"Thousands of candles can be lighted by a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." - Buddha
On 2021: I Own You, Bitch! Now Keep Up.
If 2020 taught us anything it is that we have limited control of circumstance. We can neither accurately predict the future (2021 didn’t begin as hoped or expected), nor…
On Choice: An Understanding Gained From 2020
At the beginning of 2020 My Java Journal began an exploration of, and was focused towards growth. However, only with the close of 2020, and after reviewing my 2020…
On Community: The Positive From 2020
I wrote last year about community; community and togetherness. I wrote of a community experience I had and then related it to how community is one of the five…
On Goals: Why ‘Winning The Day’ Is Important
With the end of 2020 in sight, it is time to review the goals I set for the year. Some of these goals, which feel were set so very…
On Aging: Acceptance, And Thoughts On Time
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and a 2008 movie from David Fincher. They tell the story about a man who…
On Adversity: Why I Do The Things I Do
“Adversity introduces a man to himself.” – Albert Einstein As I was leaving the house, in swimming trunks and flip-flops and with towel in hand, my daughter asked me, “Why?”…
On Cold Immersion: Wellness Tool And New Addiction
I don’t say ‘No’ to much, and certainly not to new experience. After months of working through, exploring and overcoming fear on the rock face, my climbing partner, Charlie,…
Updated Book List: Top 50 Book Recommendations
Much thought has gone into this updated book list. I realized during this update that reaching for 100 was forcing concession on my part. Therefore, I offer here a…
My Java Journal: An Update On What You’ve Missed
Operating this website/blog has been a pleasure. It doesn’t, however, come without some frustration. Here’s an update on what you’ve missed. If you’ve been a subscriber to my blog…
Eyes On Fire: Debut Album By Class Of 91
It’s alive! My band, Class of 91, began as a monthly meet up to make some noise. It was cover songs to start, it’s all original music now. Two…
Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride: Final Push
Today I ride for the 2020 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. An Aggressive Goal Set The goal I set this year was $10,000. A tough goal given the state of things…
Knowledge Is Power Foundation: My First Podcast
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” – Annie Dillard This weekend I am sharing my story with the Knowledge Is Power Foundation (KiP).…
On Climbing: One Final Milestone To Share
Short and sweet this week. One final climbing offer. Last week I shared the experience of my first lead climb. We moved quickly to capitalize on our advancement and…
On Focus And Fear: First Lead Climb
Staying with the Adventure theme, I have another first to share. The past couple weeks saw me complete my first lead climbs. The difference from previous climbs…
Live Your Story: It Is What You Leave Behind
One of the (many) reasons I left the military was because I found progression much to linear. There were many more less-selfish reasons, however, with respect to personal considerations,…
On Charity: Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride 2020
I will carry on with my exploration of adventure next week. This week I am announcing my 2020 fundraising effort for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride – and their charity…
On Adventure: Addressing Bias And Growth
I stated at the beginning of this very interesting year, that the focus of this blog for 2020 was growth. I never expected there to be so much to…
On Adventure: A Case For Danger And Daring
“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the…
On Navigation: Helpful Tools For Life’s Journey
If the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced one fact about life it is truly how little control we have of what circumstances are going to be thrust at us. It…
On Father’s Day: The Perfect Gift
Happy Father’s Day Dad, and to all the fathers out there. Last year I wrote about how I felt the gift of one’s time was the most valuable gift…
Introducing Victoria: Girl Gone Good
It is important to support, celebrate, and promote other’s accomplishments. Whether it’s your kids, your spouse, your family, or your friends. Today I will do so for Victoria, a…
On Sagacity: Why Can’t We Get This?
