Why the Cold Grease domain name? Because a good friend of mine has often been heard to say, "There's nothing like cold grease in the morning."

Makes me smile every time—it tickles my fancy—so I bought this domain name. Yes, I know it’s not uncommon for some people to eat leftover pizza or McDonald's fries after they roll out of bed, it's just that I had never heard it described in quite such a way—pretty much breaking it down to its most basic elements. (My friend does that a lot. She's quite a character—and a very interesting person.)

And also.....well, it's kinda funny coming from her because, in my ever so humble opinion, she really shouldn't be eating leftover fried foods to start the day.

Well, at least that is what conventional thinking would tell you. She has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension—among other things, including Scoliosis—and one would think that following a typically healthful diet should be of greater importance…..but then she’s not exactly conventional.

She lives with 75% of the oxygen of a normal healthy adult. Conventional medical wisdom says one cannot survive on that.

And yet she is most often the one that breathes life into any given event or get-together—the liveliest in the crowd. She loves to laugh, and it makes people around her feel good. Her humor makes you laugh with her.

She does not let her health issues prevent her from enjoying life. She does not make excuses. Her pace is deliberate yet steady & productive—she gets things done. She has carved out a successful career through hard work and determination. She works for a large national corporation. Her position often requires out-of-state travel, which can be physically challenging, but she succeeds through careful planning and organization.

Through experience she has learned what works and what doesn't. From how much sleep she needs, to what she can splurge on (she loves good food) and what she seriously needs to monitor (e.g. sodium intake). So, in truth, whereas she doesn’t always adhere to a typically healthful diet, she doesn’t exactly eat whatever she wants willy-nilly—much of the time she does opt for soups, and salads, and practices moderation (e.g. she does limit the number of marshmallow Peeps she has around Easter)

The point is, she knows what works for her. She is extremely in tune with her body. She constantly pushes the envelope, testing the limits (to give her spirit enough elbow room) but rarely is she irresponsible. You know, over the years it seems as though some parts of her body have adapted to help out other parts. Our bodies are fascinating organisms. Well, she listens carefully to hers—and respects what it tells her. Very smart.

Like everyone, she has her good days and her bad days—her good days can be pretty good, and her bad days can be pretty bad. Sometimes her body throws her a curveball. Or her list of daily meds can sometimes affect her mood. Or maybe some other craziness of life. She's human.

But here's the kicker: she bounces back.

Her motto is "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger". Every morning she wakes up early and starts a new day, determined to meet any challenges that lie ahead. That's resiliency and perseverance, and in my opinion an excellent approach to life (Begin each day with a fresh attitude determined to meet the challenges that lie ahead. Seek to improve yourself, and to make a positive difference in the life of others.)

Hey, we’re talkin’ moxie! Mental fortitude. Oh, she’s a thinker. She likes to think things through. It’s important to her to constantly strive for a better understanding—not only of the world around her, but also of herself. She can be emotional, logical, stubborn, fair. She is opinionated, but guards against narrow-mindedness—she carefully studies all points of view.

And that gives her strength that can be infinitely more powerful than any physical ability.

Sometimes it can seem so easy to retreat and imprison ourselves behind a wall of fear, self-doubt, or self-pity. My friend’s ability to analyze problems and situations—break them down to their most basic elements—helps her to develop and maintain perspective and balance. It ain’t easy—life is a real bumpy ride and sometimes it feels like you're losing more than you're winning—but the important thing is she's in the game, giving it all she’s got, experiencing life, meeting people, working, paying the bills, having fun, making people smile, etc. etc.

She has displayed an inner strength and courage that has allowed her to succeed—to fight through her challenges, take on responsibilities and enjoy independence. I’m proud of her.

We've had a lot of fun together over the years. She has made a positive difference in my life—in many ways. I remember one time some years ago I was dealing with a mysterious health issue and it was bringing me down. Although I tried to conceal it, her acute sensibility detected how deeply I was affected. She offered words of encouragement as well as some insightful food for thought—intellectual nourishment—which included (of course) the importance of one’s state-of-mind. She helped me to readjust my perspective.

She's a very caring person. A very thoughtful person. And I'm so glad to know her.