The Yule Blog...

     Merry Christmas everyone and welcome to the Yule Blog...for those of you who are old enough to remember (and not sure if it's just an East Coast thing), Channel 11 (WPIX) would broadcast Christmas music on television and would just show a fireplace burning on a continuous loop. For those of you who have no clue what I am talking about, I have built a fire in my fireplace and will include a picture within this blog for effect.  I am going to try and make the Yule Blog an annual event, whereby I bring my unique perspective to the Christmas holiday season and what better way to start than to write this on Christmas Day... These are the gifts I wish for each and everyone of you this blessed holiday season...

                                            C     H     R     I     S     T     M     A     S

     C is for Courage.  The courage to face life on life's terms and the courage to continue on when adversity hits...The courage to accept things and the courage to change things and adapt to the rapidly changing times.  The courage to remain steadfast in your beliefs and the courage to stick to the moral and ethical codes we were brought up with and hopefully passed on to the next generations...and the courage to be ourselves no matter what others may think...(what the hell do they know anyway?).

     H is for Health...Continued good health throughout the season and 2014 or quick recovery from any illnesses.  Without good health the rest of the journey is more difficult.  And health includes well being and mental health as well as physical...(and we all know mental health is something this blogger could use).  My wish is for good physical health for you and your families and with that a general wish for overall Happiness (first runner-up in the H category).

     R is for Resilience...the ability to deal with whatever comes our way.  Coupled with courage, it is the ability to show quiet strength in the face of trouble,  graciousness in the face of defeat or disappointment, and support to others when they need us to be strong for them.  Resilience is a major component of being a positive role model for children, co-workers, or whoever needs to see us at our best.

     I is for Inspiration...to provide it for others and seek it for ourselves.  Jobs become easier when a source of inspiration is found to drive you forward.  By being a positive example for others, you can be the source of inspiration for others.  It is something I constantly seek when in my everyday life.  Inspiration drives us to be better people and drives us to accomplish things we might not be able to do without it.

     S is for Strength...The strength to carry on when all seems to be going against you...Strength to be there for someone who faces a debilitating injury or illness...strength to stand up for what you believe no matter how many are against you.  The strength to face adversity in the eye and take it on without hesitation.

     T is for Thankfulness...Remember that without the help of God (and I know this),  nothing we do is possible.   "There but for the Grace of God go I" holds very deep meaning for me especially during the Holiday season.  Don't forget to be thankful for the things we take for granted.  Don't forget to be thankful for the people in our lives...(no matter how big a pain in the ass they may be at times).  If you believe that everything happens for a reason (I do) then they are supposed to there to help on your journey.  Don't forget to thank God (or whatever you want to call Him) for the beauty of the world, the beauty of our children, the beauty of His grace, instead of removing Him from our everyday lives.  

     M is for Miracles...Don't let belief in Miracles go away as technology and science try to explain away the things we accept on faith.  The miracle of childbirth, the miracles of everyday life lose something when an a scientific explanation is attached.  But the best miracle of all is the miracle of the human spirit which never ceases to shine in the face of adversity.

     A is for Amazement...Never let the ability to see life through the eyes of a child be lost...(since I have the mind of a child it's easier for me).  There is nothing more amazing than watching a sunrise or sunset here in the desert or the beautiful flowers that bloom in this acrid climate from the cactus.  The absolute beauty of a clear night sky with "billions of stars" (thank you Carl Sagan).  The thrill I get when I see the wildlife come out at night on the job...( I never tire of seeing them up close and personal). Life itself is truly amazing and should be Appreciated (lost out to thankfulness).

     S is for Serenity...It is last but certainly not least.  It is utmost in my mind and always in my heart.  God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference...I wish you peace and peace of mind.  I wish you the serenity that comes with good works for those less fortunate than us, that comes with good judgement and decision-making, and most of all the serenity of a good life.  Peace be with you all.  I love each and every one of you more than I can put into words... God Bless us all and please remember the "Reason for the Season" (it's in the name).

Back in Arizona...

