LOST IN TIME OR ARE WE LOSING IT

                      Ever notice that at times time goes so slow and other times it goes by so fast . I always wonder wonder why that is . Remember when we were young the school year went so slow , it seemed summer would never get here . When it did it flew by . Now that we are older it seems the years just fly by . There never seems to be enough time . It just goes to show how important right now is , how procrastination is a urge that needs to be fought . With some of us that hard thing to do . Wasted time is opportunities lost , some of which will give you feelings of regret the rest of your life . Those chances will never come back and you can not make up for lost time . You can only work with what time you have , what is done with it is up to you . I know I have wasted more than my share time , and it came with many regrets .
                  What comes to mind this statement , BE HERE NOW . I do not know where I am leading my self with this thought . I only now have as of lately been thinking a lot about this . Shoot it seems as if at least to me that we just began this year ,and and now it is almost over . Christmas will be here before we know it . We have so little time , and how to best use it ,is probably the oldest question in time . I often wonder am I doing the right thing or am I just passing time . Change that you can not pass time , it only passes you by never to return . See how important it is that time be used and occupied by our actions . Insuring that either forward progress ,or lasting memories are being made . Sitting in front of a TV , Game console , our computers , or staring at our smart phones are just ways of using time if not being used for making some kind of progress .
                   I am not saying I have any of the answers , if fact I don't  . All I am doing is putting the thought out here . Because I am still looking for the answer ,if there is one to be found . I do not presume that there is a one size fits all answer out there . There may not be . The answer may be in us to be found for our own needs . Now that I put the thought out there , now to let it go and see what happens to it . I do want to hear others thoughts and opinions .

MY DAD , SOME OF WHAT HE HAS TAUGHT ME

ROBERT DALE ROME USN [RETIRED ]
FEBUARY 1930 TO JULY 4 , 2013

              This week I have been thinking about the lessons I learned from my dad as I grew up . The first of which that came to mind is when I was a freshman in high school . I went out for our schools football team with grand illusions of becoming the big man in school .
                You got to understand that it was a hopeless cause for me . I was a scrawny 5'10 at 145 lbs. I could put on any weight even if tried , man did I try , I ate every thing that was not nailed down . In our house there was no such thing as left-overs .
         Well back to  what I started telling you about ,lessons learned. I went through the practices in the hot August's of Michigan . It was hot that summer all you had to do is walk across the practice field and you were soaked . As went into the beginning of the season I came to the realization I was not that good .
              In one of the first games the coach put me in . I don't remember what play it was I do remember I was on defense . Some how I ended up in a neck and neck race with the ball carrier .It was as if I was playing tag with him . He ran  a good way down the field , thankfully he ran out bounds and did not make the touch down , I just frooze I could not make that tackle , I could not bring myself to sacrifice my body to do it . Some how I could not bring my self  to tackle this man . Needless to say ,coach pulled out of the game and I got a royal but chewing from him to . What it boiled down to is he sat me on the bench and told me not get up from it either .
                 While sitting there I had made up my mind I was going to quit . After the game Dad picked me up from the locker room to bring me home . I mentioned to him that I was thinking of quiting the team . He explained why I shouldn't , He said if I did , I would regret doing so . I would be having all these what if's running through my head the rest of my life . Also if I did I would doing so every time it got rough in my life .
                 He went every one of my games , I may not of played very much but he was there none the less . The position I held was End , Guard , and Tackle . I sat at the end of the bench , Guarded the water bucket and  tackled any one who got near it . My dad would show up with an antique car horn , and it was loud ,too . Every one at the field knew he was there . Dad and Mom just enjoyed going to the games every week .
              The lesson I learned though was just to hang in there ,till the job was done . What it was I have done with every job I have had since then . I have always stuck it out with my job's a couple of years or more . I have found that that had payed off in the long run . It always looked good on my resume's . It the small lessons that your dad gives that mean the most .

A GREEN WAY

            I was going to write about the farmers market near where I work ,but on my way I noticed something on my way there . The buzz of activity on the green the runs in front of the hospital where I work . .
            There are the couples going for their mourning walk , the people walking their dogs , the joggers and power walkers . As I walked down down the green way that mourning I saw other things that make this such a busy place .It came to mind that I often in the mourning when I get of work I walk it to wind down from a nights work .
         ONE . This walk way runs along a busy road that runs into a residential area .
        TWO. It leads into a real nice park with baseball diamonds , a play ground for little ones , a nature museum with nature trails , a large pond , a band stand with seating and plenty of picnic tables around the park . Oh yes can't forget about the tennis courts .I use to bring my daughter there when she was little girl often . She loved to feed the ducks and the walk around the pond ,even playing around near the train .

