I spent the day honoring William Weisgerber “Denny”, and his family.  Denny, is the 2011 Marine of the Year who has been selflessly volunteering in the community through organizations like “Soldiers Angels” and who as a civilian continued to train Marines.   As well  supporting returning soldiers who have returned home as amputees just has he was during the Korean war.   Because of his injuries Denny’s military status changed and he was not honored with a proper promotion until 2012 as Gunnery Sergeant.

It makes you wonder if he was promoted back than would it have been as monumental as it was today? at eighty-one years old surrounded by eighteen year old Marines who have the honor of seeing the legacy of a Hero.  As well surrounded by all of the people he has volunteered with and community leaders -  as well as his wife, his high school sweet-heart…the impact he has had on others far outreaches his Just Rewards.

Again, the way the universe rewards people isn’t always in the most direct manor or with the most obvious rewards or even rewards of monetary value…sometimes it’s the free to thrift items that feel like a gold mind… example…

My TV broke, but on Monday I found out I won a 40″ Flat Screen TV.  I won a national blog competition through “Soldiers Angels“.  Interestingly enough the Blog was about how I turned “lemon’s into lemonade” as they say by helping others.    The kicker, is the TV is to be donated to VA of my choice and I already had decided to not own a TV (yep, that’s right!).    But the universe gave me wonderful rewards that evening; I got to spend time with a friend who I hadn’t seen for a while, on our neighborhood walk there was a box of free books and one of them was a vintage theme and my friend gave me a picture frame, which ironically I had just printed some pictures that night….

Than again, the universe can be spot on to your wants – I decided I wanted a real kitchen table, but it needed to fold away when not in use…went to Craigslist and found the perfect one.  The guy held it for me till my friend who happened to be coming for a visit who was staying in the area of where it was picked-it up and delivered it to me.

I took my friend out to lunch as a thank you, walking back, literally glanced in a dark thrift store window and spotted a 40′s vintage purse piled in with others for $12 bucks…I still can’t get over that I spotted it, walked right in, told the ladies what I wanted and they were surprised how I knew what I wanted…

THANK YOU UNIVERSE – so full of GRACE.

Oh, Ya, and walking back from lunch some high school boy’s who had seen me earlier gave me the cat-call whistle…thanks for the flattery universe…that will get you everywhere….lol.

I am surprisingly intrigued by all of this build-up.  It’s my turn I head down the dusty looking stairs into a moment of eye-adjustment to the darkness around the corner to find a well-appointed wooden bar that does depict a bar of days gone by (that are still around if you look hard enough).

I told the bartendress my favorite Whiskey is Old Portrero and I was looking for nothing more than two fingers of Whiskey…she cleans a glass; one of the “chicks” at the end of the bar goes…”oh, what kind of drink is that glass for?” (and really it wasn’t that special of a glass?)…the bartendress explains to her.   She proceeds to grab the Old Portero and I said I was hoping you would choose something for me (as was advertised as a benefit by the door man) – she offers me Templeton Rye; which worked for me.

I proceeded to sit with some gals at a tall community table facing the bar with a candle flickering next to me and I watched the show at the bar.  Other than the bar there is really no atmosphere – it really didn’t have much more characteristics from when it was a dance club in the 90′s.   The girls next to me where talking some elementary conversation where F*that and F*this was pivotal to their self-expression.

This my friends is the need that is so huge and is a societal one.  The fact that one has to be instructed how to behave in a public social setting is the true fall of our society…I applaud Single Barrel for the attempt of creating an atmosphere that speaks to a better time but you can’t transport people to another time if they don’t appreciate the difference.  Because I do it was actually insulting to me.  And I really don’t understand why having a bartender ask you what you like and offering suggestions is a big epiphany – to me that is what all bartenders should be like – I always ask for tenders recommendations (true not all of them have the ability – but I think that too is a sad state).

I also couldn’t understand why being there alone made the attendants so attentive, kept asking me if I wanted to sit at the bar…my reply, no it’s too loud and I rather sit where I can watch…I think they were trying to be polite, but when I get the whole – are you meeting someone, oh, you don’t want to sit over here alone do you etc.  it really called for ending the night early.   And out of the whole bar I saw one dress…I had one of my vintage suits on…but everyone else was in Jeans etc. like any other sports bar…this was just a dimly lit version of the same with Vintage drinks, which seemed to surprise most; like a Side Car, Ramos Fizz, Gimlet, but  I guess if you only drink beer or wine this is a new horizon…again, I applaud you  for the effort Single Barrel and perhaps it will inspire others to improve their social skills, and inspire better bar-tending expectations.

