Author Archives: russtowne

About russtowne

I'm awed by the beauty of nature and the power of love and gratitude. Some of my favorite sensory experiences include waves crashing on rocky shores, waterways in ancient redwood and fern-filled forests, and rain. My wife and I have been married since 1979. We have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren. I manage a wealth management firm that I founded in 2003. My Beloved is a Special Education teacher for Kindergartners and First Graders. I'm a published author of approximately 60 books in a variety of genres for grownups and children.

Seeing Rightly With Our Heart

Posted on April 28, 2012 by russtowne

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; What is essential is invisible to the eye.” –Antoine de Saint Exupery I believe there is much truth and wisdom in those words. I saw the above quote at … Continue reading →

Posted in LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Optimism, Quotes I Love | Tagged Antoine de Saint Exupery, eye, heart, Heroic Stories, heroicstories.com, invisible to the eye, It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, kindness, rightly, truth, What is essential is invisible to the eye, wisdom | Leave a comment

What A Great Idea!

Posted on April 27, 2012 by russtowne

I am often touched when I see “Welcome Home” video’s of mlitary servicepeople coming home from long deployments. I’ve just discovered a blog/site that is devoted to sharing such joyous moments with the world: WelcomeHomeBlog.com. What a great idea! To … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Dogs & Other Wonderful Creatures, Fun Vids, Gratitude, Humor, Inspiring, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, daughter, deployment, Dog, dogs, family reunion, father, Marines, military, Mother, Navy, reunion, service, servicemen, servicepeople, servicewomen, soldiers, son, touched, Touching, videos, welcomehomeblog, welcomhomeblog.com | Leave a comment

My First Grandchild Was Born Yeserday

Posted on April 27, 2012 by russtowne

My first grandchild was born yesterday. Everyone is doing fine. I spent most of the day at the hospital yesterday to let an exhausted new mommy and daddy sleep and to spend as much time as possible holding and beholding … Continue reading →

Posted in Family "Fun", Grandparenting & Grandkids, Gratitude, Inspiring | Tagged bon, dad, daddy, father, grandad, grandchild, grandfather, gransdon, grateful, happy, hospital, lucky, mom, mommy, Mother, yesterday | 2 Comments

Speaking of Daring Adventures…

Posted on April 26, 2012 by russtowne

Our eldest son and his wife are expecting their first child. I believe that having a baby is one of the greatest and most daring adventures of all. Their son’s due date is TODAY. It will be my wife’s and … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Family "Fun", Grandparenting & Grandkids | Tagged baby, daring adventure, due date, grandchild, grandfather, grandmother, Grandson, great adventure, newborn, parents, son, waiting by the phone | 2 Comments

Life is Either a Daring Adventure…

Posted on April 26, 2012 by russtowne

I just saw a Nike internet commercial that included several quotes about living life to the fullest. Here are three of them: Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. –Helen Keller Action expresses priority. –Ganhdi You only … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Quotes I Love | Tagged action expresses priority, do it right, Gandhi, Helen Keller, just do it, Life, life is either a daring adventure, Mae West, Nike, once is enough, or nothing at all, you onlly live once | Leave a comment

What Do You Get When You Combine Metal Balls, String, and Wood?

Posted on April 21, 2012 by russtowne

What do you get when you combine metal balls, string and wood? Something truly remarkably amazing! http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=eib4or5ftccol

Posted in Creativity, Fun Vids | Tagged amazing, Astounding, metal balls, remarkable, remarkably, string, wood | Leave a comment

Amazing Doggie Dancer

Posted on April 21, 2012 by russtowne

The URl below is to a video displaying a dog doing a very impressive 3-minute dance routine–on its HIND legs. WOW! The dog is a much better dancer than me–though I admit that isn’t saying much (if you’ve ever seen … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs & Other Wonderful Creatures, Humor, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged amazing, amazing doggie dancer, animal, animal lover, animals, dancing, Dog, doggie, hind legs | Leave a comment

Will Love for Food

Posted on April 21, 2012 by russtowne

I recently saw a photo of a large dog with with friendly but sad old eyes, and much white on its face. It wore a sign made of cutout cardboard which was hanging from its neck. The message on it … Continue reading →

Posted in Generosity, Making the World a Better Place | Tagged cardboard, cardboard sign, Crayon, crayons, Dog, eyes, food, friendly eyes, Love, nourishment, old, old dog, photo, photograph, picture, sad old dog, sign, will heart for food, will love for food | Leave a comment

A Hero of Humanity

Posted on April 20, 2012 by russtowne

I just saw a blurb about a Chinese cop that while on duty and in uniform breastfed two hungry baby earthquake survivors that weren’t her own. I don’t know what her boss thinks about her actions, but to me she … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Generosity, Inspiring, Making the World a Better Place, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged baby, baby earthquake survivors, breast-fed, China, Chinese cop, earthquake, Hero, Hero of Humanity, humanity, survivors, uniform, woman cop | Leave a comment

What Disability? This Girl Has a Super-Ability!

Posted on April 19, 2012 by russtowne

“A first-grader who was born without hands has won a national penmanship award”, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. “Annie Clark, a 7-year-old at Wilson Christian Academy in West Mifflin, Pa., got a trophy and $1,000 as one of two national winners … Continue reading →