On Vacation Wednesday Through Sunday

-Steve and I are on vacation today, August 26, 2009 through Sunday, August 30, 2009 – enjoying some time away, a movie or two, and the great Minnesota Get Together – the Minnesota State Fair.

Hope to see you there!

We will be back on Monday, August 31, 2009.

Put It Into Practice

-Hello everyone and welcome to our Tuesday edition of “The View On Superior” … we are really happy to have you with us this morning on this the 25th of August, 2009.

We’ve got 69 awesome degrees this morning – what better temperature could you ask for than that … under cloudy conditions.  Today’s north land weather forecast is calling for: Mostly cloudy with isolated showers and thunderstorms early in the morning…then partly sunny in the late morning and afternoon. Highs 72 to 77. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Color weather radar does show some rain in south and central Minnesota … but it does not look to be heading in our direction.

-Steve is still out light a light bulb – catching a few more winks of sleep before he gets up around 6:15 a.m. for another day at his office.

Just a note to our readers … we will be on “Vacation” Wednesday through Sunday of this week.  Steve and I are traveling to Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota for a few days of rest and relaxation … attending a movie, going to the great Minnesota State Fair, and doing whatever else comes up during our stay down there.

So, FYI – there will not be any blog posting in our absence while on a late August vacation.

-On Sunday, I wrote about how I have seen it over and over again. What goes around truly comes around. All you have to do it wait and see. At the same time, what you give it is going to be what you get back.

I believe there are five great additional and very simple ways to improve your circumstances:

1. Please … do not use words as weapons.  Ask each of us … we listen to words and we use the words spoken in a disagreement as part of our defense.  Why? Simply because it is probably the way we were raised or taught as children – but “words” from the tongue are often sharper than a two edged sword and can cut right to the heart of the man you love – and ruin a relationship.  I need to work on this, we all need to work on this one.
2. Give respect to earn respect … this is simply a matter of what goes around will truly come around.
3. Stop blaming other people for your own inabilities or inadequacies or whatever the reason may be.  Step up to the plate and have the balls to accept your actions and work to resolve the issue.
4. Be a great friend … there are no wiser words that I could leave you with on this Tuesday morning … than to have a friend, you need to be a friend.  Definitely an area we can all work on in this day and age – especially when people don’t care about and don’t love one another as human being first and foremost.
5. Be loyal … if you have a partner, boyfriend, mate or whatever you call your significant other – be faithful, be loyal to him – don’t cheat, don’t attempt to cheat, don’t lie, don’t do anything that will built a wedge between the two of you … and when all is said and done, and you have come to the end of your journey in life – you can say with assurance – I’ve been the man he wanted, I’ve been 100% loyal.  What a great testimony that will be to  your relationship of love.

Well there you go … the list I started on Sunday is now done – all you have to do..is just read it over, think about what I’ve shared with you and last but not least – put it into practice. 

Have a great day guys!

Is Censorship Around Today?

-Good morning … I’m tired.  I woke up tired … and I think it is because I slept so soundly.

-It is a bit warmer this morning, than yesterday – currently 51 with clear conditions.  Today’s forecast for our area of the world is: Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs 73 to 78 inland…and 60 to 65 near Lake Superior. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph…with east winds near Lake Superior.

I like to call it “cooler by the lake”…

-I don’t know if you’ve notice it or not … but I certainly have.  As I look down a list of “blogs” that I keep in my bookmarks – which are resources for my “daily photos” I have found this for many of them:

This blog is under review due to possible Blogger Terms of Service violations and is open to authors only

http://dailystud.blogspot.com/

In essence Blogger is cleaning house of those guys who have blogs that are … well shall we say … unsafe!

Also, I’ve read reports that good is censoring:

Google blocks blog exposing homosexual agenda
‘Actions represent trial balloon for government censorship of ‘hate’ speech’

and selectively blocking certain gay blogs.

Increasingly, Google and its properties — the vastly popular video site YouTube and equally popular Blogger — are tools for shutting down certain sites.

These are perhaps only isolated incidents … but yet they appear to be happening to not only gay but also other types of blogs.

I’m not an “alarmist” but I am a “realist” and I almost find this scary – living in America in 2009 to have some type of censorship going on.  I do fully realized however that when a person signs up to have a “blog” they also agree to limit the content of these blogs to “Proper Use” plus all of the other terms listed therein within the “Terms of Service”. You agree that you are responsible for your own use of the Service, for any posts you make, and for any consequences thereof. You agree that you will use the Service in compliance with all applicable local, state, national, and international laws, rules and regulations, including any laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from your country of residence and all United States export control laws.

Several months ago, when I started to limit the “content of our daily photo” to something let revealing – it was then that we got a few emails from various guys wondering “why?” we did that.

