Help Find A Home For Two Beautiful Black Labs

A friend of mine sent me an email today. Look at these two black labs. They're beautiful dogs and they need a home. Read below for details and contact me if you are interested, and I can get you in contact with their owner.

The owner has terminal cancer and can't care for them anymore, and he'd really like to find a home for them while he's still able. He's heartbroken and hopes to find a family who can take both together.

Details: Black Labs, Male, Adult, Altered. Darling Hunter and Fame are two gorgeous pure-bred labs, brothers, who find themselves needing a new home now that their owner has become too ill to care for them. They are truly wonderful dogs.

The owner's grandchildren can crawl all over them and like a typical lab; they just lay there and love it. Both are neutered, and up-to-date on their shots. They are housebroken and are very well behaved. They are about 4 years old. We would love to keep these two boys together if possible; they are the best of friends.

What'd you think? Anyone out there want to adopt these two boys? Use this form to forward this post to as many people as you can, and let's get these boys adopted!

Funny Videos | PositivePelham.com Store | Forward to a Friend | Meet Single Dog Lovers | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

Stop Procrastinating

As you begin your Monday morning, here are a couple of little anecdotes from Mike Litman to help you start your day off correctly and stop procrastinating:

ANECDOTE 1: Self discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.

ANECDOTE 2: Successful people make a HABIT of doing things they don't like to do!

Good luck today. Make it a great one!

Funny Videos | PositivePelham.com Store | Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

Remembering a Great Woman - My Grandmother

I was talking to my mother tonight on the phone and she mentioned how tomorrow would have been my grandmother's 90th birthday. Just mentioning this to me brought back a flood of memories of her. She was a wonderful person whom I loved very much. I re-read the post I wrote about her back in December of 2005. In honor of her, here is what I wrote about her only a few months after she passed: (This is an excerpt from a post made on Saturday, December 31, 2005)

Person of the Year -- My grandmother -- My grandmother passed away a few months ago. She was a wonderful person and a true friend to everyone she met. She lived in a small town in Alabama called Geneva. During her life, she had many obstacles to overcome, but she always overcame them, and became a better person because of them. To mention a few:

• When she was in the prime of her life, she was hit by a train when her car became stuck on a railroad track. Her entire lower body was crushed and broken. It took her a long time, but she eventually walked again even though the doctors told everyone she would probably never walk again.
  
• Her husband (my grandfather and one of the greatest men I've ever known) died of Parkinson's disease after a long and grueling 7-8 years of suffering. During this time, my grandmother stood right by his side and took care of his every needs. She put his needs ahead of her own. When he was in the hospital on his deathbed, he didn't die until he heard my grandmother say, "It's okay for you to go. I'll be okay." He then relaxed and passed away knowing she was going to be okay. She took care of him and he left this world knowing she was going to be okay.
• After my grandfather's passing, she mourned for a short time, but then she surprised us all by becoming extremely active with her senior citizens club. She traveled around the country with them seeing sights and places she had never been to. She really made the best of the rest of her life. I was so impressed, because many people like her who had been so dependent and attached to a loved one usually withdraw into depression and have a really hard time adjusting to life without their spouse. She lived life to it's fullest and was fond of saying to me, "I'm just happy to have another day to live. I'm going to enjoy it." Something we all should say every morning!
• But, during this time of her life, the unthinkable happened. One of her two sons, my uncle Troyce, was killed in a freak accident in his early 50's. He was barbecuing on his back porch when the propane tank exploded and he was killed. This was horrible for us all. Uncle Troyce was so fun to be around. He had a joy for life like no other. This was devastating to my grandmother, but she managed to move on knowing Troyce was now in heaven with his father.
  
• Life certainly dealt her some bad breaks, but it was how she bounced back from the bad times that defined her life and legacy. She was truly an inspiring woman whom I deeply miss.

Happy Birthday Granny! I love you. - J.

Funny Videos | PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

Homeless Brought to See "Pursuit of Happyness"

This is a creative move by this mayor...

