02/06/12 - 02/16/12 - An Update that Turned into Praise for a TRUE Hero

I can't believe it's been 10 days since my last post.  Life has been crazy with this sudden move down to San Diego.  When last I left you, I had just resurfaced on the technological landscape and had internet and cable again.  I was able to get a computer going behind my TV but unfortunately that didn't work out as well as I would have hoped.  The computer is okay for accessing things like GBTV but whenever I tried to multitask the who thing would crash.  It wasn't until late last night that I was able to get my home office organized, find my real workstation and monitor and get everything set up and usable.  It's been a challenge getting things organized to the point of being of any use but I think I'm finally back up and running to where I'll be able to start writing again on a pretty regular basis.

So let's start with a Diligence update.  Unfortunately, it could have been better.  Since the last 2-3 weeks have been in turmoil I have decided to add an extra Diligence month on to my upcoming Faith month.  It wasn't a horrible month but there are a few things I wish I would have been able to continue consistently for the full 30 days.  The number one item I wish would have been more consistent was my daily writing.  I could use the excuse that my computers were packed and the movers ALSO packed my Being George Washington journal, but let's face it, I could have scribbled something down on a pad of paper and continued on a daily basis.

No more excuses.

I also didn't make it to the gym every day but as I said in a previous post, I am counting a lot of the past 3 weeks of packing, moving and unpacking as some serious hard labor.  Unfortunately, with a lack of a kitchen for 2 plus weeks, my eating out, eating habits, have more than made up for the hard work.  I haven't gained any weight but I certainly haven't lost any either.  At least this one I plan to continue from here on out.  No more mister "Fatty Fat Fatso" as Glenn would say.

There are a few things that I think I have done really well at and I have kept at the forefront throughout the month.  "Respect towards others with every action" I have done a good job at with only one or two slip ups.  "Don't be hasty to believe rumors", I never do.  "Associate with good people" I ALWAYS do.  In fact, there is a side story to this one and I'd like to tell it because he started the amazing thing he is doing about the same time I was on Glenn's show for my "Flash Mob" Random Act of Kindness back in May.  I don't know if he was inspired by what I did and it caused him do this or not, but I can sure tell you that I am certainly inspired by him right now.

My good, good friends name is Ray Conrad and he has started an organization called "Bedside Concerts for Wounded Warriors".  I am proud to call him my friend.  His goal is to get professional musicians to perform bedside for our wounded warriors and he has single handedly for the past several months.  He is a solo classical guitarist and plays bedside for our wounded soldiers and veterans in Long Beach, CA.  Many of the people he plays for are so severely handicapped that they are unable to respond yet he sits and plays for them for hours at a time.  One story he told me was of a wounded veteran who had become a paraplegic do to his injuries and was only able to move his eyes in communication.  He described that when he played for him, the soldier would close his eyes to listen and a look of peace would come across his face.  When he stopped playing, the soldier would immediately open his eyes in anticipation of another song.

Hero's and brave people come in many packages.  Some are the soldiers who defend our country day in and day out for the freedom that so many of us take for granted, and some hero's are ordinary people who take hours out of there days to play music and CARE for those same people who have returned to us wounded and in many cases unable to care for themselves.  It takes a hero, and a brave one at that, to be able to enter the room of someone who most would avoid out of pity and embarrassment, and sit and play music for that person, and talk to that person and let them know that we THANK them for their sacrifice.  It takes a hero to be able to walk into that room and let that soldier know that he is NOT forgotten.

Ray Conrad is an inspiration to me and a hero.  I was going to continue with my update but Ray's story suddenly seems more important to me.  He deserves praise for what he is doing and ANY help that anyone can give him.  I'm going to end this post with a plea of help for my friend.  Please go to his website (click here) and if you can help him in his venture and his success please contact him through the site.

I'll continue my update tomorrow.  Thank you.