LOCAL: Bill's Brother Bobby Passes Away 2/17/2015 - RIP

I am sad to report that Bill's brother Bobby passed away in a motorcycle accident on February 17, 2015. I didn't know Bobby, but am sad for the loss to Bill's family. You can read the Tribune article on the accident by clicking here. I attended the memorial service for Bobby on Saturday, February 21, 2015, and it was good to see the family and meet Bobby's many friends. May he R.I.P.

The family requests that donations be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children www.shrinerhospitalsforchildren.org.

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Does anyone "Deserve" to be Homeless?

D R A F T

Once I finish this article, I will have it reviewed by a variety of folks - homeless advocates like me, homeless service professionals like CAPSLO, but most importantly, by those who are currently homeless. I want to see what they have to say. Do these words ring true? In the end, the result of this litmus test for the accuracy of my point of view will be the homeless themselves. This article is one more (futile) attempt to soften the hearts and minds of the hard-hearted toward those amongst us with the least.

It's black or white: people either despise the homeless, or have empathy for their plight. I have written on this subject before (google: timwaagblog "hate the homeless"). Both sides are rigid in their positions, and I don't think I've been able to change a single person's mind. 

The "Homeless Haters" are convinced that the homeless are just lazy bums. Period. End of debate. Conversely, there are "Homeless Lovers" (myself included) or at the worst, those that believe that "the homeless are people too". Those in the "lovers" camp feel that the homeless are all human beings and deserve our compassion, whether they have earned it or not. 

There but for the Grace of G*d Go I. Yes, it could be you. You could be homeless one day. Don't believe it? I can prove it to you - the subject of a future article. A series of "bad" things can happen to anyone - including good and / or successful people. Those who figuratively "pick the homeless up out of the gutter" do so because we are really saving ourselves. It could be us living in our own filth. We believe that and so should you - because its the truth.

In our relatively affluent society, we should be able to house and feed everyone, regardless of circumstance. Not gourmet food. Not luxury accommodations. Basic nutritional food. Basic shelter. A warm bed. A roof that doesn't leak. A place to lock up their stuff. A place where they can sleep without threat of being robbed, attacked, raped, cited  or arrested by the local constable. But for government regulations and NIMBYism, this could be done cheaply and safely. Note that I do not believe this is a right - it's just something that we should be able to do.

The few "bad" homeless ruin it for the many "good" homeless. Unfortunately, the face of homelessness are the aggressive panhandlers (we all know who they are) and the severely mentally ill (those are the stinky, smelly, crazy people wandering around talking to themselves). The bad are the tiny minority - you'll have to trust me on this one. The vast majority of the homeless are decent people that have had a series of bad occurrences that put them into homeless. Once they are homeless, it's hard to get out of that situation without some help - from you.

Note also that some of the "homeless" you see waving their signs around are "con-men". They are after a buck and not necessarily "homeless" at all. As always, we recommend that you never give money to anyone you meet on the street, although offering to buy them food isn't a bad idea. If you need to "give to the cause', try one of the homeless support organizations or the downtown SLO "homeless parking meters".

They Deserve It. They deserve to be homeless. They made bad decisions - did stupid things. They got themselves in this situation - let them get out of it. Morons. Idiots. Losers. Scum.

Yet ... who hasn't made bad decisions? Most of us have been lucky that our bad decisions didn't ruin our lives. Be honest. Driving after too much to drink? Barely missed hitting the kid in the crosswalk? Texting while driving? Cheating on a college test? Unprotected sex, but she didn't get pregnant? Cheating on your taxes? Sold your buddy some of your pot? Sexual harassment or worse?

The homeless are people too. The homeless have hopes, fears (lots of fears), dreams, emotions, feelings - just like people do. They have children, mothers and fathers, brothers, sisters, friends. They are somebody's child, mother or father, brother or sister, friend. Just try talking to a homeless person someday - but first, google "timwaagblog 2011 tribune fresh eyes" first and read my a description of how to do this safely. You'll find out that they are really people like you and me - except they are living under temporarily bad circumstances.

The homeless somehow aren't fully human. Due largely to the ugly public face of homelessness, the unhoused have come to be seen by many as something less than fully human. I could compare how they are treated today to other classes of people who have suffered abuse in our past history (Jews like my wife and kids, various ethnic groups, etc.), but I won't. 

Around the world today, various categories of people are treated by others as sub-human, but we no longer treat any class of people that way in America - do we? or did we forgot some group? Oh yes, the homeless are still treated this way by many - here - in America - today. We funnel our unhoused - 2,000 to 3,000 homeless alone in San Luis Obispo County (the count varies, but is growing) -  to live in the streets - today - a somewhat less than fully human existence, in my eyes. Don't believe me? Go see for yourself - I'll take you. Oh yeah - you don't want to see the reality of homelessness.

It's easy to see how people have come around to this point of view, but I can assure you that the homeless are just as human as you and me. It is truly a sad commentary that I would have to try and convince you of this at all, but I do. An interesting side note: being homeless does rob people of at least some of their humanity. Actually, I am amazed at how the homeless face up to their reality with a certain dignity that I'm not sure I could muster under similar circumstances. Maybe that's why I respect them so much - yes, I respect them. All of them. Even the ones who are disgusting.

They weren't always homeless. Surprisingly, that comes as a revelation to some people. Given their apparent sub-human status in SLO and certainly elsewhere, many just assume that somehow they were always homeless...that they were born homeless, grew up homeless, and here they are, still homeless. Of course, its not true, but still, I have to say it. Some have been homeless a long time: 10 or 20 years or even more. But only a tiny percentage. Many have been in and out of homelessness. Again, a minority. Most are recently homeless - say the last 1 or 2 years. They weren't always homeless, and they don't want to be homeless now, either.

They should just go somewhere else. We get more than our fair share of the homeless here in SLO (don't we?), so shouldn't they just go back to wherever they came from? This has often appeared to be the point of view of our local SLO police department. Oh wait. Most of our homeless have ties to our community: they grew up here, or went to Cal Poly, or worked here, or have family here, etc. So yes, to some degree, this makes it our problem. I can make the case that at least those with ties to our community are OUR homeless, and that indeed makes it OUR problem. We can debate about the others without community ties some other time.

