happiness

Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it.

William Feather

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Listening to: Rickie Lee Jones - Vessel Of Light

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Change the world or go home

A compelling argument to do something rather than do nothing



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the youth of today, an old man smiles

Saw a link to this story it's something we can all be grateful to, and something for our children to aspire to.

there is abundance and good out there, and not too far to look to find it either.


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my little boy isn't

he's a big boy now, here he is grading for his yellow tip



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Cub Sleepover

had a lot of fun with the Cubs, here they are getting into the shape of 100 in celebration of the centenary of Scouting this year

not sure we cracked 100 activities in 24 hours though :-)




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spoiled in abundance

was blessed to see the beach this morning in the pre dawn light: misty, frost down almost to the water, sunshine glowing along the horizon and the moon hanging in one corner of the sky



not quite taken today, but of course i forgot to take the camera with me today

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a motorbike, a son and a long black

Had a great day yesterday, nothing planned, just open to the possibilities

For once a bike ride that had the tailwind in both directions

Subway and coffee in the afternoon sunshine

A bike ride on Eliot's new bike; over the hills to Lyttleton for Chai at Coffee Culture. Got to say though, a return to the bike and sweeping corners was a bit scary at times. Adrenaline is good for the soul though!

Great!

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15 seconds

there's some emotional sunshine to go with the 15 seconds more sunlight than yesterday, roll on summer, it's just around the corner

it's been a great weekend

but one of the best things has been not wearing shoes since friday

having the doors open all day for the last two days, and the warm streaming in all day

getting all the financial papers organised, and throwing out all the irrelevant stuff that's been hanging like an albatross round my neck for the last 18 months


it takes two [whit to woo]
Originally uploaded by ninefish.

Eliot and Tom coming surfing of course, and big fella bringing pudding

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pizzas, movies, boys and fly spray
Originally uploaded by ninefish.

Eliot and tom came to stay last night, so we went surfing, made pizza and watched a movie

Eliot had bought home a Raspberry Ganache that was 'ruined' for selling, but good to eat

Woke them, [not too early], fed them pancakes and fresh coffee, and sent them off to Karate

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quick 360

here's a sense of what it's like every morning when i go for my walk



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city of angels

walking along the beach this morning, knowing eliot was at home sleeping

for some reason, the beach was just like the morning scene in "city of angels" except instead of angels on the beach facing the sunrise, it was sea gulls

lots of them

cool!


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splish splash

the joys of bare feet andsea water



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the year of the pig

my year!

I'm a pig [many would tell you that for nothing] so the year ahead will be a good one

the numbers also add up to 9 so it's doubly mine!

I'm in love, loved, loving life, healthy [very] just need to work on wealthy and wise for the next 12 months.

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Walk a mile in someone else's shoes

with seven children that I love, I'm so grateful that they're all alive and doing well.

For just over a year now I've been involved in the periphery of Sara Young's life. Last January she found out she had a brain tumour. I set up a web site blog where she could keep in touch with her friends [and they could keep in touch with her by leaving comments, and messages that would be brought to her wherever she was.]

It's been both heartening and life affirming to watch last year unfold. And whilst I had a shitty year last year, it was nothing like hers [and her family and friends']. I'm grateful to have been involved and witness some of that. I met Sara twice and got a sense of the energy that her friends saw and talked about in their commentary. I'm grateful to have seen some of the good things that come out of the nerdy things I can do.

Sara died yesterday.

I'm very sad about that.

fishy

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Stick at something, get it right, get a second chance

Here's a longish story about being creative, and passionate about what you do, and how it pays off and pays back if we're patient.

read it all here

The communication was always short, light, and hopefully impactful.

My notes to Karen twice a week, went on for 3 months.

Friday evening in the spring. I will never forget it, because I was scheduled to leave for Philadelphia after work that night -- to see The Grateful Dead, playing The Spectrum in Philly, that weekend.

Over the intercom.....words I will never forget.

"call for Andy on 101 -- Karen C."

I picked up, and here is the conversation that ensued:

"Andy, this is Karen C."

My reply -- "Karen, thanks so much for calling me..."

"Andy, I have no idea who you are, and you are either crazy ,or insanely great....and anyone who is as dedicated to getting my attention with such intensity deserves a chance. Before you say a word, and I'm forced to change my mind, come over here right away..."

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what am i grateful for today?

very grateful this isn't me in the video!



or this guy either!



Phew!

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Wednesday 070131

Well that's another month gone


from the front room
Originally uploaded by ninefish.

sunsets and sunrises are incredible, and so emotional [if you want them to be]

highlights for today:

i love the beach, so many moods, and yet nothing changes

terakihi [fish] in crumbs, eating it hot and fresh cooked in the car park overlooking the surfers just after high tide. possibly the best fish i've tasted from the fish shops, and this one cooks to order with fresh fish [unusual, but not that unusual in NZ]

getting through a busy day at work in a new role without too much hassle.

cycling to work and not having my heart rate get above 130

pesto on rye bread with tomato and fresh bean sprouts

hokey pokey doughnuts, thanks alan

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Finding McNaught

I think I saw it this morning!
after all the dawns and dusks I've been out on the beach trying to see the comet, and last nights big car trip hunt. I think I saw it this morning. No Photo though I'd left the camera behind.
Either way, the beach walk in the emerging day was worth it.
I wish you all could be there to enjoy it like I do, especially as today we had the beach to ourselves. Shoes tomorrow though, the sand is getting colder, or I need to go later on :-)

Understanding the other person

This video from silentmiaow is in her own words:

The first part is in my "native language," and then the second part provides a translation, or at least an explanation. This is not a look-at-the-autie gawking freakshow as much as it is a statement about what gets considered thought, intelligence, personhood, language, and communication, and what does not.

What stunned me is the obvious.

I don't understand.
[But if I make an effort I might be able to]
As Steven Covey said in the The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Seek first to understand
and then be understood

watch it, don't watch it, it doesn't matter.
All I know is watching it made me think about the way I communicate



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