Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Roses

Yumm! Surf and turf!

I'd go for the mullet, but the squirrel is starting to show it's age........

I can picture goldfish swimming around in the vase under the roses.

Cut open the fish, stuff the squirrel inside, wrap in bacon, lightly dust with powdered peanut butter (there is such a thing) cook @ 350 for 15 minutes and serve over rice...

brown,white or fried rice?

Bruce That is one cool photo.

Words of wisdom? Well I just returned from the funeral home for a co-worker. So Sad. (48 yrs old)

After my own experiance this past May(Passing out in a moving vehicle and coming to crashed in the woods,subsequently having a pacemaker put in at 47) I have worked harder at "Smelling the Roses".

"Change the way you think, Change the way you feel" and live IN the moment Buddy.

Great one Sprkplug

Thank you. That's very kind of you. Great sentiments. Your name "R and R" matches that philosophy perfectly.

A Violinist in the Metro

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousand of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best 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 his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

Check the Video :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOPu0_YWhw
— with Marcus Lackey

So with all this philosophical talk, what is the true meaning of life anyway? Why are we here, what is the goal we are trying to obtain? what are we missing?

I'll take a stab at it Nate.

God exists.

God gave us an exquisitely diverse and beautiful array of subjects and situations.

Many of the situations give us pain, but they make us "feel".

Many of the situations give us joy...and they make us "feel" too.

I guess maybe it's up to us to plunge, and totally immerse ourselves in friendships and war and beauty and starvation and love and fear and laughter and stench. FEEL every situation. Don't recoil from pain and uncomfortable situations.

Here's my advice to others.

Cherish friends.

Set your ego aside.

Jump in---the water's fine.

Wonderful, Bruce.

And I've seen video of the Joshua Bell story you shared above - amazing little experiment.

Truth.

February 2004.
My son Jeff and I scouted out a site to build a "grow-out" pond. When we returned to the house I peeded a blood clot the size of a ping-pong ball - bladder cancer.
The following six years, beginning with surgeries, failed chemo, sucessful chemo - many invasive tests, I was pronounced cancer free.
Once a week I that I was able I was on our pond, giving thanks to God for ONE MORE DAY.

Exactly this date three years ago, I began chemo and radiation for rectal cancer - three months later, major surgery to remove tumor and bypass lower bowel - three months later, major surgery to put things back together again. So far so good - cancer free.

Each day that I could not fish, my therapy was in my back yard with my practice fly rod.

Strong faith in God, strong support from family and friends, and a positive attitude with NO tolerance for self pity, was my recovery program.

In every life, “a little rain must fall”.
Life is good, live each day to the fullest - “take time to smell the roses“!
Thanks for this thread,
George

George,you have correct method on how to deal with cancer. A little humor goes a long way also. Cancer is usually as it often strikes the same person with more then one type. That is why it is so important to follow up on all your check-ups even though you are cured from the one you had. Some people I know have had 3 or more cancers. You are a shining example to people. I commend you,SIR.

Thanks George!!!!

I have been taught since the day I was born to Love the Lord with all my heart, soul, and mind and to love my neighbor as myself...I make mistakes daily, but my core is to serve, love and give (even when it hurts).

Im actually not a very social person, but I am working hard at smelling the roses in every aspect of my life as unselfishly as possible. In return I can see huge blessings and oppurtunities to pursue my passions and use them for the glory of God by teaching and helping!!

Wonderful testimony, Nate!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN-MjUC4f9k&feature=youtu.be

"You're going to miss this"
-- Trace Adkins

Find your puddle.


And splash through it as many times as you can. Get a little mud on your pants.

Okay, kids.
I talked with Bruce a little while ago. This thread has emotion and a deeper logic than many, so, spontaneously, I asked Bruce if he'd write a story about what he's thinking. I'm expecting it will be in the March-April issue of Pond Boss. If you haven't yet subscribed, it's time. Read the deeper meaning of what Bruce is talking about here.
Don't miss it.

Knowing something is one thing; doing it is another. Most of us spend our lives in the border land in between.

Profound thread! I don't think I can say that I don't live almost every day like it is my last. I am fortunate enough to love what I do and who I work with and deal with on a daily basis. My career has brought me friends from around the world that I never would have met had I not been in the pond business. I often have said that if I won the lottery I would still do what I do... of course I would be doing it from where ever I wanted, not in an office with no windows in Pompano Beach. Bruce, I think you do what you do to support what you want to do, (like most people) and since you opened your new office you are so busy and successful that you don't have enough time to do what you want to do anymore. I so hope you can find balance. Our lives are short and we need to live, love and enjoy every moment!

Bruce, admitting you have a problem is the first step.

Most people get to see the fact that they need to do more, but they are too uncomfortable with change to benefit from the knowledge. Sounds like you might be on the right track.

Good luck on your new journey. May you find peace. I did.

I have alot to learn.. In 31 yrs of life the closest I've been to god was vacation bible school one summer when I was 8.. Honestly it's hard for me to even grasp faith or religion..

Faith is as unique as every person BGK....After having been burned beyond what is considered "compatible with life", declared dead and without a heartbeat for 20 minutes at one point, then it spontaneously restarting, many burned areas healing that same night...the amazing life and talents I have been blessed to have...I know first hand the accuracy in the preface of the Medical training case study on me for new medical students attending the University of Missouri....it reads....There is no explanation for the following burn victim's survival. It is simply an act of God. The following documents the procedures......etc

I was reminded in no uncertain terms of His existence and the incredible powers of prayer from truly caring people, thanks in no small part, twice, to the members on this forum.......

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=232085&page=1

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=161665&page=1