I guess … it was for that very reason – that I wanted to see our blog continue.

As I’ve said before, if you want or need to see “cock” or men “fucking” there are plenty of places you can find it on the net – this however; for the purpose of common sense – won’t be one of those sites.

The question, I would ask – is simply this: Is censorship around today?

-Looking for a quaint little blog, that allows you to post this and that, and perhaps also post to Facebook or Twitter…try Posterous.  I just found it yesterday, and it’s really a pretty cool site.

Take a look and you just might enjoy it – and who knows – maybe in the days ahead, even we’ll switch to Posterous?

-Have a great day guys …

My Sunday View

-Good morning … it is Sunday at about 5:51 a.m. – and I just woke up – as did Steve, my partner.

He is in the shower, getting ready to head off to his second job today … which he starts at about 7:30 a.m. – and for which he will be back home around 3:15 p.m. today.

-Out in our back yard this morning it is 47 degrees under with a clear sky.  Wow, those temperatures are getting down there each and every morning now – and the sad this is we still have over one week of the month of August left before September starts.

Today’s northland forecast is: Mostly sunny. Patchy fog early in the morning. Highs 73 to 78 inland…and 68 to 73 Lakeside. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

-Yesterday, we went to see the movie “Inglorious Basterds” starring Brad Pitt.

• In German-occupied France, Shosanna Dreyfus witnesses the execution of her family at the hand of Nazi Colonel Hans Landa. Shosanna narrowly escapes and flees to Paris, where she forges a new identity as the owner and operator of a cinema. Elsewhere in Europe, Lieutenant Aldo Raine organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in targeted acts of retribution. Known to their enemy as “The Basterds,” Raine’s squad joins German actress and undercover agent Bridget Von Hammersmark on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich. Fates converge under a cinema marquee, where Shosanna is poised to carry out a revenge plan of her own…

I have to say, that this was in my estimation a really great movie that lasted about 2 hours and 32 minutes – and well worth seeing.

This movie is definitely a B+. I didn’t leave pondering life, the universe or anything else. I just had fun. I laughed! Gratefully, I didn’t cry. I liked it alot!

We also stopped at Target and the Miller Hill Mall to shop and then it was off to Old Chicago for a combination lunch and supper meal around 3:30 p.m.

Back home last evening .. we just relaxed and caught up on a few television shows that Steve likes.

One of those was Top Chef and the other was Project Runway … Top Chef is pretty good, but Project Runway is just a show that doesn’t personally hit me right.  I’m more of a manly man and sewing dresses just isn’t my “cup of tea”.  The factor is that I’m not a big fan of the show’s host…Tim Gunn, who is a fashion consultant and television personality; chief creative officer at Liz Claiborne, Inc.

He’s just a little to much “over the top” in the femmy department for this guy.

Having said all that…we crashed by about 10:30 p.m. and now it’s Sunday – and Steve’s just about ready to head on out for another day of work.

I, on the other hand – will be home – trying to figure out what the heck I’ll do today.

-Finally this morning, I have seen it over and over again. What goes around truly comes around. All you have to do it wait and see. At the same time, what you give it is going to be what you get back.

I believe there are some great simple ways to improve your circumstances. Here are some ways I think you’ll like to improve your circumstances:

1. Do not put on an act, instead for crying out loud – just be yourself.
2. Excuse other’s mistakes, after all no one is perfect
3. Be impeccable with your word – if you say your a “faithful loving man” than be one – don’t be a hypocrite!
4. Be willing to cooperate, not only with your friends and neighbors – but also the people you work with.
5. Let go of jealousy – it will only end up hurting you.
6. Learn from your mistakes … and to me this is a big one, because that is how my whole life has allowed me to grow – from the things I’ve done wrong.
7. Say you are sorry and mean it – don’t go behind some one’s back – and do the opposite all over again.
8. Stop judging others – because you’ll never grow from that kind of a life.
9. Keep your opinions to yourself – this is one, where I need to really really improve – I can be “judgmental” at times.
10. Give to others and do not expect a return – this is something we can all learn from.
11. Start the day off with a good intention and then follow through for the remainder of the day.  You’ll be surprised at home great your day will be.
12. Smile more often, after all we live in a great world with some crappy events happening now – we can all use a smile.
13. Give someone a hug just because … but only do this if you know them well enough and they won’t be offended.
14. Learn to truly listen – and I mean truly listen.  This is sometimes another hard area for me – as I many times have several things bouncing around in my head and I don’t pay 100% attention.
15. Give love – and you’ll get it back – usually.
16. Plant a tree, and then nurture it.  I did this when I was a young man in the back yard, and I’ve honestly never forgotten it and those trees today are over 40 feet tall.
17. Give out more compliments – when they are needed.
18. Look for the positive in people, and try not to find the negatives.  This is another hard one for me, as it is easy to find the “bad things” in a person and not the good.
19. Love yourself … ah, yes – another area that I need to work on – and perhaps we all do.  Love “YOU” for who you are – a new creature of God’s – your unique and wonderful.
20. Under promise, over deliver and people will truly appreciate you.
21. Go with the flow of things – it doesn’t always have to be “your way, or the highway”.
22. Be sensitive to people around you, after all – they have feelings just like you do.  This is a big one guys!
23. Assume the best about people, and then you will truly find it.
24. Let go of your ego – your not alone on this planet dude.
25. Remember that every minute counts – so enjoy life to the fullest – and life will truly be the fullest.