        THREE . As I mentioned earlier there's the farmers market across the street , this place is abuzz with activity all day long and two blocks away there is the county market that is open most of the week and all year long . There's the vegetable's , fresh baked cakes and pies ,plants and hand made quilts .
In fact when it first opened I found some Rhubarb there ,which I had not had in a long time . Oh yes , can not leave out the the jams ,jelly's and the fresh apple cider in season .
       FOUR . It runs in front of the hospital where it can provide a place of some respite for the staff and family members of patients . I think it adds to the look of the hospital .
      FIVE . There are a few places that have a mix of shopping and restaurants along the way . My favorite is  the Baskin Robbins and Dunkin doughnuts a short walk down the walk way near the hospital . Every so often I would stop by and get some doughnuts and hang out ,sitting at one of the many benches .
       There is plenty of activity along this green way . They , during the spring also have a festival of art in the park .That runs all along this walk way right up into the park it leads to . Oh yea I have failed to mention this walkways name . Sugar Creek Green Way which runs for twenty miles through Charlotte NC . To me this is one of Charlotte's treasures . I enjoy it so much .

ONE MORE THING TO TAKE UP MY TIME

              I started a new hobby , Photography . I went bought me a relatively expensive camera to start with . I am still trying to learn about all the different settings on it . Though right now with the shots I have taken have been done with the auto setting . As you can see I have got to remember to make sure the date stamp is of . It kind of gets in the way of the good shots .
              I kind of on a whim decided to start this hobby . I know I should have done some research first , but I had it  in my mind , that need to find something to do to get me out of the house . Mainly it is get me out from in front of this laptop , TV and off my butt . Yes I am guilty of at times of having a lazy side at times . I just can get stubborn as a mule and want just want to at times just lay around the house . The thought here is if I have something to get me out and in the fresh air . Don't ask me now if it is working , maybe ask that question in about a year .
                I sat and read through all the manual on the camera that I have . I am finding that there is a lot to learn about the settings on it . I also noticed all the photography I see on G+ people kind of stick to one style or subject . When I went around the few times I went out I just snapped pics of what ever caught my eye at the time .When down loaded what I did I saw that on the details on each pic there was a spot for the name of author . I am now using it where I wasn't before . I joined a few of the communities for photography and looking for a chance to join up with a photo walk in the future .
              At this time its kind of hard to get around to some locations , for I use public transportation .Yes , there still is a lot of stuff that could still do with those limitations . For the last twenty years that still has not slowed me done . I still manage get around . I well have start to carry my camera with me more often , never know when something will come up that will want to snap a pic or wish I could .
              Why am I writing a blog about this , well maybe some one out there may read this and give some suggestions and encouragement . I may find some people that is going though the same thing or have gone through it already . I may even hear about a photo walk in my area that I may be able to participate in . Well , right now this all I can think of saying right now .

LOST CHANCES THAT NEVER COME BACK

W

        Well the reason I show this picture of this train , is twenty -two years ago I used to take my daughter and sister to play on this train and in the park it is located in quite often . This was at a time when my only function and aim was to be dad . I never thought I would ever play this role before her birth . I was like most of us living for the moment . I did not really have any plans or even thought of mapping out a future . Family man was far from my thoughts , but that all changed the day she came into this would . When finally held her for the first time , there was this little life in my hands . Suddenly at that instant had this responsibility thrust upon me . There were no classes , manual , test or license to get , there was live in my hands requiring me to nurture her , feed her , clothe her , diaper duty to pull . A multitude of tasks requiring my attention .
            During the first few years of her little life I joyfully did my daddy duty . My weekends were planed around her . Going to parks , the beach so she could explore an show me sea shells she would find , carnivals and the like . Oh yes don't forget the happy meals you had to get when you passed by that place . It was well let up so that every smart kid could see it and start their chant " Micky D's " .There were the times when I use to lift weights at home . My little girl would embarrass me into lifting on days I did not feel up to it . Even better yet I would be working on the the car she would have to help me . Hand me tools I did not need , you would hear her say I'm helping daddy . She was daddy's girl .

