Summer Vacation Break

Will be now taking a break to make you miss them even more.

During this break, I would encourage you to think about what you've read and draw your own conclusions.

You have a good strong brain in there, and I know you know how to use it.

When these things come back, they make look a little different.

I'd, for sure, check back in soon and she how they look in some different jeans.... maybe a new button-down the front shirt...

Probably new, good and supportive shoes.

We'll have warm brownies and cold iced tea. 

copyright 2010 moemasters

A Fine June Morning for 3 More

esimene Listen to Public Radio and watch Public Television (if you’re going to watch any TV at all, which I’m still not completely sold on.) When you enjoy the wide array of goodness these two public media services give you and they are having a pledge drive: Give them money! Seriously. Don’t make me tell you twice. They depend on your generosity to keep them going.

teine Avoid shopping at “Big Box” stores like Wal-mart and Best Buy if you can. There is a greater chance than not that they will be still selling junk produced by underpaid slaves in third world countries when you are an adult, and you should try not to support that economy. Be a smart consumer and do your research, plan ahead, do whatever it takes to avoid becoming one of the masses that only shops these places. I don’t care if their prices ARE better - it is better for you and the universe at large to not save those few pennies and go elsewhere.

kolmas Stay young for as long as you can. Maintain relationships with people who are younger than you. And, not just a couple years younger than you, but 10 years, 20 years, 40 years younger than you. Nurture these relationships and spend time sharing words and meals with these young whippersnappers. The perspective they provide and the sparks they ignite are specific to their youth. By getting to share time with them, you will get to stay closer to your youthfulness. They serve as constant reminders that we are only as old as we allow ourselves to be. As soon as you stop allowing yourself to be old, you get to stop being old. It rocks that way.

copyright 2010 moemasters

Momo Phones One In

pertama Just because there is a little bit of green mold on the bread you do not have to throw the whole loaf away. Cut off the green part, toast it up a smidge, slather it in butter and a good home-made jam and call it good. That's what my grandma always told me, anyways.

kedua Don't kill frogs or toads if you can avoid it. I used to know boys who did this when I was a kid and it still bothers me. If they are a nuisance just relocate them. They are a blast to catch (they will probably pee on you and I'm sorry about that, but it's not the end of the world) and they take to identity reassignment much easier than, say, possums and squirrels.

ketiga Try to avoid doing all your heavy lifting and hard working right smack dab in the middle of a steamy hot day. Get up early and tend to your chores or hit them just as the sun is setting. This is strictly a summer suggestion, as you can pretty much work like crazy any old time in the winter.

copyright 2010 moemasters

Quiet Walks to the Masseuse

eerste Learn to retreat and spend time with yourself in peace. Meditate. Think about it. Spend a few hours (or days) not speaking or writing. Be still enough for everything within you to percolate and solidify. It will happen, I promise. It's a bit like an extended version of a "Time Out" chair. My adults always said something to the effect of, "You just go and think about what you've done." This is a kinder version of that. 

Love yourself enough to sit and be quiet with you. Just you. When you're doing it right and you've run out of things to think about (which you will) - you will think about nothing, and man, I swear, this is some good stuff. I love it when I hit the thinking about nothing place in my head. It's far too rare for me and I wish better for you. Practice this and get good at it.

tweemaal Never underestimate the restorative powers of a good walk. A walk with a friend, a walk with just yourself, a walk to someplace or a walk to nowhere - walks are just some really cool things. Wear good shoes, too. You'll find this is a reoccurring theme with me: Those are the only feet you are going to get, you had best take care of them.

derde If your knees hurt when you bend to lift a 1-ton stone, stop doing that. If it hurts your body to do something, then stop it. Don't do it. Learn your limitations. Pain is our body's way of telling us that we're not doing something right. Pay attention to it and never let it get worse if you can avoid it. Sometimes you may just need a massage too, we will discuss this soon. 

copyright 2010 moemasters

Tuquoise colored island economics

першы You don't have to know how to do everything. You should, however, surround yourself with people who have skills you don't have. It would be helpful if everybody on your little island did not agree on every single thing, as well. It makes for a fatter and richer pool of ideas from which to draw. Build a life that is full to the brim with differences. Always keep a good geek, a good cook and try to have scare up an empath from somewhere.

другі If wearing the color turquoise makes your eyes more blue: Wear the color turquoise. Learn what colors look good on you and which ones don't. Very few humans can pull off bright orange, just so you know. And, an all black wardrobe does not the happy closet make. Wear some color, for Pete's sake!

трэці Learn about finance. All kinds of finance. I totally slept through this class (that was just a euphemism, I never even got the chance to take a course in Finance or Economics.) That being said: I really hope you do. You need to understand not only your own personal economy, but the gigantic great big economy that impacts your life, as well. You also need to learn how to balance a checkbook and not spend money that you don't have.

copyright 2010 moemasters

Voting, deal breakers and text books.

Voting is as much a privilege as it is an obligation. IF you have the opportunity to cast your vote, you'd best do it. Should you choose NOT to exercise this privilege, you will never ever be able to complain about the state of the nation or the state of your state or the state of your county. I know I keep telling you that THIS really matters, but for real: THIS really matters.

Everybody has got a "Deal Breaker" or two. There are just some things that we (subject entirely to personal taste, expectations and needs) will not be able to tolerate in other human beings. These things will evolve as you age. Do not compromise on what you will and will NOT tolerate. For instance: you could be the cutest, smartest, bravest boy in the world, but if you smell like a 30 year old goat who has been in the sun too long  - we probably won't be sharing many meals. THAT is one of my deal breakers.

You are under no obligation to trust what you read in your textbooks in schools. Remember how I told you to be judicious about what you see on the Internet? Well, now I have to tell you to take everything you are forced to read in school with a grain of salt. We are all the products of revisionist history. Do your research and make up your own mind based on the facts that you can find. Try to avoid jumping to hasty conclusions.

copyright 2010 moemasters

Green Eyed Monsters who talk too long and The IRS

one You should never ever ever, under any circumstance, expose yourself to a friend or lover who demonstrates jealous tendencies. Ever. Not ever, not for one minute and not for any reason. There is not now, and there never will be any good reason to try and maintain a relationship with someone who snoops through your cell phone and questions your loyalty. You should never have to listen to endless hours of unreasonable accusations founded on absolutely no truth. There is no room for jealousy in a healthy life and/or relationship. Should you accidentally find yourself in this position - run as far away and as fast as you possibly can. Don't even take the time to collect your things and do not ever look back. Really good humans don't torture other good humans this way and it is a sign of sickness that you should never have to help someone work through.

two Do not use 100 words when 10 will do. I still do this entirely too much (see the above paragraph, for instance.) I'm not suggesting a form of self-censorship that prevents you from being real or expressing yourself well - just don't be that person who could have stopped talking (or writing) much sooner. 

three Remember this: Do NOT jack with the IRS. While I've never had to learn this one first hand - I've heard some seriously whack stories and I had a lifetime of watching a man think he could out-smart the IRS. It's never going to happen. The IRS is perhaps one of the most serious entities here in America and they have an uncanny ability to make your world a pretty unpleasant place to be if you try to deny them their slice of your pie.

(And, yes - I know you are just a baby. But this one seems to matter so I'm telling you now.)

copyright 2010 moemasters