sagacity. the quality of being sagacious. (Oxford Dictionary of English) sagacious. having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; wise or shrewd. (Oxford Dictionary of English) The Sagacity…
A Musical Journey & A Milestone Reached
I started playing guitar at age twelve. I didn’t get very far and it didn’t last long. However, it was the beginning of a lifelong musical journey. The bug bit…
On Mornings: Don’t Leave Your Day To Chance
I am a fan of John Steinbeck. A Nobel Prize-winning American author, I love his writing style. The Grapes of Wrath would be an interesting read as we head…
On Spring: Heralding In The Season
This weekend the boat launches in Ottawa opened! Phase one of a return to some sense of normalcy begins, as does Spring. This is the Victoria Day weekend in Canada.…
On Mother Nature: Adopting The Pace Of Nature
Ah, Mother Nature! One of the things I love most about living in Canada is the seasons. More specifically, I love that each season offers its own beauty…
On Productivity: Managing Busy As Normal Returns
“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” – Socrates Busy does not equate to productivity. Being productive sometimes requires busy, but busy on its own does not mean…
On Patience: Sage Wisdom For Trying Times
It’s getting harder. There is no one to blame, and there is no one identifiable issue, it is just getting harder. Trapped between doing what you know is right…
On Longing: Letting The Heart Grow Fonder
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. This idiom is one I’ve reflected on many times in my life. It seems apropos given our current situation. Absence, and the consequent…
Plank Challenge: An Offering During Your Isolation
COVID-19 has us locked down. Not quite dystopian, but the restrictions are tangible. Still, I can’t help but take solace in the timing of this pandemic; and how well those…
COVID-19: A Hard Moment Of Growth For My Kids
I deliberately exposed my kids to, and raised them on what I refer to as real music. They, of course, were also exposed to Baby Einstein, Backyardigans (which I did…
On Health. Part 3: A Healthy Spirit
To begin, I want to express that this post has been a tough one to shape. Is it a healthy spirit, or soul? Should it be about spirituality, or perhaps…
On Health. Part 2: A Healthy Mind
A healthy body promotes a healthy mind. A healthy mind enables a healthy spirit. Much like I tried to simplify my approach to a healthy body, I am going to…
On Health. Part 1: A Healthy Body
Priority: Health. Let’s pick up from last week. One thing I have been working to determine are my convictions. I hold certain general truths, but few with firm conviction. This…
On Priority: Time To Say No And Find Focus
I’m tapping out. At least from a few things. I’ve taken on too much, as evidenced by my inability to post the last two weeks. It is time to…
On Sympathy: Unexpected Growth In Loss
Sympathy A lady came into the coffee shop this week. She was curt, and clearly agitated. We served her as we do all customers; with a smile and an attempt…
No Phones Allowed: A Caution On Generalizations
They posted no signs to limit the use of phones. It was an inclusive arts space and an all ages show. The event listing included two acronyms I didn’t recognize…
On Respect: Growth Through Reciprocity
After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box. – Italian Proverb. I found this proverb extremely insightful when, previously, I was in leadership roles. It…
On Growth: Reconsidering Focus For A New Year And Decade
My Java Journal is about, in a word, growth. It does still chronicle a journey, and that journey started with a dream, but that journey has become much less linear…
On Goals: Burn The Boats, Not The Bridges
This week I was diligent and had written a post well in advance of my Saturday night deadline. It felt good doing this without the usual stress of trying to…
On Music: From Coffee Shop To Coffeehouse
What a journey! The dream to open a coffeehouse remains, but the path has taken some turns that I am really excited about. Along the way music has become a…
The Stockholm Stare-Down: An Elusive Ending
So this happened on Thursday … Class of 91 played their fifth show on 5 December. We were privileged to follow, for the second time, the amazing band, Oddeline. This…
On Time: Reflecting On Another Year Gone
Time to reflect on another birthday come and gone. This week, on the heels of the American Thanksgiving and with the holiday season upon us I want only to express…
On Walking: Body, Mind and Soul
“Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move my thoughts begin to flow.” – Henry David Thoreau I had an ultrasound of my abdomen done recently. Nothing to…
On Learning: Exploring Aristotle And The Best Life
This week we explore Aristotle! I am excited about this week’s post. Two week’s ago I lamented not taking the time to write, other than superficially. It felt that I…
Sun Valley: Helping Me To Define My ‘Best Life’
Much of life, I have found, is just simply keeping up. The first ten years was not mine to control. The second 10 where awkward growth. I fell in line…
So, … Writing. Cathartic, But Not Easy
I’ve been writing this blog now for well over a year. It started mostly as an action; doing something in the absence of any clear direction (“Action is the foundational…
Thanksgiving: On Gratitude And Shared Moments
This past Friday was a day off for my kids as this is our Thanksgiving weekend. I too was not working. The default is for them to find friends or…
On Charity: Finding Joy And Purpose In Giving
If you are reading this as intended, on Sunday morning of 29 September, than I am out on my motorcycle riding as part of The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. By all…
On Motorcycles: Being Present In The Moment
This is the final week for my fundraising before The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. We did it! The goal was to raise $2500, and as of this writing, together we’ve raised…
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride: A Call To Action
For the next three weeks I am committed to my fundraising efforts for The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. This ride happens globally on 29 September 2019, and as of the writing…
The Daddy Mona Lisa: Contemplating An Enigma
I was preparing to order a few photos to display from a recent trip, when I stumbled upon The Daddy Mona Lisa. On my refrigerator is a picture of my…
Class Of 91 Gets Loud: Debut On The Ottawa Bar Scene
Friday night saw my return to the bar scene. I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of the band – Class of 91. Our debut on the Ottawa bar…
My Bedrock Through 20 Years: Ode To An Army Wife
I am just back from a family trip to Costa Rica; thus the two weeks without a post. An amazing place and a great trip. If you haven’t been exposed…
Mobile Coffee Shop: Fourth And Final July Update
The VW bus. Update number 4 – what’s up with my search for a VW bus and my plan to convert it into a mobile coffee shop. I was looking…
Happiness Project Update: Back On Track
This month of updates has been a great stimulant for all my projects. My jeans will soon be memorialized, which was a project I have been slow to complete. I…
Book Club Update, And A New Open Mic Confirmed!