Nobody deserves to live under our bridges, in our creeks, or in our doorways. Nobody. This is another version of "we should be able to house everyone". IMHO, this fact should be self evident. But it's not. We have tent cities here in SLO county, just not in the way that you might think. A tent city would be illegal here, unless you are part of the politically correct "Occupy SLO" movement which was allowed to set up an apparently legal tent city in downtown SLO for a few months a few years back. Our tent cities are a sprawling underground community that differs from traditional "tent cities" in that they are spread out over large areas and are the tents are "not on top of each others". I need to coin a term for this - let's try "hidden tent communities". Since we actually allow these "hidden tent communities", why don't we allow them to come out from under our bridges and creeks into an open shared space where they can share community resources together in a traditional tent community. Also, it makes policing and services much easier.

There is no sense of urgency. This drives me crazy. Sitting in meeting and listening to the "powers-that-be", there is never an sense of urgency regarding the homeless. Homelessness is a slow moving disaster, not unlike a train wreck, a commuter ferry colliding with a cargo ship, a sinking or burning cruise ship, or an earthquake. The disaster leaves people injured, sick, in need of immediate help. This is how I see our homeless, yet nothing is done to address the "entire" disaster - the "entire" homeless population. At best, our programs nibble around the edges, but do not provide solutions for the vast majority of our homeless.

Who deserves to be homeless? This is a question for those in the "they deserve to be homeless because they are bad people and made bad decisions" camp. Yes, I get it - many people do not like the homeless, but that doesn't mean that they deserve to be homeless. Let's take a careful look at the various categories of homeless people to "pick" which we should leave to their own devices to live their beleaguered existence in our streets.

Do people who work (full or part time) deserve to be homeless? Many homeless work part for full time. Surprised? Their jobs that do not pay well enough or provide enough hours to afford to rent a place to live or pay for a car to commute back and forth to work. Should a person willing to work full time (i.e., not a bum) still have to live in the creek beds? How about part time workers? Also, some people are not physically or mentally able to work 40 hours per work, though they might want to do so.  I know many of the unhoused wh are in this exact situation.

Do the truly disabled deserve to be homeless? Sadly, the bulk of the disabled homeless are mentally ill. The rest have what we would consider more "traditional" disabilities. These include sensory degradation issues (blind, deaf, etc.), common physical disabilities (carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative spinal injuries, arthritis, etc.),  common birth defects (down's syndrome, spina bifida, congenital heart defects, etc.). So we have 2 camps in the "disabled homeless" category: the mentally ill, and those with traditional disabilities.

Do the Mentally Ill deserve to be homeless? I'll just answer that one. No, they don't. Society (that's us) should make sure they get treatment for their mental illnesses. You can't treat a person for mental illness while they are unhoused, so they must be housed first, then treated for their mental illness. Yes, state and federal laws prevent the mentally ill from being "forced" to receive treatment. That is often a problem. I don't know how to get around this problem, but I bet professionals in this field "have their ways". That leaves the mentally ill who do want to receive treatment - let's start with those. Society has a responsibility to house and treat the mentally ill that want treatment.

Do those with "Traditional Disabilities" deserve to be homeless? Most or all of those with traditional disabilities want to work but are not able to do so. However, if they became housed, they are often able to work part time, depending on their disability - isn't this better than living on the street? Those with traditional disabilities also have a harder than average time with the harsh life that living in the streets entails.

Do our American Service Veterans deserve to be homeless? They served our country. Often put their life on the line. Voluntarily. Combat vets in particular have more than their share of mental and physical disabilities. In almost every state except California, we make sure our veterans are housed. Not California. Our record is abysmal. We have more homeless veterans in SLO County than in 41 other entire states in the union. Yes, it's true. Shameful.

Do our Senior Citizens deserve to be homeless?

Do we have an answer to the question: where can I go right now?

There is no sense of urgency.

Thanks to my "select" friends and family. They provided the insight into allowing me to  understand the lack of support for lending a helping hand to the homeless.

A Society's worth is measured by how they treat the most vulnerable. They

ARIZONA: May 2015 Havasupai Falls

*****UPDATE 6/4/2015: Sue and I were both struck with sudden and unexpected major illness, requiring major surgery and recovery. We were unable to go to Supai Falls, and were sad. However, we're not dead yet! We hope to get back there again someday. Stay tuned for another trip posting here for Supai Falls. We are just grateful to receive excellent medical treatment, with a good likelihood of surviving our illnesses.

*****ORIGINAL POST: Mark Mac emailed me an amazing video on you tube of Havasu Falls. It was taken by a group of cliff divers that visited all of the Supai Falls (including Avatar Falls, aka Hidden Falls). Click on this link.

Above: Tim hikes in on day 1 of 2014 trip.

Above: Driving Map. From Kingman, AZ to Supai Indian Reservation.

Above: Hiking map. From trailhead to campground.

Above: (major waterfall) Rock Falls.

Above: (major waterfall) Havasu Falls - Tim takes the plunge from above!

Above: I recommend buying this book - the best guidebook for our trip. About $15 to $20 at Amazon.com.

More information and photos coming soon.

WORLD: Jews Under Attack at UCDavis

*****2/20/2015 Update: Sent to me by Kim - thanks. UC Davis student government divestment from Israel vote was overturned on 2/19/2015, which you can read about by clicking here. That's progress, but it doesn't do anything to address the UC Davis student movement that proclaims that "Sharia law has taken over UC Davis". If you want to lodge a complaint against what is happening at UC Davis in the conflict between Israel Supporters and Sharia Law supporters, you can call Emily Prieto, Chief of Staff to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, at (530) 752-0946.

*****2/10/2015 Update: Santa Cruz, CA, February 10, 2015- After the Jewish community suffered two hate crimes at UC Davis in recent days, 23 organizations with hundreds of thousands of members and supporters demanded UC Davis Chancellor Katehi conduct a formal investigation into registered student group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and one of its members, Azka Fayyaz, also a UC Davis student senator. I am anxiously awaiting action from UC Davis, but am not optimistic. You can read more about this by clicking here.

