Happy New Year

Happy New Year

Just watching the ball drop on CNN and before it dropped a singer I never heard of sang:

Imagine

John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need…

You may say I'm a dreamer

What a wonderful song. Can you Imagine if the world we live in would be like that song.

Star Trek

Star Trek

First, Happy and Healthy New Year to all. 2018 will be a fabulous year if we make it a fabulous year.

Sooo, what do I do during the holidays? My wife and I don't like to travel over the holidays because it's too crazy. My wife and I don't like to go out to dinner on Christmas or New Year because everything is too expensive and the food is subpar. Sooo, Ellen cooks (she is a fantastic cook) and we stay home. She likes to play on her iPad and I like to watch old movies.

To that last point, I just watched the 1994 movie Star Trek Generations. The movie was good (for a Star Trek movie), however, the last line in the movie got me to take a step back.

"What We Leave Behind Is Not As Important As How We Lived"

Wow, that's deep. We all would like to think we could leave behind a legacy. Most of us are just average people and a legacy is out of our reach. I would like to believe that my books and blogs will be my legacy. I would like to believe my positive impact on others will be my legacy.

However, while thinking about my legacy, I sometimes forget how important it is to focus on how I have lived.  In my later years, I know my love of family and friends is the way I have lived. In my later years, I know my honesty and trust is the way I have lived. In my later years, I know my positive energy and thinking is the way I have lived. In my later years, I know my love of life is the way I have lived.

Like I said, most of us won't leave behind a legacy, but we can decide on how we will live. Think about:

"What We Leave Behind Is Not As Important As How We Lived"

Why Does Christmas Only Come Once A Year

Why Does Christmas Only Come Once A Year

Christmas time is a fabulous time for most of us. Great food, great friends, great family, great kids, great presents, great booze and great sports. Christmas just makes us want to appreciate what we have. To me Christmas is not a religious thing it's a time when we wish everyone in the world would feel the love.

Christmas makes me wonder why it only comes once a year.

I love the food I eat all year. I love the friends I have all year. I love the family I have all year. I love my grandkids all year. I love the booze and the sports all year. I don't get presents all year, but, I don't need more than I have.

The most important thing to me is that I appreciate all that I have ALL YEAR!

Where are you at this time in your life? Do you love or hate Christmas? Are you glad it only comes once a year? Do you hate the hassle because of the traffic, family you don't like, shopping for presents is not fun because the stores are so crowded?

To those of you of you who say yes to those questions, I say HUM-BUG!

I know Christmas can be a hassle if you let it, but:

I Believe That If You Have Christmas In Your Heart, You'll Feel Like Christmas Every Day

Where Is The Love

"Where Is The Love?"

By The Black Eyed Peas

From time to time I shut up and let the lyrics of a song say what I feel or believe. This is one of those times.

What's wrong with the world, mama
People livin' like they ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma

Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin'
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK

But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah

Madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach?
Or would you turn the other cheek?

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love, the love, the love

It just ain't the same, old ways have changed
New days are strange, is the world insane?
If love and peace are so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong?

Nations droppin' bombs
Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones
With ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young
So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone

So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong
In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin' in
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover

The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love
Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the love, y'all

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin'
Selfishness got us followin' the wrong direction

Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema

Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness and equality
Instead of spreading love we're spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading us away from unity

That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under
Gotta keep my faith alive 'til love is found
Now ask yourself

Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?

Father, Father, Father, help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love?

Sing with me y'all:
One world, one world (We only got)
One world, one world (That's all we got)
One world, one world
And something's wrong with it (Yeah)
Something's wrong with it (Yeah)
Something's wrong with the wo-wo-world, yeah
We only got
(One world, one world)
That's all we got

(One world, one world)

This says it all for me. I hope it says it all for you.

I've Got The Love - How About You

Exercise - Body - Mind

Exercise - Body - Mind

Most of us think exercise is a way to get your body in shape. It's true that a healthy body begets a healthy person.The fact is that a healthy body alone won't give you a happy and healthy life. What's just as important (if not more important) is a healthy mind. 

As we age, our brain starts losing some of its power. As we age our body loses some of its power. We look at our body and say: "Shit, I'm so out of shape I need to get in the gym." What we don't say is: "Shit, I'm in the garage and I don't remember why I came here - I need to get my mind in shape."

