32 Degree Landing

We're home.  Our pilot announced it was a 32º landing last night meaning if there was any precipitation outside we would be seeing snow again.  Just as the humpback whales travel to Maui to find a safe place to bring their offspring into the world free of natural predators, my wife and I returned there to get our reprieve from Mother Nature.  Maui is the place where dreams come true.  One of my co-workers at my day job told me before I left, "come home with a tan and a smile."  My tan may fade but my smile never will.

All of us our travelers.  Some of us prefer to carry everything with us everywhere we go.  I'm not one of those people.  I've learned it's much easier to get from point A to point B when you only pack the bare minimum.  Everything I needed for my two week vacation was packed in a carryon bag and a backpack I used as a personal item on the plane.  The swim fins and snorkel set I found on Craigslist while on vacation fit perfectly in my carryon bag for my return trip.  We donated the other two sets to a family who just arrived the same day we were departing.  My only request was that they pass the blessing along when their time in paradise ends.  For one moment in time I felt like Santa Claus.  No, there wasn't any snow when those two young vacationers got their gifts, but for them it was Christmas day; and for me, I knew I was leaving paradise a little better off than I found it.  I'm back at point A today and I feel much better off than when my vacation started.  Special thanks to those who helped me along the way.  Have a great day.

Guest of the Day

We arrived at our hotel room just before midnight last night, the midpoint of our journey home, and our greeter at the front desk presented us with an envelope for the guest of the day.  There was something for each of us.  The lottery ticket went to my wife because those things bring her joy.  I wanted the sure thing, 500 rewards points.  For me, rewards points are like gold.  They are the main reason I was able to stretch my vacation dollars these last two weeks.  Thanks to the points program, my hotel room for the night only cost me fifteen dollars.  I depleted all my rewards all the way to zero and now it's time to rebuild for future travels starting with this gift from our favorite hotel chain.  Have a great day.

A Hui Hou

It's time for my wife and me to leave our Heaven on earth.  Today is a travel day.  We're so thankful for the people in our lives who made our anniversary celebration so special.  The place where we have called home for these last two weeks is gifting us a photo book.  The hardest part of our trip will be choosing which photos to include in our memory book.  I wish I could publish them here.  Unfortunately, there's a barrier reef which blocks family pictures from cyberspace.  Wilson is the only family member willing to sign the photo release form.  I promise to share the book with loved ones when it's complete.  A Hui Hou...until we meet again.  Have a great day.

Pursuit of Happiness

Happiness is like vitamin D.  When you have it, others see your suntan and they know you've been exposed to the outdoors.  Lack of a suntan reveals something is missing.  For me, a great deal of my happiness comes from helping others find their purpose.  A little sunlight goes a long way.  Try it.  Help spread some sunshine to someone in need.  Today is the best day to get started.  Have a great day.

What's on the Menu in Heaven?

No one really knows what's on the menu in Heaven but I think I caught a glimpse late yesterday while dining in a place I consider as good as it gets here on this planet.  Since Jesus preferred the company of fishermen, I have a suspicion the food we ate yesterday was very close to those Heavenly delights on the other side of the rainbow.   I see Louis Armstrong holding a trumpet while singing "What a Wonderful World."  The skies are blue, the clouds are white, the trees are green and the fish is Kampachi.  That's the little slice of Heaven I savored yesterday while celebrating 30 years of marriage to my bride.  The official date isn't until summer but we wanted to celebrate while visiting Heaven on earth.

Special thanks to the husband and wife who made our day so special yesterday.  What an awesome gift.  Thank you!  Have a great day.

Breathe

The easiest way I know to relax my body is to breathe deeply.  It starts with a long slow inhale while counting to five.  Hold it for a moment and then exhale slowly while counting to five.  Repeat 10 times for maximum relaxation.  Do this any time you feel stress.  It works even better when you close your eyes.   Have a great day.

