A cross country sojourn..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspirational Monday)

Inspirational guest blogger Judith Whitehead from Amherst, N.Y. Decided to take time off from her health-care  career and travel cross country with the love of her life...

Judy and husband Steve about to embark on their cross country sojourn...Your own backyard can be anywhere you make it...  No that's not Richard Dreyfus, It's Steve Whitehead!

Just the thought of taking a road trip across the United States is a calculated risk, with the way the country’s weather has been affecting everyone this year. Trying to plan a drive from New York to California was sketchy, but the adventure was too good to pass up.

My husband and I had made this drive many years prior, when we were much younger. We always threw caution to the wind at that age. We decided to awaken the teenager in us and take the plunge. Several days before our trip, we had to change our course dramatically because a tornado and floods overtook the southern route we were used to traveling. So we redirected our attention to the northernmost route we could take without adding too many miles.

We were given a GPS to use but, being the skeptics we were, we decided to use the old-fashioned Triptik from AAA. It had worked so many times before, so why mess with the tried and true?

We left Buffalo on a rainy day; one can always count on rain in Buffalo in the spring. We got a late start and decided to stop in Toledo, when darkness threatened our sight and judgment.

We tried to make this trip as economical as we could, looking for hotels that we could use our reward points with, and that included a free breakfast and services. We found that hotels are in great competition these days and are more than willing to please.

Waking early the next morning, we were determined to make up the extra time and drove nine hours to Nebraska. Surprisingly and pleasingly, all the gas prices were lower than in good old New York. We paid as little as $3.50 in some states. When we drove across the country 30 years ago, the price of gas was about 75 cents.

We decided to make a short stop and tour an original sod house built during the prairie days. It was amazing to see how hard life was then.

Our most memorable state to cruise through was Colorado. To our glee, it was off season in Vail and the hotel rates were a quarter of the price. With snow still visible on top of the mountains, it was very beautiful and we wished we could have stayed longer.

Las Vegas is always an amazing sight. You drive through miles of endless desert and dust to almost suddenly come across an oasis of hotels and lights in the middle of nowhere. We stayed outside the city limits and were able to settle into a Hampton Inn, again collecting our points and enjoying a free breakfast buffet.
Determined to make it to Los Angeles in four days, we started out early the next morning. We knew we had arrived by the inversion layer of smog that surrounds the city when approaching.

I guess we still have the adventurous nature in us, because we thoroughly enjoyed our road trip, driving on a budget and seeing the way the rest of small-town America lives. I took 600 pictures, topped off the gas tank 10 times, partook in four free breakfast buffets and got to reconnect with my husband with no interruptions except for a few cellphone calls.

This was a trip we will always remember. We were able to reconnect with old friends, visit with family and revisit all of our old favorite places.

So to all you baby boomers out there, if you have the gumption, the time and a few extra bucks, don’t just think about doing an adventure — do it. You only go around once, so check out how the rest of the world lives. America has much beauty to offer right here in our own back yard.

Below Douglas Dunn pictured with his New electric Car!(The  Leaf) We are looking forward to his upcoming blog....

NO gas.NO oil changes.NO tune-ups.NO valves, rings, pistons, timing belt.NO transmission, transmission fluid or shifting gears to interrupt acceleration.NO carburetor or air filter.NO radiator or coolant or hoses to maintain.NO regular power-train maintenance.NO smog checks ever.
Just say NO! This coming Tuesday September 27Th, Doug will tell us about his new Leaf on Life!

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

If you would like to express yourself about any subject you feel passionate about, please  feel free to submit a guest blog to dakinetalk. Please limit guest blogs between 200-500 words, along with a short bio and photo of yourself. Send all blog submissions to; jrsensei@hotmail.com  who knows your blog could go viral!

"The Wooden Bowl..." 'Anonymous'

"This  blog was sent from a friend in Homer Alaska who wishes to remain anonymous, Mahalos friend..!"

"Who knows when it's their turn for the wooden bowl..."

The Wooden Bowl 

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, 

a year from now. 

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.
The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.
'We must do something about father,' said the son. 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor..'
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.
There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded, 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. 'The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day,the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life.'
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.You need to be able to throw something back sometimes. I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.
But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.
People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
I've learned that you should pass this on to everyone you care about. I just did!

Below Douglas Dunn pictured with his New electric Car!(The  Leaf) We are looking forward to his upcoming blog.... NO gas.NO oil changes.NO tune-ups.NO valves, rings, pistons, timing belt.NO transmission, transmission fluid or shifting gears to interrupt acceleration.NO carburetor or air filter.NO radiator or coolant or hoses to maintain.NO regular power-train maintenance.NO smog checks ever. Just say NO! This coming Tuesday September 27Th, Doug will tell us about his new Leaf on Life! The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D) If you would like to express yourself about any subject you feel passionate about, please  feel free to submit a guest blog to dakinetalk. Please limit guest blogs between 200-500 words, along with a short bio and photo of yourself. Send all blog submissions to; jrsensei@hotmail.com  who knows your blog could go viral!

