Memorial Day 2014 Watchers and Doers

As I watched Good Morning America this morning, I had a chilling thought.

They were celebrating Memorial Day by featuring "Selfies", potato salad recipes, and a concert by Blondie. There was a "Rap" from someone I don't know about the chance to "get down" on this holiday.

My thoughts follow:

Our Modern, "Pop Culture" society seems to celebrate that which is fleeting rather than that which is solid bedrock. We are constantly seeking entertainment rather than trying to create somethng on our own. We are becoming a society of watchers rather than a nation on doers.

Memorial Day should be a solemn day where we remember those who died for our freedom.

It is also a time to celebrate the freedom that we all enjoy because of the sacrifice of those who fought when called into service.

It is a day to contemplate on the the role of the United States as World Leader.

When the war in Afghanistan is over, we will end a 15 year period of deployment for our troops.

If we listen to the din of our modern life, it is hard to imagine where we will be in 50 years. A generation will exist that was born after Korea,Vietnam, Kuwait, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. They might read about those events in a history book -- if the schools have the money to buy books. Or perhaps they will watch a video.

I hope our President in 2056 does not start his inaugural address by saying, "Hey, what's happening?"

Heat and light

This is a quote from Samuel Beckett - one of my favorite purveyors of thought provoking prose, word pictures, drama, theater, and poetry.

"Hardly had the glow been kindled by some good deed on your part or by some little triumph over your rivals or by a word of praise from your parents or mentors when it would begin to cool and fade leaving you in a very short time as chill and dim as before."
-- Samuel Beckett, Company

My immediate thought - Heat and light well up from the soul.

Those who live in chilly darkness need to open their heart to the possibility of a warm, bright, sunny day.

Hope, satisfaction, and happiness - not earned.

Cleaning my files

I am off work today and waiting for the "Heater Man" to arrive and service our gas furnace before the Winter winds begin to blow.  I am getting a little better. Twice before I waited too long and the result of my tardiness was a very cold weekend - it always happens on the weekend.

Sat down at my desk and opened my top drawer -- what a mess. I have stuff from 3 years ago - it shows that I paid bills. I began to throw out non-essential clutter. By the time I finished, I found that I now have well organized spaces with room for additional clutter.

Question - when does the paper trail become a fire hazard? I am thinking six months of history is enough.

I do have two giant folders left - one is labeled "2012 - to file",  the 2nd "2013 - to file". I guess I am a real procrastinator - that is my next project. I bet most of the paper in the folders is really junk.

Cold from the North -

There was a nip in the air this morning. The kids are back to school. Labor day is done. Time keeps rolling on. It is my day off from my work at United.  I am sitting in my "office/rehab center/refuge" listening to the streaming thoughts going through my mind.

Evil is ever present in the World - Syria, poison gas, dead men/women/children - CNN - red lines - surgical strikes - deterents --

How can we make people "love one another"? Answer - we (The United States) can't.

Everyone in the world must work for peace - in their own lives and in the lives of those they interact with. Peace, love, joy must bubble up from the hearts of everyman.

Can I get people to view my websites, face book pages, blog, twitter feeds?

If I can, will they then visit my Ebay Store, Etsy Store, and Ecommerce site?

If they do - will they make a purchase.

If they do, will I make a profit?

Will the profit be enough to make all the work and effort worthwhile?

Will the profit be enough to provide an entertainment fund? So Pat and I can have some fun when we leave the workplace and enter the world of retirement?

We must enter the world of retirement soon -- we need a plan -

Now I am back to being a project manager -- not just a random thinker.

Please check out the following --

https://www.facebook.com/BrownstownMarketplace

http://www.MusicBooksEtc.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FlatRockMarketplace

http://stores.ebay.com/Brownstown-Marketplace

http://www.flatrockdeals.com

http://www.brownstownmarketplace.com

Marketing Campaign is Working -- Now I need some sales!

Many of you probably know that I am a Project Manager and a dreamer.

My latest dream is to retire from full time work for the third time. I would like to do that sometime during the next year.

When I leave my full time position, I will need something to challenge my need to build and manage projects.

I know this is the most important project that is on my horizon. It must be planned and executed with finesse. So -- In the words of Hannibal on the A-Team - here's my plan.

Build two on-line stores, the first to allow Pat and I to search and rescue antiques and collectibles for resale; and the second, to offer great discounts on Amazon.com merchandise for my customers.

Project Recap:

All setup work has been completed on both Stores.

Both stores are populated with products.

My Inventory control is in place.

Phase 1 of my Marketing Plan is complete and operational.

Last step is to wait patiently while my marketing plan brings in customers.

My Antique and Collectible EBay store, Brownstown Marketplace has been up and running for about 1 1/2 years and is doing quite well considering the time pressure of my full time job at United Airlines.

My Online store that offers Amazon.com merchandise at discounted prices, Flatrockdeals.com is also up and running.

Patience Please!

Launch Day for new Publishing Ventures

I have been working to create a new division of my Web Business, www.BrownstownMarketplace.com. It is finally ready for an introduction.

The venture involves 4 products -

1. www.Flatrockdeals.com - A new Web Store that offers books, music, movies, video games, toys, software, audio/visual equipment, and items for home and garden.
2. @MusicBookEtc - A Twitter Page that streams the latest news on Books, Music, and Publishing.
3. Music Books Etc - A Face Book Page that streams the same information.
4. www.MusicBooksEtc.com - A Website that gathers the information that is then broadcast to Twitter and Face Book.

With the addition of these products, Brownstown Marketplace offers not only Antiques, Vintage Collectibles, and Eclectic merchandise; but also, through www.Flatrockdeals.com, almost any product that you could imagine - and all at competitive prices.

Next time you are looking to purchase any product, please check www.Flatrockdeals.com. We have a huge inventory of competitively priced merchandise.

www.MusicBooksEtc.com and www.Flatrockdeals.com  participate in the Amazon Services Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn commissions by linking to Amazon. By making a purchase from our store, I get a small percentage of its price. That helps support my effort to communicate thoughts on books, music and other items I find unique. 

Next on the Reading List

I found another small book that promises to challenge my belief system.

Title: "The Four Agreements, A Toltec Wisdom Book"

Author: Don Miguel Ruiz.

Subject: A practical guide to Personal Freedom

File under: Personal Growth / Self Help

138 pages.

From the back cover:

In the Four Agreements, don Miquel Ruiz reveals the source of  self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the "Four Agreements" offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness and love.

Check out the Self Help section at http://books.flatrockdeals.com/