The problem is we can see our body, but we can't see our brain. The problem is we get a yearly physical and our blood tests tell us what wrong with our body, but the vast majority of us never get our brain tested. Ninety Nine percent of family doctors are not trained on how to conduct a brain test.

What to do - what to do? My wife plays Words With Friends and Candy Crush with friends. She also keeps her mind engaged by playing crossword puzzles in the morning paper. I use my brain to write and blog. Doing creative things (anything creative) is a good way to exercise your mind. Vegging out on mindless TV does nothing to stimulate your brain cells.

Now, for those of you who are too young to give a shit about this blog, your day is coming. Believe it or not, playing games on your tablet, computer or X Box is a great way to exercise your brain. Older people should not think of it as a kid's toy. It's a real brain toy.

Hay, young people, texting does nothing to sharpen your mind. Hay, old people, texting does nothing to sharpen your mind. Yo, young people - play chess. Yo, old people play - Mah Jongg. Reading is good for both young and old. Letting your mind think: "where in the hell is this plot going," will get those synapses to wake up.

I work out my body three to four times a week. I don't have mussels, but it keeps my weight down and it's great for my cardio. Working out makes me happy because I believe it will enhance my quality of life. Most of us don't realize that working out the body is also exercising the brain.

That's right; body and brain go hand in hand. Happiness is feeling good physically and feeling good intellectually. Sooo, the next time you're naked and looking into the mirror, don't just see the facade;

See What A Beautiful Brain You Have

Holidays - Time To Value Your Life

Holidays - Time To Value Your Life

The holiday season is a joyful time. It's a time for family and friends. It's a time eat until you just can't eat any more. It's a time to make someone else happy. It's a time to hug, kiss and laugh. It's also a time to take a step back and look at your life. 

What value do you put on your life? I hope it's a lot. Do you enjoy the holidays or do you spend time saying: "I shoulda done or I coulda done. Do you surround yourself with people who love you or do you believe you're not lovable? Do you spend your time loving the holiday moment or are you thinking about how your life will be different in the New Year? If it's the latter, you need to be changing your life right now. 

Valuing your life means enjoying life.Valuing your life means you deserve a good life.Valuing your life means you let others love you.Valuing your life means you're proactive in making friends and love ones.Valuing your life means you either love yourself just the way you are or you're committed to changing what's holding you back from living the life you deserve. 

Valuing your life means you're proactive in finding happiness. 

Sexual Abuse

Sexual Abuse

What the hell is going on? Abuse of power has been around for a long long time and I'm sure it's going on right now. However, that abuse of power has and always will involve financial abuse, employee pay abuse, corporate abuse and even government abuse. Now we're seeing the most disgusting abuse - sexual abuse.

What is with these guys (and sometimes women)? What were they thinking? How in the hell can they look at themselves in the mirror and feel good about themselves? How could they have a happy life knowing they abused another human being? I just don't get it!

I know forty/fifty years ago women were consider second class citizens. But, even back then, second class citizens were human beings. As disgusting as it is, this is not about abuse of an animal this is abuse of another human being. 

Did it make them feel more powerful? Psychiatrists say that rape is about feeling powerful over their victims and I get that they might be insane. But, these people who are committing sexual abuse are not insane (or maybe they are). The reason I don't want to give them the insane card is because that's letting them off the hook for the horrible things they did and are doing.

How does masturbating in front of a woman make you happy? How does having a women look at your penis make you happy? How does feeling up a women who doesn't want to be touched make you happy? I just don't get it!

In the seventies, women started to realize they have more power than they believed. Today, women are still not considered by many men as first class citizens, but they sure as hell know women are longer considered as second class citizens. Today, women have a voice. Today, most women will not put up with sexual abuse and call out their abuser.

Unfortunately that wasn't the case many, many years ago. Sooo, it took one woman and then another and then many more to speak out. I applaud them, but wonder why now? Is it just the words in the movie "Network" "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore" or is it the guilt of feeling that by not saying something now these abusers will continue to destroy more human lives? I believe it's both.

Should they have spoken up back then - absolutely? However, I lived back then and being abused by powerful people, who knew they could get away with it, was the way of the world. My father was abused way back then for being Jewish. GE laid him off when they didn't need him after the war. GE did the same with all the other Jews. That's abuse of power.

My father respected my mother. I was raised to respect women, but it's more than that - I just don't understand why any sane person would get pleasure out of this abuse. It makes me happy that these acts are no longer in the darkness. To the ones (and there are too many of them) who say: "they should have said something then" or  "this is about revenge" or "this is about politics" or "they're lying." I say F..K YOU!