From Happynews.com -- "About 100 homeless people were guests of the mayor's office Thursday for a screening of ''The Pursuit of Happyness,'' the real-life story of a homeless man who worked his way to becoming a millionaire.

City officials said they hoped the audience would be uplifted and gain hope from the film. Others cautioned against high expectations, noting that many homeless people are mentally ill and struggle with substance abuse.

The crowd of mostly homeless adults and elderly people groaned at some of the familiar difficulties faced by Will Smith's character, Chris Gardner, and clapped at his triumphs.

When Gardner, who gets evicted along with his young son, is finally offered the stockbroker job he painfully strove for, the audience burst into applause and wiped away tears.

''Everybody here not only has a story, but they have gifts and skills,'' said Arafa Speaks, a 52-year-old homeless woman and advocate who brought the idea to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's administration last month.

The crowd was smiling as they came out of the screening at the theater that had donated the time and space."

To continue reading this article, go to this page on Happynews.com.

Make it a great day!

Funny Videos | PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

Why, Why, Why?

Why, Why, Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?

Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough money?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's all right?" Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, "That hurt, you stupid idiot?"

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

And lastly.... The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

A little food for thought... Make it a great day!

Funny Videos | PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

Take a Weight Loss Tip From The Amish

MSN.com has a very interesting article about the Amish that reinforces what I have always thought was the best way to either lose weight or maintain your current weight. It's really simple....Take Steps! What do I mean? Here are some excerpts from the article:

"University of Tennessee researchers studied the Amish community because the Amish, who use no electricity, are highly active in their daily lives. Amish men—many of whom are farmers—reported an average of 10 hours of vigorous work activity per week and, according to pedometers they wore, took an average of 18,425 steps per day. One man took more than 51,000 steps in a day by walking behind his horses in the fields. Women—who engaged in more moderate intensity activity such as gardening, cooking and childcare—tallied an average of 14,196 daily steps."

"The average sedentary American who spends most of his time at a desk job or on the couch logs in around 5,000 steps per day, and is considered active if he fits in about two hours per week of moderate activity (that’s 30 minutes, five days a week). On average, the Amish got in around six times the amount of weekly physical activity as the typical modernized adult"

And, what about diet foods?

"The researchers observed that the Amish diet is typically high in calories, fat and refined sugar foods such as meat, potatoes, gravy, eggs, vegetables, bread, pies and cakes. But only 4 percent of those surveyed were obese (compared to nearly 33 percent of modern adults) and only 26 percent were overweight (compared to around 65 percent of modern adults), as determined by their body mass index. This study suggests that the Amish were able to maintain healthier weights because they move so much."

Interesting, huh? Common sense, really. I remember looking at pictures of my grandparents when they were younger and seeing both them and their parents. None of them were really overweight because they walked almost everywhere they went and they worked outside all day. Now, obviously, most of us can't walk or even ride a bike to work. But, we can do simple things like taking the stairs rather than the elevator. Park in the last parking spot in parking lots, etc. And, if you're not a member of a gym, join one. Do at least 30 minutes of cardio work everyday and do at least three days a week of weight training as well, no matter your age.

Lastly, I think the most important thing to take from this article is that fact that you don't have to starve yourself to lose weight. It's more important to exercise on a daily basis than it is to worry every minute about what you eat.

Good luck and let's get in shape!

Funny Videos | PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

It's Time To Get Inspired

As many of you know, I am an avid golf fan. I love watching golf on tv and love playing whenever I get an opportunity. A few weeks ago, the PGA Tour was in Hawaii for the Sony Open. Just like the last two years, there was a tremendous amount of buzz around the tournament because Michelle Wie was going to try and make the cut in a men's tournament again. (She didn't make the cut unfortunately)

But, there were three other golfers playing in the tournament that deserved much more media attention than Michelle (No offense to her, but her story isn't life or death)

The three men I'm talking about were: Jarrod Lyle, Tadd Fujikawa and Jim Rutledge. Unless you are a diehard golf fan, you've probably never heard of any of them. It's a shame, because there stories are truly amazing.

