Very impressed with the Hyundai concept “Walking Car.”
It can drive, walk, and climb.
I heard that this thing can even climb over walls and jump over gaps!
(Ah, I’m not going to say anything about border security with this–let’s just hope the bad guys don’t get this).
This is the closest that we’ve come to Hollywood’s Transformers.
This is much more than a vehicle for search and rescue–this is ALL-TERRAIN!
Great job Hyundai–I’d love to test drive this beauty! 😉
It takes time to build in life.
Or as they say:
“Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
But it’s not always easy to have patience.
We all have to start somewhere and usually it’s at the bottom.
And then we have to claw our way up (like Rocky).
Unless of course, you’re one of those people born with a “silver spoon” in your mouth.
The funny thing about building and climbing is that it can all be destroyed in a split second.
One silly mistake, one stupid word, one indiscretion, one lackadaisical moment, a turn of bad luck…or a series thereof.
It takes so much time and effort to build as we lay one brick of success upon another.
And it takes just a split second to destroy it all.
So watch-watch-watch your steps, because they can so easily turn into a rapid, spiraling, and even most deadly a fall. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
So I bought one these climbers–this one very colorful–to hang on one of my walls.
I like the image of climbing and overcoming–with G-d’s help–whatever obstacle is in our path.
It’s not easy to climb and keep climbing, because the higher you go, the thinner the air, the more tired you get, and the further you have to fall!
But what I also realized about the image of the climber is that if you turn it on it’s side, then the same person who is climbing…is now crawling.
What at times in life can be a beautiful climb up, at other times can be any of us on all fours.
There is no easy path straight up, although there is definitely one that can go straight down!
Sometimes, we are vertical–living and working hard trying to achieve something.
And other times, we are horizontal–resting, asleep, or even in a hospital bed fighting for our lives just to survive another moment or day.
When we climb, we may literally be trying to conquer mountains.
But when you crawl, you may literally be on the ground begging for mercy.
Climbing and crawling are really not that far apart in terms about 90 degrees and how quickly change can happen and a person goes from an upward trajectory to a more devastating one.
Some things to keep in mind…anchor your feet solidly and hold on to that rope tightly and even for dear life. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
So had some disappointments recently.
Nothing terrible (and for that I am so grateful).
Just life happening.
Have to fail and fail and fail {more}…in order to get to that single success.
Along the way, sometimes it feels like arrows going through your body.
Or as someone said to Tina Fey in a movie we watched yesterday:
“Hearts and minds, the two best places to shoot someone.”
Is that funny?
Ok, now I know that I am feeling a little down, because even that made me smirk but not fully smile.
It’s okay.
Life is a series of peaks and valleys.
Time to climb that next peak.
I will do it with body armor on and solid.
Won’t let those arrows pierce me, while I ascend.
I am trying, and learning and growing along the way.
If I am to fall, Hashem, in mercy, pick me up that I may keep doing my mission you have for me in life, so that I may ultimately prevail toward the destiny only that You know and have planned for me, for the good. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Beautiful simple birdhouses in Downtown DC.
We all need to live somewhere.
Too many people in shelters and on the streets.
Started giving money to some of the homeless on the way to the Metro.
My friend’s father used to say, “If they ask then they need it.”
Perhaps what’s needed is a little more kindness, TLC, and compassion for all G-d’s loving creatures.
While it’s nice to look up to aspire and climb the next rung of life, it’s as important to look down and remember from where you came and where you can still go again. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
It’s the weekend before the anniversary of 9/11, and today in full gear, about 100 firefighters and police officers climbed the 28-story tower in Rockville 4 1/2 times today equaling the 2,000 stairs in the World Trade Centers.
This to remember the 343 firefighter and 71 police officer heroes that fell that fateful day.
Also, to raise funds for the firefighter burn fund.
While some are war weary and would rather forget or pretend it never even happened…
It is so important that we not forget the devastating terrorist attack by Islamic extremists on 9/11 that took us by surprise and cost this nation so dearly.
Reckless pacifism, appeasement, cowardice, and running from the fight without defeating the enemy and restoring societal order will only bring the fight to us.
We need ongoing vigilance, investment and improvements to homeland security and our national defense, and the spread of freedom and human rights across the globe.
(The interview with the firefighter was narrated by me, Andy Blumenthal)
(Source Photos: Me as well).
Wow, I really love this graphic.
The top are our plans, along with our hopes and dreams that we get to where we want to, in a basically smooth, straight line–no troubles, no fuss–whoola success!
The bottom is our reality, where we work our way towards our target goals (which we may, or more likely not, ever fully achieve) and that along the way, we encounter all sort of life’s tests and challenges–it’s an uphill climb, but with tangible achievements and milestones, as we progress.
If it was as easy as the top–it probably wouldn’t be worth doing.
The challenges test our mettle–and what doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger.
Even so, sure wish I could get some wings and jets on that bicycle. 😉
Thank you sis for sharing this with me.
(Source Photo: here from DogHouseDiaries)
andyblumenthal 