Being A Cowboy

Being A Cowboy

So many people love the thought of being a cowboy.  They don't want to be a  real cowboy, one that goes out and works on a ranch from sun up to sun down working hard.  No, they want to be the Hollywood version of being a cowboy.  Riding a horse in the open plains, fighting the bad guys, and living by your own just moral rules.

Longing for past has always appeared appealing.  The grass is always greener on the other side, well at least in our minds.  For most of us, what we think a cowboy is, entirely from their mind's eye from images of westerns.   That romantic idea about the wild frontier being tame by those with the truest of grit is a part of the heritage we all know.

When I put on the clothes of a modern cowboy, I do feel the spirit of all of those cowboy films within me.  Walking with the boots on, I feel and stand taller. The people that see me, do a double take once they view the hat and the belt buckle.  They instinctively know that one that is wearing cowboy garb, means business.  A person that has earned and deserves respect.

I don't dress like a cowboy much in my modern world, most of the time I'm in a suit and tie.  However, I live my life and demand the respect of others as a cowboy would.  You get respect by giving respect.  Live your life as a cowboy, with a respect.  The more respect we have in the world, the better the world will be. 

You can compute that to the bank!

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Two Score and Seven Years Ago

Two Score and Seven Years Ago

Once a year goes by, another one starts.  Looking back at a year, there are so many days that are gone.  Some good days, some not at good days.  Events pass by in a blur, it is hard to remember for sure what is going on or what really happened. 

Life is like having a bank account that is full of good days or experiences.  You add the good ones in the account and subtract the bad ones out.  At that end of your life, hopefully, you will have more good ones.

You can't control many things in life.  Getting older is one of them.  So enjoy the ride!  Work on being a better person, learn something you don't know, go to a place you haven't been, help someone that needs a helping hand.  

Do stuff and don't expect anything in return.  Some people might make bad comments about you, let it go.  Hang out with people that are real and enrich your life.  It is cool to eat alone in a restaurant, I have had many cool conversations doing this!  Look for the good, and you'll find it.  Brush your teeth and floss daily, I do and I have great teeth.  Be cool to others.  When you realize you have been a jerk to someone, own up to it as fast as possible.   Check your oven to make sure it is off after you cook.  Eat more healthy food and less bad food.  Wear a real watch, not a smart one.  Glasses makes everyone look smarter.  Tell those you love, that you love them while you can!

There is so much good in the world, I can't help but smile at it all!

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Happiness

Happiness

Happiness.  What is happiness?  Do you have happiness?  Can anyone have happiness? Where does happiness come from?  Where will happiness go when you are sad?  Is there true happiness in the world?

I love peanut butter.  There are times I go to the grocery store to buy it when I want a peanut butter sandwich.  One time I went to the store to get some peanut butter, and there was a couple fighting over something in front of the peanut butter aisle. I stood around the aisle hoping they would stop, they didn't.  At some point, I gave up and left and walked around the store for a while to return and get my precious peanut butter.

That couple wanted to be happy, right?  Why go to a grocery store to fight, I suppose they went there to buy groceries, however at some point, they fought.  Perhaps it was over money, what to buy for dinner, who knows, but it was something.

Happiness is around us, we do need to let it in.  So little of this world, at times, seems happy.  The mundanity of life catches up to all of us at some point.  You will have to pay the bills or get something fixed that you down want to deal with.  Happiness is right there, you ignore it when you are busy with life.  It's still there waiting for you to smile.  To enjoy life, if you would let that happiness into your heart or soul.

Don't let that happiness get away from you!  We all only have so many days on Earth, wouldn't it be better to enjoy all of the happiness around you?  Don't waste a single moment of happiness in your life!  

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No More Merry-Go-Rounds Today?

No More Merry-Go-Rounds Today?

Where did all of the More Merry-Go-Rounds disappear?  What happened to the Merry-Go-Rounds?  Why are there no more Merry-Go-Rounds?

When I was a child, when I went to the park there were three staples, a swing set, a slide and a Merry-Go-Round.  I loved all of them, the Merry-Go-Round did get me dizzy so I could ride it slow.  I remember one time going to the park and riding the Merry-Go-Round the slowest speed that I could get to move.  After thirty minutes are so of doing this, I felt a bit nauseous, so I stopped.  Then I did it again because it was fun.  I was in control of the ride, I was like those that work in a carnival.  Life was grand.

At times I would ride the swings so high it was like the swing was going to overturn at each peak of the axis.  Some would jump off at the highest point in the arch, I would wait for it to slow a bit down and jump off at under my height.  The swing was also cool to just sit and think about life as it barely moved.  I thought about many things as a kid sitting on a swing.

Slides were fun and were close to those carnival rides that I used to see at the fairs.  I remember sliding down a slide on a hot day and getting burn as I rode down in the shorts that I was wearing.  Running up the slide to ride it over and over again was just fun.  These were great times!

Happily, the swings and slides, there are still in the parks.  However, all of the Merry-Go-Rounds have or will disappear all over the nation.  Perhaps even all over the world.  People and those in control of the parks think that Merry-Go-Rounds are dangerous.   Are Merry-Go-Rounds really that much more dangerous than a swing or slide?

Let's look at the data:

As you can see here that the Merry-Go-Rounds are in LAST PLACE on the list!  Number one are climbers with swings being number two and slides rounding up the top three playground equipment injury rates!  So the data isn't there against Merry-Go-Rounds.  It is only the public looking at a Merry-Go-Rounds and thinking, 'well it goes around in a circle and I remember doing dangerous stuff on a Merry-Go-Round, so let's get rid of them'.  'You could break your arm or leg in one of those Merry-Go-Rounds'.  'Merry-Go-Rounds are going to make the park's insurance rates jump through the roof!'

However, the data isn't there.  It makes me sad that most young people will never get a chance to play on a Merry-Go-Round.  There are a few out there, so if you have kids, find them a Merry-Go-Round and have fun with them before there are all gone!!!!

Computed

How Long Does It Take For A Merry Go Round To Spin
Just Another Day At The Park

References
Mack MG, Sacks JJ, Thompson D. Testing the impact attenuation of loose fill playground surfaces. Injury Prevention 2000;6:141-4.

Office of Technology Assessment, U.S. Congress. Risks to Students in School. Washington (DC): U.S. Government Printing Office; 1995.

Phelan KJ, Khoury J, Kalkwarf HJ, Lanphear BP. Trends and patterns of playground injuries in United States children and adolescents. Ambulatory Pediatrics 2001;1(4):227-33. Suecoff SA, Avner JR, Chou KJ, Crain EF. A Comparison of New York City Playground Hazards in High- and Low–Income Areas. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 1999;153:363-6.

Tinsworth D, McDonald J. Special Study: Injuries and Deaths Associated with Children’s Playground Equipment. Washington (DC): U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission; 2001.