Forgive Me God - There Will Be Potholes In My Legacy

As we unravel the fabric of our personal story, we are left with a mixed bag. This is the time for a spiritual guy like me to come clean - to make amends for unruly behavior. The urgency to make things right stems from an aging process that leaves me feeling vulnerable when I look at the landscape of my life. I need closure from the times in my life when I "missed the mark."

My children have heard my "sordid" stories because I used them as teachable moments for behaviors to avoid. I typically tried to provide "real-life" stories about my misdeeds and those of others as a way of promoting character-building qualities. This concept failed quite miserably, because my kids followed in my footsteps anyway.

When I was a young teenager, my parents departed for a business trip. I was left behind in the care of my older brother. Like most teenagers, I yearned for the day that I would turn sixteen so that I could move through the rite-of-passage of getting behind the wheel of an automobile. For me, that day didn't come fast enough and those keys hanging near the front door presented a serious temptation. Without considering consequences (a typical problem for kids), I took off on a joy ride with my friend Chrissie. I was feeling very adult-like until we cruised through a neighboring town as a police officer was traveling toward me in the opposite direction. Chrissie spotted the cop and freaked out. I responded by over-turning onto a side street and nearly ending up in the front yard of a nearby house.

The officer spotted my brilliant move and pulled me over. After asking me the question I didn't want to hear, "Son, can I see your license?" we were escorted to the local police station. My brother came to the station where we were released into his custody. "Wait until Mom and Dad get home," Rick kept repeating. I wanted to hide under a rock and stay there indefinitely. I wrote a long "how could I have done this" letter prior to my parents return. I even included various punishment options within the letter's body. When my parents returned home they received the news from my brother. Although they were not as angry as I expected, they indicated that I was to appear in court to respond to my behavior. I remember that fateful day when my father and I made our way to the county courthouse where I was vigorously lectured by the judge and then released to my father because I said that I would never to stupid tricks again.

Chrissie was a chatter-box, so the news of our adventure permeated the halls of our high school. We instantly became risk-taking, law-breaking heroes. It is interesting how teenagers can reframe things and make behaviors appear so awesome, even back in the days of my youth. I still have my high school yearbook which is full of quips about the "adventure," "the ride," and the good-natured teasing about my anti-social behavior.

That same school year, I took Latin because my parents thought it would help me with all those long medical terms. For some inexplicable reason, my Latin class was inhabited by all the "jocks" from every imaginable sport (no girls allowed). Things were complicated by the fact that the teacher was a first year rookie who was also the head cross-country coach. Mr. P. was known by many in the class for his coaching skills. No classroom introductions were necessary. The class period was split due to a lunch period which was squeezed into the middle of Latin.

The split-class option with lunch posed various sneaky "boys will be boys" possibilities. We brought red Jell-O back from lunch and conveniently placed it on page thirty two of Tony P.'s Latin book. I think this translation page was about Caesar's Gallic wars. I remember Mr. P. retorting in his nasal tone, "Boys, your not being very funny at all." On another occasion, we tortured our poor teacher by taking the onions out of our hamburgers and putting them in the radiator of the classroom before he arrived. Then we waited... As the aroma permeated the air, Mr. P. responded with, "Boys, I don't think that was a very wise thing to do." In spite of our antics, we actually formed a very positive relationship with Mr. P.

In the mid 1990's, more than thirty years after the fact, I learned how potent a legacy I had left behind. At that time, I worked as Director of Guidance and Counseling for a midwestern high school. I was charged with the responsibility of helping formulate a new comprehensive guidance plan for our school. In order to accomplish the task, a colleague and I visited various exemplary school models throughout the state - one of them which happened to be my old alma mater. As I visited my school as an alumni, memories of my past began to envelope me. When we entered the counseling department office, we were greeted by retired counselors who were volunteering as part of their retirement package. When I mentioned my name and that I had attended the school decades ago, the gentleman laughed. The counselor replied, "We have heard of you and your antics along with some of your classmate's behavior." "Throughout the years, your story has repeatedly been mentioned by alumni and the Latin teacher." I said, "This is quite amazing. "Is Tony still teaching here?" "He certainly is and you will find him in the teacher's lounge." the volunteer remarked.

As I entered the teacher's lounge with my co-worker, I immediately sat down to have lunch. After we ate, I looked around the room to find Tony. I asked a teacher where he was sitting and as I moved toward his table I noticed the older version of my teacher. I introduced myself, but it was unnecessary. Tony grasped my arms and immediately began laughing. It was his last year of teaching and we sat at that table and he reminisced with his colleagues about a story that has touched so many lives.

