Thank You, Mom!!

Thank you from your baby…

Mother’s Day is this Sunday.  I must admit that I’m a bit sad because my mother passed away a few years back.  I can’t call to wish her a Happy Mother’s Day or tell her that I love her.

I’m not sure that I really properly thanked my mother for everything that she did for me.  My mom was always there to offer love and support.  My mom always wanted her children to be happy and successful (but mostly happy).  My mom, like many other wonderful mothers, wanted more for her children than she had for herself.

I’m certain that my mother was often better to me than I deserved.  I wasn’t always an “angel”, but being the youngest of four children, I was always my mother’s “baby”.  Oh, how I hated being called the baby.  It embarrassed me during my teen years, and I didn’t really appreciate it later as a fully grown man.

My mother has been gone for several years now.  If it were possible, I’d give anything to hear her introduce me as her baby again.  So here’s to you mom, from your six foot three baby.  Happy Mother’s Day…I hope that it is absolutely heavenly!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the loving mothers out there!

Spring in Washington, DC – Top Things to Do

Adorned with an abundance of blooming flowers and lush trees, stately homes and magnificent monuments, Washington, DC is so amazingly beautiful in the spring, that my words cannot do it justice.  However, eloquence aside, here are a few ways to appreciate Washington, DC in the Spring of 2013.

• Washington Nationals baseball - I’ll admit it, I’m biased.  I love baseball.  To me, and to many baseball fans, nothing quite says “Spring” like the start of baseball season. The Nationals had their best season in 2012, making their first trip to the playoffs.  With a healthy team, and a few keys additions, much is expected for our local team this year.  Check out the schedule and get your Natitude on.  www.nationals.com
• Bicycle and running paths - Washington, DC and the surrounding neighborhoods are adorned with hundreds of miles of beautiful trails.  Whether you walk, bike or run, find your favorite route and enjoy exercising in the great outdoors. http://bikewashington.org/trails/
• National Zoo - Hibernation season is over for animals and humans alike. There is no place better to see lions, tigers, bears and more than at the National Zoo.  Best of all, the National Zoo remains free, and is also metro accessible.  http://nationalzoo.si.edu/
• Outdoor cafes - DC has an abundance of choices for outdoor dining and libations.  Eat, Drink & Enjoy!  http://dc.about.com/od/restaurants/a/Diningoutdoors.htm
• Gold Cup – With hundreds of tent parties and thousands of people all fancily dressed (giant hats are a major part of the unwritten female dress code), who would have thought that steeplechase races could be so much fun?!?!  This Spring’s Gold Cup is on Saturday May 4th.  It is located about an hour drive outside of Washington in The Plains, VA http://www.vagoldcup.com/
•  Earth Day on the Mall - Join the eco-friendly movement on April 22nd. http://www.earthday.org/2013/

Saving the best for last, any “DC Spring” list would be incomplete without mentioning the fabulous Cherry Blossoms.  A photographers dream, and a romantic’s rationalization for spring fever, each year the Cherry Blossoms bring a flood of tourists and locals to gaze in splendid wonder at their marvelous beauty.

• The National Cherry Blossom Festival - The Festival runs March 20th through April 14th.  Festivities include fireworks at the Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival on April 6th.  The annual Cherry Blossom parade on April 13th is followed by the Japanese Cultural Street Festival.

   The colder than average March and chilly start to April slowed the emergence of Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms.  Peak bloom was revised to April 6-10, with a more realistic expectation of April 8-11.  It’s  a VERY short peak window, so hurry and see them before they are gone!

  Visit http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/ to keep up to date on peak bloom days and other festival events. 

  * While it was not my intent to recycle old posts, this post is an update of last year’s Spring blog.  For a review of that “Top 10″ list, please visit:

  http://theguyfrom4staff.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/top-10-things-to-love-about-washington-dc-in-the-spring

Fly…Like A Raven!

Last week was a unique week for me.  I was interviewed for a TV news story and also for a newspaper article.  So, how did I get to be so special – at least for one week?  I didn’t win the lottery or do anything heroic.  All I did, was start a Baltimore Ravens meet-up group for the Washington, DC metro area (predominantly Northern Virginia).  In only two years our group has grown to over 250 members.  That, by itself, would certainly not have gotten me profiled in the news.  However, last week was Super Bowl week, with the Big Game being played on Sunday.  As organizer of the group, I was called upon to represent Baltimore Ravens fans (in a Washington Redskins town).

As most everyone knows by now, The Baltimore Ravens are the new Super Bowl Champs.   The days leading up to the Super Bowl, my eyes were glued on the NFL Network and ESPN.  I watched commentator after commentator predict a 49′ers victory, with very few exceptions.  The Ravens were clearly underdogs, yet despite the majority of pundits predicting their demise, they came out victorious.

So why am I writing a blog about football?  The first reason would be because I am a Ravens fan.  I have had season tickets, and have been regularly going to their home games since 1999.  But why, dear reader, should you care, especially if you are not a Ravens fan?  From a business and life perspective, it makes me think that no matter how many times in life we may be doubted, through hard work and perseverance, victory or success is most certainly within our reach.

Which brings me to my new favorite quote.  It summarizes the most basic key to success, and can be applied to almost anything in life.   Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality – Abraham Lincoln

Steve, aka The Guy from 4Staff.

P.S.  Last year, I wrote a blog called “Meet-up, Greet-up, Get up and Go” http://theguyfrom4staff.wordpress.com/2012/08/ .   If you are looking for something to do, or to meet people to do activities with, you should look into meetup.com.  You can also find my Ravens group there http://www.meetup.com/Baltimore-Ravens-Fan-Group-Virginia-DC-Metro-Chapter/.  If you live in the Northern Virginia, DC area and happen to root for the Ravens, come join our flock.

