Here Comes the Sun

I’m sitting on a flight and staring out the window in awe. I’m flying over the Atlantic, clouds are below, and I can see the pink horizon to the west.

How does the sun know when to rise and set on its own? Does he have an alarm clock? Does Mother Nature whisper in his ear each morning? Does he slowly seep into sleep mode as the yawns begin?

I am a creature of habit. Just like the sun. My wise friend Rebekah insists that it takes 28 days to develop a habit. And you know what, I think she’s right. Which then makes the breaking a bad habit so much more difficult.

What if…

…I could choose the habits I wanted and quickly break my bad ones?

Would it take the challenge out of life? Would those accomplishments mean as much, or would the world just be a happier place?

I know this blog is all about fantasizing the endless possibilities, but as I stare outside my window watching the night sky envelop the pink horizon, I choose not to think about the what ifs.

Sure, I’d like to develop a daily workout routine, quit biting my nails when stressed, and clean up my sailor mouth moments, but if I could snap my fingers and wipe my slate clean, would I feel pride? Would I feel that extra sense of self worth and know that I’ve persevered? I have the feeling the answer would be no. And taking that emotion changes human nature. We’d lose our sense of commitment and stop fighting for what we believe. And that’s something I’m not willing to give up.

As the sun take its final blinks before falling into a slumber, I dedicate this post to the readers. May your perseverance remain strong to fight the bad habits and keep to good ones.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane

What if…

…we could fly?

I’m sitting on the tarmac at Dulles aboard UA flight 948 bound for Amsterdam, and I think to myself, “What if I could fly?” How would that change things? How would my life be different?
Ahhh to be like Superman, faster than a speeding bullet, but minus the cape and kryptonite allergy…

Lights dim; fog appears across the stage…

Remember in Peter Pan, when Peter and Tinkerbell sprinkle pixie dust on Wendy, John, and Michael? (P.S. clearly the brothers were named after my Dad and Brother!) With a little magic and thinking a happy thought, they started gliding across the children’s nursery. Then out through the window, a wave farewell to Nana, and past the bell tower, to Neverland they flew! It’s hard to believe that Peter came back with Wendy and the boys to sprinkle this pixie dust all over the world. Every morning I just want to scream the song “You Can Fly, You Can Fly, You Can Fly” at the top of my lungs.

Though, I must admit, it’s crazy to think how much the world has change this past year since Peter’s return…

Traffic on 395, 66, and the beltway is now slim to none. I actually did take my car this morning since I was carrying luggage --- and it only took 5 minutes, AMAZING! And when I filled up my car the other week, it was only 87 cents a gallon. I haven’t seen prices that low since high school. At least that was the price at Super Junior where I always stopped for gas.

Domestic flights have dropped rapidly. Air Lines are barely scraping by these days. If it weren't for International flights (long distances, luggage needed), I'm sure they'd be extinct - or at least only 1 or 2 remaining.

And have you seen how cheap cars are lately? They're basically giving them to you for free these days. The only time people are really using cars is in bad weather, transporting heavy loads, or traveling long distances. So some companies are getting smart and starting R&D for flying carpets. How cool would that be to have a flying carpet just like Aladdin? I hear they're even developing one with a detatchable roof and sides for winter months and rain. The green movement is loving this!

Oh, and have you heard that they just passed a new law that if have to fly hands free on your cell. I'm sure the cell phone companies aren't appreciative of that. The number one reason of buying a new phone was dropping the old one from the sky, but hopefully that will keep the CAFT (Citizens Against Flying and Talking) at bay and keep the number of injuries to drop drastically.

Whew! Finally made it to Amsterdam. I'm not used to sitting on a plane for this long. I like flying myself so much better! But flying with a suitcase and for such a long time would be difficult. Maybe when flying carpets come about, I'll be able to take it across the Atlantic!

My favorite thing to do whenever I visit a new city it to take a fly around and just see what I see. Here are some pictures I took while flying above!

View flying over the Canal

Amsterdam has more bikes than people.

P.S. I learned today that there are about 600,000 stolen bikes in Amsterdam a year!

Dutch Palace. Too bad I didn't meet a prince...

My what big feet you have! (I actually took this one in a store)

Did I mention that I am Amsterdam?

Thanks, Peter, for making this impossible dream come true!!

...

8 is the new 7

What if...

...there were 8 days in a week?


Oh lucky number 7. This singular number resounds in culture.

But why is this number so lucky?

What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but everyone knows that when pulling the handle on a slot machine, you're always hoping and praying for three lucky 7s. Jackpot, baby!

And why is 7 so significant? Might it have something to do with there being 7 days in the week?

For thousands of years, civilization has recognized that 7 days = 1 week. Each day is named after the 7 celestial bodies that can be seen by the naked eye: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. But no one knows for sure how the adoption of 7 days came into play.