(Comstock still has my heart in SF)

my YELP review:

If I was comparing you to other bars I would say 5-stars but comparing to other “speakeasy’s” and vintage drink spots I have to go for 2-stars.   My suggestions:
Table Reservations (like, Bourbon and Branch) – and the availability for one person to make a reservation.  I would never risk standing outside in a line.  Even with the table reservation you can still Que the people to make sure the bartenders are ready for the wave.  Don’t let people sit at the bar if they aren’t ordering unless it’s the two side stools – I still had to squeeze in when I got down there and the bartender (girl) was chatting off to the side to someone so I didn’t get that “hello-welcome” feeling.  I would require a dress-code; everyone was in Jean’s on a Thursday night except one dress in the room – and I would offer a house drink to anyone coming in Speakeasy Vintage Style.   I would also have a female hostess down stairs dressed in roaring 20′s (like the Edison in Los Angeles) – and she should also act as a waitress, compared to the bouncer like men – she could offer refills or Que up the guests downstairs again maintaining the line-free bar.     Ambiance; need a lot more of it, art work, better red lighting, false brick-work anything so it doesn’t remind me of the old 90′s dance clubs that use to be down there…especially the stair-case down – felt like I was getting my car out of a basement garage or something.

Again, I applaud you for being different than the average bar but that is not what I am comparing you too…keep up the good work society needs to be told how to act proper at the door apparently – turn off your cellphone ringer, be polite with your level of conversation, and no gum – real napkins….WOW?!~ really, it’s a sad state of affairs when people need to be instructed how to act but it’s so true that it needs to be said (though, not really enforced inside – I think the dress code would help a bit) and also a sexy hostess walking around would make any sporty guy step up his game and if on a date show his lady what a gentlemen he is.

This TV has a very deep history with me. In 1999 I bought a Airstream Overlander from the 50′s and this TV and other misc. contents that came from the rescue of the Airstream. It’s worked great ever since. What is KEY to getting a new Flat Screen is I can still connect my ATARI which I am not sure if you can see at the bottom of the photo.

So really, where do I start in the world of of flat screens? How do I keep with my Made in America or vintage New Years buying resolution for the year to support the Occupy sentiments?

Is there such a thing as a “Made in America” TV?

Vizio may be the choice for a Flat Screen. “By providing a myriad of high definition entertainment options and unmatchable value, VIZIO has grown to over 160 employees and remains the first American brand in over a decade to lead in U.S. LCD HDTV sales.”

(but how can I hook-up my Vintage Atari to a flat screen?).

SIDE NOTE: On Made In America Cat Care?

I noticed tonight, when putting on my cats flea treatment – it is MADE IN FRANCE…(o.k., my pets may not be part of the resolution just yet…but I will keep an eye out for a comparable alternative)…also, make sure it’s from France and not a scam knock-off?! or if it doesn’t have the EPA approval you may actually be getting a better deal?

No wonder the average Joe just can’t get through the day as a consumer…there is always someone trying to pull something?

“God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace…”

Reinhold Niebuhr, 1930′s

My Goals:

99% of the time I will live a sustainable life: I will reduce, reuse, recycle, buy local; and only “Made in America“.

RECYCLE – I will buy vintage 1st, followed by “Made in America“, and will buy foreign produced clothes (for work etc.) only at “Goodwill“; who through the money they collect they help people who are looking for work or better jobs so they can better provide for their families in the U.S.

BUY LOCAL – I will buy locally grown food which is ultimately better for my health (this will be hard since I am used to easy quick, processed foods). But  no more weakness attacks for McDonald even in a rush.  One last gluttony tonight for old times sake.  (I leave 1%, for an occasional small fry & a Sundae – per a tradition that started with my Dad – I do like their Sweet Tea to but I see Snapple has a version now).

99% of the time I will have an authentic voice: I will say how I feel and be proud to be opinionated.

If in the last few years you haven’t discarded a major opinion or acquired a new one, check your pulse.  You may be dead.  ~Gelett Burgess

99% of the time I will have an authentic life:

Repressing one’s self to be what you think everyone else wants leads to repression and ultimately depression and long-term health problems.  There is room for 1% to accommodate work where candor and true-self  isn’t always appropriate.  But with that said you should work somewhere you don’t have to be a light switch – one which you turn yourself off to feed the machine.  This will kill you, you must know who you are.

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.  ~Anaïs Nin

99% of the time I will build my Faith.  I will see through the false prophets and know the difference.

99% of the time I will do my travel this year in the United States; including Route 66, Montana – area, Georgia – area, Detroit…(I leave the possibility of 1% international travel if someone chooses to sweep me off my feet and wants to go abroad). 

