happiness

We have all had a dreadful dating experience straight out of a horror show that makes us question the very merits of searching for love.

As I now conclude this particular article, it is just hours away from one of America's most revered events--if not the most. President-elect Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building at 12:00 noon on January 20, and Mike Pence will be duly sworn in as the Vice-President of the United States.

“Great companies that build an enduring brand have an emotional relationship with customers that has no barrier. And that emotional relationship is on the most important characteristic, which is trust.”
— Howard Schultz, Entrepreneur

My name is Colleen Bannister and I am a personal trainer and the owner of the 6Weekworkout, the first indoor bootcamp facility in Carson City.

It’s the New Year and often we look for things we want to improve upon. One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is weight loss or to improve our health.

As I write this article, the Electoral College is deciding the route of the American Presidency and of Donald Trump as President-Elect. The Russian ambassador has been shot and killed in Turkey by a fanatic. Another European terrorist attack has taken place in Berlin, Germany, killing at least 12 people and wounding dozens of others during the Christmas shopping season. Back in Aleppo, Syria, the Assad government is finishing off the horrific killings of its own people as well as rescue helpers and hundreds of Christians — many of whom are women and children.

Thanksgiving isn't a patriotic holiday per se, but it is full of patriotic feelings as Americans did and should give thanks for our shared blessings as a nation.

The Brewery Arts Center, Carson City’s premiere epicenter for the arts since 1976, presents Christmas at the Trailer Park with Antsy McClain on Friday, Dec. 9 in the Maizie Harris Jesse Black Box Theater.

It didn't take long after the recent refurbishing of the horse trough watering fountain before units from the Carson City, Washoe, Reno, and Sparks law enforcement units stopped by to water the horses during the Nevada Day Parade on Saturday. This was a wonderful flashback to the original purpose of the fountains and the rebuild this year.

In just the few minutes I stood with E.D. Crouser at the intersection of Highway 50 and College Parkway/Fairview Drive Wednesday afternoon, it seems like one chaotic event after another reigned down on motorists lined up dozens deep in the midst of widespread power outages that struck the area.

“We learn from history that we learn nothing from history,” said Friedrich Hegel.

Last week in Reno former Soviet economic advisor Yuri Maltsev began a speech with that quote. We appreciated his remarks, although his message is an ominous one.

Yuri related some of his experiences growing up in Soviet Russia as a warning for people who think socialism is great. In his view, Americans are often far too cavalier about praising certain aspects of socialism and similar collectivism while failing to recognize socialism for what it truly is: state slavery.

We were again reminded this week that ignorance can breed misunderstanding and occasionally violence.

We were deeply saddened by the senseless murder of five police officers in Dallas. The young shooter, an African-American, claimed outrage over several earlier shootings of black men by police officers elsewhere. He had no known connections to these men, nor to the police officers he shot.

His motive was based on a logical fallacy to which too many people fall prey.

When E.D. Crouser smiles, people pay attention.

In spite of the distractions caused by heavy traffic, it's really hard to miss the 34 year-old Carson City resident and mother of three standing at a busy intersection.

Happiness is where you find it, and often not in the usual places.

Today I found happiness standing at the corner of Highway 50 and Fairview Drive in front of Slot World, waving a two-sided sign and wearing a red foam clown nose.

Keep an eye out for cyclists, Carson City. Bike to work week has begun, so please slow down and share the road. You’ll find a new exhibit in the CCAI Gallery at the courthouse, so check it out after you cast your early vote in the primary. The Sacred Arts of Tibet Tour has brought the monks of the Gaden Shartse Phukhang Monastery back to the Brewery Arts Center; today they’ll perform a tea offering and give a presentation on happiness. Negroni week kicks off today at the Firkin and Fox, but several local bars are participating in this fundraiser.

Tibetan monks from the Gaden Shartse Monastery are on a two-year tour and will be visiting the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City and Minden's O2 Wellness & Yoga Studio to share their unique and deeply spiritual culture of Tibetan Buddhism.

With an innovative camp curriculum developed from the country that invented soccer — and a team of coaches who grew up eating, drinking and breathing the sport — Challenger Sports is bringing young players throughout the United States and Canada an up close and personal opportunity to experience the sport closest to Britain’s heart.

With the New Year upon us let me begin this document by wishing you and yours a Happy New Year. May the year 2016 bring peace and happiness to each and every one of you.

