So I've really been thinking lately about traveling while I'm young and not tied down. There are so many places that I want to visit inside and outside the States, but right now I'm really interested in international travel.
I don't want to be single forever, but while I am I wouldn't mind taking advantage of the perks for as long as I can. I've always had a "special place" for Europe and Australia/New Zealand in my heart, although I've never been there. There are so many places to visit and so many things to see! My family is originally from Italy (Sicily, to be exact) and that is one place that I want to visit before I'm either to old to travel or kick the bucket. Over the past couple of days, I've been looking in to travel options for later next year to London and/or Italy. When I was at work yesterday, however, a guest was telling me about how she had been to New Zealand a couple of times and has always wanted to go back; she's supposed to be bringing some booklets or something for me.
I don't want to be one of those people who always wished that they had traveled but never did. I want to have stories to tell. I want to have pictures to tell stories. I think that international travel is going to be amazing and it's something that I can't wait to do! Obviously I'm not going to be able to go all the time, but once every couple of years or so wouldn't be too bad! It would also be nice to, when I find someone be able to take trips like that with them so that we'll have experiences that not really that many people can share.
I'm kind of thinking that I might take my taxes that I get back this year and put that towards a trip and then save some money here and there when I get the chance.
Wishing you happy travels in whatever you choose to do,
Gary
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
What's on your list?
So I watched The Bucket List for the first time tonight and I'm just wondering... what's on your list?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Life's Unexpected Turns
Today I was actually having a fairly good day. Today was the start of my "weekend" away from work and, after lunch and getting a haircut I went shopping with my soon-to-be step-mother. After we went shopping, I went back to Dad and Audra's to drop off a couple PJ outfits that I bought for Kenna when we were out today. After playing with Kenna and talking to Dad for a little while today I decided to get home because I knew that dinner was ready and I wanted to get my stuff put away before my shows came on. The night seemed like it was going to be uneventful until my phone started to vibrate; my mom was calling.
When I picked up the phone my mom was crying and I thought it was news about her grandmother who we know isn't doing too well. As it turns out, my Uncle Kurt who lives in Tennessee passed away tonight. This comes as such a shock to the entire family, even my Dad and Grandma (Dad's mom) who aren't even close to my Mom's side of the family were taken aback. Right now we're waiting to hear something from the authorities or the hospital where his body has been taken. Luckily, from what one of my other uncles had told me, Kurt's boys weren't there when he died. My Grandparents aren't taking this well, obviously, but I can only imagine what this is doing to them. Unfortunately since Kurt and the boys lived down south we weren't very close, but he's always been a part of my life and now I don't have that any more.
I suppose that everything happens for a reason, but this totally came out of the blue. I'm hoping that we'll have some sort of an idea fairly soon but only time will tell. I keep thinking about what's going to happen to the boys. Kurt and the boys' mom are divorced but (from what I understand) lives in TN as well so I'm assuming that they'll stay with her and her husband? I really can't even think what to write. My mind keeps going blank mid sentence and I have to keep starting over.
With this news it just goes to show that you need to live life while you can. Life every day like it's your last.
I love you, Uncle Kurt!!!
When I picked up the phone my mom was crying and I thought it was news about her grandmother who we know isn't doing too well. As it turns out, my Uncle Kurt who lives in Tennessee passed away tonight. This comes as such a shock to the entire family, even my Dad and Grandma (Dad's mom) who aren't even close to my Mom's side of the family were taken aback. Right now we're waiting to hear something from the authorities or the hospital where his body has been taken. Luckily, from what one of my other uncles had told me, Kurt's boys weren't there when he died. My Grandparents aren't taking this well, obviously, but I can only imagine what this is doing to them. Unfortunately since Kurt and the boys lived down south we weren't very close, but he's always been a part of my life and now I don't have that any more.
I suppose that everything happens for a reason, but this totally came out of the blue. I'm hoping that we'll have some sort of an idea fairly soon but only time will tell. I keep thinking about what's going to happen to the boys. Kurt and the boys' mom are divorced but (from what I understand) lives in TN as well so I'm assuming that they'll stay with her and her husband? I really can't even think what to write. My mind keeps going blank mid sentence and I have to keep starting over.
With this news it just goes to show that you need to live life while you can. Life every day like it's your last.
I love you, Uncle Kurt!!!
Every Gay Person
This is a video that speaks volumes. This is a video that speaks the truth. This is a video that a gay person in America shouldn't have had to make. This is a video...
Friday, October 17, 2008
Is It Really That Time Again?
Well ladies and gentleman... the holidays are right around the corner. Halloween, the start of the holiday season is almost here! This means that as soon as the ghoulish decorations come down, it's time to put up the Christmas decorations in the store. Granted, we still have Thanksgiving to get through, but when it comes to the stores there really isn't much that they put out.
In these tough times it's not that hard to find people (more than usual) who don't want to talk about Christmas simply because they aren't going to have the "normal" gift giving money. I honestly have been thinking about bringing up the idea of just either postponing or canceling the holiday for the older people in the family. I say just the older people because no kid should have to go without a Christmas when they're growing up. Christmas is, along with many people, my favorite holiday but it's not because of the presents. Let's face it, the gifts are always nice but that's not what the holidays are about. Many people forget that Christmas isn't about who can buy the biggest gift but about spending time with your family and being thankful for what you have.