Sooo, it's not just sexual abuse it's abuse of power and:

It Has To Stop Now

Childbirth

Childbirth

When I was in my late twenties I got a kidney stone. I was in so much pain that while my wife was driving me to the ER I was telling her where the bills and the wills were located. The pain was in two areas. The first area was the easy one - a throbbing pain in my right kidney. 

The second excruciating pain was in my groin area and it felt like my entire insides were going to burst through my groin/penis area. Some say that pain is what women feel when giving birth. If that's true, it's a wonder there are this many people on this earth because if I were a women and experienced that pain, I would never have kids again.

Which brings me to the question: "why have women evolved in a way that they have to go through this much pain to have a child?" There are many theories. The scientists say when humanoids began to walk upright the pelvic area of a woman became narrower causing the trauma through the birth canal. 

Newer studies suggest that that some earlier species of human, including Homo Erectus and even some Neanderthals, had a relatively easy time of it when it came to giving birth. They suggest that when we changed from hunters and gathers to farmers women's body shape changed in a way that pelvic area began to shrink so they could walk easier and faster. 

If the scientists are right then why haven't women evolved to avoid this problem since 830 women die from childbirth every day around the globe? Maybe in another million years evolution will solve this problem - for women's sake, I sure hope so.

Religious people believe it's God's plan for women to have this much pain through childbirth so the newborn is cherished more when it comes out. Their belief is like the old joke: "my wife hits my head with a hammer every day." A friend says: "why do you put up with that." The guy says: "the reason I put up with it is because it feels so good when she stops." 

BTW, I'm not buying the religious answer.

Sooo, I came out with my own theory. There are already too many people on this earth. If women could pop out a kid as easy as taking a good crap, the earth would be overrun with people. We are seeing less newborns today than ever before. There are many reasons for this; I'm just suggesting one of those reasons is because today women have more say about their bodies and their lives. 

Therefore, who the hell wants to go through that pain - one is enough.

Happiness Is Believing

Happiness Is Believing

Do you have a good belief system or are you skeptical of everything? In my opinion you can't be truly happy unless you believe. It all starts with believing in yourself. Believing you are a good person. Believing you will always make choices for the good not for the bad. 

Believing you will do your best to make something good out of something bad. Believing positive energy will bring back positive energy back to you. Believing that tomorrow will be better than today.

Believing in God or any other spiritual being is OK, but remember, you are putting you happiness in the hands of something you can't touch, see or hug. I prefer to put my happiness in my own hands. Maybe there is a God, but I'm not going to sit back and hope she does the right thing by me. Just the thought that my chance for a happy life is squarely in the hands of someone or something else, does NOT make me happy.

It's good to believe in family, but only if the family believes in themselves. It also good to believe in friends, but only if those friends have a positive belief system.

Believing in money, power and/or ego in lieu of believing in just yourself, is not a good prescription for happiness. We all want more money, but just because you have it or can get it doesn't guarantee you're going to use it toward your happiness.

Don't get me wrong, I rather have money than not have money, however, as my previous blogs have always stated: "I see money as freedom of choice, not just the freedom to buy shit or make others wish they had what you have."

Everyone wants to be in control of their life. However, it has been shown over and over again, having power doesn't guarantee happiness. The Mel Brook's saying: "it's good to be king" is absolutely true. On the other hand, KFK said: (I'm paraphrasing) "I don't have dress powerful because I'm already the President." He goes on to say: (again I'm paraphrasing) "the use of power for the good of all makes me happier than the ego rewards that come from me being in a powerful position.

Sooo, let me go back to my original question: "do you have a good belief system?" Do you believe you have the power to create a happy life? I feel blessed because I truly believe I have the power to make sure I stay happy. 

Oh sure, there are many things I can't control (my bad back, the horrible things that are happen on this beautiful planet, etc.). But, I can control the pain management of my back, I can refuse to see the world through a negative lens, I can believe in a better future, I can control the friends (and sometimes family) I choose to love.

Most importantly, I can control my thoughts. Where are you in this process? Do you accept that Happiness Is Believing - I sure hope so? If not, Please, pretty please, believe you can make some very risky, scary and hard to accept decisions today that will 

Start You On A Path To Happiness

Ya Gotta Have Friends

Ya Gotta Have Friends

Our best friend came to visit us in Las Vegas. She made the trip from Southern California just because she missed seeing us since we moved four months ago. We had a great time and missed seeing her because she's wonderful to be around, funny and does things for us most other people (some so called friends) wouldn't do.