"The Cab Ride... 'Obama Da Dog'

"Obama da Dog tells us one of her favorite stories about a cab ride..."

Obama Da Dog with the lady she calls 'Mom..'

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few
minutes
 I walked to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a Frail,
 elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
 After A long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood
before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil
 pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no
one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with
sheets.
There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the
counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and
glassware.
'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase
To the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I
just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.
'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave
me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'
'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..
'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a
hospice...
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't
have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice.. 'The doctor says
I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the
 building where she had once worked as an Elevator Operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived
when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture
warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a
girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or
corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing..
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said,
'I'm Tired.. Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low
building, like a small convalescent home,
With a driveway that passed under a Portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were
solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been
expecting her.
I Opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman
was already seated in a wheelchair.
 'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.
'Nothing,' I said 'You have to make a living,' she answered.
'There are other Passengers,' I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me
tightly.
'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. behind
me, a door shut.. It was the sound Of the closing of a life..
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost
in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that
woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient To end his
shift?
What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven
away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more
important in my life.
We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what
others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID BUT THEY
WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

 Below Douglas Dunn pictured with his New electric Car!(The  Leaf) We are looking forward to his upcoming blog....

NO gas.NO oil changes.NO tune-ups.NO valves, rings, pistons, timing belt.NO transmission, transmission fluid or shifting gears to interrupt acceleration.NO carburetor or air filter.NO radiator or coolant or hoses to maintain.NO regular power-train maintenance.NO smog checks ever.
Just say NO! This coming Tuesday September 27Th, Doug will tell us about his new Leaf on Life!

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

"Do it Now..!'Michael Herr' (Aloha Friday)

Renowned author Michael Herr is back on this awesome Aloha Friday talking about  doing things now! Make sure and check out Michael's website at; http://www.michaelherr.com/

Putting the duties of life ahead of the pleasures of life all too often brings about a wasted life...

 ALOHA FRIDAY

September 23

It's Aloha Friday.

Do It Now

Has anyone ever said one of these things to you?

"Daddy, can we go to the park?" "Mommy, can we bake cookies?" "Honey, would you like to go see this movie?" "Shall we take a vacation this year and go to (fill in the blank)?" "Your parents have invited us for dinner, shall we go?"

Did you ever respond with . . . "Maybe later." "Not right now." "I'm too tired." "We can't afford it." "That's not convenient."

Or the worst response, "We'll get around to it someday."

At times each of those responses may be appropriate, but they should not become the norm for your life. Putting the duties of life ahead of the pleasures of life all too often brings about a wasted life.

Recently a friend told me about a wonderful vacation he and his wife had aboard a sailing ship; a Tall Ship cruise. I checked out his recommendation and found it was indeed a wonderful thing. Just the kind of thing I would love to do. And then I realized the problems my wife would have getting on board this ship and moving about on the ship. You see, she's recently in a wheelchair. And our horizons are so much more confined now. Then I started thinking, if only we had done this a few years ago. Back when she was not bound to her wheelchair. How she would have enjoyed this. And I remembered that I had thought about this type of trip back then. But I'd told myself that we had plenty of time to take this trip later. Time ran out on us.

I remember also many years ago when my son was so much younger, how he loved to take piggyback rides. I would hoist him on my shoulders and we would jump around whooping and hollering. But so many times I came home from work with a load of stuff (what a good word for things that at the time seem so important, but later on don't). And when he asked for a piggyback ride I gave him one of those responses above.

And then one day my eyes opened and I saw how big he had grown. So big that I could no longer physically lift him onto my back. So mature that the idea of a piggyback ride would embarrass him. And I realized that a part of my life was gone for good. That I could never get it back. No more piggyback rides with the young boy he had been. Now I can only hope there's enough time left to give some piggyback rides to my grand-kids.

Don't let time run out on you.

Much aloha.

check out Michael's website at http://www.michaelherr.com/  buy all six books for only $18

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

If you would like to express yourself about any subject you feel passionate about, please  feel free to submit a guest blog to dakinetalk. Please limit guest blogs between 200-500 words, along with a short bio and photo of yourself. Send all blog submissions to; jrsensei@hotmail.com  who knows your blog could go viral!

"Old Blue..." 'Marvin Gross'

Guest blogger Marvin Gross a Financial planner from Western N.Y. is back with another hilarious blog...

 

Ol’ Blue  actually learns to talk...

A young cowboy from Wyoming goes off to college. Half way through the semester, he has foolishly squandered all his money. He calls home.

“Dad,” he says, “You won’t believe what modern education is developing! They actually have a program here in Laramie that will teach our dog, Ol’ Blue how to talk!”

“That’s amazing,” his Dad says. “How do I get Ol’ Blue in that program?”

“Just send him down here with $1,000” the young cowboy says. “I’ll get him in the course.”

So, his father sends the dog and $1,000.
About two-thirds of the way through the semester, the money again runs out. The boy calls home.

