Testing The Waters

As I look back on the feature articles I've written I can't help but to notice some commonalities. While each person is unique and involved in totally different professions each has a sense of purpose and fulfillment in their lives.  They each are doing what they love to do. This month I'm excited to introduce you to Jessica Smyth. I met Jessica a couple months ago and as we all do when meeting someone new I asked the usual conventional questions. When Jessica informed me that she was an equestrian I literally did a double take, I mean its not every day you meet a woman in her twenties that rides horses competitively. I have had a love of all animals my whole life but horses have a special place in my heart. I have an intense love and respect for horses -- they are incredibly beautiful and complex creatures. Their honesty, presence, and power simply take my breath away. ATTENDING A COMPETITION My husband and I have never attended an equestrian competition ...

April 15, 2013 Its Patriots Day, a civic holiday that commemorates the first battles of the American Revolution. It is celebrated and observed yearly with the Boston Marathon. By now you know what comes next... what was to be a moment of celebration for the on-lookers and all the runners instead turned into horror, explosions and blood shed. Martin Richard has been identified as the 8-year-old boy who was one of the three people killed by one of the blasts. He and his family lived in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester. Martin was running up to the finish line to congratulate his dad (Bill Richard) on completing the race. His mother, Denise, sustained critical injuries and his sister, Jane, suffered extensive injury to one of her legs.  There were 176 injuries. 3 deaths. There were countless number of heroes that day and to me Martin Richard is among those heroes. A SIGN OF HOPE Martin Richard had recently participated in a  peace rally at his school... this i...

So, sometimes I sit down to write my weekly blog and I know what I'm going to write about. Usually by the time I sit down at my computer and put my fingers on the keys to type I've done all the research and compiled all the necessary info and photos I'd need to tell the story BUT this week was different. After spending 5 days in Monterey I came back and I had a bit of writers block. Well, actually it was writers block fueled by indecision, I could not decide on this weeks subject.  I wrestled with the idea of sharing with you guys my experience in Monterey. Monterey at one time served as both the Spanish and Mexican capital of California from the late 1700's to early 1800's and is celebrated as one of the most historic towns on the West Coast. It was a relaxing vacay and writers block aside, I returned home inspired and invigorated but I could not settle on what to write about for this weeks post... I mean, while in Monterey I did find out some really cool...

Imagine that it is September 26, 1983. It is at the height of the Cold War, just weeks after the Soviet Military erroneously shot down Korean Airliner 007 killing all 269 passengers and crew on board, including a sitting member in US Congress. The world is tense awaiting President Reagan's next move. Now further imagine you're name is Stanislav Petrov and you are a Lieutenant Colonel in the Soviet Air Defense Forces. On this night you are called in to cover the command center for the Oko nuclear early-warning system.  This is the system that would warn if there ever was a nuclear missile attack by the United States and in the event of an attack a counter-attach would ensue. Its just after midnight on September 26, 1983 and the unthinkable happens... suddenly the computers alarms go off signaling that there are missiles heading right toward your country. What would you do? Well, this did happen and what the real Lt Petrov did that night saved us from a nuclear war. Wh...