Happy New Year! (or sorry 2014, but we're through and now I'm moving on to 2015)

Another year is in the books and we turn the calendar to a new month and a new year. I hope 2014 was good for all of you and your families and that you can look back on it with some modicum of fondness and without too many regrets.  Personally, 2014 was a year of significant upheaval for me and my family but in the end everything worked out and we're in a really good space heading into 2015. I'm not big on New Year's resolutions because A) people never stick with them, and B) I am a big believer in living your resolutions every day and making them part of your life, not just part of your January. I'm just going to continue to do what I set out to do every year: be the best husband and father I can be, be the best chemist I can be and do as well at my job as possible, enjoy time with my family and friends, continue to take care of my health by maintaining my running and healthy habits, and continue to express myself creatively through my music and writing.  Apart from that, I plan to enjoy the new year as much as possible and make it the best it can be!

For you, my dear readers, I wish all of you a happy New Year and only hope that you celebrate it safely and responsibly. May your 2015 be even more blessed, successful, and filled with love and happiness than your 2014 was!

Read More

Merry Christmas

Just a short message wishing all of my family, friends, and readers a very Merry Christmas filled with family, rest, relaxation, and all of the blessings you deserve.  I'm very blessed in my life and thankful for all that I have, and Christmas is always a time of reflection for me as we get ready to head into a new year next week. Whether the religious aspect of the holiday means anything to you (as it does for me) or not, I think we can all agree that believers and non-believers alike can agree that a message of peace, love, and goodwill toward our fellow men and women is something we should all strive for, especially in these troubled times here at home and around the world. I'll be back to my regular schedule of posts here after a few days, but until then I'm going to enjoy Christmas and I hope all of you do, too.

Merry Christmas!

Read More

Happy Thanksgiving

I know it's cliche to do a Thanksgiving post on a blog, but it's my blog and I'm a sentimental fellow so here goes!

2014 has been a tough year for me and my family...not tough in a bad way but in terms of a lot of change, some bad but mostly good. I'm definitely taking a little bit of extra time this Thanksgiving to reflect and be thankful for all of God's blessings on us. I've got a wonderful wife who has been with me every step of the way and who is the true backbone of our family, we've got four amazing children who bring us so much joy, we've got families that are loving and supportive, and we've got friends old and new who enrich our lives. I'm thankful to finally have a stable job, where I'm really happy and excited on what I'm working on, and I'm thankful to live in such a great country with all of its freedoms and rights.  Finally,  on a blog-related note, I'm thankful for all of the great opportunities that have opened up because of my writing on this sight, all of the great people I've met online through blogging and writing, and for all of my loyal readers who have made The Rock and Roll Chemist the popular and successful site it is today. 

So sit down today with family and friends, enjoy your meal, watch some football, relax, visit, and take a little time to reflect on the good things, the things you have to be thankful for in your life. It's too easy, especially in today's fast-paced world, to lose sight of what's really important and not count your blessings. Try to keep from falling into that trap and instead count your blessings...you'll be glad you did. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Read More