Blog Archives

Life's Lessons

9/10/2013

With the academic school season now underway, I thought it would be important for me to wish everyone attending classes this year the best in your studies and remember that the rewards you receive later will be a direct result of the effort that you give right now. I am not a Professor, Educator or Teacher but I do understand that an education you receive now can provide you with opportunities in life, when combined with personal determination will lead you to success in most of your endeavors later in life.

There are also life's lessons that you will never learn in class. Like never give in to pessimism and you can soar like an eagle. Don’t end up regretting what you did not do because you were too lazy or frightened to climb out of your comfort zone. An important lesson I have learned from life: "Is to love the journey, not just the destination". A life in which you take a moment to stop to watch the red-tailed hawk as it circles above your head. A life in which you are not alone. With people you love, and who love you. I have learned to look at all the good in the world and to try to give some of it back because I believed in it completely and utterly.

Don't ever forget what Senator Paul Tsongas from Massachusetts said when he decided not to run for reelection because he'd been diagnosed with cancer: "No man ever said on his deathbed I wish I had spent more time in the office." Or what John Lennon wrote before he was gunned down in the driveway of the Dakota: "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."

And with that I will conclude today’s ramblings and pass along a lesson for the day. This is my short class on how to become a leader. This class is 3 minutes long and I hope will make a difference in your life today as it has mine. Make sure you have your volume turned up and go to class from the link here. Leadership Lesson 101

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Music Festivals are ending for the year

9/8/2013

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The outdoor music festival season is coming to a close in New England for 2013. Next weekends Music Festival ( 13th-15th ) will be one of the last two that feature camping for this year. Yes the short season is quickly coming to an end, and it's going to be time to put away the tents, sandals, shorts and Tie dyed T shirts.

There will be a three day music festival that is scheduled for this coming weekend, and it promises to be a good one. The Wormtown Music Festival will take place again in Greenfield Ma. For 15 years this festival has been one of the premier music events in Western Ma. It will be held once again at Camp Kee-Wanee. There will be a lineup of performers that will make this show “The end-of-summer celebration”

For 2013 the impressive Lineup will feature performances by, Oteil Burbridge, Rusted Root, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Zach Deputy, Max Creek, Ryan Montbleau Band, Shakedown, Turkuaz and many more performers during the three day, two night show. If you go, please bring a non perishable food item for Strangers Helping Strangers Food Drive –to benefit Franklin County community meals program.

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Don't be fooled again

9/6/2013

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Undoubtedly you've heard that American credibility is on the line, thanks to President Barack Obama. He has indeed, gone the route of his predecessor George Busch. Two years ago, he said that Syrian President Bashar Assad must go. Last year, he drew the now-infamous red line on chemical weapons use.

Arguments favoring an attack include that Assad's willingness to use chemical weapons poses a threat to our allies and that other radical actors might become emboldened if the U.S. fails to act. Finally, terrorists might get their hands on Syria's chemical weapons and use them against us, though the terrorist threat seems more plausible if Assad is ousted.

Otherwise, except for the method of killing, not much has changed in the two years since the Arab Spring became a bloody winter in Syria and elsewhere. More to the heart of the current debate is whether a limited missile strike would make any difference. The near-unanimous opinion is, not really. So how will this work for our credibility? I believe it to be just the opposite that a limited strike would merely aggravate matters and potentially lead to a catastrophic clash with global ramifications.

This country has been in a stink hole for long enough. During the time of our recession, we have spent Billions of dollars on a couple of wars supporting a people who hate us and our way of life. We have made cuts in every public service here at home, our roads and bridges are crumbling apart and the unemployment rate is still over 7.3 percent and to top it off, we are a debtor nation that owes its next generation to a foreign country. Does anyone remember what Colin Powell said? You break it, you own it.