First, Tadd Fujikawa. While everyone was focused on Michelle Wie, Tadd, who is also from Hawaii and is only 16 years old, not only made the cut in the tournament, but finished in a tie for 20th place after making a birdie on his final hole of the tournament. The crowd erupted, and he became the youngest man to make the cut in a PGA Tour tournament in 50 years.

What makes this story so much more spectacular is that Tadd Fujikawa is even alive, much less playing golf. Tadd was born 3 1/2 months premature and doctors gave him a 50-50 chance of survival. He only weighed 1 pound, 15 ounces and was so small that he could fit in his grandfather's palm. His parents worried that he would grow up with a mental disability. Partially because of his premature birth, he's only 5' 1" tall. But, the kid can play. Oh, did I mention too that last year, he became the youngest player in 50 years to qualify for the US Open as well. This kid's amazing, and I think you'll hear more from him.

Second, Jim Rutledge. What makes Jim special is the fact he is a 47 year old rookie on the tour. His story is one of perseverance, dedication and faith. According to him, he can't even remember exactly how many times he tried to qualify for the tour. He thinks it's at least 13 times. He toiled on the Canadian Tour, Asian Tour and other mini-tours, but never lost faith that one day he would make it to the PGA Tour. Jim credits his wife and family for helping him through the bad times and for encouraging him to keep trying and never give up. He didn't, and he made his debut at the Sony Open. He missed the cut at the tournament, but just being there was a huge victory for him.

Lastly and my favorite story of the three, Jarrod Lyle. Jarrod is from Australia and he finished in the top 25 on the Nationwide Tour last year to earn his tour card for this year. At the Sony Open, he finished tied for 42nd place and won over $19,000. So, what's special about him?

Back in 1999, Jarrod was diagnosed with a form of leukemia. He was very close to dying and spent over two years recovering from the disease. For over eight months, he was bed-ridden and going through chemo that made him feel so bad, he didn't want to see or talk to anyone. But, fate intervened. Robert Allenby, a PGA Tour golfer, who is also from Australia has been a big supporter of cancer research in Australia, and he heard that there was a golfer in a hospital in Australia. Robert befriended Jarrod and started visiting him in the hospital as often as he could. They would talk about golf and life, and Jarrod credits Robert for helping him beat the illness and eventually earn his tour card and make it to the PGA Tour.

I hope reading about these three golfers will help inspire you to do whatever it is you want to do with your life. They all three have had major obstacles to overcome such as physical, mental, monetary and in Jarrod's case life or death.

If they can do what they have done, then there is absolutely no reason whatsoever that the rest of us can't obtain whatever goal we set for ourselves. It's simply a matter of deciding what you want to accomplish and then simply DOING IT.

I haven't seen Will Smith's new movie, The Pursuit of Happyness yet, but I love the line at the end of the trailer when he tells his son, "You want something, you go get it...Period!"

I challenge you to do the same. You want something/anything in life, GO GET IT... Period!

Make it a great day!

Funny Videos | PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

Best Buzzwords of 2006

As you begin your work week, see if any of these buzzwords apply to you:

1)Blamestorming - A group process where participants analyze a failed project and look for scapegoats other than themselves.

2)Death by Tweakage - When a product or project fails due to unnecessary tinkering or too many last-minute revisions.

3)BMWs - Bitchers, moaners and whiners.

4)Clockroaches - Employees who spend most of their day watching the clock - instead of doing their jobs.

5)Plutoed - To be unceremoniously dumped or relegated to a lower position without an adequate reason or explanation.

6)Prairie Dogging - A modern office phenomenon. Occurs when workers simultaneously pop their heads up out of their cubicles to see what's going on.

7)Carbon-based Error - Error caused by a human, not a computer (which we assume would be a silicon-based error).

8)Menoporsche - Male menopause. Symptoms include a sudden lack of energy, crankiness and the overpowering urge to buy a Porsche.

9)Adminisphere - The upper levels of management where big, impractical and counterproductive decisions are made.