Take a Hike

It's another family day today.  We're celebrating the Spring weather with a hike up into the mountains.  The family that exercises together stays happy together.  There's nothing like a big release of endorphins from exercising outdoors with your family while you're surrounded by breathtaking views.  Mother Nature is finally showing her good side.  Take a hike today.  Your body will thank you.  Have a great day.

Spiritual Tug of War

Have you ever felt like you were at the wrong place at the wrong time?  Or that everything in your life was going against the tide?  There was this guy in the Bible named Job who had it all.  Great life.  Happy wife.  He was one of the lucky ones.  According to the story, there was this challenge the Evil One made with God.  The Evil One believed if all the blessings in Job's life were removed, Job would turn away from God.  Job lost everything.  It didn't matter.  No matter how bad it got, Job didn't freak out.  Job continued to praise God.

Job's story ended well.  He's my hero.  I'm happy I never gave up during the trials in my life.  The 808 in my blog name is my reminder that no matter how challenging life can be, there's this place that reminds me of Heaven.  It's a place where God's creatures come from afar to play and to multiply.  I know who wins the spiritual tug of war.  Trust the one I follow.  Have a great day.

Life Without Complaints

You won't find any rants here or in my personal life.  Sure, I have just as many reasons to complain as the rest of the world but I made a decision to give it up.  The health benefits of this are amazing.  It's like breathing pure oxygen.  

If you're finding yourself complaining, ask yourself why.  Is it to gain attention?  Do you feel your life will be enhanced?  Think of complaining as an overgrown plant that needs pruning.  Give yourself a break and prune all your complaints for 30 days.  Don't tell anyone what you're doing.  Have a great day.

New Food Discovery

Eating well leads to living well.  Your body needs the right nutrients to function properly.  If you can find Hawaiian sweet potatoes, I have a great way to serve them for your family.  Here goes:

Rinse Hawaiian sweet potatoes first and cut in 1/4 inch slices with the peel on.  Dip in olive oil and place on one side of parchment paper that is creased in half.  Add a layer of zucchini also cut in 1/4 inch slices.  Add a layer off mushrooms cut in 1/4 inch slices.  Fold the parchment paper over the top and then fold all the way around the outside to seal your food.  Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and bake on a cookie sheet.  When done, unseal and serve.  Add guacamole on top.  No salt or pepper is necessary.  Enjoy.  Have a great day.

More Birthdays Today

Happy birthday to two of my sisters today.  Although they were born in different years,  they share the same birthday.   They are both amazing people who are also extraordinary parents.  Please join me and give them a birthday shout out.  Have a great day.

My First Craigslist Experience

Sound the trumpets!  I was searching for snorkel gear for our group and the Craigslist ad looked like the ideal match.  $30 for 3 sets.  Swim mask, snorkel and fins, I male set and two female sets.  

I got a response within ten minutes and met the couple after they got home from work to complete the deal.  It felt like Christmas when I returned with our new treasures.  All three sets fit perfectly.  The bonus is that the fins are small enough to fit in my wife's carry on bag so we can use them on future adventures.

Craigslist is a great tool for matching buyers and sellers.  Use caution when buying or selling to avoid the scammers.  My sellers were only 1.3 miles from my location and I made sure to show up with only my driver's license and the exact amount of cash for the deal.  These folks get five stars for this transaction.  It's time to test out our new finds as soon as the sun comes up.  Have a great day.

The Best Time to be Happy

It's so easy to be happy when you're on vacation and the usual daily challenges aren't there.  I admit it requires more of an effort when bad news finds you or when Mother Nature is acting up.  The longer I live, the more I understand that happiness is a decision.  The best time to be happy is right now.  Yes, right now.  Be happy.  And don't forget to be thankful.  Have a great day.

The Journey Continues

My mind has been in this happy place for a long time.  It took my body a while to catch up but it finally happened.  The vitamin D levels are getting replenished.  My family time is all that is on the calendar.  Usually, when I take a vacation, I write enough stories in advance to cover while I check out.  This time it's different.  The time demands which mainly consisted of snow shoveling cut into my writing time and I decided to write continuously while traveling.  All these sights and sounds are making my senses come alive.  It's mesmerizing.  Thank you for being a part of the journey.  Stay tuned for the updates.  Have a great day.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

The man from Italy told us he was celebrating his birthday when my wife asked what his plans were.   He turned his cell phone on as soon as the wheels touched the ground and called his brother.  We couldn't understand what he was saying because he was speaking Italian but his expression was revealing.  When he was done, he translated his brother's message.  "Welcome to Heaven."

