Very Inspiring

Finish Strong!

We can't help but notice the year is ending! Yes, 2008 is drawing to a close. You may begin to think of what you hoped to accomplish this year; it may be the 3rd quarter and you're taking a look at the books; or it may have been such a difficult year, the fact that it's "ending" doesn't make much difference.


Here is a great video for you to watch called FINISH STRONG. It's a good video. I'm just sorry that it deals only with athletes.


This is sort of a 'thing' with me, harking back to my days raising funds for the homeless in San Antonio. Whenever it was time for a speech at a fundraiser, or for someone to visit the shelter, an athlete was always named. Yes, they are wonderful examples - if you can take them metaphorically. Believe it or not - I used to work out next to David Robinson when he was down at the Concord killing time, I guess. I could draw inspiration from the fact that he keep doing harder things, that he was there at all, that he kept at it, was sweating, was determined, but since his legs were longer than my whole body ... LOL.

Yes, for most of us its a stretch to draw inspiration from pro athletes, our chances of being one are so infinitestimal.

And also there are harder things in life that involve the spirit, the mind and the soul ... When you have to "watch the things you gave your life to broken, and stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools" or "hold on when there is nothing in your except the Will which says 'Hold on."...

I could name people in my own life, and in my coaching practice - so could you - who are struggling with things just as difficult, though they will never win Olympic awards, make millions of dollars, or even be mentioned in the newspaper. When you have to "watch the things you gave your life to brokwn, and stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools...

The 11 year old girl who had a stroke and cannot use her left hand, but keyboards at 70 wpm (with one hand) and yearned to play the piano. No teacher would take her. I am now teaching her to play the piano.

My friend who lost her beautiful and exceptional 21 year old son and struggles onward. The minister read at the ceremony, "With all the generosity we can muster, we give him back to God and say 'thank you.'"

Mary Ann, 64 years old, who earns her money in an Internet business, helping others, the direst of others, whose right hand suddenly became paralyzed. She quietly moved the mouse over to the left side and started in. She's a client of mine. I never heard her complain. She just had some questions about marketing.

Jim, who came in last week and told me he had to fire 7 people "the day before Thanksgiving." And then there are the 7 he had to fire ... the day before Thanksgiving.

April who works full time for UPS, and then does the graveyard shift at a convenience store to make ends meet.


Richard, who is 55, who has just completed 10 years of sobriety.Suzanne, who moved to a new city, with great hopes, but has been unable to get a job in her field for 8 months now and is running out of money.
Roann and Michael who are 70, and raising their grandchildren, who are 4 and 6 years old. I don't know the story. Nobody does. They're always grinning as if it were their greatest gift.

Patricia who finally managed to pass the math to get into nursing school.

Doug, 66 years old, who just lost 3/4ths of his IRA in the latest debacle.

John, 68, whose spine is crumbling (to quote the doctors), and was told that surgery could even make it worse, that there is nothing that can be done. He continues to work as a general practitioner, listening to people talk about allergies, flu, acid reflux...


Whatever you're struggling with now, it takes stamina. I encourage you to keep at it and FINISH STRONG. And BTW, it doesn't matter how long it takes. December 31st is not some magical date. Some of us are struggling with things that will not be resolved in one year, or even 5.

If you need a coach to help you do that, I'm just the one!

P.S. We also start thinking about New Year's resolutions. If the same ones will appear on your list for next year, let me help! EMAIL me.

If by Rudyard Kipling (not just for men!)

If you can keep your head when all about youAre losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

Cash Cab, So Fun

I'm tired of working ... only 1-1/2 more hours til my CASH CAB break. I love riding around New York meeting new people.

And I'm aways surprised at the ones that do well. You'd think a psychic would pick em better.

Celebrate!!

I lost 10 lbs and celebrated this morning at Albertson's. yum yum

Happy Venus, Jupiter and the Moon

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7759643.stm
Smiley sky photos from around the worl d!

And from Down Under.

Do You Take Photos?

The BBC has ongoing photo contests and currently seeks these photos interpreting these topics:

Pollution
Meal time
Red
Learning
Traffic

Learn more here.

