Month: June 2008

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what’s on your Bucket List?

unwanted and unneeded advice?

Okay, I have a tendency to give unwanted and unneeded advice… but this isn’t one of those times.

The movie “Bucket list” and the book by the same name is interesting in that they ask the question,” if you knew you only had so much time left in your life, would you do anything different today?” The book explores the ‘Bucket Lists’ of ordinary and extraordinary people. Young folks have accomplishment goals… while, older people have certain housekeeping issues that they want to finish in their lives… but everyone has something… even if it is only perfecting a golf swing.

One blog was even betting as to which of the two actors would ‘kick the bucket’ first… charming.

I guess the best advice I ever heard on this subject… was given to me as a young paperboy by a kindly old gent of 103 : ” I live and enjoy today , but keep an eye on tomorrow in case I am not lucky enough to die in my sleep.”

Roger Freberg

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Ode to daughters

My daughter Karen Freberg and her evolving life
As readers of my blog know… I have three daughters: Kristin, Karen and Karla. Although I was not either trained or prepared to raise daughters, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Daughters need fathers in ways sons seldom do…. and best of all… they keep in touch.

I was thinking these past weeks while two of my daughters were site seeing in and around Beijing, how much they have changed, grown and off doing many interesting things.

Although the picture above goes from right to left on Karen’s ‘evolution’ from a middle school thrower to a Ph.D. student at the University of Tennessee, it reminds me of the many challenges met in her varied athletic experience. One of the fortunate lessons from her mother was to develop a ‘life after sports’ and this can be easily viewed in watching her strong academic efforts.

Just a note , ladies, you all make me proud to be your daddy.

Roger Freberg

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High Temps in San Luis Obispo

the secret in San Luis ObispoWell, for those here in SLO town who get a little smug for having a year around temperature of between 60-80 degrees… every once in a while we get our comeupance.

I do remember one October 13th… possible a Friday, while laying out the sod on my new lawn the temperature reached the highest in the nation that day of 113! Whew! It seemed like so much more…. not Iraq hot… but hot!

In any event, folks in this part of the world are not used to this… and we tend to be underprepared.

For example, even the most environmentally inefficient home has never found the need for air conditioning… so, people start hanging out in the stores.

As for me, well… we’ll shut down the ol compters and fix something cold!

Hope your day is going well!

Roger Freberg

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Big Daddy’s Whole Wheat Bread

Great Wheat Bread from Big Daddy

Okay, I am really tired of these ‘artisan’ breads that crumble when you try to make a sandwich out of them. Obviously, it is the choice of what ingredients they use, but more importantly, what they tend to leave out. Health nuts tend to think eggs are bad… so they carelessly omit them.
Holy Granola! Where’s Baker-man when you need him?

So put on your Berkenstocks, tie die your ammo vest and get ready to bake some real whole wheat bread…. that you guys might even like.

What I wanted in this bread was all the favorites from the ancient grain of ‘Millet’ used by the Chinese long before the advent of rice…. add to this corn meal ( y’all love this one), whole wheat flour, wheat germ and a bunch of things that make it just fine! Oh, don’t forget all those things that make it so crunchy: Sesame Seeds, Flaxseed… and don’t worry, we got Oats!

It’s sweetened with Molasses & honey… and held together with an egg.

HERE’S THE RECIPE!



Made this especially for my wife, Laura…. who loves her daily turkey/cheese and stuff sandwich at lunch.

Roger Freberg

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Social Connectivity in today’s world

It's just little ol me!Social networking has always been the key to success in any sales endeavor.

It didn’t matter if you were selling chocolate, airplanes or ideas… the reality is ‘who you know’ and what they know of you! The more folks you knew and the stronger the ‘relationship’, then the greater likelihood you would find a ‘buyer’ for whatever it was you were selling.

The reason for the value of social connectivity is simple. People offer loyalty to the ideas of other people and to specific people… not to non human entities. For example, you are more likely to fail to remember to return something to the library than you would be to a friend, This is certainly not rocket science, but the importance of connectivity is something always underestimated by many people as they pursue their own personal goals.

Recently, we joined our daughters on two separate on-line sites ; “MySpace” and “Facebook”… there are other sites, but these were the ones they pointed out to us. Our interest was not in networking, per se, but to study the phenomenon. Kristin pointed out that one ‘Dive’ shop (Scuba) keeps a list on one of these sites to let divers know about upcoming events.
Karen has found a home on “Facebook” as it appeals to those currently in school… whereas Kristin likes “My Space” as it appeals to those past college. It is a place for meeting old friends and getting acquainted with new ones…. and keeping in touch with groups that share your interests.

Old ways with a new twist.

Roger Freberg