What about the bear?

So, did anyone see the picture of the bear? Dave and Mason had a somewhat close encounter with our neighborhood bear!

Dave actually took video and was easily within 100 feet of this gorgeous animal. I saw the pictures and video and said in my deep mom voice, "You didn't take Mason with you getting this close, did you?" As I was asking I could hear Mason in the background of the video, whispering loudly, "Daddy, can I come with you?" and Dave replying, "No Mason, stay there. Your mom would kill me if I let you come with me!" It was a pretty funny moment. Not to say I was thrilled with Dave putting his life in jeopardy. It's a good thing he has a substantial life insurance policy. Is putting yourself in the line of fire with a bear covered?

In any case, I'm sending this supplemental Monday Motivator because Memorial Day took all the thunder from Dave and his bear. Shoot Dave and e-mail and tell him you saw his bear, it'll make his day! Dpartak@yahoo.com

Pictures

Reflective Memorial Day

Reflective Memorial Day everyone,

I hear people say have a good Memorial Day or have a happy Memorial. Although today should be spent with family and friends and should enjoy those liberties, today is a day to remember those that gave their last measure of devotion to their country.

Memorial Day started out as Decoration Day in 1868 when graves of the Civil War dead, both North and South, were decorated with flowers and flags. Several communities across the country claimed to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, but the honor was given to Waterloo, N.Y. by President Lyndon Johnson, since it had a celebration going back to 1866. In 1971, Congress made passed law making the last Monday in May, Memorial Day.

Memorial Day honors those that have died in the service of their country. For those that have served their country, both living and dead, we have our own holiday on Nov. 11th and that is Veterans Day. Take a moment out of your day, go by your local cemetery and place a flag or flower on a grave of a veteran. I challenge anyone to find a cemetery that does not have at least one stark white marble headstone that is provided to veterans by the government. Take a moment to reflect, give a toast, say a pray, but take the time to reflect on what and who the day is for.

Kathy, Mason and I were out in the yard last week picking cherries from her Mother’s Day present of 2006 and Kathy said she was in her happy place. I commented there is your Monday Motivator for next week. She said “why don’t you write it” and so I am. I hadn’t realized it would be Memorial Day so my initial idea took a bit of a tangent.

As a Veteran of a Foreign War, I am thankful that I am not honored today. I am glad to be home with my family, enjoying each other picking cherries and eating them off the tree, sharing a close encounter with Mother Nature in our neighborhood with my son Mason and the opportunity to write whatever I feel about. I thank all those that have gone before me to serve their country, voluntarily or otherwise, that have paid for our freedoms and liberties with their lives, from the American Revolution to the deserts and mountains of the Middle East.

bluetooth bungee pictures

Your bluetooth fits right in the clip when you're not wearing it, or it can just hang.

When you have it on your ear, you can't even feel that the bungee is attached!

$7.00 each or three for $20.00!

Happy, Happy, Happy!

Hi Friends!

This weekend was HOT! Mother Nature was giving us a glimpse into the coming months with temps in the triple digits. Was it hot where you are, too?

So, lots of good news. Dave made it home safe and sound. Mason was so happy! I was pretty happy myself, but I think Mason was beginning to question if Dave was really coming home. Sunday was nice, we did some errands, went to the Auburn Spring Home Show and then came home and just hung out. Mason played in the sprinklers while Dave read, and I fell asleep on the couch in the comfort of the air conditioned house!

On a different subject, we have another little invention to share with you. Julie came up with this one, and she and I spent all day Friday manufacturing it. It's called the bluetooth bungee. It's a simple little device to keep your expensive bluetooth attached to your body, your purse, your gym bag, your car visor, you name it. We made some to sell and get them out in the world, and the next step is to license it to someone like Motorola. In California, we have a hands-free law taking effect on July 1 of this year. For Q&A go to the DMV web site at (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/cellularphonelaws/index.htm). You can be pulled over for holding your phone to your ear while driving your car. You can go to the blog site to see pictures. We're selling them for $7.00 each or three for $20.00. We figure by the time they're in stores, they'll be selling for a minimum of $14.99 each.

Let me know what you think and the web site will be up later this week. The address is www.bluetoothbungee.com. If you want one before they are all the rage, e-mail me back and I'll get on in the mail to you!