So let's take a look as to why she's such a good friend. She stays neutral even when the wife and I disagree (she loves us both the same). When we travel or when we moved, she took care of the house, the mail and anything else we asked from her. 

She calls often just to see how we're doing. When she stayed with us this trip, she was never in our way. There was another person in our house, but my wife and I never felt obligated to entertain her. She's independent so we never had to look after her.

She and my wife get along so well that I can watch football in my Man Cave while they are laughing their ass off about things I know nothing about. 

But, let's get down to the core of friendship - we know she will always be there for us. We know she is truly happy for our happiness. No pretense, no ego, no jealously just love, love and more love.

We are blessed to have such a good friend. As the Bette Midler song says:

Ya Gotta Have Friends

Why Would Anyone Hate America

Why Would Anyone Hate America

The vast majority of Americans love America. However, there are quite a few Americans who hate America. This is confusing to me. Do we have pockets of racial injustice - absolutely. Do we have people who think the white race is the only race that should exist in America - sadly yes. Do we have a love hate relationship with Politicians - you bet-um. Do we believe there is a lot of corruption in America - we do because there is.

However, even if you hate the things I mentioned above, why hate America. We are the good guys.  We fight for freedom around the world. We put our lives at risk to protect us while trying to make the world a better place. We give money and time to help people who are oppressed or who have lost everything in a war or a storm. We have a constitution that gives rights to everyone. The fact that some people don't live up to the letter of the constitution is not a reason to hate America. 

I've traveled to many places in this world and with all its faults, I will always choose to live in America. We might believe that poor Americans probably hate America. That is far from the truth. Many of the people in the military, fighting for our wonderful country, come from very poor backgrounds. I don't see the KKK going into the military to fight for American values.

The poor has little, but they have food to eat, air to breathe and shelter in America. That can't be said for many, many places outside of America. They get their strength from family, friends and their faith. I know this because I grew up very poor and loved America. I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for America.

Why would North Korea hate America? Do they really believe we want to take over their broken down country? Why would they want to start a fight with America? My only answer is that they're bullies who only can feel good about themselves if they puff themselves up so everyone will notice. If given the choice I'm sure the people (not the leadership) would rather be living in America than North Korea.

Why would Iran, ISIS, etc. etc. hate America? I guess they think we are the bullies because sometimes we act like bullies. However, if they created an American way of life for their people, they would be better off than they are now. You might say: "they don't want to live like Americans." I say: "is your way of life working out for you and your people?" Do they really believe that their only choice is to hate America and threaten war - how sad - how sad.

The bottom line for me is that with all its flaws:

Nobody Should Hate America

Calling For Unity Across All Sides Of The United States

Calling For Unity Across All Sides Of The United States

Every once in a while I read something that is better said by the originator than the blogger (me). This open letter from Nate Boyer says it all for me. It's a long letter so I'll take out some content to shorten,but, not to, in any way, change the message.

Editor's note: More than a year after penning an open letter to Colin Kaepernick, former Army Green Beret and NFL player Nate Boyer writes another one, this time calling for unity across all sides of the United States. Here's his letter, as told to ESPN San Francisco 49ers reporter Nick Wagoner

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dear Every Single American,

Every. Single. American. Including President Trump, Colin Kaepernick, and my brothers in arms overseas who are wondering, "what in the hell is going on back there?" I'm sitting in the same chair, in the same apartment that I sat in almost a year ago when I wrote an open letter to Colin Kaepernick. I was hurt when I saw him sitting on the bench during the national anthem, but I'm much more hurt now. Not by him, not by where we're at now with the protests, but by us.

Simply put, it seems like we just hate each other; and that is far more painful to me than any protest, or demonstration, or rally, or tweet. We're told to pick a side, there's a line drawn in the sand "are you with us or against us?" It's just not who we are, or at least who we're supposed to be; we're supposed to be better than that, we're Americans. This doesn't even seem to be about right or wrong, but more about right or left.

Today it feels like this national divide isn't even really about the anthem, or the flag, or kneeling, or sitting, or fists in the air. It's not about President Donald Trump, it's not about Colin Kaepernick, it's not about the military or even police brutality. It feels like it's about winning. That's what makes America so great, our sheer competitiveness. We're winners, and we won't quit until victory is ours.

