Life - simple but, always complicated!!

The story below from Katharine Hepburn's childhood reminds me of the story of the Widow's mite. I learned much more about the story of the widow as told by Mark, during the mid 1990's at St. Paul's RC Church in Webster, NY. I was serving as finance council chairperson. In 1993, we had initiated a Time, Talent , & Treasure campaign. A new addition to the Church had been completed in 1992, and the capital campaign to fund that project was sucking funds from everyday parish operations. I was in charge of the treasure part of the campaign. In the second year, of the campaign, we used the story of the Widow's Mite to challenge people to give more than just from their surplus. It was successful. My wife , now  former wife,  & I went to several parishes in the Diocese of Rochester, and spoke about giving,  and not just from your surplus. We visited the parishes during Sunday Mass and spoke from the pulpit. Sure it was scary, but we believed in giving ba...

A very Merry Christmas to you. My Christmas wish is rather simple, it can be granted without spending a dime. Simply, forget about political divide, forget about the division caused  by Covid-19 pandemic protocols. My wish to rejoice about the birth of baby Jesus. Do as he would do, make peace, love thy neighbor, and if your neighbor asks you to put on a mask, smile and put it on without a fuss. Happy & Healthy New Year .   AJS      

I sure do remember when his brother rookie Police Officer Edward Byrne was shot & murdered in NYC by a drug gang .God Bless President Reagan & President Bush for honoring NYPD Officer Edward Byrne. But, most of all God Bless Lawrence for never giving up the fight for justice to honor his brother. He walked the talk. 🙏🙏 Lawrence Byrne, Former Lawyer for New York Police, Dies at 61 His younger brother, a police officer, was assassinated by a drug gang at 22, a key moment in the city’s crack epidemic of the 1980s. Lawrence M. Byrne in 2016, when the was the New York Police Department’s deputy commissioner for legal affairs. He served for four years in that post, managing roughly 100 lawyers who handled all legal issues involving the department and its 56,000 employees. Credit...Jake Naughton for The New York Times By Katharine Q. Seelye Dec. 12, 2020 Lawrence M. Byrne, who as the top lawyer for the New York City Police Department defended several hotly disputed police policies a...

The recent news reports of a significant  increase in the sales of real Christmas trees, reminds me of December 2011, and my brief time in the Christmas tree business.  Christmas Trees @ The Plant Ranch It may not have been the best of business decisions, but I have no regrets about it at all. Mistakes often provide some of the best lessons in life.  However, in my household growing up, people often second guessed you when you made an error or a mishap. Some still do that. It's one of the reasons, why I didn't share my idea with my father as I knew what his response would be , and it did prove true. But, I did discuss with Uncle Roger. Why ? Because he took a chance and went out on his own, The Plant Ranch. I'm sure he heard negative feedback from family when he left AJ SCHMITT & Sons farm. Uncle & I discussed where to get the trees (Upstate NY wholesale Christmas tree farm near Syracuse). He said yes to letting me use his Plant Ranch yard to set up op...

THE TRAIN:   At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side. As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of your life. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone. Others will step down over time and leave a permanent vacuum. Some, however, will go so unnoticed that we don't realize they vacated their seats. This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves. The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat ...

In Jean Edward Smith's biography of George W. Bush, he wrote about what President Bush thought of President-elect Obama during the transition period. On page 650, it states: “As part of the presidential transition, Barack Obama asked Bush if it would be possible for him to meet all the ex-presidents. Bush was happy to oblige, and organized a White House luncheon in the Oval Office on January 7. Bush and Obama were joined by Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George H. W. Bush. The luncheon lasted over two hours, each former president ordered his lunch à la carte from the White House mess, and the tone was convivial and friendly. “All the gentlemen here understand both the pressures and possibilities of this office,” said Obama before the meeting. “For me to have the opportunity to get advice, good counsel and fellowship with these individuals is extraordinary, and I just want to thank the President for hosting us.” Bush was equally effusive. “We want you to succeed,” he re...

