On talking...
The finest eloquence is that which gets things done; the worst is that which delays them. ~ David Lloyd George
On booze...
We hear of the conversion of water into wine at the marriage in Cana as of a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy. ~ Benjamin Franklin
On writing...
All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity, that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut. Whether this be the case with my history or not, I am hardly competent to judge. I sometimes think it might prove useful to some, and entertaining to others; but the world may judge for itself. Shielded by my own obscurity, and by the lapse of years, and a few fictitious names, I do not fear to venture; and will candidly lay before the public what I would not disclose to the most intimate friend. ~ Anne Brontë
On the force...
The Force is strong with this one. James Earl Jones (as Darth Vader)
On God...
Everyone has the same God; only people differ. Anton Chekhov.
Others sharing our birthday are:
Muhammad Ali
Kid Rock
Jim Carey
Al Capone
Vidal Sassoon
Eartha Kitt
Susanna Hoffs
Andy Kaufmann
Nevil Shute
Rock Hudson
Aga Khan
Paul Young
Steve Earl
Stanislaw II August Poniatowski, last king of Poland (1764-95)
With a list of luminaries like this I had better get on with accomplishing something. I'm doing alright in many respects and so far at the age of 32 I couldn't be happier with my marriage, my faith, my career and myself in general, but I don't think anyone will be putting my name on their birthday list in another 50 years. Is that something worth striving for? Not sure.
This is my first birthday blog. I wonder if there will be another. Will I keep this up once I'm back in sunny Leeds? Who knows.
Today started well. Coffee and breakfast in bed provided by my beautiful wife, some presents and cards, birthday cake from mom miraculously sent across the pond, a phone call and happy-birthday sung to me from my mother-in-law and a fresh sprinkling of snow to make the world seem clean and new just for me. It being exam week I was in no hurry to get to school so I turned up here at 9.00 am to get a few more jobs done in an empty classroom listening to Billy Joel while my cherubs are all at home revising hard. The math dept and I are going out for brunch imminently where I will gorge myself on Eggs Benedict (wonder if the new pope like his eggs like this?). This afternoon we have an exam to administer then it's home through the snow and we're going out for prime Alberta AAA beef in the form of a New York cut steak at the Cactus Club with Manhattans (ideal accompaniment to a NY steak, no?) and friends. Overall I anticipate the whole day being just grand. Hopefully we'll top it of this weekend with a skiing trip to Fernie and we'll be rushing through powdery snow up to our armpits. Hurrah.
Last night saw us trying another new adventure in Calgary. I went along with Vic and her girl guides to the Calgary Inter-faith Food Bank. Here families can come and get a hamper that will last them about a week if they are down on their luck. They can only come up to 3 times a year, so it's real emergency relief for the people stuck at the bottom of the pile in this city of a million affluent people. We had a lot of fun doing it. assembling the crates of food and it took me back to the many dull hours I spent in warehouses in university holidays. The same thing that used to bore me is kind of fun when you're doing it because you choose to and for a couple of hours, not all day all week. We'll go back, and I encourage other Calgarians to give it a go.
I know I still need to blog about Vegas, and I will, but I feel those eggs a-calling.
Ciao for now,
Roberto.
3 comments:
Hey Rob,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! From you list of accomplishments and accolades I should say you've done much, and of much more value than many on your list.
God bless,
Happy Birthday!
Clare and Darren
x
hope you got your card and email,you should have had something from Sam and Nick as i've given them address various. Would have phoned you but have again misplaced contact numbers DOH hope you had a lovely day God Bless Lots of Love Papa
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