek Review & My Summer Reading

I don't go to the movies that often, I think the prices are ridiculous. However, I grew up during a time when the original Star Trek TV series was considered cutting edge...so I just had to see the new Star Trek movie. I went with a healthy ounce of skepticism, expecting to be underwhelmed. I am a huge movie nut, and I tend to watch with a critical eye, especially if the movie is a remake of some kind. Well I can sum up my experience in one, elongated, hyphenated word: UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE!!

I was not just pleasantly surprised, I was downright impressed. I knew the premise going in, but was worried how they would provide a back story for a franchise that has reached every corner of the TV and Movie world (both for better and for worse). I was happy that they pretty much maintained the known history of the original crew. Even things that were changed were done so in a way as to acknowledge they were changed, and in a plausible way to be believable. The movie is just peppered with nostalgic references to both the series and some of the movies. Of course I found myself and a few others being the only ones laughing a few times, but that was because we got the inside joke...that just made it even funnier. I won't include any examples, so as not to spoil it for those of you that have yet to see the movie.

I particularly appreciated the fact that this film did not rely on the Klingons to play any role whatsoever. Instead, the villains were Romulans, and they were portrayed in a way that was very creative, albeit a little contrived. Special effects were plentiful and impressive, even if they were poorly edited at times. I thought it was interesting how they tried to update the technology of the late 60's sci-fi genre, while clearly making it interesting and flashy. I also like how some of the things they left to look exactly how they were back then (shuttle craft and transporter for example).

The best part of the movie was the cast, as it should be in all films. The producers hit a home run with these people. Usually, I am not a big fan of actors imitating the original characters from other movies. I prefer they find their own voice and create their own version of the character. But in the case of this movie, imitation WAS the sincerest form of flattery!! This cast did a superb job of mimicking their counterparts, and still were able to put their own signatures on the performance. The original series was so campy and the cast so over dramatic, that a remake that did not include that would have been disappointing I think! Exceptional performances were put in by the actors that portrayed Spock and McCoy, simply incredible. The only disappointment was the dude that played Chekhov...although his accent was hysterically funny.

Overall - Great Job!! I will be very disappointed (and shocked) if there are not at least 2 or 3 movies in the making. This is clearly the birth of yet another Star Trek franchise.

SUMMER READING

I used to read books like they were going out of style. As I got older and busier, and with the growth of the Internet, I have barely picked up a book in recent years (maybe 1 or 2 a year). I am devoting this summer to reading as much as I can. I love reading, it allows me to immerse myself in a story, or to let me feed my passion for history. So, if anybody really cares, here is my summer reading list:

Simple Genius - David Baldacci (In progress)

The Associate - John Grisham

Heinrich Himmler
(The Sinister Life of the Head of the SS and Gestapo) - Manvell/Fraenkel

Hidden Heroism (Black Soldiers in America's Wars) - Robert B. Edgerton

Twilight of the Long-ball Gods
(Dispatches from the Disappearing Heart of Baseball) - John Schulian

That should keep me busy...

Buzz Buzz...It's a Spelling Bee!

Flipping between the Red Sox and Magic games, I happened to come across the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee. First of all, why is it on ESPN2...is this a sport?? Sameer Mishra was the 2008 winner, and yet still no Gatorade commercials?? Bring back Australian Rules Football!! Sorry I digress...

Anyhoooo...what is the real benefit to these things? OK, so these kids can spell circles around the average person, but do they even know what the words mean? Obviously, the answer is no, since every kids asks the definition of the word! Personally, I don't need to know how to spell words whose meaning I don't know...because chances are I'll never use them in a sentence!! Then there is the geek factor. There is certainly nothing wrong with being a geek, but these poor kids are on track to being super-geeks! I think I actually saw one with a pocket protector!

What kind of life are the parents of these kids allowing them to have? They spend every waking moment for years studying the spelling of words. In Sameer's case, his sister is also a past winner, and between the two of them it was 7 years of studying spelling words! Sheesh...let a kid be a kid why don't you. The pressure is immense, and yet, these kids just keep plugging away, all the while the eyes of their parents boring into them from the side of the stage.

But there is one thing that puzzles me more than anything else. Why is it that despite all the things I noted above, when they finally announce a winner, I get a little choked up seeing the smile on his or her face? Hmmm...guess I'm just a big softy!!

(But it still shouldn't be on ESPN2!!)

Memorial Day - Remembering Heroes

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. We all know what that means to the majority of America these days...cookouts, campfires and carnivals. It's considered the unofficial start of summer and a time to start heading to the shore for some sun and fun. Isn't that just a shame? There is nothing wrong with any of those things, in fact I've been known to enjoy a hot dog or two myself. However, does anybody really put any thought into what this day is really all about? If you take out people over 50 (which I am not) and veterans (which I am), the rest of American society probably doesn't give this day a second thought.

When I drive by a cemetery and see hundreds of American flags, I don't think how pretty it looks. I recognize that they mark the graves of men and women that gave their lives for ME! These men and women died so that I can have the freedom to think and say just about whatever I want, and so that 10 other people could have the freedom to disagree with me 10 different ways. I don't think I personally know anybody that has died in war, and they certainly did not know me...but still, they laid down their life FOR me.