“So how’s Ol’ Blue doing son?” his father asks.
“Awesome, Dad, he’s talking up a storm,” he says, “but you just won’t believe this - they’ve had such good results they have started to teach the animals how to read!”

“Read!?” says his father, “No kidding! How do we get Blue in that program?”

“Just send $2,500, I’ll get him in the class.”
The money promptly arrives. But our hero has a problem. At the end of the year, his father will find out the dog can neither talk, nor read,so he shoots the dog.

When he arrives home at the end of the year, his father is all excited. “Where’s Ol’ Blue? I just can’t wait to see him read something and talk!”

“Dad,” the boy says, “I have some grim news. Yesterday morning, just before we left to drive home, Ol’ Blue was in the living room, kicked back in the recliner, reading the Wall Street Journal, like he usually does. Then he turned to me and asked, “So, is your daddy still messing around with that little redhead who lives down the street?”

The father exclaimed, “I hope you shot that SOB before he talks to your Mother!”

“I sure did, Dad!” “That’s my boy!”
The kid went on to law school, and now serves in Washington D.C. as a Congressman.

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

If you would like to express yourself about any subject you feel passionate about, please  feel free to submit a guest blog to dakinetalk. Please limit guest blogs between 200-500 words, along with a short bio and photo of yourself. Send all blog submissions to; jrsensei@hotmail.com  who knows your blog could go viral!

"All bags look alike..." James "Kimo" Rosen

James "Kimo" Rosen is back nitpicking , natpicking, blogging or whatever you want to call it about the plastic bag ban on Kaua'i...

Plastic bags at checkout stands were banned on Kaua'i, being replaced with paper and imitation cloth bags made of plastic bottles in China, go figure...

The county of Kauai has a plastic bag ban at grocery, retail stores, and take-out for restaurants. The irony is the stores have reverted back to using paper, the ban was suppose to be to get people to use reusable cloth bags. The ban has failed dramatically because it was never intended for paper to replace plastic thus taking us 100 giants steps backward.

Grocery stores continually run out of paper and when they do have paper bags they take up many  times the space of the old plastic bags. People re-used plastic, the paper breaks and is garbage as soon as you take your groceries home and now many people are buying commercial plastic garbage liners during these recessed times when  they can least afford it.

The biggest problem is Wal-mart; the largest retailer on Kauai and the social  gathering place of many, sell blue imitation cloth looking bags made out of used plastic bottles. ( seriously check the label)  The icing on the cake is these bags are made in China and everyone on the island and many visitors now have  hundreds of these blue cloth looking  bags made of plastic bottles in China. The  ban was to get rid of plastic, but these  beautifully designed blue bags that look like cloth are made of plastic.

To make problems worse every time I see someone walking with one of these bags I think it is my bag, (because all bags look alike)  believing I have been ripped off since I also use these bags...

The environment did not make out off of this ban, Wal-Mart did because wherever one goes, to the beach,  the grocery store, or to the farmers market people are  carrying large blue bags made of plastic with large type displaying the Wal-Mart logo.

The Advertising team at Wal-Mart made a great move by discounting these bags to .25-.50 cents each. People now parade all over Kauai displaying Wal-marts name and logo, it used to be  business's paid people to walk around displaying their ad, Wal-Mart has us doing it for free! 

Most people wind up purchasing new bags every time they go to Wal-Mart, who remembers to bring their bags especially visitors? The country of China makes out again, we replace another American product with a product made in China  out  of Chinese plastic bottles.

In conclusion, what was the county council thinking?

This blog also appeared an as opinion article in The Kaua'i Garden island news on 09-21-11, "Plastic Chines bottles."Ironically the blog and article both appeared the same day, check it out at;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_581a3fc8-e428-11e0-b337-001cc4c03286.html

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

If you would like to express yourself about any subject you feel passionate about, please  feel free to submit a guest blog to dakinetalk. Please limit guest blogs between 200-500 words, along with a short bio and photo of yourself. Send all blog submissions to; jrsensei@hotmail.com  who knows your blog could go viral!

"Dancing in the rain..." 'Chester Lau'

Mahalos once again to dakinetalk's friend, Chester Lau,aka Unc for submitting this anonymous forwarded message.

'Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.'

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born

A Death Certificate shows that we died

Pictures show that we lived!

Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly.
**********************************
I believe ... That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I believe... That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I believe ... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe.... That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I believe ... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I believe ... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I believe..... That you should always leave loved ones and friends with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I believe ... That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I do believe ... That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I believe … That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I believe ... That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I believe.... That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe... That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I believe... That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe... That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe... That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe..... That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...... That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe...... That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for whom we become.

I believe ... That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I believe ... Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I Believe....... That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I believe...... That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I believe...... That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe ... That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

If you would like to express yourself about any subject you feel passionate about, please  feel free to submit a guest blog to dakinetalk. Please limit guest blogs between 200-500 words, along with a short bio and photo of yourself. Send all blog submissions to; jrsensei@hotmail.com  who knows your blog could go viral!