             Then one day all that experience and what could have followed was taken from not just once by her mother but three times . the reason are neither or there . I wish not open old wounds , mainly mine. I feel lost a lot of experience and growing up . I mean not just by her but the growing up you do as both your child  and you get older . You learn from each other . You gain some wisdom from the experiences you have from the things the child puts you through . You can see this wisdom that is gained in other parents by the way they carry themselves . Lord , the conversations that I could not participate in because my experiences were rather limited .
               The reasons I reflect on this another fathers day is about to pass me by , I will hear a lot of people tell me happy fathers day . In my mind my lost chance to feel all the emotions that a parent has as their child grows up . The first crush , learning to ride bike , first date , proms and all the things that come up through the coarse of life . Oh yes the biggie The father ,daughter talk .
               All this was stolen from me by her mother by many different tactics . It kills me when see a mother using child as way to hurt the father . Don't mothers realize that they are not just hurting the father ,but they also stealing the chance of their child getting to help their dad to grow up with them .
               I know as your reading this that your thinking you could have fought harder for your rights . I say at what cost . By the fight you could end up doing more damage to the father child relationship . What purpose would there be to make the mother look bad and ending up looking bad just by the act .
               All I know that as I get older I think about the life that could have been . That is my emotions to deal with as I see others having these experiences in their life .I just help but think how much our lives could be different if It was allowed for me to be a part of it . We would know each other better and might have a closer relationship .  Shoot maybe she would of helped in keeping me from making some poor choices that have made in the past . All I can do from here is be the best person I can be and try to build a better life . This blog maybe the wrong place to express these thoughts ,but if it can help some young man in keeping from making some bad choices . It may make this worth expressing . Thank you for listening .

MY LEARNING CURVE

                    As you can tell I admittedly have not been very diligent in keeping up with my blog . I am very new at this tech stuff . In my wanting to dive in and learn as much I could about using a computer .Lets just say I like a little boy with a new toy to play with the sand box . I would have to check every thing out that I would see . I would open everything in my email , which have since learned this a no no . I would explore the Internet and would see something interesting and say let me download this and see what this is about , Much to my surprise along with the program I was looking at couple more programs piggy back their way in . As many of you all have already learned this not good . I ended up with so much that it put such a drag on my equipment that I had come to the point that I hated to to use my laptop .much of the stuff I would soon see , I would not use much or not at all . It created such a drag on my system ,began to wonder why I had it . It was not doing what I needed to do very fast . I finally got smart and rest it to the factory settings . Now it is performing like the day first got it .
                  The lesson I learned is only have the programs that you absolutely need and can use daily . Stick with what I know and only what I know . I have my computer for its production value and some of it entertainment content . I now know I need not over load it all this stuff that looks good or makes itself sound like it is something you can not live without . Guess what a lot of this stuff you can do without ,I got along without it before I got this computer . A heck of a way to learn a lesson . I have always learned things the hard way . I am just that hard headed .
                 Being fifty-six , I thought I new how to manage my time . Then came this expensive laptop and all I knew of time management or rather thought I new about it went out the window . Many days and nights went by without sleep or rest of any kind . I even found I was neglecting some of the other important stuff in my life . I would begin projects or come up with ideas I would never start , but would talk about them like I was really going to do them . In all honesty , most of them I had no idea where to start .I would do searches and most of the time I would find out I did not know what I was looking for . I found that you would have to have some knowledge about the subject to really pin point what I was looking for . Or rather I was wanting so much information about to broad of area . Thus spending countless hours in front of my screen . Often times I would find I would run out of time and have to walk away to do my other obligations .Like this blog I have started I would rush through just to get something posted . Instead of spending some time to work on it , to get a post that would really worth the time to post and also worth some one to take the out there day to read it .
                  Like I said my learning curve took me through the coarse of a year and still find I have much to learn and master . Also have misinformation I would have to unlearn . So I hope to have another post soon with some good content that would bring people back to my blog again . I am just another person out here just trying to find my place in this new world that he finds himself in .
               