10)Deja Poo - The feeling that you've heard this bull before.

11)Bobbleheading - The mass nod of agreement by participants in a meeting to comments made by the boss even though most have no idea what he/she just said.

12)Ringtone Rage - The violent response by cube mates after hearing your annoying cell phone ringtone for the 15th time.

Funny Videos | PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

The Real Iraq

This morning, my wife and I were watching the news and they mentioned how over 3,000 American men and women had been killed in Iraq since the start of the war. While this is 3,000 too many soliders killed, I believe they did not die in vain. This video from Glenn Beck is a wonderful story about the real Iraq. Not the car bombings we hear about every day on the mainstream news, but what is really happening all over Iraq. Enjoy and God bless our troops!

Funny Videos | PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

If I Could...

Here's a little funny story that was sent to me the other day via email. It's both funny and parts of it are actually quite true. Enjoy!

If I could, I'd enlist today and help my country track down those responsible for killing thousands of innocent people in New York City and Washington DC. But, I'm 80 now and the Armed Forces say I'm too old to track down terrorists. You can't be older than 35 to join the military. They've got the whole thing backwards. Instead of sending 18-year-olds off to fight, they ought to take us old guys. You shouldn't be able to join until you're at least 35.

For starters:

Researchers say 18-year-olds think about sex every 10 seconds. Old guys only think about sex a couple of times a day, leaving us more than 28,000 additional seconds per day to concentrate on the enemy.

Young guys haven't lived long enough to be cranky, and a cranky soldier is a dangerous soldier. If we can't kill the enemy we'll complain them into submission. "My back hurts!" "I'm hungry!" "Where's the remote control?"

An 18-year-old hasn't had a legal beer yet and you shouldn't go to war until you're at least old enough to legally drink. An average old guy, on the other hand, has consumed 126,000 gallons of beer by the time he's 35 and a jaunt through the desert heat with a backpack and M-60 would do wonders for the old beer belly.

An 18-year-old doesn't like to get up before 10 a.m. Old guys get up early every morning to dribble.

If old guys are captured we couldn't spill the beans because we'd probably forget where we put them. In fact, name, rank, and serial number would be a real brainteaser.

Boot camp would actually be easier for old guys. We're used to getting screamed and yelled at and we actually like soft food. We've also developed a deep appreciation for guns and rifles. We like them almost better than naps.

They could lighten up on the obstacle course however. I've been in combat and I didn't see a single 20-foot wall with rope hanging over the side, nor did I ever do any pushups on the battle field. I can hear the Drill Sergeant now, "Get down and give me...er...one." And the running part is kind of a waste of energy. I've never seen anyone outrun a bullet.

An 18-year-old has the whole world ahead of him. He's still learning to shave, to actually carry on a conversation, and to wear pants without the top of his butt crack showing and his boxer shorts sticking out. He's still hasn't figured out that a pierced tongue catches food particles, and that a 400-watt speaker in the back seat of a Honda Accord can rupture an eardrum. All great reasons to keep our sons at home to learn a little more about life before sending them off to possible death.

Let us old guys track down those dirty rotten cowards who attacked our hearts on September 11. The last thing the enemy would want to see right now is a couple of million old farts with bad attitudes.

What'd you think? Should we give it a try?

Funny Videos | PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

2008 Presidential Hopefuls

We're still over a year away from the first Presidential primaries, but the field of potential candidates for President of the United States is already getting crowded. Here's a look at the potential candidates from both parties:

Democrats who have formed exploratory committees (Usually means they will be running):

• Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards
• Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd
• Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack
• Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich
• Illinois Senator Barack Obama

The following Democrats have not formed committees, but will most likely run:

• Delaware Senator Joe Biden
• Retired General Wesley Clark
• New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
• Former Vice President Al Gore
• Massachusetts Senator John Kerry
• New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson

Republicans who have formed exploratory committees:

• Kansas Senator Sam Brownback
• Former Virginia Governo Jim Gilmore
• Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani
• Arizona Senator John McCain
• Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney
• Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson
• California Representative Duncan Hunter
• Texas Representative Ron Paul
• Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo

The following Republicans will more than likely join the race:

• New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg
  
• Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich
• Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel
• Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
• Former New York Governor George Pataki

It's a large list. Who's your favorite? Anyone not on the list who should be? Chime in....

