Late Night Call

Well, we finally got the late night call we were dreading. Just after 12:00am May 31, 2008, Coventry Court called to say that my mother-in-law, Anna Breite, had passed away a little over an hour sooner. She had been ill for some time so it was not a surprise but the final call is always difficult. What made it even stranger was that they requested that we come to Anaheim immediately so that her body could be released to the mortuary. My husband, Larry, questioned the necessity of coming in the middle of the night (especially since we had already given explicit instructions in this regard). But, up and dressed we got only to discover that indeed we would not need to make the two hour drive until morning.

We will be spending the next few days in funeral and burial preparation. I'll keep you posted.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

The Breite Family

DNA or Nurture...Ummmm

Whether we are crafted by our DNA or our environment has been a longstanding discussion among educators, sociologists, scientists and the like. Any parent will tell you that "they come how they come." We, as parents, are there to guide, train, educate, love and basically let them grow into the adult humans they are meant to be. How much we have to do with that still is a mystery. But, Edward O. Wilson, esteemed biologist suggests that much of our "behavior" is pre-designed into our DNA. How does he come to that conclusion? Well, of all things, through his study of ants and other species.

It is an interesting premise and not without merit. Of course, there are those who shy away from such a notion as they fear it will lead to genocide of the "undesirable" humans who exhibit particular behavioral traits. To be sure, caution must be taken in this regard. What I find most interesting about Edward Wilson's claims is his complete , all-incompassing view of the world and how humanity fits into it. Somehow he is able to see the minutia and the global implications all at the same time.

His particular understanding of eco-systems and what they can or cannot tolerate is, I believe, critical in our survival on this planet (oops, did I say "green"). His studies have helped scientists understand the "load bearing" capacity of our home and we are indeed to be concerned.

If you have a chance to listen to anything this remarkable scientist has to say, please make time to do it. He is a delightful, dynamic, life-loving, life-affirming, brilliant person. I hope you have a chance to view Lord of the Ants on KPBS (I know, what can I say, it was a long night).

Later,
Laura

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TTFN,
Laura

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Memorial Day and the Cold War

As a young girl in the late 50's and early 60's I had often heard the term "The Cold War." I never really understood what that meant. I never really understood what "war" meant. I knew that there was on overriding sense of dread and fear around but did not understand from whence it came. I was just a kid.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to watch a KPBS special (alright, I couldn't sleep but hey it was a good show anyway) about the Cold War and suddenly it all made sense. They interviewed several people who lived through the end of World War II and were present during the transition to the Cold War. A pilot, a Nazi work-camp survivor, and several others. What they described both shocked and amazed me. They shared how the allied forces moved into Germany and discovered various machines (specifically, remarkably designed rocket propelled aircraft and other high technology). They explained how those machines had been built using starving, decimated camp workers. And, how the race was on between Russia and particularly the United States to obtain those machines and their plans before the other could.

The pilot had the opportunity to fly one of the aircraft and reported that it was always a step ahead of him. He was amazed. Ultimately, that design was implemented in future aircraft and is still used today.

The camp worker was saddened, maddened and disgusted with the United States as it hailed the German scientists as "heroes" for developing these machines. The scientists had been able to avoid war crime prosecution for their abuse of Nazi prisoners because of their "contributions" to these technologies.

They saw the end of World War II transform into the Cold War, the race for control over these advanced technologies. As for myself, I clearly remember the sense of dread as the realities of living in a world of nuclear weapons and advanced killing machines weighed on our daily lives. At last I understood what had created this thing called "the Cold War" and in my little-girl mind wish the men of the time could have been wiser in their greed and ambition to conquer the technology.

This is Hilarious...Review of 2007

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Home At Last with Be Biz

Just got back from a 10 day business trip to Vancouver, British Columbia by way of Seattle. I used so many different modes of transportation that it will feel odd to drive again: airplane, shuttle, train, skytrain, bus, taxi and walking! Wow!

I had never been to Vancouver before. It is a beautiful city. Vancouver proper was active with dark-suited business people hustling and bustling all over the city. There I was in my travel clothes dragging my 75 pounds of luggage around the city. I was meeting with The Internet Marketing Center which is based in Vancouver so decided to stop by. I have been using their material and software for years and thought it time to meet in person. They have a fantastic new product called Be Biz. If you have ever wanted to start up an online business you can't go wrong with this option. It walks you through the entire process step by step and you end up with your own online website promoting your product or idea. Check it out!

