Wednesday, July 09, 2025

Picture of the Day - Black Belts

My goal this month is to take a daily picture of something that makes me smile.

This picture is of my son, Chris, and me with Grand Master Chuck Norris and His Brother, Grand Master Aaron Norris, after we received our 1st-degree black belt recognition during the UFAF International Training Conference that year.  Both Chris and I made it to 2nd Degree and have stalled at that rank for a while now. I am proud of that as I did something meaningful with Chris together. This journey began when my original instructor opened a class in his garage, located down the street from us, and Chris wanted to join. I observed for about a year before I joined the school.  I was the only adult in class for quite a few years. I used to joke with my workmates that I was going to class to beat up 8-year-olds. The truth was they were beating me up.

Tuesday, July 08, 2025

Picture of the day - Forest

My goal this month is to take a daily picture of something that makes me smile.

This painting was done by my Wife's Cousin, Hiromi, who was my wife's maid of Honor at our wedding 40+ years ago.  My daughter is named after her with her middle name.  Hiromi was a fantastic artist and will be missed.

She tragically lost her life in the 2011 Japanese Tsunami in Sendai, Japan.

Monday, July 07, 2025

Picture of the Day - Flower

My goal this month is to take a daily picture of something that makes me smile.

This painting brings a bitterweek smile to my face as it was done by my Dear Friend Betty Nelson, who passed away at 92 from Kidney Cancer in 2022.  I remember when she was living here in Las Vegas and first started painting after her husband passed away, you could tell she was a beginning painter.  Amazingly, in just a few years, she created some remarkable masterpieces. She sent this to us several months before she passed away, and I will always cherish it.  

Her husband was one of my dad's Navy Buddies that I was introduced to, to help him with his Ship's Website, which I still run for the Nelson family. I used to love going over to Art and Betty's house, as Art would tell some fantastic stories about his Navy career, and life after he retired.  Betty was always very quiet and would make faces behind him when he was telling his stories.  After he passed, we used to go over to her house every couple of weeks to check up on her until her Daughter moved her to Florida with her. It was a perfect choice as Betty was here by herself while her kids were in other states. Her daughter, whom she moved in with, was a doctor, so she had to live in care.  Betty was quite the chatterbox when we used to visit her after her husband passed away. I learned a lot about the Celebrity golf tournaments they used to run in California and the different restaurants she managed.

Betty used to cook for the Dallas Cowboys in the 60s and had some great stories about her experiences. She was an amazing cook and taught my wife great recipes. 

Celebrating Diversity - July 2025

This month, we celebrate Disability Pride Month, a worldwide opportunity to celebrate the diversity of the disability community and recognize the accomplishments of people with disabilities.

Every member of our human community has the potential to allow us to grow as a species.  We can't exclude someone because they are different, as they will bring a perspective that the group may miss. 

Here are some examples of such inspiring individuals:(AI Provided this list)

Disability Rights Activists and Advocates:

• Judy Heumann: Often referred to as the "Mother of the Disability Rights movement," she fought tirelessly for inclusive education and the rights of people with disabilities.
• Justin Dart Jr.: Known as the "Father of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)," he played a crucial role in advocating for this landmark legislation.
• Haben Girma: The first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School, she is a strong advocate for accessibility and inclusion, particularly digital accessibility.
• Brad Lomax: A disability rights activist and member of the Black Panther Party, he played a key role in advocating for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Johnnie Lacy: An advocate for Black individuals with disabilities, she helped establish the independent living movement and addressed the unique challenges faced by Black women with disabilities. 

Artists and Creatives:

• Frida Kahlo: A renowned Mexican painter who used her art to express her experiences with chronic pain and disability.
• Ludwig van Beethoven: A world-famous composer who continued to create music even after becoming deaf.
• Stevie Wonder: A musical icon, blind from birth, he has been a vocal advocate for civil rights and other social causes.
• Marlee Matlin: An Academy Award-winning actress who has been a prominent advocate for the deaf community. 

Leaders and Innovators:

• Stephen Hawking: A theoretical physicist and cosmologist who made groundbreaking contributions to science despite being diagnosed with ALS.
• Franklin D. Roosevelt: The 32nd President of the United States, who, despite having polio, led the country through the Great Depression and World War II.
• Richard Branson: The founder of Virgin Group, who attributes some of his success to his dyslexia. 

Athletes:

• Tanni Grey-Thompson: A British wheelchair racer who won numerous Paralympic medals and advocates for disability rights.
• Alex Zanardi: A former Formula 1 racer who became a Paralympic gold medalist in adapted cycling after losing both his legs.
• Aaron Fotheringham: A professional wheelchair skater who performs incredible stunts and advocates for inclusion. 

These individuals, and many others, demonstrate that disability is not a barrier to achievement and leadership. Their resilience, talent, and advocacy have enriched society and inspired a more inclusive world for all. 

Sunday, July 06, 2025

Picture of the Day - UPS CEO Challenge Coin

My goal this month is to take a daily picture of something that makes me smile. 

This was the letter and Challenge coin I received from the UPS CEO in recognition of my community service in 2023.  I was nominated by one of my Clark UPS partners, Tyrone Kit Del Rosario. I am very appreciative of him taking the time to nominate me for this recognition.  That year, I dedicated a total of 295 hours to supporting UFAF, the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life/Strides, and United Way.