JUST A THOUGHT

             I know I have not been consistent in my blogging as I should , but that is something I will have to answer to in my own conscience . But my real reason for right now . A question in mind, came up while was doing some reading for my online class I doing. Intro to philosophy .  Well it was more of a thought . I been wondering okay what is the purpose of philosophy , why do we even go through the exercise at all .
             Most people go through their whole lives with out hearing of the names that where mentioned .Some of them I never heard of them , let alone the ideas that were presented in my reading. The majority of people seem to very happy with their lives . They go through with their daily routine of taking care of their family's , going to work . Some are more concerned with the new music , hair styles or whats going on in the lives of people they don't know , like their favorite reality show .
           Or they blindly follow their pastor or Bishop . They go from church to church , follow them everywhere just to hear his sermon . That is their idea of theory . They may take everything they say as fact .  Then one day you read about this pastor whom may have gone against the teachings of the church . Yet they follow and put these people on a pedestal . Take the as the final authority on what the truth is .
            Don' t get me wrong I have nothing against church . I just saying that people seem to care less about philosophy , They want what is popular , the next in thing . People just want to be the one that's right . They get highly offended if proven wrong . They do not want to discuss theory , and give the prove of that theory . They just want to go up to the drive thru and get their order fast . Its just the quick and easy way . I know I am guilty of it to . Here I am writing this blog , which is taking me away from the reading I need to be getting done . I am not saying its boring , because some of it have opened my eyes to other ideas . Its just a lot of dry reading .
           My point is it just seems senseless that there people whom go through their whole lives in studying theory and come up with a few of there one . When a musician can come up with a three minute long hit and a twelve year old will know his name and every word to the song . Along with personal details of that artists life .
          So how can we go through life without not knowing the theory behind every thing that affects our lives . I often wondered do we really exist , is what i am seeing real , why am I a feeling life form . Is this just impulses just been feed to a gas cloud make me believe all this exists . Or am I going to wake up and find this is just one of many dreams . Just what is real and how do we prove it is happening . Yes one can feel pain and joy , but that can be just impulses . Can it really be as simple as believing its all happening . Where does fact come in , we can not base it all on assumptions can we . Is that we have to touch it to know .  But that can be right either we see the moon but we can't touch . We know its there , we put men on the moon or did we . So what is the ultimate prove . Well I can honestly say because I do not know the answer . Yet I still go through my existence , I go through my daily routine , sleep , eat , work , laugh . read , walk , and so on .
          Its just some thoughts .

ENTHUSIASM

                    Well , this mourning its kind of chilly and wet outside . With the possible chance of turning into snow . Its one of those days that make you want crawl under the covers and stay there .
                    Yesterday I got a email with a quote that fit these lazy days .
               
                     IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING AS MUCH FROM LIFE AS YOU WANT TO ,
                     THEN EXAMINE THE STATE OF YOUR ENTHUSIASM.
                                             - NORMAN VINCENT PEALE
                 This makes me to want to take a good hard look at my self . At work as I was walking around the hospital ,doing job , I thought about this a lot . I spotted these signs with the heading Ask me 3 .  So I decided to take a closer look . What a set of three questions that seemed to fit what I was mulling over in my head .
                      1. What is my main problem ?
               Well if your getting what you want out of life. What is my problem how did I get here ,why did I end up here . I sure your asking why are you worrying about that .If you know how you got there it may provide some answers ..
                      2.  What do I need to do ?
               Well in knowing the problem and how you got there , you will be able to see what needs to be done . Isn't the knowing half the battle .  The other half is in the answer to the next question .
                      3. Why is it important for me to do this ?
                  Yes , knowing why anything is important to for any reason . Why do it if it is not important to you . When it becomes important to you , should have the enthusiasm to follow through .
                I definitely need to keep this in mind . I need to find the enthusiasm that I had when I started this blog .Even my great American novel feel aside . We all have ourselves to blame for our place in life . What all I can say about myself  is I need to get off my butt .

INSPIRATION

          How can not find the inspiration to go through your day and not find the positive engery to get through . When you start your day with a veiw like this . I took this picture this mourning , when stepped out and saw this sky . I felt the picture needed be taken . It just called out to me . Mind you I only used the camera on my phone ,nothing fancy.
          Don't this veiw call to do something with this day . Here I sit with my door open , temperture only in the low 50's . It sure feels good . With the cool breeze coming in and pushing out the old . Makeing the place feel as fresh as the out doors. This is inspiring me to do some thing with this day. How could not do some thing postive with day with veiw like this . It put me in the mood to make the most of it..
           I am going to take this oppertunity to get started on a project on my list to make the most of the positive energy I have . I don't think I take enough time to look around me to see what may inspire me . Do you ? Just the overall feeling of the mourning ; the cool breeze ; the mourning sky; and my chores around the house are done early . Tommorrow I plan on putting a ring on my ladies finger . There is just a lot of positive energy in the air for me . I just hoping I can make it work for me in all area's of my life .