They're from Gloucester,  they're always from Gloucester , but not always. Those who die early in life, are not always from Gloucester. They're from everywhere. God Bless . THE PERFECT STORM, a great movie that often plays out real in everyday life. GLOUCESTER, THEY'RE ALWAYS FROM GLOUCESTER  👂👂 Listen , remember that line .?  The loss of life on the Emmy Rose , is just like the movie, The Perfect Storm . That movie sticks in my head,  because it was the last movie my family & I watched with Mom a few days after Christmas , 2000. Wow, almost 20 years ago, but I remember the sequence of events well those last few months of Mom's life. I rented the movie from Blockbuster video, we all liked The Perfect Storm, based on a true story. I read the true accounting of the incident in a book of the same name this summer. Less than 2 1/2 months later Mom died of leukemia, buried the day after I turned 43 years of age, suddenly I felt much much ol...

Always , always say thank you! 👍🤎 & Again no matter the time gone by. Joe Tobin remains a friend that I first met way back in 1976, but more important he is a spiritual adviser. Simply , Rev. Joseph W. Tobin C.S.s.R. , 36 years ago. Today Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin C.S.s.R. He is still the same man I first met, in November 1976, in a SJFC dorm room,  the same in July 1980 at first of a few 4th of July celebrations at Tobin family compound in Stoney Pointe, ONT, the same in November 1984, and same in April 2018. Just simply a fellow Christian disciple. 🙏🙏 God Bless Cardinal Tobin & his large large family.

I'm very proud of this fellow RIT Tiger. True champions don't let anything deter them. The love that is shown by others when Cliff DeVries  overcomes adversity 25 years ago, and again on his  dive last year, is heartwarming & inspirational. Many could learn a life lesson both on Cilff's determination , & to love those who are brave & strong enough to climb the diving or life ladder  again. Watch "A tumor ended Cliff Devries’ Olympic dreams, but paralysis can’t stop him from diving | E:60" on YouTube https://youtu.be/myz9Bq_ZSbc Powerful, inspirational, amazing. Congratulations Cliff you represent RIT as well as anyone.  👏👏 When you think you can't do it, think again, you can,  with the right determination & mind set. Anthony J. Schmitt III   RIT MBA '86

In sports there are many more important things then the contest itself. It's about the friendships, dedication, support , hard work, love, fight, and never giving up. We heard that almost 30 years ago from Jim Valvano. Now, we hear people describe the UK assistant football coach John  Schlarman. Coach Schlarman has died after a two-year bout with cancer. He was 45. Watch the video;  https://twitter.com/UKFootball/status/1326892504667496448?s=09 Read the story; https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30302215/kentucky-o-line-coach-john-schlarman-dies-45 An inspiration to all. 🙏✝️

A NYJ lifetime ago, same for the Buffalo Bills fans, except JETS & BILLS headed in opposite directions this year. That's a vast understatement. 😢😢 2008 season It was NYJ HC Eric Mangini  vs. Bills HC Dick Jauroun  , NYJ QB Eric Favre  vs. Bills QB Trent Edwards. The Jets won on Nov. 2, 2008, 26-17 in Orchard Park, NY when the stadium was called Ralph Wilson stadium. I attended with St. Fisher College alumni buddies, Lou Fuchs , Armando Santiago, John Butt. 6 weeks later,  Dec. 14, 2008,  I again was in attendance in NJ @ Giants Stadium as Brett Favre leads Gang Green to a 31-27 victory, and a 9-5 record. Again, I had a fun time with some old Fisher pals; Ed Keough, & Larry Yetman. Jets in playoffs , right ? NO WAY JOSE ! They lost the last two games to finish 9-7.  Mangini was booted, and the one year Favre reign was over, as he never again took another snap for the J-E-T-S,  JETS, JETS . The next season be...