The Book Club is an enjoyable and elevated gathering of the minds. I have relished the first two meetings, and am looking forward to the third. The first book read…
Blue Jeans, Baby: Loose Ends, Loose Threads
Blue jean[s] baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band … (Tiny Dancer, Elton John) It’s time to tend some loose ends; or rather, loose threads, in this case. I began…
Livin’ Life: Finishing A Great Month Of Fundraising
A great finish to a great month; livin’ life to the fullest. So, that’s it, June is done. David (owner of Anabia Cupcakery Cafe) is going to finish up the…
The Most Valuable Gift Is Your Time: Spend It With Dad
The Most Valuable Gift Is Your Time: Spend It With Dad. I saved and printed this noteworthy phrase, which now consequently lives on my refrigerator. That’s it. Your time. It’s…
Brewing Methods: Still So Much To Learn About Coffee
I follow several coffee threads on Instagram. Mostly, the posts in these threads consist of latte art. Really, there is a lot of the same generally. This week though, I…
Fundraising To Fight Kids’ Cancer
Tonight I was privileged to participate in a fundraising show to raise money in the fight against kids’ cancer. It was part of the June events that Anabia Cupcakery Cafe…
A Walk, A Teacher, A Moment, And A Memory
I have been trying to take a nightly walk of late. I used to take great pleasure in walking our dog, Jada, at night; especially in the winter. I still…
Strangers No More: A Recent Coffee Encounter
I haven’t written specifically about coffee for some time. Recently though, I had an amazing coffee experience; where a cup of coffee rendered two people strangers no more. I was…
Community: One Key To Happiness And Purpose
It is 1 am. My blog post will push at 3 am. That gives me two hours. Normally, I’d have a skeleton drafted, or at least an idea to write…
The Power Of Saying Yes And Showing Up
First, gratitude. Thank you. I remain surrounded, and supported by family and friends on my journey. So grateful. This week was busier than usual as I started a new barista…
Podcasts: An Introduction To My Favourites
Time for that podcast list I promised to share. Podcasts and books are symbiotic to me. I read books and listen to podcasts in tandem, relational to what I am…
Coddiwomple. My Life In A Word.
My Java Journal has been updated. Head on over and have a look. It was a March goal to have it updated, and part of recognizing the one year anniversary…
It’s Not A Book Club. But It Kind Of Is.
I just hosted my first (non) book club. Calling it a ‘book club’ didn’t seem appropriate. Rather, we drew inspiration from Benjamin Franklin’s Junto, or Leather Apron Club, which met…
Gratitude: The Power Of A Bedrock Friendship
This post is about Gratitude and Friendship. There are times when I feel like I may be the luckiest person alive. I have so much to be grateful for. One…
Thank You Jada. A Sad Week Of Loss, And Growth
A sad week. Thank you Jada. We said goodbye to our beloved dog this week. Jada was a rescue dog; abandoned to die in Georgia. We welcomed her into our…
Inspirational Quotes To Get You Motivated In March
I have been trying hard this month to meet certain goals, and March has seen better success in this regard than the last two months. I have been weighing myself…
One Year Of My Java Journal: A Milestone
My Java Journal is one year old! Pretty amazing. I had no idea the joy and impact writing would have on me and my state of mind. It is cathartic…
Looking Isn’t Seeing: The Forest For The Trees
I want to share an ‘awakening’ I had a few days ago. It was a moment of seeing the forest, and not remaining lost for the trees. I live in…
The Books That Have Fueled My Journey: Call To Action
Last week I shared my attempt at a Happiness Project for 2019. Complimentary, but symbiotic to this effort, I am now reading Living Forward, and writing my Life Plan. A…
My Happiness Project: Making The Most of 2019
Finding happiness. Coming to the end of 2018 I found myself a little disoriented. I had found purpose and meaning with the Open Mic and Trivia hosting I had begun,…
A Different Kind Of Honest Days Work: Finding Inspiration in John Muir
I couldn’t be happier. Twenty-nineteen is proving quite refreshing so far. I was privileged to work with amazing people doing incredible work in years past. It was honest work and…
What’s Your Takeaway? One Father’s Contemplation
Question. What’s your takeaway? This week I am starting and finishing my post with this question. This past Friday night, I once again hosted an open mic at Anabia Cupcakery…
Wishing All A Happy New Year And Awesome 2019