                       

*****2/5/2015: The bottom line is that we are all on the planet together. Those who want to work towards living in harmony with those who are different from them deserve to live in peace. Those who seek to create conflict and inflict intentional violence against innocents deserve to be stopped by any means. Period. Peace through Superior Firepower. America defeats its enemies and then rebuilds them (Japan, Germany after WWII, etc.) - what other country does that?

PERSONAL: Sayings from the Mind of Waag!

I'm working part time this year (2019) and want to get back to my research and writing. My goal is to complete a book a year, starting this year. I believe I MIGHT be able to get 2 books done this year, in fact - stay tuned. Requires commitment and vigilance. http://salttram.blogspot.com

Part 1: These are sayings that I've come up with that represent my life experiences:

SUCCESS TW35: Organization is the Key to Efficiency!  I wrote this long ago in a diary that I kept in High School and College. I believed it then, and still believe it now. Ironically, after raising kids and running a law firm for a few decades, we have packed away way too much junk. We are trying to re-organize our home by getting rid of stuff. We have followed the excellent book "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing" by Marie Kondo - I highly recommend this clever approach to "downsizing your stuff". 

POLITICS TW34: Don't Listen to What Politicians SAY — Instead, Pay Attention to What They DO.  Long before the great political divide of modern times (i.e., the Obama and Trump years), I learned to ignore what politicians said, but instead, paid attention to only what they did. Their actions include how they vote, what bills the author and sponsor, etc. This has always served me well, and even more so today. Ignore the ads, ignore the news media diarrhea, the political pontificating, their self-serving statements, etc. Pay attention their actions: it is far easy to "sound off" about issues, and far harder to actually solve a problem. Sound advice, IMHO.

SOCIETY TW33: Believe Something...Do Something.  Not too long ago in 2017, I spoke to Mila's middle school history class about homelessness. I always love speaking with kids, simply because they "get it" in a way that most adults do not. I always look for a pithy message for them to take away from our meeting. One time, spontaneously, I expressed it in only 4 words!!! Pithy, indeed. What does this saying mean? Whatever you believe in — whatever dwells everlasting in your heart — don't let it get stale: Do something based on your beliefs about the great big world around you. Build up your courage and let your heartfelt beliefs energize you and spur you to ever greater meaning in life.

SOCIETY TW32: A society should be judged by how it treats the least among it. In regard to the homeless, at least in California, we have done rather poorly. Let's not even get into the other truly disadvantaged groups: disabled, mentally ill, PTSD, elderly, etc. We treat the groups that truly need it rather meagerly, yet those of sound mind and body often get what they do not even need. I believe that all those who are able should be given the opportunity earn their keep, perhaps even learning how to take care of the sick, elderly, mentally ill and homeless. I believe that most of them actually want to do so, if they only got the opportunity.

NAMING STUFF TW31: Don't go too far out of your way to name a pet, or a boat, or any other item - if you are patient, the world will name it for you. I have simply observed this to be true: when a name is needed, it will present itself in it's own time. And it'll be the right name.

Above: Our current boat, a 26 foot 1998 Seaswirl Striper diving and fishing boat. We tried to name it, but the various names didn't stick. But in the end, it did name itself. I won't reveal the name here, because it is a bit embarrassing (not for the reason you think, either!). My favorite name for the boat was "Recon 1", as this was the series of names of a bunch of Chevron boats that were moored at the same dock with us at King Harbor in Redondo Beach - they were big commercial diesel powered aluminum boats named Recon 1, Recon 2, etc. I thought the name sounded good, especially over a VHF radio (Channel 72 "This is Recon 1 in the channel crossing harvesting a school of big Blues; Recon 1 on site and awaiting your arrival; Recon 1 - out" etc.). Oh well. Ask me and I'll tell you our boat's name and the story of how it got its name.

PETS TW30: Your pet will let you know when its their time to "say goodbye to this world". Our pets are gifts from G*d, but the gift does not last forever, at least in the flesh. Our pets instinctively know when it's their time to go, and we must respect their wishes. When "that time" finally comes, we wish we could just have them for "one more week, one more day, one more hour". However, it is cruel to continue their life past the time when they have given us "the sign", so we honor their wishes, and end their life with dignity. But until that "sad day", please honor your pet by enjoying their time, company and humor, while you still can.

PETS TW29: Let the world know you are seeking a pet, and the pet will find you. I have simply observed this to be true. Maybe its mystical or spiritual or magical, or maybe it's what we also call the "Magic of Intentions". In any case, it's a handy tool, and it works for other things besides pets, too: if there is something that you really want, then do not be shy about letting the world know, and do your positive best to make it happen, and chances are that it will.

PETS TW28: It is a seemingly cruel G*d who made our pets to live 10 or 15 years, and for us to live to 70, 80 or more. I As an adult, I have only had to go through losing a pet once, with Shayna, the dog that our children grew up with. G*d help us when it is Theo's turn to go - I'm sure we'll never have another dog after that, which is a shame. Theo better live a long time! I have relatives who refuse to enjoy the special companionship of a dog because they cannot bear what Laura coined "the sad day". Our next sad day (with Theo) will be sad indeed; yes, our relatives and friends think we are crazy about our dog and they are right - but this too is G*d's fault for making dogs such wonderful creatures.

PETS & PEOPLE TW27: When you never forget, they are never truly gone. When people or pets have passed, I believe in continuing to be immersed in their memory, until you too are gone. When doing so, they are never really gone - they vividly live on in your mind and soul. After my grandfather - Robert Waag, Sr. passed, it was another 13 years before his wife of 59.5 years, my grandmother, Irma Waag, joined him; in those intervening years, we never spoke of grandpa without us both ending up in tears - as it should be; you are supposed to cry when remembering those you love who have perished.