Well there you go – just few simple ideas on how the improve the circumstances that surround your life … and most of these are just simply ideas that you’ve probably heard time and time again – and there just basic concepts – not “rocket scientist” things.

-Ok, it is 6:18 a.m. and Steve is going to be rolling on out of the bathroom and headed down the hall way to the bedroom to get dressed.  He’ll then get some breakfast and want to check his email and so forth – so I’m out of here for this Sunday and so will he be – very shortly.

We wish you a great day – smile, and enjoy life for truly life is great.

All In My Day

-The 22nd – Steve’s favorite number “22″.

It is Saturday – good morning.

I noticed even before I got out of bed this morning that is was cool.  The bedroom windows were open and apparently (subconsciously) I had pulled the blankets all the way up to my head – which told me it must have been cool in the bedroom and cool outside.

Out in the back yard this morning as I crawled out of bed – 51 clear degrees.  Today’s north land weather forecast:

Today

Mostly sunny. Patchy fog early in the morning. Highs 65 to 70. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

-All in an average day ~ for me:

Wake up about 4:55 a.m.
Yaaaaawnnnn
Get up out of bed
Pee
Turn on the stove light
Go into the living room
Turn on the computer
Check E-mails
Scan the internet for the daily blog post photo
Crop and improve the phto
Write the blog for day
Eat cereal
Take meds
Update Facebook
Check E-mails
Read other blogs
Read the news
Shower
Get dressed
Hug and kiss Steve as he’s off to work
Talk to Steve just before he arrives at his office
Update Facebook
Check E-mails
Go for my morning cardio hike
Come home
Drink some water
Email Steve that I’m back home
Update Facebook
Check E-mails
Do some things around the house, like pick up or wash/dry clothes
Email Steve to see what he’s up to
Update Facebook
Check E-mails
Prepare some lunch
Eat my lunch
Email Steve
Talk to Steve via my cell phone during his lunch break
Update Facebook
Check E-mails
Clean up my lunch dish(es)
Work around the house or go for a ride or go to the grocery store
Update Facebook
Check E-mails
Watch some television, usually Hard Ball with Chris Matthews
Watch the local afternoon news
Wait for Steve to come home
Update Facebook
Check E-mails
Go for a cardio hike with Steve
Make some supper
Eat my supper
Clean up the dishes
Do laundry or dry laundry or fold laundry
Update Facebook
Check E-mails
Watch television/relax/maybe have sex
Get undressed
Kiss Steve good night, and give him a hug
Get in bed
Turn over on my left side, fluff my pillow, cover up with my blanket and “bingo I’m sleeping in about 1 minute”
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

-Yesterday we drove into Duluth, where Steve went to the automobile garage to get four brand new tires for his car.  We were there at 10:15 for a 10:30 a.m. appointment – which did not get done until nearly 12:40 p.m.  We spent our time at the Miller Hill Mall while the car was getting serviced.  Unknown to us .. and unreal … but as it turns out the garage’s tire machine broke down so they had to haul the tires to some other location and change and balance them.

Total cost $425.00 … results, new 60,000 mile tires – quiet riding – good tread – all season – he’s set to go for a few years.

We grabbed a lite lunch at Taco Bell – the “healthy Fresco menu” … had some water – bummed around the mall, and Best Buy -

We were both kind of tired – having not slept real well the night before … we then drove down to Canal Park – took a spin around there and headed out to our home.

We were both home and chilling out by 3:00 p.m. … and then watched the Vikings with Brett Favre – who was less than “flashy” on his pre-season debut.

Final score Vikings 17 Kansas City 13

Favre was 1 for 4, but did get a nice welcome from the Minnesota fans.

Time will tell how he does – as for Steve, he was doing “great” – I know he thinks Favre is hot and … well … one can only imagine .

-Today we will go to the movies around 1:00 p.m. or so – as I think we’ll probably see ‘INGLORIOUS BASTERDS.’

Grab some lunch and see where the day leads us from there!

-Enjoy your day off – a Saturday and we will also.