in transition

Some of you might think I’m just prattling in this “It’s Saturday.”  And you could be right.  Remember folks, you get what you pay for! 

We are in CO with all our family on our way to AZ (i.e. a lot of nose and activity).  We are in transition! Yes, we ate the turkey.  Why do turkeys gobble? Because they have never learned table manners.  What happened when a turkey got into a fight? He got the stuffing knocked out of him.

OneSweetLadyJudy says--Offering thanks is a positive experience for all...We are also blessed when a person accepts our “thank you,” because it blesses them...Many people, especially people living in poverty, are not often affirmed and encouraged.

When we look back at our lives, there are soooo many things that have happened to us that we thought early in life that were unimaginable unfathomable unobtainable unachievable unreachable implausible and yet they happened.  When we look forward in our life, I assume we might have that same thought and probably there will be unimaginable unfathomable unobtainable unachievable unreachable implausible things will happen.  We are in transition folks, a constant transition.

WorldClassLarry says—Everyone needs a break once in a while.  Some call it vacation, a Sabbath, time away, a change, a break, a resperate, a get away, a different spin, an uplift, etc.  You get it.  I personally get bored easily; I need change and something different.  Sooooo all the above are the reasons why we are going to AZ for the winter.  Much of our simple life will not change but some things will.  It’s a change, especially for me.  Transition isn’t always easy but the result might be good.  Does any of this make any sense?

Our grandkids are in transition—Like a smartyoungman says—they all do it.  If we like it or not, it happens. Kids and some adults learn soooo much in each and every day.  If you haven’t seen your grand kids for any amount of time, it is just amazing how they change both mentally and physically.  They probably say the same about grandparents but we don’t think sooooo!  SusieQ says--I married him and he had a thick head of hair and a thin belly.  Now he has a thin head of hair and a thick belly. 

Transition for Arlene from home to AZ will be/is challenging.  Transition for someone with Alzheimer’s is difficult.  Anything different and out of their routine is difficult.  I try to be very patient and foresee areas that will be extremely challenging for her and make them easy for her (i.e. just do things and make decisions for her).  We both think once we get to AZ, it will be more” life about the same” as we are renting the same house as we had last year.  Not a piece of cake but it surely will be easier for her.  It won’t be super either place but winter in AZ will give us more options we think.  AverageJoe says—Transition is hard on me tooooo and I don’t think I’m impaired!

My Daddy, Chester, would say to me erv—It isn’t the tractor you are driving but the machine behind it.  Meaning, the machine will go where you pull it with the tractor.  Sooooo maybe much of transition is about our attitude; how we adapt.  It’s maybe how we pull our situation along.  It will follow the tractor.  My Daddy also said—Everyone has problems, it’s just that some folks handle them differently.  Many many parts of the equation produces the end result.  Some parts of the equation we have no control over.  We just need to buck up and adapt and make the most of it.  And yes, the transition ain’t always easy. Such is life.

I must admit that when I was maybe 12 or sooooo, I was draggin’ using or neighbor, Lawrence Van Den Einde’s B John Deere pulling our 4 section drag when I turned tooooo sharp at the end of the field and got the cable from the draw bar to the end of the drag up on the tire.  Had to get my Daddy, Chester, to come and help me.  He was rather nice about it.  I was fearful after his advice he always gave me about driving the machine and not the tractor.  That B John Deere had a flywheel which you had to spin to start the tractor to make it go putt putt (i.e. that is the noise of 2 cylinder John Deere makes).  Any of you folks remember flywheels? How about opening the petcocks?

I read while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it—Humility, which acts as a fly wheel turning over the engine of a great person. LuckieEddie says—You either get that or you don’t—If you don’t get that, you are just a “splasher!” GerogeTheCrook says--Ah fudge nuggets!  ItchieBitchie says--Maybe we  need to open our petcocks tooooo!

