Sligo Festival

Me and the family just got back from the Sligo Festival in Sligo, Missouri.  It was a nice time and it was good to see that it is growing in popularity more and more each year.  It was packed with a line out the door.  We were literally waiting for people to get up so we could get in and have a seat.  It was amazing Corn Beef and Cabbage and Reuben Sandwiches.  It was my Wife's first time to go and she loved it.  So I have a feeling we won't be missing any future years to come.  We then went to the Sligo Cemetery and attempted to find a relative from the 1900's, we failed so we will have to ask a family member more familiar with the cemetery.

Open Carry In Missouri

I am starting to see more people openly carry their firearms in the surrounding area.  Guess what, people are not scared and few seem to notice that they have firearms on.  I am glad to see that people are not making an issue where there should be no issue.  I went into a local gun shop this past Friday and I was happy to see a couple buying firearms together.  They were also looking for training.  The gun shop worker was working hard on trying to find a suitable pistol for them.  He did not appear set on selling top dollar firearms as well.  He told them I will not sell you something you do not need.  That is something that you rarely hear in this day and age.  He really appeared to be staying within their set price ranges and was even showing them some that were below the price they were willing to pay.  It is refreshing to see law abiding, responsible citizens taking measures to protect themselves and their families.

The Search For A New Carry Pistol

I have fallen in love with the 1911 over the last few years.  In particular the full size government model.  To me there is just something about how the gun handles and shoots.  I feel I am so much more accurate with the firearm and it just feels like a part of me, an extension of my body.  So I have decided to find a 1911 meets a few of my requirements.  I am wanting a rail, stainless steel construction for frame and slide, match grade barrel, military guide rod, cocking shoulder, night sights, G10 Grips, magazine well, lowered and flared ejection port, and NO MIM PARTS!

So with a criteria like this I am almost going to have to go custom or buy a pistol for a decent price and have some pistol smith work done.  I have been looking at Wilson Combat and would love to have one of these finely crafted pieces of utilitarian art!  I however am lacking funds for such a deep investment.  I do not have the luck of having investors or people willing to provide products for me to test.  So I have to save some cash and then when I have enough pony it up!  So till then stay tuned.

The search is ongoing and I have faith that I will find the perfect 1911 that will meet my needs.  

Trying to Build Web Traffic

I always have so many ideas and plans on how to generate more traffic to my blog.  I am always thinking of unique blog posts or information I feel that would help others.  In the end if I do not have a solid reader base I have basically a blog full of info that reaches no one.  I have been told that good things come to those who wait.  I do believe that because when I started this blog after several months of posting I did have descent traffic but I ended up stopping my posting and I lost most of my reader base.  So there is something to be said about a constant flow of content to your blog, it does really make readers keep coming back.  I try to tag appropriate labels and make my post titles catchy.  I personally do not totally understand SEO.  I have read many articles about it but in the end, it is a mythical beast to me.  So maybe I need to work on adding SEO to my content more and in my titles.  I am not sure at this moment.   I have been attempting to drive traffic to my blog with twitter but I am not sure if that is working as of yet.  

I have been working on a series of Health/Medical related posts.  I have started one series so far.  I work very hard with my clients to develop a very holistic approach to their health.  I see so many people living unhealthy lives or some part of their life is very healthy.  I really want to bring awareness and give people useful tools to help themselves in their day to day life.  

I am very passionate about health and well being.  I world love for this blog to go on to providing life changing information that is easily accessible.   

The Balancing Act

Have you ever watched a Tight Rope Walker? Have you ever wondered how they walk on such a thin wire so far above the earth and not fall? Is it that they have nerves like steel that keeps them from faltering and falling to their ultimate demise on an unforgiving ground below? Could it be that they have a gift of superhuman balance that they discovered early on in their life? Could it be that they have some sadistic need for adrenaline and risking their life gives them their “fix”. Sure, I guess you could make an argument for any of the mentioned or a myriad of other possible plausible reasons as to why someone would take such a risk.

