Black Friday Frenzy

By now, many of us have seen the videos of people nearly stampeding over each other to try and get hold of whatever "great deal" is in front of them.   There are reports of a woman pepper spraying other shoppers who were in her way while she tried to get the items she so "desperately needed".  I say, COME ON NOW .. REALLY?   There was pandemonium at Walmarts, and other stores, all over the country.   Is it worth it to risk life and limb to get your hands on a 4 gb hard drive, or a new camera?  The videos being posted by people who were actually in these stores, shows us first-hand, that when it comes to a "great deal" people turn into animals.  I, for one, have never gone shopping on Black Friday.  Not in my younger days, and certainly not now, as a middle aged man.  I would be trampled to death before I made it through the door.  I know that money is tight and the holidays are here, but come on, where do we draw the line?  I will admit that the prices and discounts offered on Black Friday are pretty incredible -- but let's remember this:  the larger items (computers, televisions, game systems, etc.) are available only in limited numbers per store.  So when you see the line starting the day before at Best Buy - and they are all wanting the same 42" Flat Screen TV for 199.99, I can guarantee that the sets will be gone within the first 15 minutes.  So you have waited in line for 24 hours and walked away empty handed.   Was it worth it???   In my personal opinion, nothing is worth the waiting period, or the running through a store to try and get to the section where the items are, and then, if you happen to be lucky to actually get your hands on it, to then try and work your way through the crowd without having someone rip it out of your hands, to then standing in line for another 2 hours waiting to check out.   That is definitely not my idea of shopping.   And that is my Thought For Today.

Random Acts of Kindness

In today's tough economic times, with families and individuals struggling just to get by, where many people don't have a roof over their head or food on their tables, the story I heard today on the news actually brought tears to my eyes.  Here in Oklahoma City, we have a place called "The Jesus House".  It is a building that many homeless people, individuals and families alike, call home.  This "home" survives on donations of private individuals as well as local corporations.  As with any of the many other shelters that provide Thanksgiving dinners to all who cross through their doors, this Thanksgiving brought a special visitor to "The Jesus House".  About half way through their meal, the door opened, and in walked a tall gentleman, dressed casually in jeans, cowboy shirt & boots, and a cowboy hat.   What happened next was incredible.  This man, known to no one there, pulled out a wad of cash, and just started walking around and giving people money.  Some individuals got a few dollars, while others may have received a ten or twenty dollar bill.  People started thanking this man, with tears in their eyes, and he told them - no thanks needed.  You see, about 19 years ago, this man was homeless and had been blessed by finding "The Jesus House", and he just thought it was time to return the favor.  No one got this mans' name; they said he left a business card, but no one could find it.  The recipients of this mans' generosity were overwhelmed with emotion; one woman said that it was the first time in a long time she had $2.00 in her hand. 
My wife and I practice random acts of kindness whenever we can, whether we are holding a door for someone, or helping take out the trash for one of our elderly neighbors, we do these because it is who we are.  When something that you do, that may seem insignificant to you at the time, may mean the world to someone else.  A smile is all the thanks needed.   And that is my Thought For Today.

Black Friday and Pet Adoptions

Now I know that putting "Black Friday and Pet Adoptions" as a title doesn't really seem to make any sense, but it will.  The Oklahoma Humane Society, for Black Friday, had a Pet Adoption event, where they waived the adoption fees for all of the animals at their shelter.  According to the local news channel, there were people lined up around the Shelter building today in hopes of adopting a dog or cat, puppy or kitten.  The usual $25 to $50 fee was waived, and all pets were either spayed or neutered, all shots up to date, and they were including a free micro-chip as well.   Sounds incredible.  As of 5 pm, they had adopted out over 100 animals, and they were still going to be open for another 3 hours.  My first thoughts were that this was fantastic.  These animals were going to be going to new homes before the holidays; they would be loved and spoiled and treated as a member of the family.  Because isn't that what getting a pet is all about?   You get unconditional love, a companion, a new best friend for life.  But then, another thought entered my head ... a thought that I just couldn't dismiss.  I am now wondering how many of these pets are going to be "re-homed on Craigslist" with a small re-homing fee?  Or, how many of these pets are going to end up on the streets, because the new owners didn't realize that this animal needs time to adjust to a new home, and may end having an accident or two?  I truly wish that I could keep positive thoughts when it comes to people and pets, but I have seen so many discarded pets; so many pets on Craigslist being "re-homed" for excuses that are not true; so many pets being brought back to shelters - and then their time has run out.   So it is my hope that anyone who has adopted a pet this holiday season, or any time, sees it in their heart to love this pet unconditionally, because thats what you receive in return.  And that is my "Thought For Today".