We see it in sports every day, we "live and die" by the outcomes of our teams. That desire to win at all cost is costing us greatly now among our neighbors. This winning mentality seems to have spilled over into an obsession with being right and not willing to admit that maybe, just maybe we were wrong. We repeat mantras to ourselves like, "no matter what I will never ever surrender."

Earlier this week I sat down with a group of five Combat Arms and Special Operations Veterans. The round table discussed our individual feelings on the flag, the anthem, and the players who knelt when it was played. We all had very different takes, but what surprised me most at the end of the discussion was that we all agreed on one thing. Colin Kaepernick and President Trump should be the ones uniting our country together. Wait...what? I know it sounds crazy, but maybe that's exactly what we need to see. Maybe that's how we start to heal. Two men sit in a room and talk, simple as that.

I believe that progress and real change happens in this world when you reach across the divide, you build a bridge, you swallow your pride, you open your mind, you embrace what you don't understand. I do feel that I echo the sentiments of most war fighters when I say that what we hope for more than anything right now in America is unity

To deploy overseas, train, live with, fight alongside, and ultimately defend foreigners that you have little in common with is truly a challenging task. But returning home to a country that is so divided, so judgmental, and so hateful of one another is almost as difficult to deal with as burying a fallen comrade. We risk our lives because you are worth it, because we love you and this country.

I would love for those two leaders to have that conversation, but more than anything I just want us to love one another again. One great thing about freedom is that you get to choose everyday how you treat your neighbor.

I know some people will hate this (we love to hate things these days), and I'll get called a disgrace to the Green Beret once again. But I don't care, 

The United States Means More To Me Than Any Of That

The More You Fear The Less You Experience

The More You Fear The Less You Experience

The media does everything it can to get us to fear. This may sound ridiculous, but when it rains in Southern California the media's headline is "STORM WATCH." If the same amount of rain happened in Philadelphia it would be called "RAIN TODAY." 

Even the President Of The United States gets us to be in fear via his Tweets. Fear is not good for your soul. Fear is not good for your health. Fear is not good for your mental state. "Fear," what is it good for - absolutely nothing.

"The More You Fear The Less You Experience." If a bombing in France stops you from ever going to France, you don't know what you missing. If a shooting in Las Vegas stops you from going to Las Vegas - you're going to be missing out on a great fun time. If you fear going to the Dentist then as the old saying goes: "Be True To Your Teeth Or They Will Be False To You."

I'm not saying we all should go to North Korea. We all know that it's too dangerous to go there. However, there are so many things we fear that stops us from enjoying so many things in life. If you are still using a flip phone because you fear the new phones are too complicated, you will be missing out on so much information and entertainment that is available to you and will enrich your life.

There is good fear. Fearing walking down a dark ally in a bad neighborhood is the right kind of fear. Not going out in public places or a concert because you might get shot will limit the positive things that are available to you. 

Remember, you only have one life. 

Don't Let Fear Steal The Precious Little Time You Have Left

The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know

The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know

Albert Einstein said: "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know."  Before him, Aristotle said: "The more you know, the more you know you don't know." Well, that about sums up my life. I loved and still love learning. The reason I love technology is because it changes so fast, therefore there's more to know so fast.

I like history and love going to places like Europe because you can still see history. However, history is history. It doesn't change. Even though it's been ravaged by pollution, the Colosseum in Rome still looks like the Roman Colosseum you see in movies like "Ben Hur."

Before I moved to Las Vegas, I lived in Marina Del Rey California. In just the last ten years the entire Marina Del Rey area has changed tremendously. This can be said for most of the United States. Therefore, when it comes to architecture, the US is a great place to learn and see the changes. The fact that these changes happen so quickly, I realize how much I don't know what it will look like in the future.

Technology is so interesting for so many different reasons. It affects us mentally, it affects how we live, it affects how we play, it affects how we communicate and it affects our future. I believe technology is what Einstein had in mind when he said: "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know."

We think we know a lot about the human race, but when you see or read about disasters you realize how much you don't know about the human race. Some of it is very good - like the strangers who donate their time and money (and sometimes blood) to help others ravaged by storms.

Some of it is very bad - like the insane person who just last night fired on thousands of good people watching a concert killing over fifty people and hospitalizing over five hundred people. Believe me, "The more you know about the human race the more you know you don't know."