I want you to think about this for a second and take a look at your life. Do you see any parallels in your life as compared to the person high above the crowd walking on the thin wire? Do you have balance or are you ever so close at any second to falling off of your “wire” and into impending disaster? Do you find yourself feeling like your walking a thin line and always wavering unsteadily back and forth. Do you find it hard to keep your footing? So what similarities or differences do you see now?

You may argue that this is too far of a stretch to compare you, the reader to someone who goes out on a wire each day for a living. However, you go out each day into a world that is uncertain, full of risks, life decisions you make may have a ripple effect on your life, family, and friends for years to come. Life is a constant act of balancing. If you fail to balance your life, and depending on how badly you unbalance your life, will depend on how much turmoil and struggle you will have in your life.

So do you think that maybe the Tight Rope Walker has a more balanced life than you? Do you feel that you have your life in order and balanced enough? I am not sure but self reflection can go a long way in identifying if you need more balance in your life.

I plan on doing a series of articles about this in up and coming posts so come back often and read. This is a very broad topic and has so many facets that need to be analyzed and looked at to do the subject justice. This is something that is important to me and I am very passionate about because I believe that so many people are unbalanced and not healthy in their day to day life. I teach this on a regular basis to my patients and I advocate this on regular basis to all of my patients.

Lazy Sunday

It was a lazy Sunday after church this morning.  Me and my wife had a nice lunch with my parents and then we went on to take a nice walk at a local park.  The park has a Frisbee Golf Course.  I was shocked to see people playing even though we had 24 MPH wind today.  We walked across part of the course and we could see a Frisbee be thrown and only see it to fly straight up into the sky and fall just 10 feet in front of it's original launch point.  Yet I have to commend that players because despite the short comings of them being able to play they appeared to be having fun still.  We walked the bicycle trail and then went to the bird watching area.  While we were there we were able to see a Woodpecker.  I am not sure of the type since bird watching is not my forte.  Now we are just sitting here waiting for the next episode of The Walking Dead!  Can't wait to see what we are in store for tonight!

 

Millstream Gardens

So today me and the wife went to Millstream Gardens Conservation Area.  It is nestled in a rural part of Ironton, MO.  It is a swift 2.5 mile hike to the "Cat's Paw" which overlooks the Tieman Shut-in which is located on a portion of the St. Francois River.  This section of the river provides the only location in Missouri where you can get a taste of white water kayaking.  If you take this route you will travel down through an old damn which was once used to power the Silver Mines.  It was a gorgeous hike and one that I would recommend.  You can spend a good part of your day exploring and crawling around the rocks which have been smoothed by the river over time.  

Overlook that allows you to view the Tieman Shut-in.

The St. Francois River.   

Tieman Shut-in is located a little over to the left from this location.

St. Francois River.

Weathered Rocks.  

 

Attempting To Keep Up With Posting

So, I have not really kept up with posting like I would like to have.  It always seems like something comes up in my life that keeps me from being able to keep up with a routine of keep regular content flowing to my blog.  It is sad because I was actually starting to get some regular readers.  Sad thing most of those readers are gone now as it stands.  Life has slowed down a little right now.  I am not working 14 to 16 hour days anymore trying to make money.  I do not think I ever posted about that.  I was literally working 6 days a week and putting in 14 to 16 hours per day trying to make money.  I only had Sunday off.  They even asked me to work Sunday.  So when you read my posts about balance in your life I know a little about it from experience.

I am going to be more diligent with my posting.  I am going to commit to trying to post at least one time per week.  I would love to post more often but I am not going to count my chickens before they are hatched.

As always I look forward to comments!

