Start the Day the Two Egg Way

I thought it would be fun to go over my background. I may use this as a future icebreaker. 

I grew up in Southern California whose parents were in the selling eggs and poultry business. Their main business was selling to the health food stores in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas. 

In the early part of their business (1950s), my Dad learned in order to have the best quality eggs,  chickens need a high protein diet with essential minerals which was a big hit at the time. In the height of their career, they were managing over 120,000 chickens. They dealt with a few actors and their chickens were the main course for the Jack Lalanne's conference in Palm Springs. 

I grew up in the 1970s helping them with mostly packing eggs, meat, etc for the egg trucks. On occasion, I assisted them with deliveries to the areas. 

Below is a picture that was featured in the Pacific Poultryman magazine. 

The Robert G. Ford, MD-Casey Kasem Visitation Act in Alabama

 One of the craziest and upsetting times in my life was when my family found out that my father in law who had Alzhimer's was left to alone in his home in Alabama while his wife had divorced him (without our knowledge) and was clearing out the house. When he was found, there were no food in the house, no food, no place to sit or lie in the house. He was abandoned. 

Through going through the courts, we were able to find him a nursing home. While everything was going on, my sister in law was working with Kerri Kasem to introduce an adult children visitation bill which will allow adult children to visit their aging parent(s) when the spouse refuses visitation. It was six years this June, the bill was signed and later became a law. 

Below is our meeting with Kerri Kasem and the governor of Alabama at the time. 

 

March: A Time of Death and Life

March to most people represent a time of spring, when everything is new and beautiful. For me though, March reminds me of a time of great sorrow and the greatest joy. Death and Life. 

On March 12, 1983 was a time of great sorrow. I was going to college in Portland, OR when I learned that my brother in law had died of a rare radiation disease while he was in the process of a bone marrow transplant. Unlike today, there were only 4 hospitals that was doing bone marrow transplants and the success rate was only 50% at the time. 

As tears went down my face, I run in the Portland rain screaming why him! Russell Smetters was the kindest man and was like a brother/uncle to me, but most importantly my best friend. When he passed, I couldn't see what the future may hold. 

Several years later, in his place, I was honored to walk my niece down the aisle when she got married in 2004. Today, his has two grandchildren in their teens now. His grandson was born on a March 12th. 

That's why March will always be a time of sorrow and a time of joy. Life continues. His and my sister's legacy lives on!

Below is a group picture of the family, now lives in Yonkers, NY. 

Father's Day

 

When I think of Father's or Mother's Day, I cannot think of one parent without the other. They were always together and when they weren't, there was a lot of grief and heartache. When my father died in May 2023, my mom followed him in August of the same year. 

My parents, Alvin and Jean Phillips were married for 56 years and 6 months--full of love and laughter.  They left behind 6 adult children with 15 grandchildren.

I remembered them daily. Miss you Mom and Dad!

Little of Your Love--Acappella in Quarantine

I thought I would change this up a little with this blog with some music. 

One of my favorite groups is Treble, New York's longest-running contemporary a cappella group. I listened to them live when they performed in Bartlett, TN with the local Memphis' group, DeltaCappella several years ago. 

The Below link is what they produced three years during COVID19. I hope you Enjoy!

Treble in Quarantine

Water Refills Are Always Free

 

The one thing I've noticed that in all restaurants, water refills are always free. One of the bad habits I've developed when Poor Folks was among the first restaurants to offer free soda refills.

Before I knew it, I could drink three or four glasses without thinking during one meal by using a straw. I think it's good to stay completely away from sodas whether it's Coke zero or a regular coke. All are not healthy in my opinion.

With soda, it's always wise to avoid using a straw. With water, use the straw all you want! 

Water Refills are free!

Why Branding (promoting) oneself is important

Branding is what companies and famous people do all the time. For example, As FedEx took over a company like Kinkos, FedEx labeled that company to FedEx Kinkos which eventually became FedEx Office. 

In the same way, branding ourself can help interested parties remember you or what you stand for, etc. When I working with the media ministry, I was responsible for the song/sermon backgrounds during the worship services and as well the mouse clicker behind the scenes. I created a few business cards with the label, The Mouseclicker as the title, thus the name of this blog. It helped with introducing myself to several people at the major worship conference in Nashville. 

I'm done a similar thing in Toastmasters. When COVID19 hit in 2000, Toastmasters clubs and the contests begin using zoom. I was responsible for being the timer for our area division contests. That's where I labeled my main zoom slide as Timer Tim. Again, it was a deliberate and easy way for everyone to remember me during contests. Soon after that, I became the unofficial timer for the district.