stay ambitious

The ambitious are criticized by those that have given up. -- Grant Cardone (March 1958 - present) Sales Expert & Author

It's so easy sometimes in life to just give up. I guess it's easy to give up because most of the time giving up is taking the easy way out. To not do something is probably one of the easiest things in the world to do! However, to me, giving up is a double edged sword because when you give up there is always something you're missing out on. Yes, it may be minimal and sometimes you may not mind to miss out that something but eventually, if you continue to give up, something big is going to come along that you are just going to miss out on. Giving up kind of goes hand in hand with taking risks. One of the oldest sayings in the book is, "no risk, no reward" which is just what happens when you give up...NO REWARD!! Can't afford to take risks you ask? I say we rephrase that and eliminate the question all together and say we can't afford to NOT take risks just like we can't afford to give up!! You never know, that small risk you take today could really pay off tomorrow. All you have to do is take it! Consider this a challenge!

simple but not simpler

I believe that a simple and unassuming life is good for everybody, physically and mentally. Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. -- Albert Einstein (March 1879 - April 1955) German-Born Theoretical Physicist 

There's really nothing better than a glass of sweet iced tea out of a Mason jar! Lets face it, everything is better out of a Mason jar whether its pickled okra, fresh strawberry preserves, or apple butter, you name it, it's better! Not only does it make the things we eat and drink better, it also can take you back to a more simple time. A time to where our cell phones weren't attached to our hips, a time where everything just seemed to move a lot slower. I wish so bad sometimes we could all get back to that and I do try to keep things as simple as possible but when the day is done I know it's really just wishful thinking. I took this photo one sunny afternoon at an antique store in downtown Bristol, VA. The store was HUGE and I really didn't have all that much time but I did manage to take a few photos of some things here and there. Pictured above, as you can see, is a line of Mason jar called The Clyde. The Clyde launched in 1871, but only for a brief period. After doing some research I wish I would have purchased it because its kind of rare. John Mason of Philadelphia, invented the first glass canning jar in 1858 and became a partner in the Consolidated Fruit Jar Company. Consolidated hired many other glass makers to blow their jars including the Clyde glass works out of Clyde, New York. 

from whence we came

We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came... -- John F. Kennedy

I know it is now June, but I actually took this photo back in March. Needless to say, I couldn't really enjoy the ocean but that was not the reason we went down for a change. We went down to see my buddy Austin get married. Going there for a couple of days really made me realize how much I miss the ocean and being able to visit pretty much whenever I wanted in Jr. college. It was really good to see some old friends I used to raise cane with back in the day. Seeing everyone brought back some really good memories and restored a few lasting friendships. Apart from that things have been crazy but good lately. We are expecting a new baby girl at really anytime and we will never be able do the things that really need to be done before she arrives, but aren't things always that way?! There really is never enough time in the day, but it always seems to be just enough even when you think it won't be. Life is good.