Secretary of State John Kerry told Congress on Wednesday that the Extremist groups fighting against the Syrian government make up between 15% and 25% of the rebels fighting the Syrian leader Bashar Assad. Well lets put that in a language we can understand. ( Al Qaida ) I believe that if
that number is correct, then what are we doing helping the extremist in a war that will either way bring them back to fighting us later.

Barack Obama has created a problem for sure. This is not to say that credibility isn't important, but the
measure of one's credibility isn't only whether a nation is willing to stand its ground. It is also whether a nation is willing to be wise. Being the world police for a country that really doesn’t like us is not a smart decision and we should have realized that by now. I truly feel sorry for the innocent people that have been victimized in this bloody war, but I strongly believe that the days of us being a superpower police should be over and let’s put our own house back in order.

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Are You ready for some Football

9/5/2013

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Labor Day is over and the first Sunday after the Holiday is fast approaching. Yes it is that of the year again. The Croc Pots will be pulled out of the closet, the TV remote control will see lots of use and will likely have a new set of batteries in it by Columbus Day. Sunday Dinner takes on a whole new meaning this time of year with items like wings, chili dips and chips. The picks becomes part of the weekly routine and you know it’s time for some Football. I've got to get mine done this week yet. (Jade) Now to get you ready for the game, how about a little replay action on some classic plays from the NFL. Now can someone send me the complete schedule for the best tailgate party's in New England for the next 17 weeks? Click on the Football for a few good videos.

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A Few Freebies This Week

9/3/2013

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I have a day off from work today and I am letting all the muscles on my body relax. I am just a little bit sore from the hike Helene and I did yesterday in the Berkshires. We hiked the Keystone Arch Bridge Trail and then went to Glendale Falls. We were in the the Berkshire Hills to see if the tree by the swimming hole at Chesterfield Gorge (Picture Below) was turning color like it did last year on Labor Day. It was beginning to change color this year but was nowhere near the level of change that it was last year. I posted a few pictures from yesterday on the Good Diggin Facebook page. This morning is a sit back and relax kind of day and with a few good things going on this weekend,   I changed my mind that I would not post anymore   " A Few Freebies" for the year now that the summer is over, so here they are!

JP Music Festival   Saturday     Jamaica Plain Ma
This is a  music festival with one simple caveat: at least one member of the band must live and/or work in JP. This year 16 musical acts  will perform.

River Ruckus   Saturday    Haverhill Ma
The Event will feature a Classic Car Show, Arts and Crafts Fair, Live Music all day and Fireworks over the Merrimack river at the end of the day.

Waterfire       Saturday     Providence Ri
This will be a big day at Waterfire. With over eighty bonfires that will be lit along the river in downtown Providence. You walk along the paths in Waterfront Park, past the arched bridges and beautiful sculptures; your senses will be captivated by the flames, aromas of burning wood, performances by Spogga the fire dancer and The Gargoyles in their torch-lit vessels that travels down the river.

There will also be numerous Jazz performances at Waterfire by Planet Safety featuring Leo Genovese, David Zinno, and Bob Gullotti with other special guests at the WaterFire Steeple Street Music Stage. Also there will be a performance featuring Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra’s resident conductor, Francisco Noya, and his brother Miguel Noya, where they will present an evening of Ritual Electronic Music where High Technology and Shamanistic Traditions meet Ancient and Sacred sounds. This will take place at the RISD Landing by the flagpoles on the Providence River Greenway. WaterFire has been enjoyed by of over ten million visitors since its flames were first lit in 1994. This event is free but donations are what keep it going.

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Fair Season

9/2/2013

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There is no place like New England that is so plentiful with its abundance of annual country fairs! We’re very fortunate that from early summer to late fall there are numerous fairs taking place every week. It is a New England ritual that has stood the test of time and brings us back to a simpler time when people got together to share and relax with their neighbors as they prepared for the long winter season that is ahead. The Fair season is now going to kick off in high gear so get ready to embrace the changing season. This site also has an extensive listing of all the Country Fairs in New England.

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