99% of the time I will fly the red, white and blue and be proud to be born and bred; American and California native for that matter.  I will love my community, my neighbors, my state and my country.  It’s not perfect but it’s what I have and the grass isn’t always greener on the other side (but flying the flag 24/7 requires lighting for the flag, and that goes against being sustainable but than again, putting it in and out everyday may become difficult). 

99% of the time I will volunteer every chance I get; specifically with “Soldiers Angels” supporting our veterans who have allowed me the right to have resolutions. Studies have shown that people who volunteer live longer. One thing, I liked that Obama launched his career with was this intent to motivate America to volunteer but it has fallen on the way-side other than this great tool to find places to volunteer:  http://www.serve.gov/

99% of the time I will LOVE

falling in love doesn’t begin with falling in love with others. it begins with falling in love with ourselves. loving ourselves is healthy and as God intended. learn to deeply and fully cherish your heart, your soul and your body and, only then, will you understand what it is to truly love another. – Philosophy

And what’s with the 99%? I don’t know…it’s just a popular terminology right now amongst Occupiers and I am only human so if I have a goal of 100% there is room for a lot of error – attainable, but again, I am just human.  Everyone has the opportunity to slip up and that’s o.k. – just live deliberately and you must be able to forgive yourself for imperfection before you can accept another.

when it comes to love, you need not fall but rather surrender. surrender to the idea that you must love yourself before you can love another. you must absolutely trust yourself before you can absolutely trust another and most importantly you must accept your flaws before you can accept the flaws of another. – Philosophy

HAPPY NEW YEAR and away we go (this is more exciting than Christmas morning…this is the ultimate gift…the chance to renew, restore and BELIEVE).

a gal in a black Victorian gown steps outside of her porch to find three cats surrounding a mouse…

..to follow is what could only be thought of as a classic cartoon..the black cat is looking at the mouse…next thing the mouse is up in the cats face as if to say “put em up”..next thing the mouse goes between the cats legs, and huddles under the cats big fat belly and the mouse takes a swat at it…next thing the mouse is behind the cat…as the cat looks under her legs…

I decide to go rescue the mouse (or my cat, depending on how you look at it) and put my hand out for the mouse…and he crawled on..I throw it towards a bush..it zig zags for the house but I shuffle it into the bush…where the cats surrounded it…

Needed to go to the Dicken’s Fair to escort some friends who had never been to the Fair…much fun for all…(my 5th year)…so I left the mouse on it’s own…

From there headed to Zydeco dancing at Club 23 in Brisbane…many folks in town from New Orleans…wonderful night and I left a trail of my 100 year old dress beyond…the lining of the black dress is Red satin.

Not any average day for my Victorian Gown but than again I have been called “the most interesting girl” so what else would one expect for a sleepy Sunday…

…you can catch me dancing in this video courtesy of Club 23, Brisbane…

I haven’t seen any clear message from the Occupy movement; only that they are upset at a laundry list of complaints, none of them new and none of them that I don’t agree with but I do disagree with a cause without a voice for change and next steps – this requires leadership.  I see opportunities every day to effect change in my life and community…and I act upon it.

Black Friday has been an annual cause which many American’s decline to shop, through campaigns like “Buy Nothing Day” but still as the news reflects, the few are still out numbered by Mobs.   Were Occupiers out at stores today with signs trying to get the message out to the people rather than to Wall Street Zombies?

I can stand behind the cause of reeducating America about where to spend dollars…Occupiers can make a difference in communities quicker than pavement cities…make some flyers give to shoppers…detail where they should shop to preserve jobs and protect a future not defined by global corporate hoarders…just a simple thing, but may be enough to get real people involved who are voting with their dollars and don’t know any better…isn’t that more meaningful, to have a conversation with a person rather than camping out on the streets and marching down the street causing back-ups and other hang-ups?  It may not be as dramatic or news worthy…but is it about making the news? or making a difference?

A new Facebook group has emerged and I strongly direct people to Occupy Shopping.

Thanksgiving Dinner Comes Early to the PTSD Menlo Park VA  - what a beautiful evening at the Menlo Park VA, with our dear friends, family and soldiers of the PTSD Unit…

Soldier’ Angels, Northern California Chapter, under the leadership of Elaine and her dedicated volunteers fed 50 vets both men and women – vets from the Korean War (some volunteers) to the current theater …many going home for the holidays but for some they will not be traveling home because of distance and finances…many new faces joining the PTSD program…and some packing their bags to go home for good…it’s always a revolving door of amazing people taking some really life-changing steps to re-enter the world that some of us may take for granted…

And, to our soldiers in the field you are in our thoughts and hearts this coming Thanksgiving.