The Italian departed when the doors rolled.  My wife and I looked out the window and decided the brother was right about our location.  Six hours later, another flight arrived with an angel on board.  The plane was so full that she took a jump seat to get here on time to celebrate her birthday with us today.  Her journey to get here took an act of God.  Like father, like daughter.

Non believers have no idea what I've been writing about these last ten years here on this blog.  They may think St. Patrick is some crazy Irishman with farfetched stories from the past, just like all those Bible stories that couldn't be true.  I meet people who think this way every day, like the ticket agent who told me I didn't have a chance in Hell to get where I am now.  I told her, "give it a try anyway."

The impossible became possible.  I ran as fast as could and got in the TSA preapproval line convinced everything would work out against all odds.  I had to go to the regular line when the guard noticed the required information was missing.  Never did I lose hope or faith.  Once cleared, I ran to my gate waving my standby ticket to the man about to close the door shut.  Once through the last obstacle, a deep voice came on over the PA system.  "Ladies and gentlemen, we're sorry for the delay.  The technical difficulties we were experiencing are all good now."

I woke up in my Heavenly bed this morning and we're headed to the tennis courts as soon as the sun comes up.  This story may appear later than the normal scheduled time due to my time zone changes but I want you to know everything is ok.  Our angel will wake up soon and we'll be celebrating her birthday today.  Happy St. Patrick's day.  Have a great day.

The Gratitude Tour

Every day I'm reminded of the people in my life and how important each is.  I got to spend the day with my sister and brother-in-law yesterday and we reminisced about the years we had together raising our two families.  I recalled similar experiences when I grew up with a set of cousins who helped me become the person I am today.  It can all be summed up in one word, grateful.  The wheels are going up in five minutes.  If you're reading this, you are one of those special people in my life I'm thankful for.  Thank you!  Have a great day!

Breakfast at Black Sheep

The adventure begins at this moment, I texted my cousin yesterday three minutes after I punched out at my day job, concluding a 9 day run for our March Madness competition.  Although the annual event won't officially end until my favorite day of the year, St. Patrick's Day, my teammates will cover for me while I celebrate family time.  I'm in the Minneapolis airport sitting next to Black Sheep Coal Fried Pizza.  It's 5:30 am and the staff is firing up their brick oven while preparing for their breakfast patrons.  This will be my first nourishment since I sent that text nearly 12 hours ago.  My readers are probably thinking I'm famished with the exception of my cousin, the father of the Caveman Food Experiment.  My life has been a series of adventures and the one I'm on now is one of the most exciting ever.

I promise to share more tomorrow.  It's time for a black sheep breakfast.  I'm so thankful for my Uber driver and my two bus drivers who delivered me safely to the airport.  Have a great day.

Against the Wind

Life is a series of tests.  Those who think they're lucky because they only signed up for the easy courses will find trouble handling adversity later in life.  I decided long ago to harness the wind rather than get blown away by it.  Yes, the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.  Are you ready for takeoff?  Don't worry about everything going against you.  Today is a good day to soar.  Use the wind to your advantage.  Have a great day.

What to Expect When You Stop Complaining

Today is a good day to adjust the sail and harness the winds of change.  Like it or not, change is coming.  In my life, I've decided complaining takes too much energy and I'm doing my best to keep complaints out of all my daily conversations.  The less I complain, the more time I have to be thankful.  Gratitude attracts positive people.  Complaints attract negative people.  You can decide today how to adjust your sail so you can find the right people you would like to have in your life.  Have a great day.