WORDS TO LIVE BY TW26: Do not pass up the good in search of the perfect. You know you've hit on something "for the ages" when the following folks have all uttered versions of this saying: Confucius. Aristotle. Voltaire. Pescetti. Shakespeare. Yep - all had their own versions of it. A few brief examples: "Perfect is the enemy of good". "Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without". "Striving to better, oft we mar what's well". However, I can't find anyone who phrased it the way I have, so I am taking credit for it as an original saying. Plus, I don't recall every hearing those other similar versions of it. What it says about human nature is most fascinating. I witness this phenomenon all the time, including in myself - and especially among writers: one has the "good" in hand, yet dumps it and pursues the "perfect", which never comes. It is a curiosity of our human mind that we strive for perfection in all that we do, and in doing so, miss out on having merely "the good", which should be good enough, but it isn't! Obtaining "good" does not make us happy, but failing to achieve "perfection" also does not make us happy, but is much less effort! Also: Closely related is the "Nirvana Fantasy": you never start the task because perfection is too hard; also closely related is the Pareto principle aka the 80%–20% rule, summarized as "increasing effort results in diminishing returns").

LIFE & DEATH TW25: We're all playing a game where nobody gets out alive! Related to my decades of hospice volunteer work, it's a different way of saying the hospice slogan of "Dying is what happens on the last day, all the other days are about living". I like this saying and say it quite often.

WORDS TO LIVE BY TW24: One is None - Two is One  Okay, this is a Marine Corp. saying that I recently heard for the first time and misinterpreted what it meant. I have given it a new interpretation, thus making it mine, and not the Corp. I interpret its meaning in the context of the relationship to my wife: without her, I am nothing, thus "One is None" - together, we are as one, one soul, one entity, thus "Two is One"; Frankly, as I shared this with Sue, it brought a tear to my eye. It is now one of "our" sayings; too mushy? Not for us!

SO TRUE TW23: I love when one of my friends meets another one of my friends and they become friends.  This happens to me all the time. In fact, it often happens that when this occurs, they become better friends with each other than with me! But I am happy about that too. I am lucky to have a handful of good friends, and in a sense, when a new friendship is created, I get some sort of "karma credit" for creating the resulting friendship. This saying inspired by Mark Mac, ESHS Class of '77 - may he RIP.

GIVING THANKS TW22: If you know where you are going to SLEEP tonight, and you know where your next MEAL is coming from, then you should be thankful. Many people in this country do not have a warm, dry, safe, lockable place to sleep tonight - but you do. Many people are hungry or eat high calorie but low value food - think McDonalds Double Cheeseburger for a dollar - and don't know where their next meal will be coming from - but you do. Try going without food or lodging for a few days, and see what many of our homeless have to deal with, and you will be grateful for what you have.


WORDS TO LIVE BY TW21: When in doubt, do the right thing. Strangely, I have never heard this uttered by anyone else, so I am claiming this one for myself! This saying applies to situations where we face a dilemma about what to do. When you find yourself uncertain about what to do, just ask yourself "what is the right thing to do?". The vast majority of the time, we actually know what the right thing to do would be, but often we are too scared or too lazy to do "the right thing". Solution: don't think about it, just do it - do the right thing - I think that was also the name of a favorite Spike Lee movie of the same name.

WITTY SAYING TW20: Well, we still haven't done anything stupid yet today. Usually uttered near the end of one of our many adventure days, when there is an opportunity to: 1. do something smart and avoid an obstacle or turn around, or 2. do something stupid and plunge into the abyss. Nothing stupid yet today? Okay then - plunge into the abyss it is!.

Above: Death Valley National Park, California. Case in Point. We were doing a long dayhike, when the group abandoned us just as it got steep, long, and tough. Instead of taking the easy way, we cliffed out, with a big fat dog in tow. I happened to get this photo. It ended up being less dangerous than originally thought, but still stupid. No rope, no nothing. Probably doesn't look as dangerous as it was, as the rock was very loose and unstable. Note that I went first (and took the photo). Tracy, Andrew and Tracey's pooch.

WORDS TO LIVE BY TW19: A key to marriage is to put the needs of your spouse ahead of your own needs, and vice versa. I'm not sure that everyone can do this. It takes a great amount of love for one person to not take advantage of the other.

SO TRUE TW18: Nobody cares about what you think but your Mother and God. Okay, I adapted this saying from the Dave Ramsey radio show. It sounds very negative, but for me it is very positive. It helps me to remain humble and true to my origins. Thankfully, my wife also cares what I think, but that's pretty much where it ends. I appreciate what I  have, and I am grateful to have met, known, and spent time with some pretty amazing people. Humbleness complete! This saying caused me to consider why I continue to write this blog when nobody reads it? Answer: it consolidates and focuses my thoughts, ideas, and feelings, and I believe that it makes me a better writer. Someday, I hope to actually publish some of my writings, and this practice of the writing craft should help me in cranking out some of my research.

MOVIE FITS REALITY TW17:  I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who enjoys our trips under the blanket of leadership that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said "thank you", and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you organize and lead a trip yourself. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think of my trips. Okay, I adapted this quote from the movie "A Few Good Men" starring Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise and Kevin Bacon - a great movie with great lines. Jack's actual lines in the movie where he plays Col. Jessep: "I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to." My quote was in response to my frustration over someone who has gone on numerous trips of ours, enjoys them immensely, then bags on me personally for the manner in which we organize and lead them.

GOOD TIMES TW16: If it weren't for the Bad Times, we wouldn't recognize the Good Times I really believe this is true. Life is a cycle, and we all experience good and bad times - hopefully more good than bad! But if it were good all the time, I believe that we wouldn't truly appreciate it. Sometimes, I just go to bed, hoping for this bad day to end, knowing that a good day is coming. Amen.

PERFECTION TW15: Life's Not Perfect - Get Used to It! There's a burning inner desire in us humans that strives for perfection in life. Sadly, we will never achieve that perfection because - SURPRISE! - we're only human! We are all flawed, just in different ways. Sometimes, you just have to let go of that desire for perfection and instead honor ourselves as the flawed human beings that we are, and just enjoy life!

SOLVING THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS TW14: Every World Problem is reduced by having less people on Planet Earth Growing population on our planet is a huge problem that gets little attention in the media. This concept was popular in the 1970's, but has largely been silent since then - I don't know why. When I discuss this with ardent environmentalists, they strangely object to this apparent fact. 