Forgive me God - there will be potholes in my legacy! All of my memories constitute the nature of who I am. They remind me of my humanity and the ways in which I touched the lives of others for better or worse. I have one story. I don't have the choice to take parts back. I just hope that in the end that I am appreciated for the sum total of all its parts.

Bring Home the Joy of Illumination With Kichler Lighting

A house, even with an excellent decor, is considered incomplete without a proper lighting system. Whether naturally or artificially lit, a well lit house creates an ambiance conducive to happiness and peace. A well designed house, with huge windows strategically placed, provides ample natural light. But, it is the quest for the right indoor lighting that raises many questions and doubts. Kichler Lighting, with its wide range of indoor products, eliminates all worries regarding selection of light and its fixture.

ABOUT KICHLER LIGHTING

Kichler, a company manufacturing decorative lights and fixtures since 1938, is committed to excellence and consumer satisfaction. What sets its product above others is the quality of its products and the loyalty towards its customers. That is why Kichler has earned the ARTS Manufacturer Award for four times. The quality and performance of this company's products is impeccable. Innovation, to increase the range of products, without any compromise to the quality, is the trade mark of Kichler.

FEATURES OF KICHLER LIGHTING

1. Manufactured keeping in mind the varied needs and requirements of the ultimate users, all the products boast the latest trend, exclusive style, superb designs and beautiful colors.
2. The product range comes in varied sizes and includes different styles like classical, transitional, periodical and also the simple functional style.
3. The lighting fixtures guarantee a good fit and are available in various finishes such as rubbed bronze, legacy bronze and old bronze finish, rubbed nickel finish, black and white gold finish, white finish, steel finish, unpainted black material finish and distressed copper finish, to add to the style and elegance of the user's home.
4. Kichler offers a warranty of one year for defects in material and workmanship.

The Kichler range of products and fixtures include Kichler outdoor lighting, Kichler under cabinet lighting, Kichler bathroom lighting, Kichler Chandeliers, Pendant lighting and Ceiling lights.

KICHLER OUTDOOR LIGHTING

For a beautiful home, a good lighted indoor setting alone is not sufficient. A well lit exterior that brightens up you neighborhood is also required. Kichler Outdoor Lighting and fixtures transform the outdoor space around the homes with a style and design, unique to Kichler.

Kichler outdoor lighting and fixtures include the Outdoor post lanterns, the Landscape lighting system (in-ground lights, water proof lights, deck lights, and path lights), the Outdoor chandeliers, Dark sky panel sets and the simple, fluorescent and LED outdoor wall brackets.

KICHLER BATHROOM LIGHTING

A bathroom is the place where time is spent grooming oneself to look the best and hence, must have the right light and a good fixture. Kichler Bathroom Lighting offers a selection of modern bath and bar lights that add to the style of the bathroom.

Collections of Kichler Bathroom Lighting include

1. The Hendrick Collections, suitable for aesthetic environment, offer fixtures with a clean look. The style adopted in these fixtures is an intermediary between the modern and traditional style.
2. The Wharton Collections, a two-light bath fixture, adopts a design that is neither contemporary nor fully traditional.
3. The Structures Collection offers versatility in style and design. It has a Structures motif, has a clean look and fits in any decor.
4. The Ansonia Collection, linear and futuristic in its design, offers a range of delicate and ultra modern fixtures. It can also match with any decor.
5. A fixture with an innovative curvilinear design and dual etched linear textured glass panel, The Freeport Collection, gives a dramatic effect to light.

Another great way to provide a full bathroom lighting system is to use Kichler's Beauty Wraps with a variety of light pendants along with the customary bath bar.

KICHLER UNDER CABINET LIGHTING

The places where lighting is difficult to reach, such as under the cabinet areas, Kichler under cabinet lighting provides a solution. The Design Pro LED Under cabinet Light and the Design Pro LED Under cabinet Disc are innovative products of Kichler Lighting. They provide gentle accent lighting under the cabinets. These under cabinet lights can be linked together and the illumination level can be adjusted. This helps to create the right mood in the room.

The Design Pro LED Under cabinet Light and the Design Pro LED Under cabinet Disc has to be configured according to the user needs. The user can opt between the LED light or the Disc and then select between dimmer switch or nightlight, the quantity and size of the inter-connect cables and the mode of power supply. Once done, the perfect Kichler under cabinet lighting system is ready.

CONCLUSION

Kichler has brought about a revolution in the lighting industry. Dedicated to customer approval, great product value and excellence in design, Kichler has emerged as one of the best companies in decorative lighting.