My Uncle Johnny

I found this wonderful Memorial on the internet to my Uncle Johnny whoo died at 31.
Milam County, Texas: List of Honor --Individuals Who Have Given Their Lives in theDefense of Their Country from World War I through Vietnam

John Trimble Hale, Jr. [1] [2] Captain, U.S. Air Force, Korean War
[NO PHOTOGRAPH FOUND]

Service No.:
Born: 14 Aug 1923 at Milam Co., TX [3]
Died: 29 Nov 1954 in French Morocco
[4]Age at time of loss: 31 years, 3 months, 15 days
Home of Record:
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Married
Occupation:
ttended: Class of 1941, Rockdale High School, Rockdale, Texas; University of Texas, Austin, Texas
Religion:
Nickname: Johnny
Entered Service: 1942, commissioned 1944
Overseas Duty:
Ship/Unit: 91st Fighter Bomber Squadron
Type of Airplane and Position:
Awards:
Casualty Type: Non-hositle, accident (airplane crash)
Cause of Death:
Casualty Location: near Titmellil, French Morocco
Soundex Code: H-400
Census:
Parents: John Trimble Hale, Sr. (veteran, World War I) (1894-1972) and Gertrude Marrianne Stolterfoht Hale (1895-1980) [5]
Brothers: None
Sisters: Jo Ann Hale Allen (Mrs. Walter), Rockdale; Virginia Hale Garrett (Mrs. Ray) (1919-1984), Washington, DC
Paternal Grandparents:
Maternal Grandparents:
Wife: Constance S. _______________ Hale
Children: Glenn Wayne Hale, Pattie Hale
Burial: International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Cemetery, Rockdale, Milam Co., TXArrangements: Milam County War Memorial:


"Capt. John T. Hale Dies in Jet Crash in French Morocco" [6] (photograph)

Captain John T. Hale, Jr. son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Hale, Sr. of Rockdale, was killed Nov. 29, in a jet plane crash in French Morocco, his parents were notified Monday.

Details on the crash have never been released, except that Captain Hale, who was a senior pilot assigned to the 91st Fighter Bomber Squadron, crashed two miles east of the village of Titmellil. He was on temporary duty in Morocco from his station in England.

Captain Hale's wife and two children were in England with him, Mrs. Hale told Mr. and Mrs. Hale in Rockdale in a telephone conversation Tuesday morning that she was awaiting the body which was being flown from Morocco. Accompanied by his wife and children and an Air Force escort, the body will be flown to the United States. Funeral arrangements are pending.

John T. Hale, Jr., was 31 years old, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Hale, Sr., of Rockdale and graduate from Rockdale High School in 1941. "Johnny" Hale was one of the most popular students in the Rockdale school. A perfectionist, he succeed well at anything he did, and was valedictorian of his graduating class.

Although he was not a large lad, he was vitally interested in athletics and was an outstanding quarterback on the football eleven at RHS. He lettered in football, track, and tennis. He was also an Eagle Scout.

After graduating from high school Johnny entered the University of Texas where he studied for two and one-half years before going into the Air Force in 1942. He received his wings and commission in the Air Force in 1944.

After receiving his wings, Hale served as an instructor at Eagle Pass for some time and then was sent to the Pacific where he was awaiting combat duty when the war ended. Following that, he served three years in Japan on occupation duty with the Air Force.

Upon returning to the States, Captain Hale taught students to fly, as an instructor, prior to going to Europe in April of this year as a et fighter pilot with the 91st Fighter Bomber Squadron.

Captain Hale loved to fly, and particularly loved to fly jets, his friends recall. He had flown jets, propeller driven fighter planes, bombers and transport ships during his Air Force career. He also had been assigned to photo reconnaissance, maintenance, supply and operations, but flying fighter planes was his big love. At Bryan, Air Force Base where he was stationed prior to going to Europe, he said he got his opportunity to fly fighters after the war. Otherwise, I'd have left the Air Force," he said.