Wadoni

Old Memories

Today I went to my childhood home.  Well at least from the time I was five till I was half way into my seven grade year.  It was nice to see it, and it was a sad experience to see how much it has changed.  I remember the years I was there how hard my parents worked to make it is a beautiful and welcoming place.  The roads were in poor condition and the old walk bridge over the creek was twisted and buckled in several locations.  The lake no longer was kept and clear around the perimeter.  The homes that were there were looking old and neglected.  The old wooden barn that I had spent so much time with my father was laying in a heap of twisted and rotting timbers.  The older stone house had lost it's roof but the stone silo stood in pride, surrounded by new trees and vines trying to hide it's presence to the world.  How I miss the animals, the long walks in the woods, and sitting in a boat lazily floating with my pole in the waters waiting for a fish to bite.  It was nice to take a stroll down memory lane and show my wife where I grew up and the place I so loved.    

Missouri Is Trying to Pass a Lifetime Concealed Carry Permit

I just heard on the news that Missouri is trying to pass a lifetime concealed carry permit. I am pretty excited about this because I have always felt that once you pass the requirements you should not have to keep renewing your permit. I welcomed the change from three years to five years for renewal. I feel that this is the next logical step. I think what has impacted this is finally some fear and stigma of people carrying firearms around is starting to diminish. This is just my opinion and I am sure that some people will be more than willing to point out flaws in my logic. I feel this way though because I have noticed that where there used to be signs stating no concealed weapons allowed have disappeared. I also think as the times have changed and what is unfortunately happening in our great country that it is becoming more and more apparent that law abiding citizens need to have a means to defend themselves always. We as citizens in the United States no longer can automatically assume we are safe no matter where we are at. So I personally believe that this is playing a role in it as well. I would like to see a law passed like Texas where we can open carry no matter where we are at. I would most likely still conceal my firearm but I am not opposed to going places and seeing everyone wearing a firearm.

As I hear more I will post it.

To Become a Millionaire....

So I know we all have these lofty ideals....who does not, right? I know I did....note I said did. When I was in high school that was all I thought about. I was going to have an amazing home with everything that a teenage boy's heart could dream of at the time. I had envisioned I would have this home by the time I was 25....did I mention a garage full of high end cars both new and classics. With a small handful of motorcycles for good measure. Yes, you can say the least I was a dreamer and the fact of the matter I still have dreams but I am more of a realist now. Would I like to be a millionaire still....sure, I think you would find very few people that would say no to that. I however have learned that the path to happiness is not in what you own...it is your mindset.

I have met several people in my life that had large amounts of money. I am not sure if they were at millionaire status but they lived very comfortably and had many a nice thing. However, I noticed a trait that most of them had. They were not happy and for the most part miserable. It appeared that no matter how successful, how nice of things they owned, or how prestigious they became they still had a nagging emptiness inside of themselves. We can speculate all sorts of reasons why they would have this. Some could say they felt lonely because most people only wanted to be friends with them for what they had or could give. It could be chalked up to the old saying that goes something like “money doesn't buy happiness”. I personally feel in the end they were not healthy in their life. No, I do not mean physical health but in emotional and mental health. Sure, they may have physical ailments but I believe these ailments they had manifested themselves from mental and emotional distress over a period of time.

I am sure you wondering what led me to this conclusion, well simply put just sitting down and talking to them over a period of time has led me to believe this. In my life I have the fortunate pleasure of meeting people from all walks of life. From the homeless to people who live rather comfortably to unverified millionaire status. I can say that the people who had the least, but were not struggling to put food on the table often were the most healthy individuals I have met in my life. They appeared to be more stable in day to day life and often were in much better spirits and emotional health.

So is becoming a millionaire healthy? Well I think it all depends on your frame of mind. Will you allow the money to dictate who you are and let it corrupt you? Or will you count your blessings and give thanks to God and live your life as you did prior to your new found wealth? I think that is the key.

In the end I feel it is better for all of us to be rich in love and understanding of each other. Show kindness to people you do not even know. Hold a door open for someone, say hi and smile to another at the store, and practice the Golden Rule. In the end is it not better to be happy and emotionally healthy? I will chose happiness and emotional healthy every time. Also you just might notice things go better for you in your life when you realize this.