Make it a great day!

Funny Videos | PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

Inspiration From Montgomery

A great friend of mine from Montgomery has a blog that I'd like to share with you. Jimmy is a fraternity brother of mine from the University of Alabama. He and his beautiful wife are expecting their first child very soon. He has a blog called 4:18, which comes from the following passage: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18.

If you are in need of a little inspiration, a little humor or would like to keep up with the latest Crimson Tide football news, check out Jimmy's blog. I think you'll enjoy it.

Make it a great day!

Funny Videos | PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

PositivePelham.com News

Hello all. I'm sorry it's been a little while since I've written. Life has kept me pretty busy lately, but I think I'm caught up now and can begin regular posts every night.

Now, on to some very exciting news. A friend of mine in the Peace Corps* is going to be sharing her experience with us on a regular basis during the coming months. She has been working as a volunteer in third world countries for the past few years, and her stories are amazing. She's a special person, and I think you will enjoy reading about her experiences and the positive things that are happening in some of the worst living conditions imaginable. In the coming months, look for posts titled, Letters from Lauren.

That's all for now. Make it a great day!

J.

P.S. If you'd like to get an idea of what Lauren has been doing up to this point, check out a blog she kept over the last year here: laurengreenwald.spaces.live.com

Become a Millionaire | Funny Videos
PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

*The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the US government or the Peace Corps.

Redneck Pick-up Lines

It's Friday! I hope you have a great weekend. Here are a few redneck pick-up lines to start your weekend off with a laugh:

• If yer gunna regret this in the mornin, we kin sleep til afternoon.
• You might not be the best lookin girl here, but beauty's only a light switch away.
• Yer eyes are as blue as window cleaner.
• My Love fer you is like diarrhea ...I can't hold it in.
• And, lastly, "I can't find my puppy, can you help me find him? I think he went into this cheap motel room."

Good luck today and make it a great day!

Become a Millionaire | Funny Videos
PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

Good Samaritan Saves Man On Subway Track

This story is truly amazing. After reading this, ask yourself this one question. Would you have done the same thing?

This story comes from ABCNews.com -- "Wesley Autry, a construction worker, 50, was catching the subway with his two little girls, when he saw a man have a seizure and fall onto the tracks.

"He was trying to lean up against the pillar," Autrey said. "But he rubbed up against it and leaned like this. And he fell in backwards, right into the gutter. His arm and legs were still shaking."

Autrey looked down the track and saw a train coming. He looked back at his little girls, and said he knew he had to jump onto the tracks to save the man.

"I pulled him up," Autrey said. "He falls back. The train is getting closer. I tried again."

"The driver was honking the horn, for us to get out of the way, but it was coming so fast."

Autrey's only option was to pull the man's shaking limbs inside the tracks, and squeeze both of them into the trough or gutter in the middle, which is only a foot wide and a half-foot deep.

"I wrapped myself around him so I can get his hands from out of harm's way, plus his feet," said the Vietnam War veteran. "As we were going down... The train grazed my blue hat."

The train conductor hit the brakes, and the train came to a screeching halt. Everyone on the platform was screaming, Autrey said.

When the train finally stopped, two cars had passed over the men.

Then the people on the platform heard a shout from beneath the train. It was Autrey.

"I'm their father. Let them know their father's OK, and let everyone know that man is OK," he said. Before he jumped on the tracks, he had been standing with his two young daughters.

Autrey has since visited the hospital where the young man he saved, film student Cameron Hollopeter, is now recovering. To finish reading the story, go to this page on ABCNews.com.

Good luck today and make it a great day!

Become a Millionaire | Funny Videos
PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

One Company's Values

While visiting the website for a client of mine in the hospitality industry, I came across their Company Values. I was very impressed by them and would like to share them with you here. The company's name is Hotel Equities and these values can be found on this page on their website.

• Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (The Golden Rule)
• You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
• Guests aren’t always right, but they are always guests.
• If it were my money, would I spend it?
• Wherever you are, be there.
• Demonstrate a “whatever it takes” attitude.
• Practice balanced living in all areas of life – spiritual, family, career, financial, physical, social, and educational.
• Perform random acts of kindness.
• Learn from your mistakes.
• Set a good example.
• Empower team members.
• Communicate clearly.
• Set goals.
• Promote new ideas.
• Deplore gossip.
• Be consistent.
• Everybody sells.
• All people matter to God.

All of the statements above are awesome to live by, and I have bolded one of the statements in particular: Wherever you are, Be There!

What a great statement. We've all been talking to someone, and you could tell they did not want to be there talking with you. Nothing can make a person feel worse than realizing that they are not needed or wanted, which is how someone feels if you are giving off the signals that you do not want to be there with them. Work on this.

Everyone has a story. Take the time to hear it....

Good luck today and make it a great day!

Become a Millionaire | Funny Videos
PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

Doctors Foster and Smith Pet Experts

If you've been following my blog for long, you know that the lab on the left is my dog Biscuit. You'll notice she's posing somewhat. That's because I'm holding up a tennis ball and she can barely contain herself.

If you have a dog, cat or other pet, I have a great store for you to visit online. I have partnered with the Doctors Foster and Smith catalog company, and they have an excellent special going on right now. For a limited time, you can save up to 70% off their regular prices for their after New Year's sale. If you're not familiar with them, you need to visit their website. They have just about everything you could ever need for your pet.

Since I focused on ways to save money earlier this week, I thought I'd share this opportunity with you because I know how expensive it can get taking care of your pet.

Good luck today and make it a great day!

Become a Millionaire | Funny Videos
PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

How To Save Money On A Limited Budget

HappyNews.com has a great section on their website featuring Money Tips. The one I am focusing on today is "How to Save Money on a Limited Budget". Some of the tips they offer are:

• First and foremost, if your company has a 401K and you are not participating because you think you can't afford to, do it right now. A 401K is the best vehicle available to painlessly save money because it is taken out before taxes on your check.
• Save money for a specific goal - If you want to go on a specific vacation or want to buy something special, start saving a dollar or your change everyday. At the end of the year, you'll be surprised how much you've saved
• Cut out eating out. Some of us do not like to bring our lunch to work (I admit, I hate it. I need the time away from the office) But, if you find yourself eating out for dinner at a nice restaurant more than once a week, consider putting the money you would have used for the dinner into savings instead. And, if you can bring your lunch, you could potentially save an extra $100 a month minimum. That doesn't sound like much, but consider this. I'm 36 years old. $1,200 invested a year in an IRA earning an annual return of 9% would grow to $162,369 by the time I'm 65. Consider how much more that would be with more invested. And, this is just investing money that you normally are just throwing away....
• Lastly, they recommend cutting up all credit cards but one and only use your one for emergencies. However, one point they make that is important is this: If you are paying 17% interest on a credit card with a large balance, put the extra money towards paying off the card rather than into a savings account. Putting money into a savings account earning 1 or 2% while still paying 17% interest isn't getting you anywhere. Paying off high interest cards is the same as saving money.

If you're in financial trouble, make 2007 the year you decide to take control of our finances. Good luck and make it a great day!

Become a Millionaire | Funny Videos
PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

Blind and Physically Disabled Louisville Student is the Hero of the Band

Did you watch the Orange Bowl last night between Louisville and Wake Forest? It was a good game. However, there was another better and more inspirational team on the field last night than the two teams. It was the father/son team of Patrick John Hughes and Patrick Henry Hughes. You see, Patrick Henry is both blind and in a wheelchair. However, he is a member of the Louisville Cardinals' marching band. How you might ask? Because of his father and a lot of willpower from Patrick Henry.