Because he loved flying the Rockdale Pilot had established records for more hours in the air than any other pilot at bases where he was located. Members of his family do not have records on the number of hours flying time he has to his credit, but the total, when officially announced will be astounding. At Bryan Air Force Base, out of several hundred pilots, Captain Hale was the leading jet pilot. After he had been there only a short time, he was only 60 hours behind the base Commander in flying time. At that time he had 1446 hours flying time in jet aircraft, and an additional 3474 hours in propeller driven aircraft for a total of 4920 hours in the air. Before he left BAFB for Europe, he had far surpassed the Colonel's time, and since that time in April this year, he had logged many, many more hours of flying time.

At Bryan, Captain Hale was one of six flight commanders having over-all charge of teaching aviation cadets how to fly jets. When he received his orders to go to Europe last April he was elated, for he had always wanted an assignment in the European theater. He left in April. His wife and children followed him in June.

News of his death reached Rockdale from Air Force officials in Washington about 3 p.m. Monday by wire. His parents talked with his wife by telephone from her residence in Ipswich, England, Tuesday morning but no details on the crash were available.

Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Constance S. Hale, formerly of Phoenix, Airz. and two children, Glenn Wayne and Patti; the parents, Mr. and Mrs. John T. Hale, Sr., of Rockdale, two sisters, Miss Jo Ann Hale of Rockdale and Mrs. Ray Garrett and children, Susan, Nancy, Ann and Richard Hale. Mr. and Mrs Garrett and family have been living in Evanston, Ill. and are now moving to Washington, D.C. and while Mr. Garrett has been making arrangements for their move, Mrs. Garrett and children have been visiting here with her parents.

"Funeral Capt. John T. Hale, Jr. to be held Friday 10:30 a.m. [7]"

Funeral services for Captain John T. Hale, Jr., 31, killed in a jet crash in French Morocco Nov. 29, will be held in Rockdale at 10:30 Friday.

Stores to Close by proclamation of W. P. Hogan, Mayor of Rockdale on order of the city council, stores in Rockdale will be closed for the funeral hours starting at 10:30 a.m. Friday, in tribute to the memory of Captain John T. Hale, Jr.

The funeral will be held at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, with the Rev. E. H. Campbell officiating. Full military honors will be given in graveside rites at the I.O.O.F. cemetery by Airmen from the Bryan Air Force Base, where Captain Hale was stationed prior to going to England.

The body of Captain Hale will arrive in Rockdale tonight by train at 1:45 a.m. The body was flown, under Air Force escort, direct to the United States from the crash site in French Morocco, and is proceeding to Rockdale by train.

Captain Hale's wife and two small children arrived in Rockdale Monday from their home in Ipswich, England, where they had been with Captain Hale. They were accompanied here by Lt. Glyn Grey, Air Force escort, on their trip by commercial air lines from England. Lt. Grey, whose home is in Mobile, Alabama, was a close friend of Captain Hale who was his Flight Commander.
Mrs. Hale and children are staying in the home of Captain Hale's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John T. Hale, Sr. and family. Lt. Grey has been staying in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Lanning.

No details on the crash in which Captain Hale was killed have been released by the Air Force, except that he died in the crash of his jet fighter two miles east of the village of Titmelli in French Morocco where he was on temporary duty from his station in England.

Surviving are his wife and two children, Glenn Wayne and Patti; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John T. Hale, Sr. of Rockdale; and two sisters, Miss Jo Ann Hale, of Rockdale and Mrs. Ray Garrett of Washington, D.C.

Footnotes
[1] Name not found in: In Memory - Lest we Forget
[2] No Individual Deceased Personnel 293 File, U.S. Army Total Personnel Command Center, Alexandria, VA
[3] Birth Certificate No. 667159, Milam Co., TX
[4] Death Certificate, None found in Milam Co., TX
[5] Holder, p. 171.
[6] Rockdale Reporter, 2 Dec 1954, p. 1 & 3.
[7] Rockdale Reporter, 9 Dec 1954, p. 1 & 3.

$5000 Shopping Spree at Charlotte Russe

I love Charlotte Russe for casual shopping. You can enter for a $5000 shopping spree every day this month. Good luck!

http://www.charlotterusse.com/home/index.jsp