SOLVING THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS TW13: In our affluent society, we should be able to shelter and feed everyone, regardless of circumstance. Yes - this is a simplistic statement, but that is the nature of "sayings". No - Not luxury accommodations - Not gourmet food. But a roof that doesn't leak, a warm bed in a safe and secure building, and sufficient calories a day of affordable, healthy, simply, inexpensive food. There are solutions to these problems that are affordable, but that the public is not willing to accept. Witness the refusal of neighborhoods to allow groups like the People's Kitchen to dispense food to those who need it. 

Above (click to enlarge): Mountain Biking world class single track trails at Montana de Oro State Park with my buddy Michael.

GET FIT - STAY FIT (TW12):  Its not how HARD you work out, its how OFTEN! Its more important to try and get in some exercise every single day, rather than kill yourself on the rare occasions when you can actually find time to get a workout in. The reality is that if you find time for regular exercise, no matter how limited the workout, your fitness level will continue to improve, allowing you to naturally and organically increase your strength and endurance. Keep in mind that with a goal of trying to work out EVERY DAY, you are more likely to get in 4 or 5 workouts a week, which is an excellent frequency, since it is also important to get in a few rest days every week.

BUCKET LIST TW11:  When you are in your 20's, 30's, or 40's, you can always convince yourself that there will always be more time to do the things you have dreamed of doing. When you hit your 50's, you can no longer kid yourself. If there are things you dream to do, you better get on with doing them! Yes, its long-winded. I've begun to say this alot, and though a bit of a mouthful, it does represent our current thoughts - time to be getting on with things - retirement be d*mned!.

WORDS TO LIVE BY TW10:  We just want to have some fun before we're done! Sue and I just started saying this one - it came from "The Mind of Waag" but I'm sure its been said before! We realize we are not getting any younger, and just want to enjoy a little bit more of life before we're too old to do so - so should you!. 

WADAYA WANT FOR NUTHIN'? TW9:  Guaranteed Fun or Your Money Back! We use this saying on our "free" trips, where friends, family and strangers are invited to attend. We also use this when friends come to stay in the heaven that is San Luis Obispo. Nobody has ever asked for their money back - mostly because its free in the first place!.

TRY IT TW8:  The 10 Minute Rule Okay, not strictly a "saying" per se, but a motivational technique that I like to use. Whenever you do NOT feel like doing something that REALLY needs to get done, try the 10 minute rule: sit down and focus on accomplishing that task for 10 minutes; about 7 out of 10 times, within that 10 minute period, your mind gives in to your will and focuses its strength and energy on the desired task - try it some time!.

SO SORRY TW7:  I didn't do it. And if I did do it, I didn't mean it. If I did meant it, I didn't really mean it! Yes, I utter this saying, mostly when I've been drinking, I suppose. Its supposed to silly. A response to "who did this?". We still fear this question from our childhood, a time period when we would never get away with this response - at least for long. I guess that's what makes this saying funny - at least to me!.

LIVING IN YOUR HEAD TW6:  Just decide to be happy. Sometimes, life just weighs you down. Whether for a good reason, or no reasons, you are just sad and depressed. In those situations, I have found that there is only one thing for me to do - just decide to ignore all that baggage and just be happy - and why not? You don't live forever, and happiness is fleeting, and this technique often works for me. You should give it a try.

MONEY TW5: Nobody will ever care more about your money than you do. Up until 1997, I used a full service brokerage to manage my puny investments. How naive. A tiny account like mine would NEVER get the attention it deserved. So just a year before we opened our business, Waag and Co.com, I educated myself about investments and never looked back. Have not consulted a brokerage since then, and if not massively successful, I at least understand what is happening with our hard-earned savings.

POLITICS TW4: If it makes sense, our leaders will NEVER do it. Do I really need to explain this one? Okay, for the slow-on-the-uptake amongst us: Anytime we hear of a GREAT NEW IDEA that would require establishment support or sponsorship or outright ownership, we know that it will NEVER happen. Why? Because our public leaders are invested in the status quo. That includes all their pay, perks and pension payouts, which are threatened by any NEW AND IMPROVED idea. The best solutions come from the people, who are willing to try and do practically anything, especially if they think they can make a buck doing it!

GO FOR IT TW3: Inspiration is where you find it. We never know where, when or how we will find something that inspires us; it doesn't have to be something that is classically motivational, but often is something unexpected; example: some of my favorite quotes, like those from Mark Twain, inspire me to thoughtful or brash action, depending on the quote!

GO FOR IT TW2: Well, you're not dead yet! Uttered whenever someone talks about achieving some life dream, but seems skeptical that it can ever be started, much less achieved.

GOOD  TIMES TW1: We always leave, wanting more A reference to our many exploration and adventure trips to different parts of the world that we have fallen in love with; brother Brian and I note frequently that we always leave at the end of a trip, dying to  return to explore some more!; in the rare instances when the magic is over, I am sad to admit when some place or activity that I have loved for so many years comes to an end; my soccer example: due to sports injuries, I had to give up playing soccer at age 45 - I could probably play now after many surgeries to my knees, ankles and feet, but the risk of injury is too great - I loved playing soccer starting at age 10 in AYSO, then for Westchester Santos and South Torrance High Soccer Club, followed by UCLA and the LA Soccer club semi-pro team, then the TRW Soccer Club for 10 years, pick-up games at Meadow Park in SLO at lunch on Tues. and Thurs., then a team in the Paso Robles Soccer League when we moved to SLO, which was my last time playing competitive soccer; it was devastating to give up playing a sport that I loved for more than 35 years - I always thought I'd be playing soccer forever.

Part 2: These are sayings that I love, but have been written (or said) by others:

BOOK: THE MISSION WALKER Others-39: I believe a long walk is like life: Know where you are going. Walk the straightest line to get there, and don't look back. Otherwise, you never get to where you want to go. From the Non-fiction book, "The Mission Walker" by Edie Sundby. I'm reading this book for the 2nd time. Enjoyed it the first time for the action, and the second time for the subtleties. The above quote is from the book. I didn't always believe this was true. Something about "the journey" being more important than the destination. However, as you get older and you still have things you want to do, it's time to get to doing them, and d*mn the distractions! If you like California mission history, I highly recommend this book. 