“…We give thanks and honor to those brave and true

Our banners, we will proudly wave

The Red, White, and Blue

We will give our thanks not only to our god

but also to every soldier for our bounties, that be.

For they give meaning to words

Home of the brave Land of the Free.

To the soldiers in the mess hall

Eating their thanksgiving feast,

to the troops in the desert eating another

Meal ready to eat.

May peace, hope and strength

Travel with you along the way

And may these wishes find you

On A Soldiers Thanksgiving day.”

By: Marcy Mobley  “A Soldiers Thanksgiving“

I heard “Made In America” on the radio just before a Shark’s hockey game and the song referenced  that a teacher, does the pledge of allegiance in her class and “some folks say it isn’t cool but she says the pledge of allegiance anyway”…at the hockey game, and all sporting events we sing the National Anthem.  After, I said to my colleague, how is it a norm for us to do this and our children can’t do the pledge in school? I went on to say that I think this is when things started to go bad for the USA, she wholeheartedly agreed (BTW: why hasn’t the 99% protested what professional athletes make).

What do you feel about the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom?  There is two thoughts on this…the State of New York since 9/11 has mandated it back in schools.

FOR
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/pledge-of-allegiance-returns-to-nyc-school-after-parents-complain-daughter-has-no-idea-what-it-is/

AGAINST
http://www.proyouthpages.com/pledge.html

Watch / listen to this Video.  I think the pledge of allegiance should be back in the classroom and this song depicts, the steps to get back to a better way of life – MADE IN AMERICA…one nation (not 99%), indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Lyrics:

Made In America

my old man’s that old man,
spent his life livin’ off the land,
dirty hands, and a clean soul.
breaks his heart seein’ foreign cars,
filled with fuel that isn’t ours
and wearin’ cotton he didn’t grow

he’s got the red, white, and blue flyin’ high on the farm
semper fi tattooed on his left arm
spends a little more at the store for a tag in the back that says u.s.a.
won’t buy nothin’ that he can’t fix,
with wd40 and a craftsman wrench
he ain’t prejudice he’s just, made in america

his wife, she’s that wife that decorates on the 4th of july
but says “every day’s independence day”
she’s golden rule, teaches school,
some folks say it isn’t cool but she says the pledge of allegiance anyway.

got the red, white, and blue flyin’ high on the farm
semper fi tattooed on his left arm
spends a little more at the store for a tag in the back that says u.s.a.
won’t buy nothin’ that he can’t fix,
with wd40 and a craftsman wrench
he ain’t prejudice he’s just, made in america

born in the heartland, raised up a family
of king james and uncle sam
got the red, white, and blue flyin’ high on the farm
semper fi tattooed on his left arm
spends a little more at the store for a tag in the back that says u.s.a.
won’t buy nothin’ that he can’t fix,
with wd40 and a craftsman wrench
he ain’t prejudice he’s just, made in america

made in america
made in america

my old man’s that old man,
he’s made in america
america!

From my friends at the Art of Manliness, one of their newsletters entitled “Should a Man Be Inspired by History?”

“Ironically, those who are unable to see the flaws of great men more generously through the prism of the person’s circumstances, tend to be those who also disparage their accomplishments, chalking them merely up to, well, circumstances.

For example, if you praise the frugality of my grandfather’s generation, someone will retort that Gramps was only able to avoid debt because of things like the GI Bill and low housing prices. They argue that the Greatest Generation was only great because of the advantages they enjoyed that we are no longer privy to.

But greatness is not begotten from circumstances, but from how those circumstances are used and turned to a man’s favor. Or in other words, while Gramps may have enjoyed lower housing costs, he was also quite happy about living in a 750 square foot house in Levittown as opposed to a 4,000 square foot McMansion (the average home size has more than doubled since the 1950s).

As Frederick Douglass put it:

“I do not think much of the good luck theory of self-made men. It is worth but little attention and has no practical value. An apple carelessly flung into a crowd may hit one person, or it may hit another, or it may hit nobody. The probabilities are precisely the same in this accident theory of self-made men. It divorces a man from his own achievements, contemplates him as a being of chance and leaves him without will, motive, ambition and aspiration. Yet the accident theory is among the most popular theories of individual success. It has about it the air of mystery which the multitudes so well like, and withal, it does something to mar the complacency of the successful.”

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Now go read the rest of their article: Should a Man Be Inspired by History?

And I want to date a man who reads and follows the “Art of Manliness”.