     After surviving the trip to Aruba, the flight(s) back home were bearable...they arrived somewhat on time and took off when they were supposed to.  In fact, I even arrived 15 minutes early in Phoenix last Thursday morning.  I am still sending a scathing email to US Airways about the shoddy service I received and will see what they will do about it...(I'm sorry, here's 50 bucks, go away just doesn't make up for my ordeal).  In the meantime, I am back and trying to get into the swing of things at work and preparing for a visit from my sister and family...Christmas is a weird time out here in the desert...plenty of decorations and the mind numbing Christmas tunes that have been playing since June (actually right around Halloween) but its hard to "feel" the season when you can still wear shorts and a t-shirt outside. Not that I am complaining...I'll take this weather over the 0 degrees it was outside the airport in Chicago on the way back from Aruba.  Christmas decorated cacti are pretty cool in their own right.  In the spirit of the season I have downloaded some pictures from Aruba to melt some of the cold and snow from wherever you are.  They will be on Facebook so if you're not my friend then shame on you. I am attempting to put a couple in this blog...

      Pretty cool...I like the fact that i was able to do this without crashing the computer or causing irrevocable harm to my pictures.  Enjoy the pics.  Average temperatures were between 85 and 90 every day. It was the best weather week I have ever encountered in Aruba and it was a fitting farewell to a beautiful island home. Gotta get ready for work...Ciao for now.

Greetings from MY island...

     Yes, it is MY island...I have been coming to Aruba off and on for 10 years now and truly believe that I belong here.  And this week was the most relaxing and battery recharging of them all.  I experienced less rain than any other visit at this time of the year...(in fact, it rained twice during my entire stay).  Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the time it is time to move on from here.  Aruba is an adventure best shared with someone else.  While there is much to do for a single person, it is a romantic and beautiful island that is even more beautiful if you are with someone else...(significant other, life partner, girlfriend, however you want to say it).  So, until that part of my life becomes a reality, I will seek other adventures.  I will return to Aruba when I have someone to share MY island with...(she's probably standing right in front of me, right, Toni?).  In the meantime, I want to thank Bob and Toni for sharing their vacation with me.  Coming down here and seeing them is something I look forward to every year...(so I have about 360 days to find my someone special).

     This is my first international blog, by the way, and it took forever to get down here thanks to US Airways.  I left Phoenix on time and landed in Philadelphia on time Saturday morning (after three schedule changes).  We took off from Philadelphia on time and after an hour and a half turned around and returned to Philly.  The pilot claimed an electrical problem and for our safety we needed to return.  We landed back in Philly at 9:30 and didn't leave again until 3 pm...after sending us to the wrong terminal twice!  But they gave us a $10 meal voucher for our inconvenience...So the flight didn't arrive in Aruba until after 9 pm (local time).  By the time time I reached my lodgings it was after 11 pm, so I was awake for 31 hours and spent 24 of those hours in a plane or airport.  But they gave us a $10 meal voucher for my inconvenience...Not only did I lose a day's vacation, but a night's sleep as well.  But they gave us a $10 meal voucher for my inconvenience...My question is this...I was originally scheduled to fly to Aruba from Charlotte, why not divert there?  Why did we need to fly back to Philly?   Charlotte is another hub of US Airways so what is the deal?  Then they tell us a plane will leave at 1 pm at Gate 25.  At ten minutes to 1 they announced that it would leave from Gate 26 which was across the terminal aisle (no problem).  Then they announced that this wasn't our plane.  Our plane was leaving out of Gate 10 clear across the other side of the terminal and not until 3 pm.  But they gave us a $10 meal voucher for my inconvenience... Needless to say I have a beef with US Airways.  When I arrived in Aruba I checked my email and US Airways had "generously" given me a $50 voucher for a future flight...for my inconvenience.  I am waiting until I return home (hopefully, because I am flying, yes, with US Airways).  If the experience is as "delightful" as it was on the way down here, then I will politely tell them to shove their voucher into their colon. If I make it home safely, then I will pursue a more fair resolution for "my inconvenience."  Stay tuned for further developments.  Bon Bini, (Good day) to everyone.