My mom was born to Irish immigrants who settled in Chicago.

Her name was Paula Dillon and she was an only child.

Her father, Timothy Dillon, was a fireman in County Cork, Ireland.

He joined the Chicago fire department and rose to the position of Battalion Chief.

He died when mom was only 22 years old.

My grandmother insisted that mom learn to become a great pianist, a feat she did accomplish.

She was a graduate of the University of Chicago.

She met my dad on a blind date and married him in the chapel on the Notre Dame campus.

I was the oldest of her children comprising five boys and a girl.

She loved to write and sent her manuscripts to numerous magazines over the years.

My dad died in 2002 and mom lived until 2006.

After dad died, mom would say, “I want to be with my husband.”

Their marriage lasted 62 years.

In all that time, I never heard them argue, even once!

My dad, Robert Ervin, grew up in Jackson, a small town south of Chillicothe, Ohio.

His father owned the only store in town that sold hardware and fine china.

He was the youngest of three brothers.

The older two attended Ohio State University while my dad went to Notre Dame.

His roommate at Notre Dame had a girlfriend who lived in Chicago.

His roommate fixed my dad up with a blind date who was a first cousin of his girlfriend.

Her name was Paula Dillon, the daughter of a mother and father who were both immigrants from Ireland.

They were married and had six children, five boys and a girl.

Dad became a professor at ND and taught Biology and Bacteriology for 21 years.

He was the perfect role model of both a husband and father.

Even though I live in the Detroit area, I’m still a passionate Notre Dame Football fan.

On his death bed, he said, “Well guys, what can I say?”

We immediately responded, “You said it with your life!”

As we all know, there is a shortage of skilled tradesmen, including carpenters, electricians and plumbers.

Because of this shortage, those with skills are demanding higher fees for their services.

Recently, the President of LinkedIn said there is a growing trend to hire people with certain skills instead of only looking for someone with a college degree.

It could help you grow a strong income stream if you learn a skill.

Even if you don’t use an acquired skill to make money, you could make repairs and or make some improvements to your home.

Only 2% of the carpenters in our country are women.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Daily life is moving faster.

Continue to become more self-sufficient.

Grow YOURSELF!

If not today, when?

I must get 10 emails each day offering a job opportunity.

Do you get them also?

I hear that our American economy is nearing full employment, but it’s hard for me to believe considering all the emails.

I’m not encouraging you to change jobs.

A rather high percentage of employees who left their company and went with another, have returned.

So, I’m not suggesting that leaving your present employer is necessarily right for you.

If you are unhappy with your present situation, however, it might pay to look elsewhere.

Before doing so, make a list of the attributes you must have in order to make a change.

Some of the attributes might include:

• Distance from home
• Your competency in the position being offered
• Salary and benefits
• Working environment
• Upward mobility
• % of work allowed from home
• Does the new employer have a promising future
• What is the management style of your immediate superior

The global energy crisis caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine has pushed global demand for coal- THE MOST POLLUTING OF ALL FOSSIL FUELS – to a record high in 2022, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday.

Demand for coal is set to grow 1.2% and top 8 billion metric tons for the first time ever this year.

This record comes only a year after countries agreed to phase down their use of coal at the United Nations’ climate conference in Glasgow.

The growth is mostly down to a rapid rise in the prices of natural gas and other fuels, which has forced some countries and regions to turn to coal as a cheaper alternative.

Coal is the world’s largest source of energy for electricity generation and the production of steel and cement.

But it is also the biggest single contributor to the climate crisis, accounting for around 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use. (CNN)

It looks like another damaging result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The last thing we need is the increased burning of the most polluting fossil fuel, COAL!

The job was straightforward: The small team of several men, led by an American known as WOLF, would be Ukraine’s eyes in their battle for Bakhmut, Ukraine that night.

Huddling in the Soviet-style apartment and staring at the white-and-black glow of infrared images as they tried to identify Russian positions.

The team is part of Ukraine’s foreign legion, a unit created at the start of the war that has supplied thousands of international volunteers to bolster Ukraine’s ranks.

WOLF, a 29-year-old former U.S. Marine, came to Ukraine because, as he put it, “I’m a good Christian and it was the right thing to do.” (New York Times)

People around the world, like WOLF, are putting themselves in harm’s way in an attempt to help strangers.

There is a basic GOODNESS in all of us.

We experience it every day!

There a many things wrong in America and you know what they are.

Politicians who blatantly lie to their constituency.

People in high places promoting conspiracy theories.

Parents who are not providing the kind of leadership to combat the influence of the social media.

Too many of our fellow citizens lukewarm patriots.

A growing segment of our population falling into poverty.

Racial prejudice alive and rampant.

In the midst of all these things wrong with America, You must stand up and “Take The Road Less Travelled!”

You must epitomize, every day in every way, those good qualities you want your kids to live by.

All too many parents are not providing the brand of leadership we need to turn America around.

Stand for what you know is good and right.

If not today, when?

You are seeing the “Changing of the King’s Guard” while London has a snow storm.

England’s cherished traditions must go on, no matter what the circumstances may bring.

Because the city is in the southern part of the country, it does not experience as much snow as the northern part or as in Scotland.

The infrequent snowfall brings the city to a halt.

Buses can’t move because their wheels just spin on the snow,

All forms of transit are likewise affected.

Schools are closed and many workers are stuck at home.

Despite all of this, children are delighted and adults are in a lighter mood, also.

So, life goes on even on those days mighty London is brought to her knees.

There is a lesson there for all of us!

Keep moving ahead!

If not today, when?

For the first time ever, US scientists at the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California successfully produced a nuclear fusion reaction resulting in a net energy gain, a source familiar with the project confirmed to CNN.

The US Department of Energy is expected to officially announce the breakthrough Tuesday.

The result of the experiment would be a massive step in a decadeslong quest to unleash an infinite source of clean energy that could help end dependence on fossil fuels.

Researchers for decades have attempted to recreate nuclear fusion – replicating the fusion that powers the sun.

US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will make an announcement Tuesday on a “major scientific breakthrough,” the department announced Sunday.

The breakthrough was first reported by the Financial Times. (CNN)

This will solve our fossil fuel energy dependence forever.

A glass of water could power your house for decades.

Now, we have a fighting chance to save the earth and all its ecosystems.

Stay tuned!

Everything you say and do in the presence of your kids is noticed and remembered.

You are in a 24/7 leadership role.

Unfortunately, your kids don’t learn from you alone.

They are subjected to many influences; friends and social media to name a few.

So how do you influence your kids in a positive manner when there are so many negative sources of information.

Obviously, you must remain true to your values.

And I have an old fashioned idea: The evening family meal.

It seems that sitting down together as a family for a meal has “gone out of style.” In my experience it is extremely important.

Even if it is only a couple times a week or even just once a week, sitting for awhile face to face over a meal is the best and easiest way to communicate. In our family experience, our children would come home from school and have a light (in between) meal like a sandwich or cereal or a can of soup.

Then we would wait (usually about 6:30) until everyone was home to have dinner.  Our kids look back on those days with happy memories. It was often loud and a bit rowdy but it was always fun. 

Please consider. It is worth the effort.

Peer pressure is a powerful thing and you must find out what’s going on.

I know you have issues of your own to deal with, but your kids need your love and leadership.

You can’t have the “inmates running the asylum!”