HARRY CHAPIN (MAY HE RIP) Others-38: When in doubt -- do something! This is something Harry Chapin often said. He found it was often much easier to accomplish the impossible than to do the ordinary. This is very similar to my own saying: "Believe Something - Do Something". When we take action, it creates energy and empowers us. Often, we have mental lapses and put off doing things we don't want to do, or are inexplicably afraid of acting. Once we act, the dam breaks, and the energy flows. Certainly, wise words to live by - what are you going to do today?

AN "OLD" FAVORITE Others-37: Your eyes are the Window / Mirror to your Soul. The saying has been attributed to William Shakespeare, but has been said in various forms longer before the "Bard of Avon" came along. People betray their thoughts and feelings through their facial expressions, but with no tool more powerful than their eyes. When I capture images of people (otherwise known as portraits), I try to capture their fanciful expression through their eyes, as in the photo of this homeless man below.

HARRY CHAPIN (MAY HE RIP) Others-36: Good tired, ironically enough, can be a day that you lost. But you won’t even have to tell yourself, because you knew you fought your battles, you chased your dreams, you lived your days. And when you hit the hay at night, you settle easy, you sleep the sleep of the just, and you can say, “Take me away." are no atheists in a foxhole. As I've grown older (how I HATE that phrase, but use it I must!), I've appreciated the opportunity to fight my battles, instead of those of my employer or others. I think this just speaks for itself. I will fight the good fight, until they come and take me away. In the meantime, I'll sleep the sleep of the just. Amen.

BELIEF IN A HIGHER POWER Others-35: There are no atheists in a foxhole. I could not figure out who first said this phrase, so we will remain in the dark about that. No doubt this saying came about during World War I and World War II, when lots of Americans were in foxholes and praying. Of course, the saying itself is not strictly true in any way, as there are of course, many atheists in foxholes. However, if you have any reservations about praying or whether there is a G*d, those reservations tend to disappear when you expect a mortar round to land on your head at any time. There is much written online about this saying, but I think my favorite is this: "People seem to think this is a good argument against atheism. I think it's a better argument against foxholes." I think our soldiers spend little or no time in foxholes these days, those I'm sure it does happen from time to time.

GREATNESS Others-34: Dear Lord, if I am not on this earth to do great things, please give me the wisdom to do small things in a great way. Of course, this is my own tweaked version of the famous and pithy saying (often attributed American self-help author Napoleon Hill - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Hill ): "If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way". I have accepted my limitations in this life, and instead strive to do small things in a great way. As I have noted many times, I have been fortunate in my life to be "next to" great people as they do great things, while I stand by, and maybe hand them a tool! (so to speak). A person must know their limitations, and I have so, so, so many - and I'm good with that. Amen.

ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS Others-33: Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours. This quote is from one of my favorite college era books, Illusions, by Richard Bach (thanks, Nancy!). People often believe in us more than we believe in ourselves. Rather than setting out to reach a goal, we create arguments for why the goal is not achievable. Turn that around: make arguments for why you can live your dreams, and odds are that you will get there. It may not be easy, but it is the hard goals that are most satisfying. As an example, I have always loved Scuba diving, but never dreamed I could master it to the degree that I could become an instructor. However, my wife believed in me, and just as importantly, head instructor Rick Olson from Dive N' Surf / Body Glove believed in me (or didn't let on that he didn't think I could do it!). Amazingly, I became an NASDS and PADI instructor at my favorite Dive Store, Dive N' Surf in Redondo Beach, California. Shortly afterwards, I was promoted to head instructor at the store for 5 years. Wow! It's great when people believe in you - it makes it easier to believe in yourself! Thanks everyone! 

PHOTO (above): Contemplative moment out at Wilson Rock, San Miguel Island, on a rare calm flat clear day! Getting ready to jump in for the first dive of the day.

BEING PREPARED Others-32: Luck is when Preparation meets Opportunity. This saying has been attributed to the Roman philosopher Seneca, and it is still true today. As an example, recently my son James was vying for a job as a tour guide at Hearst Castle. Rather than just show up and "wing it", he got prepared. He updated his linked in page to reflect his qualifications to be a tour guide (UCSB degree in Classics - Greek and Roman culture). We went on some Hearst Castle tours (at $25 a pop - each!) and video-taped some of our tour guides. We later studied the videos of the best of the Castle guides to understand what made their techniques so effective. 

We talked to the guides after the tours to get tips on how to prepare for the interviews. A few of the interview questions that were asked of our guides were the same questions that James got in his interview! What luck! Also, Hearst Castle told James that in one of the interviews he would be asked to study material on a site similar to Hearst Castle (in this case, the childhood home of Mark Twain) for 45 minutes, then give a simulated tour of the site (in front of an interview panel!). To prepare, he did a simulation of this "site tour" interview for 3 different locations. For instance, since we live in a town with a mission founded by Junipero Serra, O. F. M., we pulled together some study material on Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa for James to study for 45 minutes, then we drove to the mission, and James practiced given a tour of the mission for a few hours, until he became comfortable with the process (see photo below from his Mission practice tour). 

After all this preparation, he nailed multiple interviews, and has been invited to take the 7 week tour guide preparation course, which will start on April 25, 2017. Opportunity, preparation, and finally, a job offer! Yeah!

MOVIE MADNESS Others-31: You all know exactly who I am. Say my name. <Do what? I don't have a d*mn clue who the hell you are>. Yeah, you do. I'm the cook. I'm the man who killed Gus Fring. <Bullsh*t. Cartel got Fring>. You sure? That's right. Now. Say my name. <You're Heisenberg>. You're G*d d*mn right. Find the link to this 52 second clip by clicking on this link. One of the great moments in the great series "Breakin' Bad". I'm gonna order my pork pie hat soon (the hat I'm wearing in the photo below is a "Trilby") just like Heisenberg. Our next door neighbor has a "Bounder" motorhome similar to the one used by "Walt and Jessie" in the first few series of Breakin' Bad. Unfortunately, our neighbors RV caught fire in their driveway and was gutted and destroyed. Talk about making lemonade when life gives you lemons: after it happened, they asked me to come over and model as "Walt" for a photoshoot of "Walt and Jessie". Not bad. You decide. Click to enlarge.

