Remembering Dennis Davis (1949-2009)

As we begin to celebrate this most joyous of holidays it is with a heavy heart and deep emotion that I extend my thoughts and prayers to the family of Dennis Davis who passed away Tuesday. It is hard to think about Rainbow Deli and not see D2's
smiling face, constant energy, and "presence" from the stage as he directed the wait staff while strumming on his guitar. In many ways the personality of the Deli evolved and was shaped by Dennis with the late night entertainment that he was so instrumental in creating. The food was phenomenal, the personalities unforgettable, and the smiles generated by D2 everlasting. Rest in Peace my Friend.

Let Us Give Thanks

On this day of celebration there is much to be thankful for. I am thankful for a generous and magnanimous God who provides all our needs, I am thankful for the men and women who are serving and protecting our country while we celebrate in our homes, And I am thankful for a loving Family and multitudes of great Friends. HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone! Join me in thanks and enjoy this wonderful opportunity to share in the blessings bestowed upon you.

Great Advice!

I received this in an email the other day. As I read it I became more and more impressed with the message. Unfortunately this inspirational message was just a hook to get me to consider investing in a partially complete resort in Costa Rica! Well I am not asking you to buy any partially developed swamp land in Central America but I do like Joe's message. What follows is copied from that email, absent the seedy investment op., edited for clarity...enjoy :-)

From Joseph L Flores, published 1991 in American Treasures Magazine

Winning should be a long term goal, not just a temporary want. A wise man once declared that “winning is an all time thing-not just a temporary want”. You see, winners win by habit even when they appear to be the losers. Winners focus on their goals, and refuse to let false urgency distract them from their path. St Paul wrote “be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good”. Clearly, evil comes in many disguises, yet should never be allowed to distract us from our dream. Instead, we should overcome circumstances through dedication to our dream, accurate strategies, mastermind associations, and most of all a fervent life with God. Winners understand that “by the inch it’s a cinch - but by the yard it get’s hard”, yet most people grossly violate the inch by inch law and defeat themselves before commencing, because they look at their dream as though they should fulfill it all right now. This misconception discourages potentially great people from committing to attainable dreams that could benefit themselves and others. I know from experience that you can make your ideas a reality even though you “seem” to have nothing to begin with. Don't “see” your temporary circumstances as though your temporary is conclusive! Remember, eyes that truly see, always see achievable potential. Look both to your dreams and God as the source of strength and courage to conquer painful circumstances along your path to ultimate victory! Allow me to reinterpret St Paul “you have the power to, and ability to, overcome any hindrance with appropriate efforts”. You see, the way to be great in all your tomorrows… is to be great right NOW in all your today’s, one inch at a time. “He who walks with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools destroys himself,” King Solomon said. No one becomes great immediately or without growth pains, but rather greatness and destiny already reside within you and eagerly await your instructions! Please accept your own invitation and hunger to experience the rewards of accomplishment. The benefits are too many and too intense to be described, it’s greatness unveiling layer by layer exploding mere life into LIFE! Giving you LIFE’S absolute best right NOW in this moment, while truly experiencing, tasting and relishing all that LIFE offers in the right here and now. “Losers find a problem in every answer – winners find answers in every problem, losers let things happen – while winners make things happen”. Destiny within you is urging you to accept LIFE'S challenge to excel! Isn’t it time to reconnect to God and unleash your true potential? Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger nor faster man, but sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can…Excel by habit, and I’ll see you at the top….. Joseph L Flores

Retired 64-year-old woman shoots 2 holes-in-one - CharlotteObserver.com

Retired 64-year-old woman shoots 2 holes-in-one - CharlotteObserver.com

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Tar Heels, fans enjoy star-packed reunion - CharlotteObserver.com

This was a truly special event to witness in person, especially for a die-hard, lifetime Tar Heel Basketball (yes, I capitalized it!) fan. To see all the great figures in the history of Carolina Basketball in one place with 22,000+ screaming fans gathering for a charity event was something I will never forget.

Tar Heels, fans enjoy star-packed reunion - CharlotteObserver.com

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Something to Consider...

I subscribe to a newsletter by LWLWorldwide - Life Without Limits - and this was in today's offering. I though it was poignant so I thought I would share it with you. It makes you think, doesn't it?

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Something To Consider...
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Washington, DC, Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007.

The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After 3 minutes, a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried to meet his schedule.......