This New Year will be a busy one for Carson City. Foremost on our minds, perhaps, is the Downtown Street Narrowing Project due to begin early February/March depending on weather conditions. One of the goals stated by Carson City staff is to have this project complete in time for the Nevada Day parade. We should, however, keep our chief consideration foremost: “Let's do it Right.”

Over the past months I have addressed many subjects related to traffic safety. These articles were written to educate and inform you, the motoring public, on a variety of issues from drinking and driving to pedestrian safety and other situations that arose during the year.

Now, as you travel to your holiday destinations to spend time with loved ones and friends, I ask that you take some time to consider what I have written about. Arriving safely should be your number one priority.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has ordered all state government offices, other than essential public safety and corrections personnel, to close at noon Thursday due to the winter storm in Carson City.

The Christmas Eve storm, which has packed several inches of snow in the capital city, is causing problems along area roads, with numerous spinouts and crashes.

The freedom of individuals to take a job, quit a job, start a business, or close a business at will is an essential part of America. When Thomas Jefferson wrote that we have a God-given right to "the pursuit of happiness," this is a big part of what he meant. Unlike the European legacy of being chained to the family occupation, Americans are free to decide how and what work we do for a living, plus when and where.

Returning for a second year, storyteller Joel ben Izzy will present his newest tales in "Buried Treasures - Stories to carry you around the world and back again." at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday July 29, at 6:30 pm. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

What is freedom, and what does it mean?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines freedom as “the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action…the power or condition of acting without compulsion.”

What this means to the average American living in freedom every day is being able to choose what you say or do without government restraint or compulsion to say or do something else.

The summer of 1776 must not have been much different from other summers gone and yet to come: Hot, muggy and miserable for those who had to work out in it. And in 1776 that included most people.

Like any other summer, that particular one 239 years ago was alive with fragrances in full bloom; the sounds of children playing in fields of wild flowers, and splashing about in creeks and ponds where it was cool; young animals frolicking in the fields; men and women toiling in their gardens and on their farms; and the happy songs of birds, crickets and frogs relishing in the summer solstice.

Although variable spring weather conditions contributed to prolonged periods on the road and away from Carson City, Western Nevada College's baseball players remained committed to their No. 1 priority as a Wildcat: academics.

WNC earned National Junior College Athletic Association Academic All-American honors with a team grade point average of 3.19.

A Wall Street Journal article reminded me of the need to look at our lives and our activities with a little different focus. These three questions may help you set your financial priorities:

First, imagine you have enough money to satisfy all your needs-how would you change your life? Maybe you have some hobbies you would like to do? Many folks say they would work less and some think they might quit their jobs. It is sort of a “if you won the lottery, what would you do then?

What if: You were an orphan at 15 and living with your 17-year old brother in a run-down motel in old downtown Reno; You have few role models, little education, occasional minimum wage jobs; you drink too much, eat lousy food; and Your brother kills a kid on a bicycle while driving drunk and comes to you for help.

"Why didn't you call the police or an ambulance?" you ask

So begins Willy Vlautin's noir novel "The Motel Life." Nevada scholar Patricia Cooper-Smith will facilitate a book discussion Thursday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the Carson City Library Digitorium.

Don't forget my author book signing event will be held during the wine walk in Carson City. It will be at Comma Coffee 312 S. Carson Street, 1 to 5 p.m. during the Downtown Carson City Wine Walk, April 4, 2015

Generational Gifts: The Legacy Of Evelyn Marie: My grandmother left a legacy when she passed from this life. In a folder containing hundreds of her unpublished poems I discovered a treasure. Her poems told of her dreams and disappointments, her love and loss, and her resilience in an era of economic depression and world war.

It’s the International Day of Happiness and I hope song and dance make you happy. Carson City is awash with live music and theater tonight. Local favorite Stereo Galaxy teams up with Southern California performer, Loc Lion, for a show at Sassafras. You’ll find the Remains at Westside Pour House, and Jaime Rollins keeps it rollin at Living the Good Life. Just Sayin’ is this months featured talent in the Brewery Arts Center’s Eclectic Electric Series.

Yes. You are looking at a bunny with a pancake on its head, but I can explain. Today is National Pancake Day, so head over to the International House of Pancakes for your free short stack and donate to this year’s charity, the Children’s Miracle Network. It is also National ‘I Want You to Be Happy Day.’ Pancake Day and trying to share a smile, ergo silly picture of a bunny with a pancake on its head. Find your own way to share some happiness today.

TimeHop is a great little app I use when I need a little reminder about how far I have come. This app takes you back as many as five years in your social media posts. For me, it illustrates one simple point of life. The only thing that is certain is change.