Too paraphrase what a friend of mine, "Mike Bemiss," wrote in my first book "Never Buy A Hat If Your Feet Are Cold - Taking Charge Of Your Career And Your Life:"

"Beware Of The Known"

"It's not the Unknown that we must fear. As Children everything was unknown. But, as we get older we start to build walls around ourselves, at the limit of what we Know. I will not build that wall.

I appreciate the Known, but I refuse to be limited by it - It can be a trap - if you let it - and you will never experience the next Unknown - and that is the most special UNKNOWN of all

The Next One"

Who Is Your Blogger

Who Is Your Blogger

He's a guy that believes that if you give positive energy out to the universe you'll get positive energy back. Now, what the hell does that mean? It means always trying to do the right thing all the time. Yes, that includes, the IRS, your partner, any business transaction, acceptance of all people and religions and believing in the Golden Rule - do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

The bottom line is, just be a good person. One that is trusted. One that is kept in high regard. One that is respected. One that they like or love even if they don't agree with you on many things. One who truly believes that "Happiness Is The Forgotten Ingredient In Life."

Your blogger is also a guy that has many opinions. However, if you read his blogs you start to realize his opinions are focused on your happiness. You may not agree with his opinions (especially his attitude toward politics and religion), but take it from me, your blogger, he means well and always wants you to use his opinions to get you to think about your what's going on around you, your life and your happiness. 

I get very little feedback from the over 10,000 people in 11 different countries that read my blogs, sooo, I can't tell how my blogs are affecting you. Even if nobody reads my blogs, I would still write them because they remind me of the shortfalls I have in my own life.  Can you spell "cathartic?"

You don't have to be a writer or a blogger, but I promise you will get a lot out of writing down who you are, what you believe in and how you run your life. Try doing it every day or every other day or just when an event in your life happens. Just look at the page and throw-up your thoughts on the page in front of you.

Signed: Your Blogger

Mind Fuck

Mind Fuck

A mortgage company asking you for new information every third day instead of putting a list together and asking for the same information once - that's a Mind Fuck. You slave all day making a great dinner and the friends call you at the last minute to cancel - that's a Mind Fuck. 

Waiting in line for thirty minutes at the DMV, restaurant (especially a Chinese restaurant) or any other event when the people in charge keep telling you ten minutes - that's a Mind Fuck. Trump and the little fat guy from North Korea - now that's a real Mind Fuck.

Anything that makes you so crazy that you feel you head is going to explode is a Mind Fuck. As your blogger on happiness, I'm supposed to tell you to not let it get to you, love everyone and think positive thoughts.

The fact is, I'm not Gandhi, Jesus of Nazareth, Saint Maria or the Dalai Lama. I'm just Kenny Felderstein. Everything stated above and more has giving me a Mind Fuck. However, I truly believe that the only way to have a happy life is to let the Mind Fucks pass in as little time as possible and focus on the positive things in your life.

Mind Fucks are out there and you can't stop them. It comes down to how you deal with them. 

Letting them stress you out will never lead to happiness. Knowing this too shall pass will help put that smile back on your face.

Insanity

Insanity

The old business statement on insanity is doing the wrong thing over and over again while expecting a different result. Insanity is shooting up a class full of school kids. Insanity is blowing yourself up so you can get a good spot in heaven. Insanity is saying guns don't shoot people - people shoot people. Insanity is believing Mexico will pay for Trump's wall. 

I could go on and on, but the real insanity of today is that little fat guy in North Korea. Does he really believe that if they become a nuclear power the rest of the world will bow down to him? And what if he does have Nukes? The sane people know that if he fires one on a country that his bull shit of a country will be annihilated. Believe me, the sane people over there will kill the little fat guy before they will let him destroy another country and then be destroyed themselves.

Fact, Russia has Nukes. America has Nukes. However, when Russia put missiles in Cuba America went to defcon 3. Guess what happened? The sane people in Russia pulled the missiles out. Nuclear war is a no sum game. There are no winners only losers. Sane people know that.  

So what if he becomes a nuclear power? He can sit around with his generals and be happy and proud that he has all these weapons of mass destruction while sanctions will starve all of his people. One thing I learned from history is that when people are starving and have no recourse, they will rise up against the government and wipe out that little fat guy. 