4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3-year-old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money, but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the Metro Station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

LWL Worldwide, Inc., 2533 N Carson Street Suite 3-L, Carson City, Nevada 89706, United States
http://lwlworldwide.com/index.php

10 Things We Hate About Wireless Carriers

10 Things We Hate About Wireless Carriers

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Some Tips On Navigating Charlotte's Real Estate Market

You do not have to look very far to see or hear something or someone telling you how bad the current Real Estate market is today. Believe it or not, there are still transactions occurring! People are buying homes, Homeowners are selling homes, Lenders are lending money. Really! This market has changed some dynamics of transacting Real Estate but hasn't stopped the Charlotte Real Estate market from functioning. Here are a few tips, suggestions, ideas, and thoughts on how this is occurring.

If you are selling a home, MAKE IT STAND OUT! With the plethora of options for today's buyer it is of foremost importance that your home absolutely has to me memorable. Seriously consider hiring professionals to market your home. A Realtor and a home-staging expert can pay dividends above and beyond what they charge. A properly staged and priced home will sell quicker and closer to your listing price.

If you are buying a home, CONSULT A REPUTABLE LENDER FIRST. One inescapable casualty of this current housing downturn has been the availability of "easy money." I do not believe anyone now, with what we have seen, would argue that changes had to occur in the lending guidelines. With these changes the need to consult with a reputable lender before beginning your search will save you time, money, and heartache. The loans have changed, the requirements for qualification have changed, and savvy sellers are asking for pre-qualification letters before accepting offers to purchase. The last thing you want to tell your family is, "I am sorry but we cannot afford that home." Devastating.

If you are a move-up buyer, LOOK AT BOTH TRANSACTIONS AS A WHOLE. If you have to sell your current home in order to buy the next home you are actually in a pretty good position if you consider the savings you can receive on the purchase of your next home. Price your current home as aggressively as possible by taking into account the savings you will be getting (versus the market value) on the next home. Many people can actually finance the difference into the next loan.

If you are buying, CONSIDER NEW CONSTRUCTION AS AN OPTION. Builders are feeling the effects of this downturn just as badly as individual homeowners. Many builders are offering terrific incentives for you to buy a finished home, an inventory or 'spec' home. Depending on your particular situation and the builder's willingess to negotiate the savings can be well into the tens of thousands of dollars. Consider partially completed homes as well. In those cases the builder might be willing to add extra options that would dramatically improve your quality of life.

If you want a real bargain, LOOK AT SHORT SALES AND FORECLOSURES. People with flexibility, patience, and some sweat equity can realize some great bargains buying a home that is in, or approaching foreclosure. One word of caution, though. Buuing short sales and foreclosures is not for the weak of hear or stomach. Many homes are in terrible disrepair or damaged by malicious homeowners before eviction. Another thing to consider is the process required to secure one of these 'bargains.' Banks must approve all short sales. This process alone could take weeks or months. Foreclosures are sold by bid. You could fall in love with one home and be outbid. If you are considering jumping into the world of bargain hunting via short sales or foreclosures I would urge you to consult an expert. A Realtor or Attorney can assist in navigating the process of bidding on short sales and foreclosures. Lastly, be ready to get to get your hands dirty - or hire someone to do the work for you!

What are your tips for navigating the choppy waters of the Charlotte Real Estate market? What challenges have you experienced?

The Week Pop Culture Died

In 1959 a small plane took off from an airport in Iowa. It was a cold, snowy, winter night. The plane, carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and P.J. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, crashed soon after takeoff. Don McLean, in his 1971 tribute "American Pie" called it 'The Day the Music Died.' The last week of June 2009 will be remembered as the week that Pop Culture died.

Ed McMahon was a decorated war veteran, a game show host, television personality, celebrated side-kick, and the person many people wished would knock on their door. When you think of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson almost everyone would immediately remember first and foremost, "Heeerrreee's Johnny!" Long before there was Simon Cowell and American Idol, there was Star Search, hosted by Ed. American Family Publishers used the immensely popular and recognizable McMahon, and the potential that he would knock on your door with millions in sweepstakes winnings, as its spokesman during the mid 80's. For over 3 decades Ed was a part of our new TV culture. Never the headliner but always present, nonetheless.

Farrah Fawcett was part of a new wave in popularity among millions of TV viewers for. Farrah became a pop culture figure whose hairstyle became a huge trend and whose poster broke sales records that had stood for decades. Who remembers those first commercials? Noxema, Ultra-Bright toothpaste, Wella Balsam shampoo? That's right. That was her. She appeared on I Dream of Jeannie, The Six Million Dollar Man, and The Dating Game. Then came Charlie's Angels and it was HUGE. Larry King said, "TV had much more impact back in the 70's than it does today. Charlie's Angels got huge numbers every week - nothing really dominates the television landscape like that today." Her posters are the best-selling of all time. Her red swimsuit poster, published in 1976, sold more than 12 million copies alone. Farrah started what became a trend in television by using sexy actors in roles that you would not imagine them in. ‘Sex Sells’ can be attributed to her, at least in the TV world.