The Landscape of Dali

The Catalan region of the Costa Brava in north-eastern Spain is usually associated with beaches full of tourists and package holiday trips. However, turn the clock back 100 years and the region was somewhat different. Untouched by tourism until the mid 1960's, the Costa Brava was mainly a fishing region, with small fishing villages and towns pocketed along the Costa Brava coastline.

This was the landscape into which the surrealist artist Salavador Dali was born in 1904, and the spectacular scenery and lighting of the region inspired many of his finest paintings. Dali was born in the town of Figueres which is approximately 35km north of Girona (Gerona) Airport, and around 150km north of Barcelona. Apart from his artwork, Dali has left 2 legacies to his admirer's - his home in Port Lligat near Cadaques, and the museum which he designed in his hometown of Figureres, both of which are open to the public.

Dali's House, Port Lligat
Cadaques is a small fishing village around an hour and a half drive north-east of Girona. Cadaques is where Dali spent many of his later years, and the spectacular coastline provided the inspiration for many of his best known paintings. Cadaques itself is a former fishing port, but is now an exclusive tourist resort, popular with the French and Spanish. Dali's house is located in the small village of Port Lligat, slightly to the north of Cadaques. Dali's house is open to the public, but check opening hours before visiting.

The house itself was formerly a number of small fishermen's houses which Dali purchased and converted into a single palatial home where he lived with his wife Gala, and painted many of his most famous paintings. There are many strange exhibits inside the house such as a stuffed polar bear which greets visitors, and a tiny cage in Dali's bedroom which once contained a cricket. Dali loved the sound of the cricket singing. Don't expect to find many of Dali's paintings at the house, although there is a large unfinished work in one of the rooms.

The Dali Museum, Figueres
The Dali museum in Figueres was designed by the artist himself, and although it contains the world's most comprehensive collection of his original paintings, it is the internal design and architecture which is possibly even more striking. Dali was a big fan of the visual arts, and many of the works in the museum are visual experiences which were intricately designed by Dali. In the busy summer months there may be queues at the museum, so it is worth booking tickets in advance.

Getting to Girona
Girona Airport is served by Ryanair, so if you want to visit the region please check their website for flight information.

Going Green Saves Green

Maintaining buildings is expensive. The top culprits: electricity, heating, cooling, taxes. There really isn't too much you can do about taxes. But electricity, heating, and cooling are areas you can have some sort of cost control.

Many companies are going green. Why? Because when you make a few changes, being more green saves green. Here is how:

• Using electricity wisely and efficiently decreases monthly bills and reduces your carbon footprint.
• Updating your existing heating and cooling systems with either new HVAC parts and HVAC control boards is an alternative to purchasing new units.
• Instituting a recycling program, which encompasses a "use less policy," will also save money.

The kicker is that there is a green support system, which makes going green even more attractive. The US government provides tax credits to encourage green building. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) provides guidelines and for green certifications.

Tax Credits

Indeed, money does speak...to our wallets. Taxes speak even louder. You don't want to pay any more than necessary. It's perfectly ethical, even helpful. In fact, the government understands. And the government wants you to help spur the economy and save the planet at the same time. Now that's a good deed that lasts a long time. Here are few possibilities:

Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning (HVAC)
The problem is that existing homes have older units with outdated HVAC parts and HVAC control boards. For many, it may be easier to buy new units. The credit allows up to 30% of $1,500. This includes furnaces and central air conditioning units. This credit expires December 31, 2010.

Windows and Doors
Again, this expires December 31, 2010 with a tax savings of 30% on an expenditure of $1,500. Energy efficient doors, windows, skylights, and storm doors and windows qualify.

Be careful though. Not all products that claim to be energy efficient qualify for the tax credit. Before you buy, make sure you check energystar.gov and make sure you get the product that qualifies.

LEED into the Future

The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has taken the initiative of providing building owners, architects, and contractors with guidelines for constructing and retrofitting buildings to be more environmentally friendly. The USGBC offers a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Getting certified is a way for companies to identify themselves as green. They're working in a building that has very little environmental impact. The premise is to reduce a company's carbon footprint and increase innovation, corporate responsibility, and energy savings.

LEED certification for an existing building is based on seven principles and sub credits with assigned point values.