Time Management

Time management for me seems to get easier when there's something fun on the calendar.  Maybe that's because doing fun things makes time appear to pass quickly.  The challenging part is managing ourselves during the times when we're doing tasks we don't necessarily like.  Successful people understand managing the difficult tasks efficiently allows more free time for the fun stuff.

Time boundaries are great tools for controlling your daily activities.  Think of your tasks as sets of boxes, each one with a label indicating how much time you're giving yourself to finish the job.  Arrange the boxes with the most challenging task first.  This method allows you to complete the most difficult tasks when you have the most energy and available time.  Take care of your fun stuff at the end.  It's amazing how focused you can be when you know you can't touch the fun boxes until you're done with the boxes nobody else wants to touch.  Set your priorities daily so you can become a champion of time management.  Have a great day.

Discovery Time

It's time.  Today is your day to find out who you are.  If you don't know where to begin, take out a sheet of paper and make a list of your top five strengths.  It's okay to ask your friends if you're not sure what they are.  Ask yourself what you can do to highlight your top five strengths in every area of your life.  Don't be afraid.  This exercise will help you discover the real you.  This is your journey.  You are created to do something special.  Your strengths will point you in the right direction.  Have a great day.

Patience

Take a deep breath.  No matter what you're struggling with, you can get through it if you're willing to be patient.  I like what Aristotle said about patience..."Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet."

Jesus spent 40 days in the desert.  No TV.  No internet.  No FaceBook.  No interactions with friends and family.  40 days.  He was working on patience.  I'm sure those days were bitter.  His period of preparation gave all of us the Resurrection.  The door is open.  We simply need to be patient while we move forward on our own private journeys.  Some of us are in the desert.  Others, like me, are covered in snow and we can't wait for this season to finally be over.  Patience.  That is what we need.  Have a great day.

Tennis Anyone?

Thank God for indoor tennis courts.  I'm headed to Cedar Rapids to play with my team and the snow is everywhere. If all goes well, I should be playing outdoors soon.  The temperature is finally above freezing today and the rain is helping to melt the snow.  Have a great day.

A Simple Method to Develop Discipline

If you want your life's story to end well, you need to maintain the daily discipline necessary to get there.  Remember what you want.  Think about it every day.  The prize must be greater than the sacrifice or you'll lose interest.  Think big.  Dream big.  Paint yourself a picture of how much better your life will be when you cross that finish line and get what you want.  Have a great day.

Your Attitude About Debt Affects Outcome

Imagine your creditors placed you on Alcatraz and convinced you there's no escape.  They want you to believe debt is permanent.  Leaving the island, they tell you, could lead to dangerous consequences such as being eaten by sharks.  The problem with this is approach is that as soon as someone breaks free the rest of the world has hope.  You're not on an island but your attitude may trick you into believing you're confined to a life with debt as your forever roommate.

For me, escaping Alcatraz is a game.  I look to others before me who made it off the island intact for guidance.  It really comes down to attitude.  I know if I keep paddling I'm going to reach my destination.  The real sharks are the credit card companies and they lose control when you gain debt discipline.  Stop giving them your blood and give yourself a life of financial independence.  Have a great day.

Parchment Paper a Big Hit

It was Mahi Mahi last night at our house and it never tasted better, thanks to my new baking method I discovered.  I made a bed of asparagus and mushrooms with the Mahi Mahi on top and sealed it up in parchment paper.  The flavors were all sealed up inside.  We ate our dinner right out of the unsealed paper.   There was no mess to clean up.      This method of baking is so simple.  I'll share more food ideas in future stories after I get some practice time.  Have a great day.

I'm Parched

The French do it.  The Italians do it.  And soon I'm giving it a try.  Last night I bought parchment paper based on a recommendation from a demo person who works at my day job.  She told me she uses parchment paper for all her baking needs.  I'll share more about my experience once I get in some practice time.  I have a feeling this is going to be my new go to method for baking fish.  I watched a couple of YouTube videos this morning to get an idea of how to raise the bar at Casa de Mulligan.  Stay tuned for some cooking tips.  Have a great day.