Before we left for AZ, I signed up for a slot on a prayer vigil.  My time I signed up for was 4:45 a.m. When I got there, 4 or 5 folks were in the sanctuary praying in different positions.  As I was there, I think one more person might have come and one left.  ANYWAY about half way through my prayer time, one of the folks started to pray out loud. It was very annoying to me.  I plugged my ears and went on.  He did it the rest of the time I was there.  Why do you think he did that?  Maybe he thought he was a better prayer than the rest of us (i.e. and he might be), to impress us (i.e. if so, he didn't impress me), to get attention (i.e. he did that in a negative way) or maybe he was opening his petcocks.  I have no idea.  What do you think?

Our niece, Jen, put this on face book. She made me laugh. Not trying to brag but our Nick (i.e. their son) scored half of the points. Unfortunately we are the guests.

One of our little grand daughters walked with Arlene and I to the Corner Store to get a $2 Denver Post.  She told us she had a dollar and some change and wanted to buy something.  She bought Tic Tacs and put her money on the counter.  The clerk went to the back room and came back with her wallet and was getting some money out; I didn't realize that she didn't have enough money and she was going to pay the difference.  The next day I got another paper and the same gal was working.  I told her how nice she was to our little grand daughter yesterday.  She said--I like to help folks; it makes them happy and makes me happy--You are one nice gal--sooo are you (i.e. she doesn't know me very well!). Yesterday I told one of our little grand sons--You are a nice boy.  He said back to me--Sometimes! Such is life.

I read in the paper sooooo it must be right--Data shows that people who report feeling gratitude in their daily lives feel more loving, forgiving and enthusiastic.  Gratitude also is linked strongly to well-being and metal and physical health with such benefits as lowered blood pressure and improved immune function.  It is not a magic bullet but does round out the edges of difficult times.  Soooo what do you think?

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--Grateful people are more fun to be around than ungrateful people.

snake bitten

A friend says--The best stories are of life. You can't make this stuff up folks.

This It’s Saturday is not a “microaggression.” A “microagression” is a phrase used to refer to a variety of verbal and nonverbal forms of communication that said to show disrespect for a particular group of people, especially those who have encountered historical decimation, and may now include any group that some establishments have classified as victims (i.e. who think they might have gotten a raw deal a.k.a. snake bitten).

Joesixpack says--It’s a big pill to swallow!  Everyone’s “big pill” might be different!  Generally, it’s not if but when!  When I was a kid my parents thought I should take a vitamin pill as I was a runt.  I overheard my Daddy, Chester, tell our neighbor about my small stature one day--erv, didn't get enough tit (i.e. that is an old farm expression used when the runt of  hog litter had no tit to suck--sometimes farmers would just kill the runt)! I really think my Daddy, Chester, wanted me to be a bigger kid soooo I would have a better chance of competing in athletics (i.e. that has been my thought through the years—maybe I have been wrong all these years).  I would not take it.  We fought and fought about it.  My Daddy would hold me and pry my mouth open and my Mom, Anna, would put the pill in while I was hollering and screaming.  I didn’t want to take the pill. Many folks don’t want to take the pill—it’s in many cases a “big pill” to swallow. 

ItchieBitchie says--The teacher graded on the curve—the bell curve.  CrazyMarvin says—I think life is sorta kinda a bell curve.  Some of you are on the uptick side of the curve, some on the top side of the curve and others on the down side of the curve and still going down.  The ageing process is way different than the other parts of life (i.e. for some it appears they have a lot of pig pills to swallow and for some it appears they are on a diet of cream puffs). Life isn't always fair.  The only thing that is fair is the Butler County Fair and that is in June. Such is life.

It sure appears that some folks are more snake bitten that others.  I was with a super-senior friend recently that made a statement like—Some folks just amaze me how they get out of a snake bitten environment—very few do (i.e. might be at any part of the bell curve of life). And those few are just amazing.  Why do some and not others? Good question.  I think in some situations, it’s just a God thing; that’s the only way I see it.  My friend went on to say—I thank the Big Guy in the sky every day for my life.  GeorgeTheCrook says—We sent Jr to school; they didn’t learn him nutten; he learned more on the bus! Has Jr been snake-bitten?