REASON TO LIVE Others-30: Cosmic Moments in Non-Cosmic Lives. Uttered by folk artist Harry Chapin, may he RIP. Refers to the fact that most of us live mundane lives, but they are occasionally intertwined with "cosmic moments" as Harry alludes to. These moments are what makes life worth living for most of us - you can have the mundane stuff!.

GOOD ADVICE Others-29: Never argue with a fool - onlookers may not know the difference. Another one of my favorites. If an individual can't have a civilized discussion of an important issue, then it is time for me to "step away"; nothing can be accomplished by an irrational human unwilling to consider another's point of view.

GOOD ADVICE Others-28: It is better to keep your mouth shut and have them think me a fool, then open my mouth and remove all doubt. Yes, I live by this. I am a simple man - perhaps too simple. I often go into "wallflower" mode, rather than open my mouth and look like at the fool I may be. I guess it works for me - but then, those that think I am a fool would probably not say so to my face? Sadly, my wife's side of the family - the smart side of the family - generally thinks poorly of me, a fact that saddens me. They treat me as more of a servant, since it just so happens that I am handy in matters around the house and in finances. They don't openly disdain me because I keep their daughter/sister/aunt - i.e., my wife - happy. Oh well - I do the best I can with what I've got, but apparently it's not enough!.

GOOD ADVICE Others-27: There is no limit to the amount of good you can do, if you don't care who gets the credit.  President Reagan is credited with this saying, though it is known that he did not invent the saying, but merely repeated it. I have lived my entire life by this motto, but it is entirely self serving, since I am embarrassed by recognition for anything I have done. Indeed, most of my Facebook posts where I have received compliments for what I have done are met with "You are too kind" and I mean it. People are too kind in their words to me. I am only doing what any well-meaning person would do, and do not want or expect to be singled out for it. So, I try to do as much good as I can, and you will never/rarely see me claiming any credit for it.

KEEP THE FAITH Others-26: Do the best you can, with what you've got. It will be enough. I just finished reading the book "All the Gallant Men: The First Memoir by a USS Arizona Survivor" by Donald Stratton. Written in 2016 in honor of the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Only 5 soldiers stationed on the Arizona that day are still alive, and Mr. Stratton is one of them. On page 213 of his book, he had this quote. These wise words have helped Mr. Stratton, and I liked them. It's not in the bible. We don't know who said it, but as Mr. Stratton states, "it WASN'T Patton or MacArthur"! Hope you like it as much as I do. Photo in background by Phil M.

JUST FUNNY! Others-25: Beauty is in the Eye of the Beer Holder! Okay. I've never said this one before, but found it on a marquee at the Ram's Head Shore House in Stevenson, Maryland. I found it to be quite funny, and as I am often melancholy - like I am now while I am writing this - a good laugh is sometimes a good thing, and this made me laugh.

OOPS! Others-24: How could this accident have been prevented? I don't know who stated this first, but it was long before our group of adventurists got together, that's for sure. Much like the "we haven't done anything stupid yet today", it is said when we are doing something stupid that is likely to result in an accident, but the accident just hasn't occurred - yet.

WE'VE GOT TO DO IT! Others-23: Its up to us to make a difference. The poor can't do it, because they are barely hanging on themselves. The rich won't do it, because they are too busy trying to figure out how to make more money. That leaves us - we've got to do it. This is a paraphrase from a concert recording by Harry Chapin - I have not been able to find the exact quote (though I haven't looked too hard yet!). For those of us who know where we are going to sleep safe and warm tonight...for those of us who know where our next meal is coming from...then we have a moral obligation to help those who don't know. That's why I focus on feeding the hungry and housing the homeless - not an easy task, but a necessary and gratifying one.

TRUTH HURTS Others-22: I am a greedy, selfish bastard. I want the fact that I existed to mean something. I attended 3 Harry Chapin Concerts before his traffic accident death at the age of 38 on July 16, 1981. I read his autobiography (an awful read, IMHO), and he was indeed a greedy, selfish bastard who overcame that part of his being, and was simultaneously an amazingly generous humanitarian. Strangely, I feel the same way. Perhaps, deep down in our hearts, we are all greedy, selfish bastards - with some of us trying to overcoming that condition that we were born with. In any case, I sadly admit to being that, and try to overcome that impulse by being a selfish bastard that does some good. I do want the fact that I existed to mean something, just like Harry's life did indeed mean something - just ask his fans, like me. Thanks, Nancy T..

MOVIE MADNESS! Others-21: It's a H*ll of a thing, killing a man. You take away everything he's got, and everything he's ever gonna have. Clint Eastwood's character "William Munny" in the 1992 Best Picture film, Unforgiven.

MOVIE MADNESS! Others-20: I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? Well to tell you the truth in all this excitement I kinda lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and would blow you head clean off, you've gotta ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk? Detective Harry Callahan, played by Clint Eastwood, in the 1971 thriller, Dirty Harry.

A MOMENT IN TIME Others-19: Let's go to the Beer. Yes, this was uttered by none other than our "Rubi" aka Scott M. on our first backpack together: just Tim, Brian and Scott. We were doing an ambitious winter route in the Panamints, and got trapped between 2 canyons, high on a ridgeline, in ever deepening snow. Gradually, as we climbed along the ridge, the snow grew from patch to 2 feet, to 3 feet, and the trail was finally obliterated. We had just ascended 4,200 feet, and spent an hour deciding what to do. Finally, Rubi uttered the infamous phrase "Let's go to the beer". Nobody said a word - we just turned around, and hiked until well after dark to get back to our cars and, of course, the beer! We had done the hardest day of backpacking in my life: 4,200 feet of ascent and 8,000 plus feet of descent - all off trail. Oh, my aching feet. Thanks Scott, for this cool saying, that we have muttered more than once since then.

GO FOR IT! Others-18: Adventure is the Respectful Pursuit of Trouble. Heard this while watching an Overland Expo Adventure at http://www.xoverland.com/ This is at the heart of our explorations with the Waag Bros., aka E. Clampus Waagus and agree with it wholheartedly.