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

The turkey was incredible.   The stuffing, out of this world.   There was sweet potatoes, cranberries, waldorf salad, deviled eggs, and a stack of hot rolls on the table.  As I sat there, looking around, seeing the people that mean so much to me -- my wife, my father-in-law, and my mother-in-law, the food took a second seating to what I was thankful for this year.   I absolutely adore my in-laws.  They have become my second set of "parents".  We laugh together, share great times together, but we are also there in the hard times; when illness in our family affects one, it affects us all.  So I am thankful that we got to spend another Thanksgiving with them this year.  Family is very important.  Sometimes I feel that we forget, during our busy, everyday lives, the importance of family; does it take a holiday to reach out to family you haven't spoken to in months; why does the memories of family members who are no longer with us seem to hit us hardest during the holidays?  I lost both of my parents, and I miss them every day.  During the holiday season, I miss them even more.   I sit lost in memories of Thanksgivings past; of sitting around the table with mom & dad, brother, sister, relatives, etc. and the dog under the table to grab the scraps (or the veggies we didn't like).  I will always cherish the memories of every Thanksgiving I have shared with families and friends.   I will also cherish the new memories that my wife and I make every year with every Thanksgiving we share.    So I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, and pass the pumpkin pie; and that's my Thought For Today. 

Computer vs. Communication

When was the last time you picked up your phone and called a friend?  In today's technological world, isn't it so much easier to send a text message or an email or a note on any one of the social networks, rather than speaking via telephone?  Have we lost the art of verbal communication?  How many of us still have home phones?  What kind of calls do you get at home?  Telemarketers?  Wrong numbers?  Bill collectors? etc. etc.  I can't remember the last time I had a phone call with a friend.  Its not that I don't have friends -heck, my FB page says I have 68 friends.  Yet how many of those friends do I speak with on the phone?  One, maybe two.  It is not for lack of trying to maintain human contact.  With time zone differences, work hours, etc. it is very difficult to even reach people via phone calls.  You leave messages, they return your call and leave messages, and then its phone tag, until you give up and realize you don't remember why you were calling in the first place.   So you go to your social network and you "poke them" or send them an IM to say "hi".   Is this what the technological future is?   Because if so, I'm not sure I'm happy about it.  I miss the sound of my friends' voices.   I miss hearing laughter, sharing memories, and yes, I'll say it, mindless chatter about anything and everything.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love my computer, and my cellphone, and being able to share things with my friends online.  But I would also like to hear their voices and share things over the phone.   So, the next time you have something to share with a friend, or are just thinking about them, think about this - pick up the phone and call them - you could very easily make their day.   And that's my Thought For Today. 

Pet Owners vs. Pet Lovers

Okay, this is another thing that just eats at me.  Every day I look at the "pets" section on Craigslist.  As many of you know, we rescued Sami from a very abusive situation from a woman on Craigslist almost 2 years ago.  From the moment we saw him, Lisa and I knew that Sami was to be our "boy".   As anyone who has a dog or cat or other animal, they are not just pets, they are members of our family.  Which brings me to my "pet peeve" today.  I see ads all the time of people who are trying to "re-home" their pet. Now, this dog or cat is now 9 years old, and they have had this pet since he/she was a puppy or kitten, and now, 9 years later, they use the excuse that they just found out they are allergic to them, or they are working full time and can't spend quality time with them, or some other lame, bullsh*t excuse.  And they are usually asking a small re-homing fee.  WAKE UP PEOPLE ... you have had this pet for 9 years.  You are the only family this pet has ever known.   How dare you decide now that you have to get rid of it.  Do you not think that this animal has an emotional bond to you?  Do you really think that he or she will be a sweet & loving dog to another family?  Would you give up your child because you are working full time and can't spend quality time with them?  Its the same with a pet - a member of your family; your pet will not understand why mommy & daddy aren't there.  They will become depressed (yes animals get depressed); and they will probably end up in a pound or shelter to live out their remaining years in a caged area (if they are in a no-kill shelter).  People don't go to shelters looking to adopt 9 year old pets, they want puppies or young dogs or cats.  You basically have handed your pet a death sentence.  Lisa and I knew when we met Sami, that we were in it with him for life.  We could not picture our lives today without him.  He brings us love and happiness and laughter.  We may spoil him, but in so many ways he has spoiled us.  I know that my friends who have and love their pets feel exactly the same way.   I just wish others did.   And that is my Thought For Today. 

CHRISTMAS Tree vs. Holiday Tree (11/21/11)

Now I am not the type of guy who wants to offend others by pushing my beliefs down peoples' throats. I just need to try and grasp the fact that at 50 years old, I am now being told that we no longer call them Christmas trees, we call them Holiday trees.   I DON'T AGREE.  I live in an apartment building and we received a notice about making sure we only put artificial Holiday trees up this year, since real Holiday trees are a fire hazard.  I was truly offended by this.   We live in Oklahoma, the Bible Belt, and I am not a highly religious person, although I was born and raised a Catholic.  I believe in God.  I don't feel that I should be "politically correct" and call the tree a holiday tree - we celebrate many holidays - we don't put a holiday tree up at Easter, or on Thanksgiving, or on the 4th of July.  We put up a Christmas tree for Christmas.   If you don't celebrate Christmas - then why does your right to not celebrate give you the right to dictate to the rest of us that we have to stop saying Christmas tree.   I say Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays.   I don't feel I'm alone in this.   When is the majority of Americans who do celebrate Christmas going to stop bending over to the minority and allowing them to dictate their ways to us?   That is my Thought of the Day.