His father, Patrick John, pushes him around in the wheelchair in perfect formation with the rest of the band. Patrick Henry plays the trumpet and is very good at it. While this in itself is remarkable, the remarkable part of this story is what his father does in order for his son to "march" in the band. His father works the graveyard shift for UPS so that he can attend classes with his son and so he can attend band practices with him.

Their story is incredibly inspiring. His father calls Patrick Henry a hero. I say they both are. Both of them show that absolutely anything in this world is possible with a lot of dedication, preparation and passion. If they can do this, then those of us whom God has blessed with perfect health, have no excuse whatsoever to accomplish anything we set our minds to.

I challenge you today to stop thinking negatively and start living a positive life. Do what you want to do, and do it with passion. And, don't let small set-backs de-rail your dreams.

Good luck today and make it a great day!

Find a Christian Date | Funny Videos
PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

Assorted Stories of Interest

Here are a few stories of interest today:

• Man Saved From Garbage Truck After Call - A man who awoke inside a garbage truck that was about to compact its load was rescued after making a frantic cell phone call to police.
• Hotel Chain Offers Massages for Dogs - Americans spend about $38.4 billion on their pets annually, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturer's Association. Spending on pets increased an average of $2.3 billion a year since the association started tracking numbers in 1997
• Arkansas Man Discovers 2.37-Carat Diamond - An Arkansas man has found a 2.37-carat white diamond at the world's only diamond-bearing site where visitors are allowed to search for and keep the gems they find.

Good luck today and make it a great day!

Find a Christian Date | Funny Videos
PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

Boise State Beats Oklahoma - Fiesta Bowl 2007

David slayed Goliath - Boise State beat Oklahoma in one of the best college football games I've seen in a very, very long time. If you didn't watch the game, you missed an excellent game. It came down to overtime, and Boise State went for two to win the game rather than tie it up again to go to another overtime. The final play to win the game was about as creative as you can get in a pressure situation like that. Here is the video of the last part of the game. Enjoy and remember, anything is possible, you've just gotta believe and want it.

Find a Christian Date | Funny Videos
PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

The Newest Way Thieves Steal Your ATM Card

I know none of my readers would ever do this, but just in case, let me remind you to never give out your pin number for your ATM card to anyone. No matter what the circumstances. Here's why:

This story comes courtesy of Yahoo.com -- "Thieves insert a sliver of film into the slot, which traps your card when you insert it. Once it's stuck, he asks if you need help, gets you to give up your PIN code, and snags the card after you've left the machine, having given up hope. These little pieces of film are known as "Lebanese Loops."

I know this sounds so simple that no one would fall for it, but unfortunately, people are falling for it all over the place. Be careful out there and remember, do not give out your PIN number to anyone. Period.

Good luck today and make it a great day!

Find a Christian Date | Funny Videos
PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

12 Months, 12 Healthy New Habits

MSN has an interesting article that lists 12 habits to start in the next 12 months. I've listed each habit below. To read more about each habit, go to this page on MSN.com.

1. Formulate clear diet and fitness goals. For eating, work on a one-week plan for meals. For fitness, schedule your workouts three weeks out to avoid other commitments canceling your good intentions.
2. Switch to unrefined sea salt to replace table salt.
3. Wake up at the same time each day, weekends included.
4. Step 1--eat breakfast. Step 2--make sure the breakfast includes a good protein source and some healthy fats.
5. Clean out the snack drawers at home and work.
6. Drink at least one cup of green tea each day.
7. Double your current intake of fruits and vegetables.
8. Work on an important relationship.
9. Wear casual clothes whenever possible.
10. Make your bedroom and bedtime routine sleep-friendly.
11. Resist the breadbasket.
12. Be accountable to someone for your physical activity.

These are some great tips to help you live a healthier and happier 2007. Good luck!

Find a Christian Date | Funny Videos
PositivePelham.com Store
Forward to a Friend | Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from PositivePelham.com. I say it at the end of almost every post, and I'll say it again today: Make it a great day and make it a great year!

Your friend,

J. Anthony