I have taken many trips in my life, but I have visited 2 places that have left me particularly inspired, in awe and tearful. The first was Arlington National Cemetery. I defy you to visit there and not cry. Looking out over a sea of white crosses, and thinking about what each of those crosses represents took my breath away. The second place was Gettysburg National Battlefield. It is the only place in the world I have ever been where I swear I could actually hear the voices and the battles while I stood in an empty field...it gave me chills several times over. If you need to look up either of these places on wikipedia, don't be embarrassed, just do it...please know our history!

The word hero is thrown around an awful lot these days, and most of the time it is used poorly. To call a basketball player, an actor or a musician a hero is to lessen the importance of the word. Every man and woman who has ever given their life in defense of this country is a HERO! They are not heroes because they died, but because they knew they might. Did you ever wonder what went through the minds of these people as they prepared to perform the final tasks of their lives? I'd be willing to bet that most were terrified. I doubt any of them intended to die, but many knew they would, that's a hero. Many have died trying to save others who themselves died for their country, or protecting innocent people who just got caught in the middle. Again, those are heroes.

What I am asking everybody to do is very simple, and doesn't take much effort at all. Tomorrow, as you sip your beverage of choice, and you decide what condiments to put on the burger, take a few seconds to remember why you have the day off. If your favorite ball player gets a big hit in the game, correct anyone that might refer to them as a hero. If you have children, teach them about those that made our way of life possible, and if you don't know yourself...find out!!

I hope everyone enjoys the Memorial Day holiday, but keep in mind we are still fighting a war in two countries. How many more "heroes" will be created before we see the end in Iraq and Afghanistan? God bless our soldiers.

Some thoughts on golf...

As I sit here and look out over the rolling green landscape of the local golf course, I wonder why it is that so many of us are drawn to this funny little game. I know why I like other sports. I know that I am drawn to baseball for the history and the intricacies of the game; and I enjoy hockey for the pace and the grittiness of the players. Football appeals to the warrior instinct within each of us, and boxing to the aggression we all spend so much time suppressing. Even horse racing, where the animals are the real athletes, I admire for the majesty, beauty and power of the horses. But golf? I just can't figure it out.

Don't misunderstand me, I thoroughly enjoy the game, even if I am financially precluded from playing it as often as I would like. I just don't know WHY I like it. Why would anybody want to spend half the day hitting a tiny ball with a piece of metal, especially when they miss what they are aiming for more often than not? Of course, it can be good exercise...when you walk the course, but most of us prefer carts (don't lie). As I alluded t before, it is not a cheap sport to play. You need special shoes, clubs that fit you, balls, and don't forget the clothes! Oh boy the clothes. At least they are getting more stylish, you don't see too may plaid pants or knickers anymore!!

Maybe if I played more, I could come up with the definitive answer on why I enjoy it. There is a feeling of satisfaction in reading a green just right and sinking a long putt. Sometimes you drive the ball and you can tell by the sound it makes that you nailed it...that's always nice too. Even if you do poorly on a hole, you have 17 other holes to do better on. Of course if you door poorly on all of them, you're screwed!

I just looked out the window again, and I think I have it. The sun just peeked out through the clouds and there's a little more blue sky over the fairways. I just realized...for me, it's not the game itself, but where it's played! Every course is unique, and most are thing of beauty...a work of art if you will. Mot sports are contested in a confined space, but golf is spread out over a spacious area. Each hole is a different landscape. Rolling hills, beautiful trees, babbling brooks, and wildlife galore (humans excluded)...that's what does it for me. As mad as I can get after a poor shot, it goes away pretty quickly when you are in the midst of a particularly tranquil setting. Yup, that's the answer I'm going with, and I can't really think of anything better. Fore!

Interesting Sculptures

I visited a very tranquil place today...The Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA. It sits on 200 acres of beautiful orchards and farms, and contains, Shaker, Native American and American art exhibits. It was very quiet and just what I needed to get away for some alone time (something I am finding I need more and more each day). Although the sun was in and out, it was still a wonderful day to be outside. The artwork and exhibits are a record a mid-19th century utopian experiment, one of many such experimentsaround the country, but the only one remaining. The experiment only lasted half a year or so, but the patriarch of the founding family was none other than Louisa May Alcotts father. Interestingly enough, another famous writer spent time at this site...Henry David Thoreau.

My favorite displys at the museum, by far, were the brilliantly creative outdoor sculptures by Joseph Wheelwright. Wheelright has created a number of Tree Figures that are as inspired as they are large! From what I understand, dug up trees from his personal property in Vermont, turned them upside down, and sculpted the heads from the root bulbs of the tree...simply wonderful. It was just genius the way he used natural resources to create humanistic figures that bring you back to he natural resources...they also reminded me a lot of old fantasy and cartoon shows where the trees come to life. Here's a couple of the tree figures:

There were several more, but I think I have been able to show a good representation of his work. I encourage people in the area to check them out for yourself. I think they are there until November. (I'll post all my pics on my facebook page if you are interested. See link below)

Finally, although I did not take advantage of them this time, there are several miles of trails and plenty of possible picnic areas to enjoy. Overall, a nice day was had by me!