It could be that only 7 celestial bodies can be seen wandering around the seven famous stars of the Pleiades Constellation, or that 7 directly correlates to the Book of Genesis in The Bible, when God created this world in 6 days and rested on the 7th day, or maybe the number 7 was simply drawn out of a hat. However it happened, for quite some time now, the 7 day concept has spread throughout the world, or at least the vast majority. Oh, but there was that one time when France decided to go to a 10 day week and the USSR tried out the 5 and 6 day week, but all times resulted in returning to lucky number 7.

So let's imagine for a moment that 8 is the new 7. Our culture's lucky number is now 7+1. How would this world be different?


(This is the part, like in Saved by the Bell, when the screen gets a bit blurry and is framed with pink fog and Zack has a dream like the one where Zack Attack hits super stardom. P.S. If you have missed the memo that real Zack Morris appeared on Jimmy Fallon in early June, click here, it's a riot.)

...

On Saturday, we celebrated America's birthday, and with that comes an extra day off from work, at least for the lucky ones. And I must admit that it was absolutely amazing having that extra day. One less day of work, one more day of play - the concept is grand. 4 days of work and a whole 4 day weekend. I had plenty of time for game nights, bbqs, pool time, lunch at Guapo's, and croquet!

Rachael, Rachel, Chessy and Becca

Also, did anyone catch the Brave/Nationals game in D.C. on Saturday? I didn't make it to the game, as I was in desperate need of a nap after wishing McLean's Global Impact Nicaragua Team bon voyage at 3am Saturday morning (the team will be working with a great organization called Orphan Network), but amazingly enough - the Nats pulled through with a victory! However, Lyz Lemon made it to the game and David Cook sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the 8th inning stretch! Okay, okay, David Cook wasn't able to make an appearance at this game, but maybe before the season's over he'll grace the Nats stadium with his presence.

In other news, Chessy (yes, Mom, Chessy's a person...) just started reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6) in anticipation of the movie that's premiering on July 17th. This has inspired me to pick up Books 6 & 7 (HP and the Deathly Hallows) and start re-reading them. I'll be jumping across the pond this week, providing ample time to knock 6 out of the way before July 17th arrives. Then all I'll have to do is finish book 7 before the last and final 8th book arrives on August 8th. Like book 7, I'm planning to venture to Old Town Alexandria for the Harry Potter street party. You might not see me in round spectacles, Gryffindor robes, or a pointy hat, but you will see me venturing down to the Diagon Alley, grabbing a drink with our favorite half giant Hagrid, visiting my favorite joke shop Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, and heading to Books-a-Million to grab the first copy of the new book in the Harry Potter Series. Oh and Rachel, no throwing parties on the 9th, you know I'll be tucked away in my apartment engrossed in my favorite series.

While flipping through the channels the other day, I ran across on of my favorite childhood movies, Snow White and the 8 Dwarfs. Who can forget Sleepy, Happy, Dopey Grumpy, Bashful, Helpful, Sneezy, and Doc. Sleepy has always been my favorite. Likely because I'm always up for a great nap, just like sleepy. Though my parents would probably attest that I'm much more like Grumpy - at least in my early youth...

On the same day, while rummaging through Blockbuster, I came across the Quantum of Solace and realized that I've been missing out on life since I haven't yet seen. It's definitely on the list for movies to watch in the coming weeks. Also have you heard that there's a new James Bond 008 movie is in the works? It's set in New York, maybe they'll be actually filming in the city - note to self - plan trip to NYC soon...

Oh -- and did you hear? There's voting going on for determining the 8th Wonder of the Ancient World. So be sure to log on to 8wondersoftheworld.com to register and provide your choice.

....

When Pigs Fly

What if...

Two simple words with infinite possibilities. In this finite world, the notion of infinity is quite incomprehensible, at least for me.

Teachers at Vicksburg High School - or earlier - taught me that a sideways number 8 = infinity. (Though it never did make sense to me why math problems can have an answer of infinity. I mean come on - the whole purpose of math in my book is to find a finite solution. Another post, another time...). But what does it really mean?

I'd say it's like the song, you know the one by the famous Lamb Chop and his friends - the most annoying song on any roadtrip that just drives you absolutely bonkers - but even that ends after 1 minute and 42 seconds.

As a kid, I was taught to dream big - to dream the impossible dream. But how do I reach the impossible? There's not exactly a Reaching the Impossible Dream for Dummies book. And infinity is impossible to reach, at least for me...

We all know the famous saying "that will happen when pigs fly." Did any of you see Charlotte's Webb? Wilbur might have had a friend named Charlotte, but he definitely didn't have wings!!! I can dream all day long that pigs can fly, but in the end, when I drive 1 hour to Virginia farmland and peek into a stable, I can guarantee the pigs will be wingless.

Pigs flying seems impossible, but let's think outside the box. What if they really could fly? So, don't be the doubting crows from Dumbo, but the flying elephant's true friend Timothy Q. Mouse and dream the impossible dream...

As I've never cared much about pigs flying, I'll leave you to ponder the question... "What if pigs could fly?"