Functional Path Training

My Parents

One of my cousins sent me this picture of my parents. They were special people. There is not a day a day that goes by that I do not think of them. My dad passed away 22 years this past week and my mom passed away 23 years ago. They made me who I am and for that I am so grateful. They were immigrants from the Italian Canton of Switzerland, Ticino. They came to this country not speaking a word of English and learned both English and Spanish. Neither had any significant education. My mom went to four years of elementary school and one year of high school in the US before my grandfather took her out of school to work. My dad went through the eighth grade in Switzerland. They were married at the height of the great depression. I remember my dad telling me stories of getting up at four in the morning to milk cows for ten dollars a week and a house. My mom was an amazing cook, not just Italian food but Mexican food that she had learned to cook work on the dairy farm the Mexican lady who was the cook. My dad was a gardener. As head grounds keeper at Santa Barbara High School the lawns were a work of art. My dad had a beautiful signing voice; some of my earliest memories were of him signing Italian and Spanish ballads. They sacrificed to put my brother and I through Parochial schools and helped me with my college education. I get my love of learning and reading from my mom and stubbornness and determination from my dad. Thanks mom and dad I love you and think about you all the time, your were very special.

 

Back in the Saddle

It good to be back posting, I think that is the longest period I have gone without posting since I started writing the blog in August of 2005. I had hoped to use the time the time to recharge my mental physical and batteries but that was not meant to be. There was an unexpected trip thrown in and the usual fires that needed to be put out when you run your own business. I did find time to more reading, write a bit and listen to some good music. I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts and ideas again. It seems that the daily routine of getting up in the morning and writing a blog is a great way to organize my thoughts for the day and get me going.

In my travels I picked up two CD’s at Starbucks I highly recommend. I am a big fan of these compilations CD’s that Starbucks music puts out. In fact as someone who travels a lot I am a big fan of Starbucks, mind you it is not about the coffee (not a big coffee drinker – take ice tea myself) but as the owner of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, so eloquently  states it is about the experience. No mater where in the world when you go into Starbucks the service and experience are exemplary and above all consistent. If you want to read an inspiring book about leadership under adverse conditions I recommend Howard Schultz’s new book “Onward – How Starbucks Fought for its life without Losing Its Soul.” Schultz is on my list of people I would love to meet and talk to.