Have a great week and get inspired! Invent something, take that class you've always wanted to take, or just make an extra few minutes for yourself. Whatever it is, take the action
and S-T-A-R-T!

Overflowing with opportunities

Does it seem to you that all the best opportunities have already been claimed? Actually, nothing could be further from the truth.

There are more valuable opportunities available to you today than there have ever been before. And they grow more numerous with each passing moment.

Each opportunity that is followed and fulfilled gives birth to even more opportunities. Not only are the best opportunities not running out, they are indeed growing in number and value.

Opportunities arise from disappointment as well as from success. As knowledge and wisdom and experience grow, so too do opportunities grow.

Great challenges bring about great opportunities. Each breakthrough sets the stage for even greater breakthroughs, leaving a trail of opportunities in their wake.

Life is truly overflowing with opportunities of all different kinds that apply to every aspect of life. Open up to the very best opportunities, and joyfully work to reap the value that can be yours.

-- Ralph Marston

My Sweet Son

Mother's Day Monday

I hope my son looks back on today, and sees a mother who had time to play. There will be years for cleaning and cooking, for children grow up while we are not looking.

WOW, short of Dave not being with us, this was the best Mother’s Day of my life. Other than Mason sticking a bead up his nose (read story on Intentional Winning blog), it was a low key, quality time weekend.

Saturday, Mason and I went to see Horton Hears a Who at our local theatre. The Old State Theatre is one of those icons that are disappearing and giving way to the mega 10 and 20 screen movie houses. Being there with Mason was like going back to my own childhood, only being able to share it with my child. We came home, watched movies, played with Riley, and cuddled until bedtime.

Sunday was more of the same. We slept in, talked on the phone with so many Mother’s Day wishers, and made breakfast together. What you ask? Mason wanted to make me the classic, baby carrots with peanut butter, and a chocolate shake. I managed to slip my coffee in this lovely meal. After breakfast we went to the local nursery and bought some tomatoes, sweet pea flower seeds, and lady bugs. We planted our plants and waited until dusk to set the lady bugs free in the back yard. After dinner and bath time, we made forts in the living room, played house, and read stories. It was pretty ideal.

I hope your weekend was as wonderful as ours was. Keep up with my blog as I will be posting your stories about your moms and the best advice she gave you. I bet we’ll all be reminded and learn a little, too!

Love,
Kathy

And the Invention is...

Hi Friends,

As promised, I have B-I-G news today! We are officially "patent pending" on our invention so I can tell you all about it. For the record, I wasn't so concerned with sharing the idea with you, as I was concerned about putting it out over the Internet before we were properly protected.

I've created a preliminary web site and I invite you to check it out. I'd really like it if you could go to the web site for a few reasons. First, you can see there what Dave and I have been working on. Second, you can give me some feedback in terms of do you understand what this whole idea is just from reading what I've posted on the site. Finally, I need your help. I need to build a roster of people who would be interested in this product when it's available in stores. I need to have you help me spread the word and collect a list of names (first and last), state they live in, and e-mail address. This information is just for me, and the e-mail address will be used to send a one time e-mail notifying them that the product is for sale and where they can buy it. If your contacts get an e-mail from you assuring them you know me and know I am honorable, they will likely check it out and send me their info. http://www.zipperbackgloves.com/

I already have contacts with three manufacturers who are interested in licensing our product. We do not plan to make and manufacture it, licensing is my intention and I have every reason to believe it will not only be wildly successful, but it will revolutionize it's industry! I'll keep you posted!

Please ask your family, friends, and their family and friends to e-mail me at zbgloves@yahoo.com and let me know if they would be interested in this product.

Your motivator for this week is "Kathy took all the little steps to follow through with an idea to get a patent. If she can do it, so can I!" Here we go!

Invention Pictures

WarmEase Zipperback Gloves are patent pending.

This glove is a "kitchen table" prototype. It is made from an existing adult men's glove for the purpose of showing you the WarmEase Zipperback design. It does not have any of the ergonomic features such as the proper thumb placement in the child's glove, over sized zipper pull, the reinforcement in the hand, or the proper angle of the palm of the hand where the finger holes are. See preliminary web site for all the details! http://www.zipperbackgloves.com/