The World Didn’t End, But Please Don’t Push

 

Woosh…is that what the sound of relief sounds like?  Well, we all survived.  The world didn’t end on 12/21/12, as the Mayans supposedly predicted (although the day is not over yet).  But wait…the other shoe hasn’t fallen yet.  We are standing on the edge of a fiscal cliff.  If Congress doesn’t act by Dec. 31, taxes will rise and government spending will be slashed dramatically.  Economists say the full force of those changes in 2013 could send our nation back into recession (as if we are really 100% out of the recession anyway).

Today could be particularly volatile because it’s a quadruple witching day: the expiration date for stock market index futures, stock market index options, stock options, and individual stock futures.  What’s going on here?!?!  We have doomsday and 4x witching day all in one day!  There’s a fiscal cliff looming.  All these mentions of gloom and doom fail to even account for the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy,  the only “natural” disaster to make this list.  And, while most of us probably never heard of Newtown, Connecticut before this week,  we will all remember Sandy Hook for the rest of our lives.

But, before I start sounding like a Negative Nellie, I would like to point out that we survived WW I & II.  150 years ago, we survived a civil war on our own land.  We survived the civil rights riots of the 60’s and the oil crisis of the 70’s.  We survived the Great Depression and 9/11.  We are Americans, and we are survivors!  All I’m asking for here is for a little help and cooperation from our federal government.  We may be great at surviving, but that doesn’t mean that we need to be thrown off a cliff.

Happy Holidays and best wishes to everyone in 2013.  May it be a year where we not only survive, but a year where we all thrive!

 

Honoring our Heroes – Veterans Day 2012

During a recent trip to New Orleans, I accidentally stumbled upon the National World War II Museum, just a mile or so outside of the famous French Quarter.  It was quite an impressive museum that featured America’s involvement in Japan, as well as American efforts in Europe during the last Great War.  In Japan we were fighting a country that attacked us without provocation with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, while in Europe, Hitler and the expansion of Nazi Germany needed to be stopped at all costs.    Through the sacrifices and courage of truly extraordinarily brave men and women, we prevailed on both fronts. 

I feel very fortunate to live in Washington, DC and am very appreciative of the monuments to our heroes – from the Iwo Jima Memorial, to the Korean Memorial.  From the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the more recent WWII Memorial. 

A few years back, I met a highly decorated WWII veteran, in town for the WWII Memorial dedication.  He looked like royalty in his full uniform replete with medals.  I approached this man and thanked him for his service.  I innocently referred to him as a hero, but he gently corrected me and told me that he was not a hero.  He told me that the true heroes were the people who never came home. 

This Sunday, November 11th is Veterans Day.  Please remember to honor American heroes, past and present. 

Happy Veteran’s Day and God Bless America!

*For more information on the National WW II Museum, please visit http://www.ddaymuseum.org/.  The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American Experience in the war that changed the world – why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today – so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn.

**Visit myveteransday.org  to show your gratitude to those who have given us so much. And don’t forget to let your friends and family know how they too can say “thank you for my freedom” this Veterans Day.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I hope this next statement does not offend anyone.  I love breasts.  I also love chocolate ice cream, baseball, football, dogs, rides in convertibles, etc.  But, most of all, I love my mom and sister, both who had to endure the hardships of breast cancer.  Sadly, they both lost their battles with cancer, but each day more and more women are winning their own personal battles.

Breast cancer prevention is one of the most important health issues in the U.S. today.  According to statistics,1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. Until there is a cure, please remember that…

Early detection is crucial to a longer and healthier life!  

The National Breast Cancer Foundation*  www.nationalbreastcancer.org is one of many organizations dedicated to the prevention of breast cancer. Their mission includes increasing awareness through education and providing diagnostic breast care services for those in need.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer* www.lbbc.org is an educational and support organization, whose goal is to improve quality of life and assist ongoing recovery or management of the disease.

Please support the women in our lives, and remember this important message this October and every month! 

Thank you for taking a moment out of your busy day for this important cause, which has touched so many of our families, friends, associates, and loved ones.

*The National Breast Cancer Foundation and Living Beyond Breast Cancer each received a four star rating, the highest rating possible from Charity Navigator www.charitynavigator.org.

International Day of Peace

All We Are Saying Is Give Peace a Chance.  Thank you, John Lennon. 

Today, September 21st is the International Day of Peace.  The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. The first Peace Day was observed in September 1982. In 2001, the GA by unanimous vote established September 21st as an annual day of non-violence and cease-fire.  The UN invites all nations and people to honor a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the International Day of Peace.

source: http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/background.shtml

How do you believe in peace while also believing in protecting Americans at home and abroad?  How do you believe in peace while expecting and insisting on retribution for Americans that are murdered by terrorists?  I have absolutely no idea.  Peace is an ideal not easily created or maintained.

Support the Troops.  Give Peace a Chance.  God Bless America!

On a separate but similar note, just a few days ago, we had the birth of a baby panda here in Washington, DC.  So far, so good for the health of the mama and baby panda.  In 1972 President Nixon was given two giant pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsin-Hsing by the People’s Republic of China.  The pandas were given to the U.S.  as a symbol of friendship following the President’s goodwill trip to China.  40 years later we are still in love with, and captivated by the pandas.  Maybe it’s just me, but today, I’ll refer to them as the Peace Panda. 

Happy International Day of Peace!

***Update on 9/24/12  Sadly, the baby panda did not survive