Sooo, let's stop the media from covering the little fat guy's everyday actions. Let him get his Nukes - he's going to get them like it or not. If we stop talking about North Korea,

The Media Will Find A Way To Depress Us Over the Other Insanity Going On In This World

Is Face To Face Communication Going Away

Is Face To Face Communication Going Away

Don't look now, but your kids or grand kids are entering into a world where they are communicating more than ever, however most of it is not going to be face to face. Should we worry about it? Should we ignore it or should we embrace it - that is the question?

I've done many deals in my life - all of them face to face. When doing a deal I need to see the other person's or group's expressions and their body language. It took me a few years to understand what their body was saying, but once I got it, I knew how to approach the deal. 

It isn't just about dealing. The only way I can be effective when mentoring someone is to look into their eyes and observe their body language. You can ask someone if they like you on email or text, however will you really know their true answer without looking into their eyes.

But, here we are. Kids today (and it will get more prevalent in the future) don't feel the need to address someone face to face. The closest thing to showing their feelings is to place an emoji on their text message. 

When artificial intelligent become commonplace, the device being used will ask and answer the questions - no human interaction will be necessary. You problem think that's light years away, but you're wrong. The Amazon ECHO is just the infant stage of this development.

Sooo, what the hell do we do? Sadly, the answer is nothing. You can't stop technology. Young people don't want you to stop technology. When Morse Code was invented a few people stopped talking face to face. When the teletype was invented more people stopped talking face to face. When the land line phone was invented more than half of the population stopped talking face to face.

We are an evolving species. Technology is taking us on a course that will not be turned back. Like it or not, you can't stop it. Oh, sure you can stop your kids from having mobile phones - how long do you think that will last? The cat's out of the bag and I suggest you don't get upset about it. Instead you should embrace it.

Get rid of your flip phone and enter the modern world. Let the children of today decide their future. It probably won't be a future you would like, but it their future not yours. 

I see things differently from many others. My only fear of dying is that I won't be able to see all the things the world will become. I'm optimistic that the kids and grand kids and their grand kids, etc. will make this world better than it is today. 

Fearing that they will fuck it up because it's not your values is negative energy. As I always preach:

Negative Energy Begets Negative Energy - Positive Energy Begets Positive Energy

Just Another Day

Just Another Day

We wake. We have our coffee. We might have a little cereal while reading the newspaper. We take a dump (if we're lucky). Just Another Day.

We go off to work or play a round of golf or go to the gym or write a blog and/or do some shopping. Just Another Day. Around five o'clock we take a shower (if we haven't done so in the morning). Change clothes and go to a local bar, or go to the Man Cave, have a scotch and watch sports or something blowing up on TV (that's me). Just Another Day.

At seven we have dinner with the wife or significant other, clean up and watch mindless TV. Just Another Day. Around ten, we get ready for bed open our tablets to play games, sometimes beg for sex (again that's me) and fall asleep an hour later. Just Another Day.

We break up the week by going to a dinner or two, having friends over or maybe seeing a movie or event. Just Another Day/Week.

Does that sound boring to you? Maybe you should join a book club. Maybe you should go out dancing. Maybe you should get drunk once in a while. Maybe you should take up painting or play an instrument. Maybe, Maybe, Maybe.

Maybe, just Maybe you should be positive about your boring day and just lay back and enjoy the fact it's:

Just Another Day

Get Rid Of The Stuff That Doesn't Matter And Focus On The Stuff That Does

Get Rid Of The Stuff That Doesn't Matter And Focus On The Stuff That Does

While moving to Las Vegas I heard this saying. My first thought was the saying meant that I should get rid of all of my old shoes, clothes, hats and mass quantities of stuff that's been in the garage for thirty years. Even the sixty year old roller skates had to go. 

Before the movers came I believed I had gotten Rid Of The Stuff That Doesn't Matter And Focus On The Stuff That Does. As it turned out, when we unpacked we still had stuff we never used in thirty years and ended up throwing out over thirty trash bags full of things that no longer mattered.

Because it's me, after all was done, I took a step back and realized that the saying really meant was to Get Rid Of The Stuff That Doesn't Matter And Focus On The Stuff That Does in my life. It was time to remove myself from friends that no longer mattered and really focus on the wonderful friends that did matter to me.

It was time for me to get rid of the things in my head that I kept on worrying about and focus on the things in my head that I'm happy about (it's hard and I'm still working on it). It was time for me to forget about the old house and focus on the fantastic new home.