Winston Churhill once said--Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it. 

LuckieEddie says—I really feel sorry for many folks that have no control over their situation.  It is harder for me to feel sorry for others who do have control over their situation but do nutten.  Saturday question—Which one are you? The runt became a grown man at 202 pounds (i.e. as Helen Shirley said--He was a huge, beastly, bulging man)!  It must of been tooo much of Arlene's cooking!  Now the runt weighs 178 and does take a vitiamin pill! Such is life.

It says in the paper soooo it must be right—Among those struggling with psychological issues in modern America are the rich “one-percenters” (especially the mega-rich “one-percent of one-percenters”), according to counselors specializing in assuaging guilt and moderating class hatred.  Sample worries: isolation (so few rich-rich); stress, caused by political hubbub over “inequality”; and insecurity (is my “friend” really just a friend of my money?). Joesixpack says—Soooo it seems to me that a guy could be snake bitten it you don’t have money or if you have toooo much money.  Huh, interesting. According to IRS, the top 1% in America make $380,354 (i.e. that is some of you folks).  Top 5% make 159,619, top 10% make 113,799. 

WorldClassLarry says—There are times in our lives when we are stagnant (i.e. our life is not exciting or don’t seem productive).  We are in these times maybe by choice or maybe we have no choice.  It’s a very unsettling time—eerie time—a time of unpleasantness—can be a boring time—a time which feels negative, unproductive—an isolation chamber time—time of no opportunities—time of stillness—time of life modification—time of inactivity—etc.  It appears like our lives have changed and we can’t do much about it.  It might be a time of quietness—time of a different life--time of inactivity—time of waiting-—etc.  I read while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it—Be still and know that I am God! That can be a big pill to swallow especially if you are a type A personality.  SusieQ says—It appears that some handle it better than others for maybe many different reasons.  What do you think?

When I was a lad my Daddy, Chester, would occasionally take me along to the Willmar Livestock Sales barn for their weekly sale.  We would sometimes stop at the DQ and have a malt.  He would always ask me if I would like another.  He wanted me to get bigger was always my reasoning.  I always said no even though I could have eaten another one.  The reason I always said no was that I knew we didn’t have much money and I didn’t want to spend more money.  I think a malt cost 35 cents.  Ya must remember that our income was about $3,500 at this time.  I know when I was a senior in 1963 our income was $4,600 as my Daddy shared a lot of information with me. 35 cents was .0001 of our family income.  Sooooo, .0001 of a family income of $60,000 today would like paying $6 for a malt.  My mentality was snake-bitten. Crazy huh! What might seem even crazier is that Roseland Reformed Church in Roseland, MN (i.e. the church we attended) built a new building in 1956.  Our parents gave $1,000.  We didn’t have indoor bathroom yet! Crazy!

I recently called some long time clients and asked if I could stop over.  He has Parkinson’s and his wife is his caregiver.  She asked her husband and he said it was ok (i.e. some days he would rather not see folks as his disease gets him all goofed up).  Our conversation started normally but very soon he got right to the point—This is a terrible disease and I don’t like it a bit.  He shared his emotions, frustrations and feelings very openly. But erv, some have it worse than me.  Being an old German farmer, it was surprising to me that he would share his heart as most don’t (i.e. but we have a long, good relationship). Maybe the time was just right. Then his wife shared her emotions, frustrations and feelings.  Wow!  They know that Arlene’s and my life is somewhat similar and know that I understand. We visited for about 20 minutes and cleared the air I think.  We were frank, honest, and to the point.  Their “oomph” was being tested alright. Saturday question—Has your “oomph” ever been tested?

Kids, what time is it?  It’s Howdy Doody time!  One thing we are in control of and that is our attitude.  MissPerfect says—We all have feelings, pleasant and unpleasant; but it depends how we react to those feelings!  Soooo the reality of taking the “big pill” is how we react to it.  Sooooo we need to work on our attitude.  Adjust to our situations and modify our lives accordingly.   That is my opinion.  And it might not be easy but it does make life a lot better.  I’m certain about that. 