SO TRUE Others-17: I've Been Rich and I've been Poor - Rich is better. Comes from the concept that money can't buy happiness, which is true, but it can buy everything else - see next saying. Being rich means at least you know where you are going to sleep tonight, and that you will not go to bed hungry.

SO TRUE Others-16: Money can't buy Happiness, but it can buy Everything Else. Its a true statement. Maybe being rich can't make me happy, but I'm willing to give it a try anyways. Make me rich, and I'll figure out a way to be happy!.

SO TRUE Others-15: It's Better to be Lucky Than Good. Don't know who said it, and don't know why I like the saying, but I do find myself saying it often. Just 1 example: which would I rather do? A: Win the Lottery (say $200,000,000) or B: Bust my ass for 20 years building a company, and then it for $200,000,000? My answer: A (lucky) instead of B (good). Case closed!

GO FOR IT! Others-14: Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Saying by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Need I say more?

GET RICH Others-13: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. This statement is commonly and frequently attributed to Warren Buffet, the "Oracle of Omaha", considered to be the best investor of our times. Its another version of "buy low, sell high". When others are fearful, that is when you make the best deals, if you have the guts to do so. When others are greedy, that is the time to sell. After the market crashed in 2007-2008, we had a little cash to invest, but were fearful of losing it if we did. So we did not, finding security in our cash - while all of our investments except Gold were tanking. If we had followed the Oracle's sage advice, we'd be in a better financial place today. Alas, we felt that being able to hold cash and sleep at night was the best option at the time.

SO TRUE Others-12: A hundred years from now, nobody will know the difference. My Mom used to say this when I was a kid, and I never knew what it even meant! I'm older now, and I do know what it means. It means "don't sweat the small stuff". It means "the problem you are freaking out about isn't as big as you think it is, so try not to worry too much about it". Thanks, Mom.

SO TRUE Others-11: Old friends, they mean much more to me than the new friends, Cause they can see where you are, and they know where you've been. This is a line from the late great Harry Chapin, Go Lightly with You. I've been enjoying re-connecting with old friends from UCLA, El Segundo High (my alma mater) and earlier.

LIVE YOUR LIFE Others-10: Do what you love, love what you do This is a common saying that has been uttered by many in one form or another over the eons. However, this well-worn platitude was made to shine by the life of one Bob Meistrell, a California surfing and diving legend who passed away doing something he loved on June 16, 2013. RIP Bobby - we will miss you.

HISTORICAL HOOK Others-9: The Eagle Has Landed This, of course, is the phrase uttered on 7/20/1969 by gutsy astronaut Neil Armstrong, after cooling landing the Eagle for the first time on the moon. The whole quote is "Houston: Tranquility Base Here. The Eagle Has Landed". We often use it via cell phone or FRS Radio that we have arrived at our target, whatever that might be. Often it is getting into camp, via 4x4 vehicle or backpacking.

BE CAREFUL Others-8: If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is This is a common phrase, that has even more relevance in the Internet era. The examples I could give are endless. However, I have an example from yesterday 8/13/2012: I was helping a homeless guy - I'll call him Jonah. He just got all his stuff (tent, sleep pad, sleep bag, etc.) ripped off from his encampment, and needed new stuff. I was helping him to replace these critical items, and he called me from Cal Poly where he was using the internet. He found a "name-brand" tent for about 70% off the normal price on a suspicious website, that turned out to be a Phishing site. He argued with me, though I was trying to protect him. I knew that if I put in my personal info (credit card, email address), that I'd get hammered, but he didn't believe me, and caused some friction in our relationship. I was hoping he'd stick with inexpensive tents bought at local stores instead. Oh well. The deal sounded too good to be true, and it was too good to be true. Sorry this was so long!.

FUNNY Others-7: - He was the type of guy who when you said "Hello", he was stuck for an answer My Jim Johnson often said this; I encounter these people all the time, especially from parts of the country where people are not friendly; I'll often say "Hello" to strangers in passing, and they are stuck for an answer - go figger!

WORDS TO LIVE BY Others-6: - The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one Mark Twain; I have used this many times when my motivation or energy is faltering, and more often than not, this becomes a big pick-me-up of energy.

LIVE YOUR LIFE Others-5: Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover Mark Twain.

TOO FUNNY! Others-4: I could never get drunk enough to do that to my Jeep! Ah yes, the wisdom of spending too much time out in the desert with a bunch of friends and unlimited supplies of alcohol. This was uttered by Scott when TD was doing something so utterly destructive to his Jeep that I cannot even give a hint of description of the activity in question. Those who were present, and you know who you are, can testify to the factuality of my statement.

WORDS TO LIVE BY Others-3: Never Walk Alone Ironically, Sue and I both worked for a supervisor at the same time with the name of Jim Johnson: my Jim Johnson was my boss at the defense contractor TRW - no longer in existance, and Sue's Jim Johnson was her boss at the law firm of Hill Farrer and Burrill, which is still in business and celebrating 85 years as a mid-size, downtown LA law firm; my Jim Johnson was one of 2 supervisors at TRW that helped me come of age, and he introduced me to this phrase "Never Walk Alone"; I was a Member of the Technical Staff "MTS" at that time, which was a catch-all phrase used at TRW for programmers, scientists and engineers who had not yet graduated to management level; the phrase meant that if things were going wrong, don't keep it to yourself, but let management know the moment a problem rears its ugly head; it saves you from shockingly bad news down the line, and allows management to make their decisions with up-to-date knowledge of the technical situation "on the ground"; thanks to my Jim Johnson for his wisdom in the 3 or so years that I worked for him at TRW.

GROWING Others-2: The mind, once stretched by a new idea, can never return to its former dimension Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, born 29 August 1809 – died 8 October 1894, was an American physician, writer, poet, and the father of US Supreme Court.

WORDS TO LIVE BY Others-1: Always do the other person right This is a paraphrase of the wisdom that I often heard from my grandmother, Irma Waag; I interpreted it to mean that I should always be helpful, charitable and honest in my dealings with other people.

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