So that was a crazy holiday season and start to 2019. I equally hope that everyone started the new year, and enjoyed some holiday time surrounded by family and friends.…
A Journey, Not A Destination
It has been some time since my last post on my journey of skill and craft development. For the most part I have been using my Instagram account to…
Shameless Self-Promotion: Open Mics and Trivia Nights
This week I’d like to more formally introduce my relationship to Anabia Cupcakery Café and owner, David De Almeida. David has become a friend, a mentor and a great resource…
A Picture Worth A Single Word: Perspective
A picture is said to be worth a thousand words. For me, this one picture (inset) enkindled but a single word: Perspective. My wife took this candid picture on Friday,…
Remembrance, Lest We Forget – 100 Years
Today is my first Remembrance Day since retirement. It is an odd feeling as for the past two decades I would right now be shining shoes, ironing shirts, and pinning…
Memories From Kingston – The Limestone City
Upcoming Events This week I am going to start by promoting some upcoming events at Anabia‘s. I’ve hosted two successful acoustic open mic nights and the next one is 16…
Paradigm Shift: Adjusting To 21st Century Realities
Last week I solicited feedback for the first time. Many took up the challenge and provided the feedback sought. Thank you. I presented five company names for reader input last…
What’s In A Name? Virtual Focus Group
This post is written with some potentially significant advances to the business dream pending. I am currently working out my ‘recipes’ and menu. Nothing to announce yet, but perhaps soon.…
Dream Watershed: Realizing A Dream Was Achievable
Firstly, a big thank you to all those that donated to my Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride fundraising efforts. As a result we pulled together $921 for The Movember Foundation and their…
What A Week! Driving Hard Towards My Dream
This past week started with the devastating tornadoes in Ottawa. I fared better than most; only losing power for a few hours. I lost the Internet completely though. Consequently, this…
A Simple Yet Genuine Moment Epitomizing Service
I wrote previously about the coffee ritual I had in Afghanistan. This was an important part of every day during that, and follow on tours. I used to make coffee…
Another Epiphany: Focusing The Craft And Passion
The Ethiopian Experiment was fun. I experimented with five different Ethiopian beans; Lekempti, Yigacheffe, Kaffa Forest, Harrar and Djimmah. The Lekempti was the favourite. Not to suggest this bean was…
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Hand-Ground Coffee Heaven
I last left my story in India. In India I was exposed to experiences predominantly associated with tea. There are however, many similarities between the routines and conventions of coffee…
What I Learned From Nine Days On The Road
I learned much from my nine days on the road. The Transition Tour was about taking a deliberate break between ‘chapters’ in my life. It was also, and very importantly,…
Not So Clear Skies: The Final Push Home
With a forecast suggesting less-than-clear skies, I left St. Louis on a Friday morning. The plan was to get home as quickly as possible; without sacrificing safety. It did not…
A Premature Conclusion To A First Version Of The Transition Tour
It is almost 2 am on Sunday morning, today. I have just finished an exhausting 900-mile, 18 and a half hour straight-shot from Cincinnati, Ohio to Ottawa. I had to…
Chapter 3 – A New Life Begins: Starting With A Road Trip
On the road – again. I say ‘again’ because it has been many years since I have embarked on a solo road trip. This is a significant trip as it…
On The Eve Of Transition: Final Tour Preparations
This is the last post before retirement. After this I begin my two-wheeled journey – my Transition Tour. The maps are now well inked, the hard stops are marked. All…
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes, Turn And Face The Strange – David Bowie
Changes – Bowie was apparently referring to his compulsive nature of artistic reinvention. Change for me is getting close now; retirement. A reinvention, if you will. It instills an odd…
“Leap, and the net will appear” – John Burroughs
In less than three weeks I will leap. I have leapt before; but this is a big one. I will retire from the military and recreate myself as an entrepreneur.…
When Opportunity Knocks, You Open The Door
“If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!” ― Richard Branson Back…
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