Age Finally Gave Me The Boot
Published February 1, 2012
Certain words should never go together. For example, words like tear and rip should never be used in conjunction with the name of a specific body part. It’s just not right. It hurts. Believe me I know what I’m talking about. I had a recent and painful experience that would be oh-so-much-better if certain phrases never saw the light of day. Continue reading
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health, meaning of life, motivation, quality of life | 
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Surviving A Six Story Fall
Published January 29, 2012
Here's Ken doing what he loves best.
(Updated 2/1/2012) The story you’re about to read is still unfolding. On January 18th a U.S. citizen by the name of Ken Danna, who works in Taiwan as an English teacher, but whose real passion has always been performing music and dance was just going about his day. What happened next is nothing less than a miracle. Continue reading
Of Pyramids And Life’s Top Secrets
Published January 26, 2012
Hmm...I have an idea.
More History From The
Duck’s Perspective
If you grew up back in the day, you’ve likely heard of the Food Pyramid. This graphic was brought to the attention of general public by our very own United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in order to depict the types of food and number of servings we humans ought to be eating. And just to be clear, the Food Pyramid should not to be confused with the Great Pyramid of Giza or any of a multitude of “Pyramid” schemes. Of course, the USDA’s Food Pyramid graphic was not the original by any means. Though the Swedes may claim credit, that honor should rightly go to the much better, though now obscure Duck Graphic pictured below. Thankfully, as your one-and-only-on-the-ball-and-at-the-top-of-his-game duck historian, I’m willing to wade where others dare not paddle to set matters to rights. Continue reading
Posted in Bob Anderson, Just For Quacks, Lifestyle | for fun, history, Laughter, meaning of life, motivation, quality of life, vision | Leave a comment
Are You Ready For 2012?
Published January 2, 2012
Wake up to a new dawn. (Click to expand).
It’s a new year. Are you where you want to be? Are you hoping to make changes? If you’ve struggled with resolutions in the past, maybe you’re going about change the wrong way. Check out these articles for some great ideas to start building the future you want: Continue reading
6 Strategies For Overcoming Outrage
Published December 14, 2011
Shouldn't life look more like this?
Consider this: Outrage is an expression of anger, one often used to mask and refocus our feelings about situations or issues beyond our control. And increasingly, the way we express our outrage is over the internet. Here’s the thing: We’d probably feel a lot better if we skipped that. Continue reading
Posts Of Christmas Past
Published December 5, 2011If you only recently joined us at Javabird.com, we thought you might enjoy reading some of our favorite holiday posts from the past. Are they still relevant? You bet! Check ‘em out, here.
Why run to the store when the best deals are often at your fingertips?
Even if you don’t own a smartphone or have the latest app, when know what to look for you can turn the internet into your very own personal shopping assistant. An effective means to get the very latest and hottest deals is through a deal forum website. These sites are member driven and are a great way to save money on most anything you purchase. Read more…
Let's see here...ah yes, a true masterpiece. Ahem...'Twas the night before Quackimas and...
Twas The Night Before Quackimas
Here’s our wacky blogger’s adaptation of that famous holiday classic, “Twas A Night Before Christmas“. If you like ducks like we do, pour yourself a glass of eggnog, gather the kids and prepare to be entertained by Larry, Santa’s favorite helper. Read more…
These reindeer are cute and so easy to make.
The holidays always inspire me to want to do fun (easy) crafts. I love to give away the things I make as gifts. Plus, I’m a pushover for cute critters, so the candy cane reindeer project was perfect. This simple project will create whimsical ornaments to decorate trees, gifts, stockings or presents. Read more…
Life was simpler when we were kids.
Holiday Giving Part 1: The Magic Of Christmas
Though the tradition of holiday giving is as old as humanity, my experience of Christmas is the story of a boy growing up in a good-sized, middle-class family. My parents tried to instill a strong sense of Christian values within me, which meant a good part of my tradition took on religious overtones. Read more…
I like giving, but it sure takes a bite out of my wallet.
Holiday Giving Part 2: Getting Real About Giving
As much as I like the sights and sounds of the holidays I’ve learned there’s a practical side to giving—one I can’t afford to ignore. I don’t know about you, but unless I’m careful the holidays really put a hole in my budget. That’s why I love these gift ideas. Read more…
Holiday lights are so pretty, but I'm on a budget. Can I afford running them?
Are My Christmas Lights Costing Me A Fortune?
Are Christmas lights big energy wasters? How much do they impact a typical energy bill each year? I was curious to find out, so I went to Kmart, wrote down the figures listed on the boxes, and then plugged them into my computer. Here’s what I discovered. Read more…
Here are some tips for making resolutions that stick...New Years or otherwise.
Six Tips For Making Successful Resolutions
As the New Year approaches, I’m often asked whether I’ve made any New Year’s Resolutions. I know lots of folks who’ve given up on the whole idea, but I’ve discovered 6 sure tips for making resolutions that stick. Read more…
I've almost given up. Is there any way to achieve my dreams?
The Life Timeline: Planning For A Brighter Future
Feeling stuck? Hopeless? One planning tool that can make a real difference is the life timeline. Unlike resolutions or random goals, a life timeline is a great tool for bringing peace back into a life in turmoil. Making a life timeline arms you with the information you’ll need to start turning your dreams into realities. Read more…
Stay tuned…we’ve got a whole lot more coming your way. Happy holidays!
By Bob Anderson
© 2011 Javabird.com. All rights reserved.
Please Stop Staring
Published November 8, 2011
Even though I’ve lived with it all my life, there is one thing I will never ever get used to—people staring at my uncle. My Uncle Robert is one year older than me and was born with Down’s Syndrome. He just turned 57. This is extraordinary for someone living with his condition. As late as 1983 the average life expectancy for a person with Down’s was 25. Today that number is closer to 60. Continue reading
Pumpkin Bread – The Taste Of Fall
Published October 12, 2011
Fall is a difficult time of the year for me. It starts to get dark so early, the rains return like they did yesterday in buckets, and the temperature outside begins its inevitable downward trek toward winter lows. Still, I like to see the leaves change color and I especially like recipes that take advantage of some of the fall-harvested fruit and vegetables—like pumpkin. Take my wife’s pumpkin bread, for example: Yum! Continue reading
Posted in Bob Anderson, Lifestyle, Recipes, Zero-Based Living | meaning of life, quality of life, Recipe | Leave a commentMy Arm’s Tired Pudding
Published September 16, 2011
I learned to love cooking from my mother and grandmother who always seemed to create a sense of magic and wonder just by standing next to the stove. Somehow, they’d take all these ingredients, throw them in bowls or pots, stir them up, sprinkle in a bit of their love and we’d end up with fabulous meals and delicious desserts. Continue reading
Posted in Bob Anderson, Lifestyle, Recipes, Zero-Based Living | family, for fun, meaning of life | Leave a commentDad’s Now All About Downsizing
Published September 10, 2011
For years, Hubby and I have been encouraging my Dad to downsize and move into a place closer to our home. Yet when he finally announced he was ready it hit as a jolt. Part of me recognizes the good in this—Dad is very social and I know the place he wants to move is terrific. However, the part I’m now struggling with is what a move like this really means for Dad, not to mention me. Continue reading
Posted in Carol Austin, Lifestyle, Zero-Based Living | family, health, household, meaning of life, motivation, obligation, peace of mind, quality of life | 1 CommentFeatured Post
Even if you don't like red wine chances are you'll love this Sangria. Try this simple recipe.
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