Teamwork

If you want to get things done, make sure you're surrounded by teammates who share your goals.  There is no greater joy than being with others who work together to achieve dreams.  This works for families, employees and sports.  I feel like I hit the trifecta in each of these categories.  One of the reasons my day job is so fun is because my teammates create an atmosphere that makes me feel like I'm playing instead of working and I get paid to be with them.  They help me when I'm struggling.  The time passes quickly.

Find something you believe in and join a team today.  The more you help others, the more you will help yourself.  Have a great day.

Have You Listened to Your Gut Lately?

My gut has been telling me for a long time there's something wrong with our food supply.   Unfortunately, I didn't listen and it cost me dearly.  I paid the high price by consuming foods that gave my gut and the rest of my body some serious trouble.  Premature death would have been highly likely.  Family intervention saved me.  I happen to be one of those stubborn people who don't like filling my body with prescription medicine but it looked like that was my only solution when my blood pressure spiked to dangerous levels several years ago while on a family vacation to Arizona.  I thought my life as I knew it would change when my mother called my cousin, Dr. John Mulligan, to tell him we were headed to urgent care to get some pills.  I was right.  My life did change.  Surprisingly, my cousin told me he had some ideas he wanted to try if I was willing to hold off on the pills for a while.  His food experiment was exactly what my body needed.  45 days later I found my body had returned to normal.  No more high blood pressure readings, no more dangerous cholesterol levels and no more excess body fat.  My family doctor was astonished at my new lipid panel results.

People ask me why I never seem to get tired.  My day job is fast paced.  I attribute my high energy levels to my food program which mainly consists of fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds.  Even though I found the source of my health challenges, my gut is telling me I need to keep learning about why so many of my friends and family members are getting sick.  Could it be the processed foods?  Is the problem related to artificial ingredients or fertilizers?  Do our bodies no longer tolerate many of our modern foods?  Something is very, very wrong.  My gut tells me to avoid almost everything on the shelves with labels and stick with natural foods.  Eating like a caveman is becoming more appealing as each day passes.  Listen to your gut.  There's a reason it's crying out for you to skip that fast food joint on your way home from work.  Have a great day.

Your Key to Staggering Long-term Results

Long-term staggering results don't happen overnight.  It's a series of little things, like five minutes of exercise.  Moment by moment, your small daily improvements add up.  I really like this approach because small changes are easier to implement.  They allow you an opportunity to get some instant gratification without too much effort.  You can build on your achievements and gain some inspiration to keep going.

Think about an area of your life that needs improvement and do something small today that will help you take a step in the right direction.  Repeat this daily.  Keep asking yourself, "what can I do today that will help me reach my goal?"  Have a great day.

Debt Reduction Journey Gets Perilous

It's officially the third month of my mortgage reduction journey and this month is perilous thanks to three sets of upcoming taxes, a hefty increase in my homeowners insurance bill and a vacation.  Even though the vacation is pretty much prepaid, I have a feeling something unexpected may happen.  What sustains me is the view while I pause for a moment to look down and see how far I've climbed these last 60 days.  I tapped into our emergency supplies to pay for a furnace repair during the coldest part of the season and rigged a temporary drain pipe to our shower to circumvent a frozen drain pipe for our washing machine.  This saved money on a costly service call.  Hopefully, the drain pipe will thaw out soon when the temperatures rise.  If not, the repair can be deferred until the monthly budget smooths out.

Friends are asking why I'm so radical on my mortgage reduction goals.  The way I look at it, the longer we wait, the more the banks win.  Why not go big now and have more fun later?  I want to win this debt reduction game and the best way I know how to achieve victory is to keep going no matter how intense the obstacles.  Right now I need to mentally prepare myself to hold on for the next thirty-one days knowing I may not be physically able to claw out more than a few inches toward the goal.  My insurance agent sent me a note with my latest quote telling me I dropped three tiers thanks to my auto accident last year and now it's time to pay the consequences of my ice capades.  The good news is my insurance rates should be restored in two years.  For me, it's all about the small victories.  Have a great day.