It was time for me to get rid of the anger I felt about the few people who didn't give a shit that I moved and focus on the wonderful people from my just left neighborhood who still contact me to make sure I'm doing well and who say they miss me.

It was time to get rid of this feeling I'm not good enough and focus on the best years of my life that I created with my beautiful wife. I had to do something really right in my life to create the true friends I have, the best wife anyone could ask for and the financial means to allow me to have the life I've always wanted and deserved.

It was time for me to:

Get Rid Of The Stuff That Doesn't Matter And Focus On The Stuff That Does

Hasta Las Vegas BABY

Hasta Las Vegas   BABY

I've been in move hell for a month. That's right we are moving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in three days. When I tell people we're moving to Vegas their first reaction is :"what are you nuts, it hot out there." 

Yes it's hot there four months of the summer. However, it's such dry heat that you will only feel it the most if you're lying directly in the sun. In the shade it's pleasant. I spent many years in Philadelphia and Upper New York. When it would get to 80 degrees with the humidity is in the 90s, you sweat like a pig even if you're in the shade. 

I greatly prefer Vegas to the east coast in the summer. You don't feel the heat as much because you're going from an air conditioned house to an air conditioned car to an air conditioned bar. Lastly the real Las Vegas weather story is the following:

       January February March April May June July August September October November December 
High  57         63           70       79     88     100  106   102        95              82            66             57

Low   34         39          45       52      61      70   73     73          66              54            43             34


A you can see, except for a few months, Vegas has more temperature changes than Los Angeles with much less humidity. In the winter I can finally ware the jackets I've been saving in the garage.

Our move is going smoothly. We spent three weeks getting the place ready before the furniture arrives. We also spent three weeks getting rid of things in our current house before the movers come. This part sucked. Living in the same house for 30 years enables you to accumulate too much stuff. We through out half of our stuff because they we too old, didn't fit, never used (skates from when we were teenagers) and other stuff that we had to ask ourselves what the hell were we saving this for?

Finding a place was a breeze. I have a close friend who is also a realtor. In two days we saw every house/country club all over Vegas.  The second day we hit gold and bought a place that is 40% larger than our current house, unattached single story corner lot (our current house is attached on both sides and has four levels to climb every day), with a lap pool and spa and a fabulous Country Club). We got all of this for 40% less than what we are going to sell our Los Angeles house for.

On a sour note, if you are retired and have a lot of money in investment, but only Social Security coming in as new income, getting a Mortgage is a mind fuck. Thanks to the Dodd-Frank bill, retired seniors have to get their mortgage from a smaller bank (the big banks want nothing to do with you even if you have millions in investments). I only was able to get them to give me a mortgage after sending them about a foot of paperwork. Having an 832 FICA score helped a lot. 

I realize that the house lending disaster of 2008 caused the creation of the Dodd-Frank bill. However, instead of taking a middle ground approach, they went to the far left. In my opinion this bill has created senior abuse. 

My next blog will be from my Man Cave in Las Vegas

Hasta Las Vegas   BABY

Wouldn't It Be Nice

Wouldn't It Be Nice

The Beach Boys wrote and sang the song "Wouldn't It Be Nice." It was about love at a young age. Here are a few lyrics:

Wouldn't it be nice if we were older?

Then we wouldn't have to wait so long

And wouldn't it be nice to live together

In the kind of world where we belong

Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up

In the morning when the day is new?

And after having spent the day together

Hold each other close the whole night through

Wouldn't it be nice - Wouldn't It Be Nice?

I've decided to create my own version:

Wouldn't It Be Nice if there was no war

The world would be much more fun

Unfortunately there are way too many people 

Who love having their guns

Wouldn't It Be Nice if Trump would just go away

I know it would make me very happy

However, it looks like, for the next four years, he's here to stay

UGH! Now I really feel crappy

Wouldn't It Be Nice if we decided not to go to Mars

We could spend those billions on curing Cancer

If we could just agree there is life on the other stars

Spending money curing major diseases would be a much better answer

Wouldn't It Be Nice if everyone agreed climate change is real

Then we could take our head out of our ass and save our precious earth

But, the fact is, some Politicians refuse to make a deal

They refuse to realize how much our planet is worth

Wouldn't It Be Nice if homelessness was a priority

Everybody would have food to eat, air to breathe and shelter

But, the people with all the money have the all the authority

If we don't solve this imbalance the poor will create Helter-Skelter 

Wouldn't It Be Nice - Wouldn't It Be Nice