1. Sustainable Sights (26 points) focuses on maintaining the existing geologic environment, reducing further damage to the surroundings, protecting the habitat with appropriate landscaping, integrated pest management, erosion control, reducing the employee carbon footprint, and reducing heat island effect (area around a building that traps heat and pollutants).
2. To meet this standard, businesses institute carpooling, use rocks native to the area in landscaping, paint the exterior a light reflective color and implement a green roof (to decrease the heat island effect).
3. Water Efficiency (14 points) essentially encourages using water wisely through landscaping, plumbing, and water management.
4. Simple fixes can help businesses attain this standard. Installing water efficient toilets and using landscapes that require very little irrigation saves water and reduces your bill.
5. Energy and Atmosphere (35 points) is all about efficiency. An energy efficiency best management practices document is required along with minimum energy performance documentation, and a refrigerant management system. Renewable energy source, a building automation system (BAS), and building commissioning are also included in this standard.
6. Ways to earn points for this category would be to install solar panels. Although there may be upfront cost, the loss of dependency on grid electricity saves money and the environment in the end. Perhaps the easiest option is to update old HVAC parts that are not nearly as efficient or to purchase new HVAC control boards to regulate temperature. A system that shuts down heat or air conditioning based on current temperature reduces use and cost.
7. Materials and Resources (10 points) is about sustainability and waste management. This includes office components that are sustainable in terms of food, construction, and other consumables and ways of disposing waste.
8. Instituting a recycling program within the office is a first step for this category. Encouraging staff to print on both sides of a piece of paper, using scrap paper instead a new notebook for notes, electronic files instead of physical, and anything that reduces waste helps. Buying recycled paper and non-toxic products helps earn points.
9. Indoor Environmental Quality (15 points) is more about reducing harmful chemicals causing air pollution. Air quality performance assessment is required to meet minimum standards; a no smoking as well as a green cleaning policy must be in place.
10. Using sustainable, non-toxic methods of cleaning is very important. Checking labels and doing a little extra research for companies providing eco-friendly cleaning products will mean employees won't suffer from headaches from cleaning fumes (saving on potential doctor visits).
11. Innovation in Operations (6 points) encourages creativity and ingenuity in making a building and company practices more environmentally friendly. Thinking outside the box to meet a goal and extending efforts beyond the expected will help meet requirements for this category.
12. Regional Priority (4 points) is concerned with local environmental issues and helping reduce impact. Simply paying attention to the area that is home to your business and doing what is needed to preserve and make it "a better place" may help.

A total of 100 points, the standards mentioned above contribute to a certification level. There are four certification levels: certified (40-49 points), silver (50-59 points), gold (60-79 points), and platinum (80+ points).

Being green and environmentally friendly has different implications for different people. Most realize though, that by reducing and reusing, you're saving money. No matter what your reason may be, know that by jumping on the environmental bandwagon, you're doing a good deed. You're making a positive impact for your family as well as your colleagues and fellow working adults to enjoy now, but also leaving a legacy for everyone in the future. You're saving more than just money by going green.

Having a Custom House Built on Beautiful Land Is a Great Way to Begin a Legacy

Having a beautiful home can have a lot to do with the craftsmanship. If you would like a new home that has the craftsmanship of homes built hundreds of years ago, then you will want to have a custom house built by a respected building company. With the years, new tools have been developed that should make houses stand the test of time. Make sure that you find a company that has craftsmen who believe in homes that can be passed down to future generations.

If the home that you live in now is one that your kids would never want to move into when you are gone, then you might want to consider building a custom house. Not every child ends up moving into their parent's home, but it is nice when it can happen. Keeping homes in the family is a nice thing. Somehow doing so preserves a part of your family that could otherwise somehow cease to exist.

A custom house means you can have that giant kitchen island with the built in grill and sink. You can have the breakfast nook with the windows overlooking the beautiful landscape that you have always dreamed of having behind your home.

Some things to consider before choosing a custom house building company include the following: experience, attitude, and results. Each of these plays an integral part in the type of builder that you would want to build your home.

Experience is important for fairly self-explanatory reasons. It is important that a builder build has built a few homes before they begin on yours. Everyone on the team should really have at least two or three years of full-time home-building experience.

Attitude is also important as you consider building companies. Some builders might not be willing to accept that they made a mistake. It is not wise for the home-owners to hang around constantly nagging the builders about little problems. If the homeowner does see an issue that needs to be addressed however, the main contractor should be willing to accept the possibility that he or she or one of the other workers made a mistake and they all should be willing to fix it.

Results are essential when it comes to building a custom house. Without going to actual homes built by the crew, it might be difficult to see results. If the crew has not always been in the general area or if they often build elsewhere, you may have to get the names of clients and ask if you could see a picture of their home. While talking to them, you might ask if they would recommend the crew. Individuals who have hired a crew in the past should be able to tell you something about the group's experience, attitude, and their results so that you will have a beautiful home to pass on.