10 Minutes That Made My Week

I feel the need to share a special10 minutes of my day with those that are interested:

For those that don't know, I work for a non-profit agency at a juvenile justice program for adolescent girls. Teenage girls can be very difficult to work with, and many people ask me how I do it. Usually I respond by saying that my heart has always been about youth services...I've been doing it for over 10 years (20 if you count coaching kids!). However, I always have those days that just make me feel angry or dejected or downright hopeless. The stories I could tell are full of heartbreak, trauma, turmoil, poverty, abuse, neglect..the list goes on. I am looked at as the paternal figure of the program, and for many of the girls, the only positive male figure they have.

Every once in a while, even this stern "tough" guy breaks down and sheds a tear or two. Usually it is while listening to the stories of the girls we work with, but every once in a while it is because of what the girls accomplish. Today I watched 5 of "my" girls put on an African drumming presentation to a visiting Kenyan Bishop. These are girls that generally can't do much for any length of time without distraction/disruption, and yet they created this wonderful presentation on their own and presented it to a group of perfect strangers. The girls had less than 2 hours of practice oer 2 days, and were nervous as all heck! When it was time to perform, they nervously set up their drums in the middle of a 25 person circle, and proceeded to play the most inspired and wonderful drum beats you can imagine.

When they finished their 2 songs, everyone present demanded an encore...and were rewarded with one. The looks on the faces of these girls during and especially after they placed was priceless. The sense of accomplishment and pride in what they had done, although minor to most, was priceless to them. In their world of constant failure and low self-esteem, they not only tasted success, but also realized they liked what they tasted.

I admit, my eyes welled up a little. Even though things are not great in the program right now, and the girls will always be a challenge...during that 10 minutes I was reassured. I knew I was doing what I needed to do in this world. Those 10 minutes, and the looks on those girls' faces, are why I do what I do!

Why?

I saw a little girl lost in the store yesterday,

I thought "Why doesn't somebody help that child?"

I passed a group of teens doing drugs in the park last week,

I thought "Why doesn't somebody help those kids?"

I read about a group of kids who lost their youth center last year,

I thought "Why doesn't somebody help those children?"

I looked at myself in the mirror this morning,

I thought "Why didn't I help?"

Have you helped a child lately?

Boston Sports Fans - A Special Breed

Being a Boston Sports fan, I expect to take a lot of grief...especially from New Yorkers. But isn't that what it is all about? Only fans from New York, or Chicago, or L.A. and maybe a few other places can really understand why we are how we are. The thrill of the game PLUS the "us vs. the world" attitude is what elevates the average fan into a parochial fanatic. Boston fans are not satisfied with a win, we need to make a statement. We relish when one of our rivals loses, even when we lose ourselves. Our rivalries carry over into everyday life...in schools, at work even at department stores. What Sox fan hasn't gotten pissed when they see a Yankees hat on the same display rack with anything Red Sox!

I know the rest of the country gets upset when ESPN shows their 22nd Sox/Yankees game, but why do you think they do that? You never know what is going to happen, but it is a good bet it won't be boring! I'm sorry if they don't show enough Kansas City Royals games. Let's face it, you could walk around Boston AND New York and probably not find 100 Oakland A's fans. But when the Sox are in Oakland, it seems like a third of the stadium is filled with Sox fans! It's the same across the Major Leagues...Sox fans can still sound louder than Tampa fans and they made it to the Series last year!!

The best thing about being a Boston fan is sometimes we just get spoiled. Last night I sat in a pub with 18 TV screens going...6 had the Bruins game, 6 had the Celtics and 5 had the Sox (1 had VH-1 on...don't ask!!!). The Boston sports gods have blessed us with 2 teams in the playoffs and another starting to hit their stride into the season. Let me tell you that every possible emotion known to exist was exhibited in that pub last night. From the way the Bruins took the 'canes to school, to Jason Bay doing it once again for the Sox, and of course, the last second clutch shot by Big Baby that showed that the Celtics weren't just going to roll over...it was electric.

Last night was just something your average fan from Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Raleigh, Seattle or most other places around the country could not possibly experience. And if you can't experience it, I can certainly see why you can't understand it. It really is quite special being a Boston sports fan. (By the way, the Celtics should have won by about 12 pts....see - never satisfied!!)

My Favorite Quote

To laugh often, and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
To gain the appreciation of honest critics
and to endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a little better;
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Greetings...

This is the first of what I hope will be many periodic posts. I have reached a point in life where I have done much, helped many, and yet don't really know what I have to show for it. Hopefully this blog will help as I search for clarity. I also want to use this space to share what I find to be interesting tidbits from my travels around the web. I hope visitors will find this blog at least interesting. Please comment and join me in my quest...

As my first contribution, I want to share what I consider to be the true meaning of heroism and insperation:

http://www.philpacker.com/index.php