Each and every year the holidays sneak up on people; while the days go by so slow, the weeks just fly by! We're half-way through October already!!! Fairly soon here in the Metro area we'll have one radio station playing Christmas music 24/7 until December 26th. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas music but that's just a little extreme. I'm sure, however, that I'll find myself going back and forth between 104.5 (Christmas over-kill station) and others that I normally listen to... this way I'll be able to get a little more variety.
I know that some people, for whatever reason don't like the holidays and that's cool with me; to each his own, but please don't try and impose that on others. There may have been something that happened in your past to make you not like this time of the year or you may just simply not like what the holidays have become, but there are some people, children included who live for Thanksgiving and Christmas for one reason or another.
I have been lucky enough to have been brought up in a family where I was taught what the real meaning behind the holidays is. My family is in no way "comfortable" when it comes to money so we've learned to live with what we have and that we can count on one another for just about anything. This was reinforced each and every year when I was growing up at Thanksgiving. Granted, we were all looking forward to Grandma's Thanksgiving dinner and Grandpa's homemade sides and desserts but we were, at the same time glad to be together if only for a couple of hours. This really is the time of the year to come together; set aside your differences with others if at all possible.
With all of that being said, let me be the first to wish all of you Happy Holidays!
In these tough times it's not that hard to find people (more than usual) who don't want to talk about Christmas simply because they aren't going to have the "normal" gift giving money. I honestly have been thinking about bringing up the idea of just either postponing or canceling the holiday for the older people in the family. I say just the older people because no kid should have to go without a Christmas when they're growing up. Christmas is, along with many people, my favorite holiday but it's not because of the presents. Let's face it, the gifts are always nice but that's not what the holidays are about. Many people forget that Christmas isn't about who can buy the biggest gift but about spending time with your family and being thankful for what you have.
Each and every year the holidays sneak up on people; while the days go by so slow, the weeks just fly by! We're half-way through October already!!! Fairly soon here in the Metro area we'll have one radio station playing Christmas music 24/7 until December 26th. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas music but that's just a little extreme. I'm sure, however, that I'll find myself going back and forth between 104.5 (Christmas over-kill station) and others that I normally listen to... this way I'll be able to get a little more variety.
I know that some people, for whatever reason don't like the holidays and that's cool with me; to each his own, but please don't try and impose that on others. There may have been something that happened in your past to make you not like this time of the year or you may just simply not like what the holidays have become, but there are some people, children included who live for Thanksgiving and Christmas for one reason or another.
I have been lucky enough to have been brought up in a family where I was taught what the real meaning behind the holidays is. My family is in no way "comfortable" when it comes to money so we've learned to live with what we have and that we can count on one another for just about anything. This was reinforced each and every year when I was growing up at Thanksgiving. Granted, we were all looking forward to Grandma's Thanksgiving dinner and Grandpa's homemade sides and desserts but we were, at the same time glad to be together if only for a couple of hours. This really is the time of the year to come together; set aside your differences with others if at all possible.
With all of that being said, let me be the first to wish all of you Happy Holidays!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Inspiration... What's Yours?
Each day I try and find something to inspire me. Yesterday I read an entire book in my 8-hour shift at work and it was truly inspiring, but I needed something more. When the phones were slow I took a little trip to the Gift Shop and was just going to get something to drink but these mugs and clocks kept staring at me from across the room.
A couple of months ago, I was in the Gift Shop and was having a rough day and just needed a pick-me-up and I came across a mug with a saying from Thomas Fuller, "Great hope makes great men". Those simple words were enough to keep me going that day. Since then I really haven't looked in that corner of the shop, but yesterday my curious mind overtook me. Two things stood out yesterday, a mug that said "Live as brave men" (Cicero) and a little desk clock, "Character is man's guiding destiny". It may seem silly to some, but these two things, I have each sitting on my desk at home, just make things easier for the time being. All I have to do is remember those two quotes and I'll be good for a while.
Inspiration can be found in many forms. Each and every day I'm inspired by something or someone. I am incredibly grateful for each day that I am allowed to spend on this earth. I am inspired by the things that I see going on around me; they teach me to either never do something or to always push forward. Each of the people in my life, even if I have only met the once have inspired me to be a better person. Each interaction that I have with a guest at work, either good or bad inspires me do what I do best, make a difference in this world.
As I have said before, it only takes you smiling at one person that you pass in the hallway or on the street to make their day better. By taking a split second to smile or say "hello" to someone, you may have made a bad day a tiny bit better or a great day 10x better that it was before. Each of us have a specific purpose in this life. If you have yet to figure yours out yet, please, I beg you to keep looking. It will come to you.
So, today I ask, "What is your inspiration?". Your inspiration could be your children, family, friends, striving to be a better person, the beauty of nature or many other things that I did not list.
"Live, inspire, be inspired..."
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