Michael Jackson, a.k.a. “The King of Pop” couldn’t be a more polarizing figure. For the millions of us who grew up on the Jackson 5 and idolized the young Michael, we were devastated to hear of his death. After capturing the hearts of generations with the Jackson 5 and branching out onto his own he single handedly changed the entertainment industry with his signature dance moves, fashion statements, and incredibly fascinating videos. Fame and fortune would not be friendly to Michael, however. His personal life was wrought with controversy and ridicule, much of it brought on by his own actions. Regardless how you come down on the MJ argument you have to agree that his musical and artistic talent is among the best. His infuuence on American culture can be compared to anyone previously, including the King himself, Elvis.

Billy Mays is a name that you have heard of, or once you hear his booming voice you will certainly remember. As the pitchman for OxiClean, Orange Clean, Orange Glo, and Kaboom, Billy entered our homes and businesses and became one of us. Early TV shows were sponsored by companies utilizing the actors and actresses to plug the products during the show itself. Later, individually produced commercials would be developed to run in the ‘breaks’ between shows and during the shows. These commercials would feature actors and actresses that were familiar, or would become familiar. Billy Mays was different. He was the star of commercials, not TV shows. He was the show. It was only after creating his own popularity that ‘the star’ starred in his own show, PitchMen, a documentary series on the Discovery Channel.

Ed, Farrah, Michael, and Billy. Four individuals that all passed from this earth the week of June 21, 2009, the week Pop Culture died. Each of them contributed to and developed our popular culture in their own creative ways that have been duplicated and refined since. They will be missed.

Ten Rules For Being Human

Ten Rules for Being Human

by Cherie Carter-Scott

1.	You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.
2.	You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."
3.	There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."
4.	Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5.	Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6.	"There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."
7.	Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8.	What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9.	Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10.	You will forget all this.

Musings on Golf and Life

Watching the US Open with Tiger, Padrag, and Angel playing in the same foursome is really awesome. Angel can KILL it off the tee! I have got to say as i get older, and "wiser" I appreciate golf more and more. This is a sport/pastime that challenges you in multiple ways.
First off, even though you keep score and can compete against your playing partners, you really compete against yourself and the course, mentally and physically. Bobby Jones is reported to have said something like, "Golf is a game that is played in the 6 inches between your ears." The great players, pro and amateur, block out external and internal pressures to execute the next shot. Developing that skill to focus when needed regardless of surroundings is a trait that everyone needs to nurture.
Golf is also a game of honor and trust. There are no referees or umpires. You keep your own score and you are expected to call 'fouls' on yourself. I this time and age it is refreshing to see a sport where cheating is not a predominate issue. Now I am not saying Golf is above reproach and has no issues with performance enhancing drugs or 'illegal' clubs. All I know is this sport generally has avoided this increasingly prevalent trend.

Part Two

The second part of our great linking experiment involves our mobile world. If I have everything set up correctly this should post to my blog. Wish me luck!!
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dot me

I now have an online presence in the new age of digital identities. .me is the new domain for personal space. In this age of 'social-networking' and 'web 2.0' it seems as the next natural progression is to have my own space. johnfitzgerald.me is alive and beginning its life thanks to GoDaddy. As I attempt to link all the various social networking sites and blogs together I will be posting and linking to see if everything connects. It may be a bumpy ride, so hang on!!

June 7, 2009

Celebrating Donald W FitzGerald's birthday. Happy Birthday Dad!

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Understanding the 'Why" behind God's plan

When we reflect on the why and wherefore something happens that at the moment is not to our liking, we are focusing on the here and now and not the big picture. If we believe that we are put here on earth for a reason sometimes we must suspend our disbelief in what we envision to be the best outcome. It’s been said that God always answers our prayers. Being skeptical, one person may complain that his prayer wasn’t answered. God, being above reproach, responds, “Yes, I did answer your prayer. I said no.” This little reminder of us not always being in control causes us to pause a moment and reconsider how our prayers might be heard. - Judy Williamson, Director of the Napoleon Hill World Learning Center at Purdue University Calumet

May God Bless Temprance, Scott, and Alexis Wilkinson and their entire Family. You are in our thoughts and prayers. John & Jerrie Lynn FitzGerald

I am going to keep typing until I get this to post to Facebook!

Tar Heel Basketball

North Carolina Tar Heels - heading to the Final Four again!

How about them Tar Heels!

Here is my first blackberry post. Cool huh?
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Hey everyone! Here is my first blog!!! Stay tuned for more EXCITING stuff!