2011..FIRST YEAR.....

You have heard the saying used in many ways.....2011 is the first year of the rest of your life here on earth.........

So what are you going to do this year..........Here is a list ...you decide if you are going to do......

MORE OR LESS OF THE FOLLOWING;

Love               Pray
Faith                Judge People
Charity            Drink Alcohol  
Exercise           Do Drugs
Volunteer         Lead or Follow


The wish for all is that ...We all be the best person we can be.......

HAPPY NEW YEAR  !!!!!!

OBAMA...VICK

I am so happy when I get the chance to agree with the President of the United States......It has been a hard thing to do since he showed up at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave......but he is "right on today"........

President Obama called the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles and related that it is a good thing that Michael Vick has been given a "second chance"........

I believe that persons who have been incarcerated should be given the chance to rebuild their lives.....and it should apply to all....It is better for society as well as the entire Country.....We all have made mistakes......
and compassion is a good thing......

This has nothing to do with the fact that Michael Vick has scored many points for my "Fantasy Football"Crushers, and the possibility that he may carry the Crushers to that elusive championship next year......

SANTA'S ON HIS WAY......MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL....

I was in my car this morning and I had a "deja vu" as the song Christmas in Killarney came on and threw my mind into the days of "Christmas Past "........My Irish Mother , Margo had that song playing more than periodically during this wonderful time of year....and it brought back all the anticipation and hype that accompanied the "feelings of Christmas ".......

I wish great "blessings"to all this Christmas, and I leave you the rendition of "Santa" as depicted by the art of
my favorite inmate....."who is the best of all............"

God Bless......

DIANE WILKERSON......WHAT DID THE DEFENSE DO ?

I do not feel comfortable criticizing Attorneys in the "heat of hearings", but if the facts related in today's paper are true somebody on the defense team made a "boo boo".....a big one.

The hearing was for pre sentencing  of Former Representative Diane Wilkerson..........and the defense called a Developer to the Stand who they assumed would be favorable to her........and the opposite was the outcome of his testimony.He stated that he paid her $ 10,000  in cash and that was after she said that" she preferred it that way"She can get practically no punishment or 160 years....The US ATTORNEY'S Office wants 4 years.......This witness is hurting her hope for freedom.

The cardinal rule in law school was .....never ask a question that you do not know the answer to......The Defense has a prominent member of the Harvard  Law School faculty, and I assume he knows the rules.

This is as bizarre as the matters that occurred in the Chuck Turner Trial.....Are the Lawyers listening to the clients too closely or being forced to act in less than the best interest of the them due to their direction ?

JERRY PARISELLA......STATE REP......CITIZEN SOLDIER.....

 We are  fighting two wars.....Our military is a volunteer force that is dependent in many ways by the part time members of the Reserves........and now the inevitable.....One of those part time soldiers is called to active duty for a year and he was just elected a State Representative for the North Shore District which includes Beverly.....

There are people including his opponent in the election who are saying he should resign his seat since he is not available to the people of his District and is unable to vote in the House since proxy or absentee voting is not allowed in the House of Representatives.......

I believe that absentee voting should be allowed for him,and I am sure that the House Rule on this matter could be amended.......however, it should not carry over to all the Members....since we would never see them again...except on "payday" or election time......

Concerning the District.......Computers, email,Skype and all the other communication devices will keep him available to the constituents.......The voters will deal with him the same way it does with the other "Reps"......If you are there when I needed you I will vote for you.......Parisella knows this and I assume he will work in his best interests....

In all reality he probably will have more time to work on his "State  Rep" job in the war zone than if he were home. I am familiar with the "JAG" branch  of which he is part of, and  it normally involves day time Lawyer work ......He will have many "free hours" to spend on his other pursuits.

Remember......He will have no family and personal responsibilities like you have at home......and the Representative position allows him to work a full-time profession like the other Members....

Wish him the best and "God's Speed " in his return home.

Support the Troops..........

THE FIGHTER....LESSONS OF THE INNER CITY...

I realize that everybody has different opinions of what a "good flick" actually is........but for me "The Fighter" was great.......It reminded me of growing up in Malden ......with Brothers, friends and "close to friends of all types"................ the boxing and gym of Lowell,Mass.will take you out of your "comfort zone"and make you laugh and sad at the same time......

If you" suburbia " homebodies"want to get a  feel for the inner city "family life style".........see  Micky Ward of Lowell , eight siblings , Mother and Father  ........and a host of other Characters...living their lives the best  way they know how.........whether right or wrong..........

WHAT HAPPENS IN LYNN......STAYS.....LOU PANAKIO

The LYNN MUSEUM & HISTORICAL  SOCIETY held it's legacy recognition last night.It is the time of the year when the Society honors individuals that have contributed to the fabric of the City and have left a lasting impression that made the City of Lynn a better place for the citizens of the "Shoe City"...........
Lou has been a fixture in the City for the past 55 years representing families and businesses who have suffered fires, broken pipes, accidents and natural disasters.....with the goal being that their claims are resolved with a minimum disruption of their lives along with a satisfactory settlement with the Insurance Company......Lou's business plan is to take people out of disasters and make their lives better going into the future......no wonder he loved his work.........

Panakio Adjusters founded by Lou's Father 70 years ago continues to the present under the direction of Lisa Panakio Rowe and yours truly......

Lou's legacy however is more prevalent in his personality that had him always standing up for the "underdog " by understanding the circumstances and using his experience and expertise to make the best of bad situations........

The great "Love Story " was the marriage of Lou to his Wife, Marcia for 53 years......They were an inspiration to others who observed their closeness and undivided attention to each other ......which has been an inspiration to many family members including myself.....

In the local Golf scene,Lou has been a legend around the "leader board "......at Tedesco and Salem Country Club and beyond .............

The purpose of this blog is to show the strength of "actions over mere words".......and Lou is the example of......'What I am talking about............"

How to go Lou.....you are a leader we all should follow..........

PRISON CHEER.......REMEMBER HIM AT CHRISTMAS....

I appreciate the time and effort that goes into a Christmas Card being sent to me.I might not say much,but
I look at it as an act of "love"......even if the sender does not think that way or acknowledge it......
and with due respect to all who have sent cards and those still procrastinating I must admit that I have already received my favorite of the year.......and I wish to share it with you.......

The card itself has a "likeness of Santa Claus"  singing while playing a ukulele......except that it was sent by my favorite inmate who I respect with "all my heart "......and I firmly believe and pray that he will turn this episode in his life into a "good experience"in the big picture......

His message to Lisa and myself was..."..Merry Christmas ! I know I am not good at making cards but I am really enjoying myself in prison"........

I know he spoke in jest....but I want you to know that he is a positive force in spite of his "situation"as they say these days.......

He has trained dogs to assist the disabled and he speaks to groups to tell them of his life experiences and the pitfalls that can be avoided....

Remember him in your moments of solitude this Christmas Season.

THINKING OF THE PAST...........

I had a discussion with a group the other night and in" one way or another"the subject got into experiences
that I have had in the past while volunteering in various places.........

I did not feel comfortable at the time......and during the last couple of days I have developed a couple of thoughts.......

Two "anonymous" quotes come to mind ;

Thinking of the past is like driving a car in reverse........and

Talking about what you have done on "days gone by"means that you probably have not done much today...........

Action not talk.......is the mantra for today.....Just do it.....