Words to live by...

Manhood
"A man's usefulness depends upon his living up to his ideals insofar as he can.

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.

All daring and courage, all iron endurance of misfortune-make for a finer, nobler type of manhood.

Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die and none are fit to die who have shrunk from the joy of life and the duty of life."

- Theodore Roosevelt (etched into the walls of the rotunda of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City)

Facebook

All those months were I made fun of MyFace, SpaceBook, whatever. I was a fool. I am here to report that I am hooked on Facebook. Whatever you may think it is addictive. If you want to check me out and join my friends list: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=553574166&hiq=sean%2Cbannon

I hope the addiction wears off soon and I get back to the blogging. Who knows.

Words to live by...

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."

Dance

This song was a little annoying when I was younger because it was overplayed on the radio, but I was feeling a little nostalgic today and remembered a conversation I had with Stephanie a few weeks ago. She mentioned this song and I was (at that time) determined to listen to it again. Life happened and I forgot. I can't believe this was for the Class of 1999.

Dance the funky chicken on your 75th Wedding Anniversary!

Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
Speech: Baz Luhrmann

Searching for some inspiration...

I　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｗｅ　ａｌｌ　ｆｅｅｌ　ｌｉｋｅ　Ｐａｕｌ　ｈｅｒｅ　ｏｎ　ｏｃｃａｓｓｉｏｎ．．．ｆｉｎｄｉｎｇ　ｉｔ　ｄｉｆｆｉｃｕｌｔ　ｔｏ　ａｌｗａｙｓ　ｆｅｅｌ　ｃｏｎｆｉｄｅｎｔ　ｉｎ　ｙｏｕｒｓｅｌｆ．　　Ｗｅｌｌ，　ｈｅ　ｔｏｏｋ　ａ　ｃｈａｎｃｅ　ｏｎ　ｗｈａｔ　ｈｅ　ｌｏｖｅｄ　ａｎｄ　ｈａｄ　ｇｒｅａｔ　ｓｕｃｃｅｓｓ．　　

Ｗｈｅｎ　ｙｏｕ　ｗａｔｃｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｖｉｄｅｏ，　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｔａｋｅ　ａ　ｌｏｏｋ　ａｔ　Ｐａｕｌ　ａｎｄ　ａｓｋ　ｙｏｕｒｓｅｌｆ　ｗｈａｔ　ｙｏｕ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｇｕｙ．　　Ｈｅ　ｗａｎｔｓ　ｔｏ　ｓｉｎｇ　Ｏｐｅｒａ．　　Ｙｏｕ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｈｅ’ｌｌ　ｄｏ　ａ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｊｏｂ？　　Ｍｅ，　ｎｅｉｔｈｅｒ．　　Ｍａｙｂｅ　ｔｈａｔ　ｓａｙｓ　ｍｏｒｅ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｍｅ　ａｎｄ　ｙｏｕ　ｔｈａｎ　ｈｉｍ？　　Ｔｈｉｓ　ｖｉｄｅｏ　ｇｅｔｓ　ｍｅ　ｅｖｅｒｙ　ｔｉｍｅ．

The Road Ahead

With my job behind me and the vacation to CR over, it is time to look
forward. We know it won't be an easy path but at least it will be our
path. I can only see a few steps ahead and they are steep, uneven and
slippery. Maybe this wasn't the beat idea. Part of me wants to quit
now and take the easy way out. BUT who knows what could be around that
corner in the distance. For that potential is what life is about. Wish
us luck.

La Paz Warerfall Gardens

I am truly seeing a different Costa Rica this trip than six years ago.
We woke up early (5:30) and after breakfast made our way to La Paz.
Saw the coolest little monkey like creatures (pix and video to
follow). Then a 0.8 mile hike to the five waterfalls. Windy uneven
slippery paths made the distance feel a lot longer. Especially the
last part that was up hill. My lungs are on fire. Pura Vida.

Freezing at Paos Volcano Lodge

Sleeping on an old dairy farm. The main building was turned into a
lodge. It's all stone and wood beams build in the 1970s but all by
hand. Oxen carried the materials! We are on the top of a diferent
mountain and it is cold. Thick blankets and a space heater last night.
For the first time in awhile we missed our NJ home while sitting in
front of the warmth of the fireplace after dinner.

Gustav

We are going to be racing Señor Gustav home this weekend because our
flight connects through Houston. Wish us luck.

Arenal (Volcano), Costa Rica

We made our way from Manuel Antonio up the coast and into the northern
plains. Driving around Arenal lake was peaceful but the roads were
hairy. Our destination - Arenal Volcano. After hotel shopping we
settled on a pretty great place - Los Lagos. It's billed as a hotel,
spa, and resort. It is a third of the price of the other two similar
ones. Rooms have full view of the volcano. We have complete access to
the hot spring pools. They have water slides! On site we plan to take
advantage of either horseback riding or the ziplines. Maybe both.
Maybe neither. Maybe just relax. Oh yeah. We have a TV too. I watched
Seinfeld last night. I'm missing the TV (sad). What's happening in
the Big Brother house or to my girls on The Hills? There is no hope
for me truly communing with nature. Pura Vida.

Manuel Antonio, CR

More pictures to follow. And a video of my monkey friend who came onto
our balcony and in our room until Ellen screamed and scared jim away.
OK. I screamed too. I'm not sure what that guy had on his mind. Looked
shifty. I saw him eyeballing my iPhone. Pura Vida.

USA Basketball Commercial w/ Marvin Gaye

These Olympics have really been good. I haven't watched them with such interest in a long time. Even though I do not like NBA basketball, this Nike USA basketball commercial makes me want to root for these thugs.