17Feb 2011 by CJ

Making a home for yourself has more to do with memories

Life & Living, Love & Relationships
Today, so many of us define ourselves by our careers, our possessions and even our homes. But what if “home” was never a place at all? I found these inspiring words by author Tad Williams. “Never make your home in a place.  Make a home for yourself inside your own head.  You'll find what you need to furnish it - memory, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things.  That way it will go with you wherever you journey.” I take solace in his words when thinking about the “homes” of my past, which I still see vividly if I close my eyes. People and places which are no longer a part of my everyday existence are still alive and well in my heart – always. I…
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15Feb 2011 by CJ

Racism is still everywhere even in places you wouldn’t expect

Information & Education, Life & Living, Youth
As a graphic designer for a large newspaper group, I’ve been asked to do some crazy things over the years. But I never thought I'd find a bit of racism in the mix. There was the time a sales rep asked if I could take a dentist’s picture and close the gap between his two front teeth – ironic, huh? Another was adamant about placing party hats on the heads of lobsters in a tank – though I suspect they had no reason to celebrate. But my favorite had to be this past Thanksgiving – when I was asked to put everything from dumb bells to a bottle of beer in the hands of a smiling turkey. That was just weird. While I’d never consider the above creations worthy of…
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14Feb 2011 by CJ

A week without snow is a happy occasion indeed

Life & Living
We’ve gone an entire week without any significant snow. There’s no arguing that a fresh, undisturbed snowfall is truly a thing of beauty. But after the snow plows and salt trucks have passed by a dozen or so times and neighborhood dogs have left their calling cards on the mounds, it’s not really all that nice to look at anymore. Each day we take notice of the icy mounds getting a little smaller, and dirtier, when we come home from work – praying that the worst of winter’s fury is finally over. Not so fast. I remember one Easter in mid-April building a snowman with rabbit ears so anything’s possible. The other day I was walking outside, tired of being cooped up in the house like an Eskimo trapped in…
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08Feb 2011 by CJ

Happy Life #1 Rule is to Be Slow to Anger

Life & Living, Love & Relationships
What's the best way to gain sixty seconds of peace of mind and a happy life? Keep on reading. As any homeowner will corroborate, there’s never an end to the laundry list of projects needing attention around the house. From mysterious water leaks, to ceilings and walls needing a fresh coat of paint, to outdoor maintenance such as shoveling snow or manicuring shrubbery. While owning a home is a rewarding experience, it can often feel like a second, full-time job – the difference being it costs you money to work there. I’ve resided in my current dwelling for the last nine years and during that time I’ve gained a vast amount of knowledge and experience in the art of household repairs. After all, in today's challenging economic environment you almost…
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05Feb 2011 by CJ

Greetings, and welcome to the blog The View from Here!

Life & Living
A friend of mine recently asked why I hadn’t started a blog, especially given the fact that I always seem to have so much to say. After all, over the last five years I’ve had the great pleasure of writing a weekly editorial column called The View from Here, which covered everything from life, to politics, to love and everything else in between. I guess I can understand then why a blog might be a worthwhile proposition. But admittedly I wasn’t sure a blog was right for me. For starters, I didn’t really know what a blog was, let alone if anyone would want to read me ranting and raving about whatever came to mind – a reality that often drives my wife crazy as I’m rarely at a loss…
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