After meeting with Peter Banicevic of The Internet Marketing Center I once again found myself walking the streets of Vancouver looking for a bus to the airport (more on that later.) By this time I was feeling the need for something to eat. One restaurant owner took very good care of me. Shout out to Goodfellas on Pender Street who served up a seat, water, and then the most delicious spaghetti I have ever had. Thick sauce, rich in onions and herbs and a delightfully crisp oversized cracker (I'm sure it has a name) that was the perfect complement.

I'll share more as I unravel my brain, wash my travel clothes and get back to the business of internet marketing and home living.

TTFN, (ta ta for now, to those of you who don't know that phrase)
Laura

I'm Lovin' It

I'm loving this new blog format that Blogger has in place. If you are not already using it, give it a try. Go to http://draft.blogger.com for more information.

I'm going to be "all over the board" for awhile while I figure out exactly what this particular blog will become. Stay tuned for greatness.

Laura

Journey to Completion

It occurs to me that I am at a crossroads. I am done with a chapter of my life and I stand beside my adult children in a new and wonderful way. On the other hand, I am faced with what will be the remainder of my life, be it long or short, and I find that I have a mountain of things to complete.

Basically, I am completing ME. That's right, me. And in that process I am making decisions, small and large, that lead me toward that completion. I am scared. However, if I am to complete the ME that started out on this journey 54 years ago, I must be brave. Brave beyond my ability at times. Brave beyond my ability right now.

I breathe in deeply and release that vital force into the universe. I know, that sounds very metaphysical...oooooooo. But, how else do you explain the larger than myself feeling that comes over me during these times of great thought? I sit now with my eyes closed pecking away at the keyboard trying to get in touch with my next steps. A sense of well-being comes over me, a calmness. Breathe again. Yes, it is calmness. I sense that my forehead is tense. I scrunch my face, perhaps I just need lotion. LOL. No, it's tension. I wiggle my brows, up down, up down. Any difference? no, Adjust my glasses on my nose. Ah, it wasn't my forehead, my head is hanging forward; it feels like it's a foot in front of my body and my shoulders are tight. There it goes, crackle, crackle, dizziness as I rotate my neck. Calm again.

Anyway, enough of that, back to completion. Joe Stumpf of By Referral Only talks about "incompletions" and how it is important to get them out of the way and finished so that you can move on to the important stuff. I can see the wisdom of that . The incompletions in my life are always in the back of my mind, calling out, begging for attention, scrambling my good intentions, jumbling my brain. The guy on Oprah and Friends who talks about ending "clutter" also explains that clutter can come from those little times of incompletion. When I don't complete a task as simple as the dishes because I get distracted with something else. It seems that completing things, anything, is high on my list to moving forward in my life. I'm thinking of making a list of all of those incompletions or actions that I leave incomplete that cause more chaos. Then the Nike slogan, Just Do It, comes to mind. That's right, Just Do It, because it is very easy for my mind to think ad nauseam about doing something but never get it done. Enough! Just Do It! Seems like sound advice.

I still sit with my eyes closed. It is like when I just become aware of the morning and my mind is free and active. I am always very lucid and clear at that point. Everything makes sense. I lie in bed enjoying my orderliness and creativeness. But alas, the moment I open my eyes and start to move my body, blood coursing through my veins the thoughts dissipate and I cannot grab them again as clearly as they presented themselves during my "pre-awake" time.

I am a very visual person. Maybe that is why the minute I open my eyes the world invades and disrupts my thoughts. Anyway, I ramble. Back to the Journey to Completion.

What will it take to complete my life journey. What do I need to learn? How will I go about it? I have been focusing on the aspect of incompletion as it relates to business. I have stopped many projects at critical times. There is a major block about this and I am exploring what that block could be and trying to move through it. Note that I am "trying." You know, it's like the same old story of picking up a pencil. You can "try" to pick up the pencil or you can just do it, pick it up. Just Do It!

Embarrassment comes to mind, like I won't be able to do something that I should know how to do. That I will be inadequate at the task and need more help than anyone will be able to give me. I will be "too needy." Where have I heard that before? Of course, mom and dad. Too needy, when you have three other children to care for. Too needy, when your own cup is not full. Too needy, when they don't have the resources to answer your questions. Too needy, when you need help doing something. Too needy.

Of course, it is not all of their fault, but it is a starting place for why I have that recording programmed in my head. That little hardwire that comes up when it is least wanted or needed. Time to rewire the circuits and get on with it.

I'll come back to this later as I feel it will be an ongoing commitment to learning and understanding the steps to my completion.