Yachts in Turkey Makes Travel Fun

Turkey has had a tumultuous past, which has contributed to its legacy. History buffs can find a vast amount of fascination information about Turkey that can date back as far as before the dawn of civilization. Turkey's past is deeply reflected in the present. For centuries, Turkey has been at an intersection of, not only the philosophies of Islam and Christianity, but also of many others. There is a shrine, or monument devoted to almost, any religion available. The tumultuous past has a created country, rich in physical beauty, but also in cultural diversity, that has made it one the world's most popular tourism destinations.

Bounded by Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean Sea to the west, and Black Sea in the north, Turkey has a substantive offering for visitors, including breathtaking natural landscapes, unique pictorial perspective reflected in the archaeology, and building architecture. The 8300 km of the Turkish coastlines are dotted with numerous marinas, making sailing on yachts in Turkey, not only convenient, but also a memorable experience. Much of the landscape remains untouched, and the country is often described as Europe meeting Asia, and the modern world meeting the old world. One of the best ways to observe the rich diversity is to travel along the coast in one of the yachts in Turkey.

Marmaris is now one of the attractive resorts that has been transformed from a fishing village. The transformation is not unlike like that of so many other locations worldwide. The only difference, being that, Marmaris experienced a dramatic a touristic explosion in the 80s, while other regions took centuries to develop. Today, its main income is from Tourism.

The countryside in the southwest of Turkey is delineated by a coastline that is composed of many peninsulas that stretch out into the ocean, making it one of the more picturesque parts of the country. This provides some breathtaking views of the landscape when sailing on one of the Yachts in Marmaris.

The closest airport to the city is located 100 km to the east in the city of Dalaman, which means, that air travel may be sometimes be inconvenient, if not properly planned. Far more convenient and enjoyable is by travelling on the water by one of the yachts in Marmaris. The infrastructure for travelling around the Mediterranean on the water is constantly improving as there are ferries and hydrofoils that travel to and from Greece.

Go Green - Visit America's National Parks, Your Great American Real Estate

Many Americans don't realize that they are co-owners to some of the most incredible landscape on the planet, our National Parks. That's right, co-owners! On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed into law a bill to establish the Yellowstone area as our first national park, thus starting the tradition down through history, of a new social concept to preserve similar areas across this great land.

President Teddy Roosevelt, during his presidency, actively pursued the proliferation of this new social concept by establishing the United States Forestry Service, 5 new national parks, 51 wildlife refuges, 150 national forests and 18 national monuments. To his credit, the Theodore Roosevelt National Park located in North Dakota, received national park status November 10, 1978.

America's national parks have always been open to all people without discrimination epitomizing democracy at work and offering all an equal share in the wealth and beauty of the land.

Today the National Park Service, the care-takers of our investment, tend 391 areas that cover over 84 million acres in almost every state. The largest park is the Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Arkansas, with over 13 million acres and the smallest is the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Monument in Pennsylvania with only 0.02 acres. The most popular national park destination is Glacier National Park located in Montana, and the favorite park for viewing wildlife is the Channel Islands in California.

The governmental support of  these wondrous treasures of the American public falls under the  Department of the Interior which provides the annual budget to the National Park Service. When you consider the size and scope of the parks and the fact that there are over 272,623,980 visitors a year, you can see why adequate funding is of paramount importance.

The National Park Foundation is the charitable partner of America's national parks. It works to connect the American people and the parks by raising private funds, making strategic grants, creating innovative partnerships and increasing public awareness. The National Parks Conservation Association advocates for the national parks and the National Park Service. The NPCA works on the ground in and around national parks, conducting research, and working with the National Park Service staff, community leaders, park advocates, and state and federal legislators to ensure that our parks are well funded, managed and protected. Both non-partisan organizations are private, non-profit organizations that have contributed mightily to the well-being and support of our national parks and welcome new members and donations.

An awesome and inspiring six-part series for PBS, titled The National Parks: America's Best Idea, a film by Ken Burns, will debut on September 27, 2009. This production was filmed over a more than six year period amid the back drop of some of the most breath-taking scenery ever captured on film, and chronicles the legacy of the American people who committed themselves to preserving these great park lands. It might surprise you as to who those people are. The series is a modern day reminder to us that we too must rise to responsible stewardship of the park lands and see that they are preserved and cared for so that future generations can enjoy them too.

To take advantage of reviewing the marvelous lands that you as an American own visit the National Parks.Org website and request or download your 2009 Owner's Guide filled with detailed maps, information and travel tips and plan to visit your American investment. Or visit the National Park Service website and purchase your annual "Parks Pass" for all federal recreation lands and national parks.

It is your property, it is your legacy, and it is your responsibility to protect for future generations. Come and take possession and share it with others. You can participate in a very active way to make this country a better place for all.