Creating a new norm

Life as we know it is changing. Wages are stagnant, food and gas prices are up, global warming seems to be ever more present and things seem like they are not getting better anytime soon. Some people believe it is beyond their control and that the little things that an individual can do are not sufficient enough to make a major change in this world.

We Americans are the biggest energy consumers in the world and very wasteful. We drive too much, we spend too much and we eat too much junk. When you think about the world, are you part of the cure or the disease? Most of us, if we look long and hard enough, would realize that despite are high moral values, we are contributing to an unsustainable world. Blame is easy to lay on others, but the truth of the mater is that most of us are at fault, me included. It is easy to disagree with politicians, but do you vote? Do you write your representatives to let them know how you feel? Are you angry about gas prices going up? How often do you drive? Could you drive less or drive a more efficient vehicle?

Now is time to create a new norm for yourself. Be a part of the solution and make conscious decision about what you do. It is hard to stay focused in a society of mass media and instant gratification, but I guarantee that you will be a happier person is in the long run if you slow down and participate in the better good for humanity. Carpool with a coworker, invite friends over for dinner instead of going out to eat, write a letter and let your opinions be known.

Best of luck. Leif

The man who walks his dog with a truck.

The sun is peaking its bright head over the top of Mt. Baker spilling red and orange light down its slopes. The sky is a bright blue with just a few white wispy clouds handing around like a scarf around a person neck. Ahhhh, I thought to myself, this is a nice drive to work, but man would I love to be going on a walk right now feeling the crisp air in my lungs, the sunlight on my face and all my senses coming to life.

As I look to the left out my car's window I see the Smith road soccer fields and a friendly dog, sniffing, running and enjoying his walk as I wanted to be doing ( I could do without the sniffing). Behind him slightly I noticed a large F-150 slowly creeping along and then it dawned on me, this dog isn't alone, he is being walked by a truck! It isn't the first time I've seen this truck before and the dog shortly following behind him, but it was this occasion that it dawned on me that this dog was being walked by a truck.

Is this man handicapped? Is this man extremely lazy? Does the dog think the truck is his walking companion? Are there people that also walk their dogs with trucks? I don't know the answer to any of my questions, but I do know that to me, he will always be "the man who walked is dog with a truck."

San Diego

Well well well, look who is back. I know it has been a long time since I have put anything up on my blog and by this point, I imagine that my small group of followers has abandoned checking my site for updates. Tiss tiss Leif!

I have decided that as I am not traveling much these days, that I am going to change what I write about. I haven't come to a concrete decision as to what I will write about, but I'm hoping to allow some of my foreign friends to get a more cultural connection to the this beautiful corner of the United States. They have shared a great deal of themselves and their culture with me over the years and this is opportunity to give a little back. As for my fellow state side friends, I hope to share a little more about what I think, do and where I hope to go in life. Until then here are a

few pics of my trip to San Diego during winter break. Looking for sun and beach time all Eleanor and myself found was one of the rainiest weeks in history. Lucky we had great hosts, two Spanish friends of Eleanors who are studying in SD.

Part of Coronado Island and downtown San Diego.

Downtown San Diego. We took this train in from Old Town.

Eleanor, Pati and Anayansi at 70% off Sushi Night.

Taking the Elevator to the very top for some great views.