While running (i.e. or trotting as Ed calls my running) I went past a house where an elderly gentleman just died.  He was a farmer who owned a nice number of acres.  I thought--his kids just became millionaires.  ItchieBitchie says—I feel like I have been snake bitten by not being of a different family.  A friend (i.e. who might be smarter than the average guy) said to me—erv, when death occurs, money is of no importance.  Soooo true good friend but while on earth, money does give many options (i.e. good and bad options). Saturday question--Do you have a strong love of money?

Some folks appear they are snake bitten! Being a volunteer at Wheaten Franciscan Health Care, I was invited to their continuing education class called, Behavioral Health Diversity: Interacting with Emotional Instability.  I enjoyed the class as I have an interest in this topic.  I learned that addictions interact with many forms of mental disorders. Also I learned that these problems usually stem from three areas: Chemical imbalances, Genetics, and Environmental (i.e. these are the hallmarks and sometimes they interact).  ItchieBitchie says—You can’t fight fire with fire because it causes explosive results.  I also learned that being supportive is really important for folks who have these challenges (i.e. affirmation).  For most of us that is all we can do. There is not a quick fix.  It did not happen overnight and will not be fixed overnight. They also said--The best thing a caregiver can do for the emotionally unstable is to take care of yourself.  But sometimes that is a big pill to swallow.  

LuckieEddie says--The twinkling of an eye or a blink of an eye is to be 5.19 milliseconds, or 5.19 thousandths of a second. In the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it’s over. The experience, accident, event etc. is over. I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it--In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Soooo I guess in a blink of an eye; it will all make sense.  Of course if folks think they will die like a pig, it doesn’t make any difference.  Soooo there you go.

Mark Bullock on the subject of thanksgiving: “When you ask God in the morning / For His guidance through the day, / Thank Him for the many blessings / He in love has sent your way. / When you’re asking aid from Heaven, / Mingle with your morning prayer / A word of praise and gratitude / For all His kindly care.”

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--We are given enough compassion, to use in service each day.

my mood

Presto!  It's Saturday again. And how do I find you this Saturday, LisaTheMotherQueen?--I have been better and I have been worse.  Well, LisaTheMotherQueen, I hope I don't pick at any of your scabs in this "It's Saturday!"

I facility a dementia support group.  We meet the 4^th Tuesday of each month.  I went to church at 1:25 for the 1:30 get-to-gather and no one showed up.  They are very loyal in coming (i.e. it is a good group with good discussion).  What is going on?  My mood was of disappointment.  Then I discovered that it was the 3^rd Tuesday and not the 4^th Tuesday.  Da!  My mood changed to laughter at myself.  My mood changed.  Bingo!

Moods can change for many reasons.  Many many many and you know most of them.  And some folks are just moodier than others.  Why?  Probably for many many many different reasons and you know most of them. BadAppleEd says—I know myself better than anyone let me tell ya! I’m an expert about myself.  And most of you have no idea what I’m all about; I’m a world class moody person!  Really!

TheOtherWarrenFromOmaha says--Behavior Modification -- Stop acting like your mother!!

Fill in the blank

I am in a very good mood now because________________________________.

I am in a not a good mood but not a bad mood but a neutral mood because______________________________________________.

I am in a bad mood because_________________________________________.

Multiple Choice

a.  I am usually in a good mood

b.  I am usually in a neutral mood

c. I am usually in a bad mood

Now don’t get all aflutter!  Answer this question in an essay form. Why am I usually in the mood I am and why am I in my current mood.  I suggest you write it out—it’s much more productive in seeing ourselves.  Women’sClubGloria says—Data shows that many of us don’t want to tackle our own weaknesses. We would rather eat chocolate or drink beer!

CadillacJack says--If you do something positive for someone, it probably will change their mood and probably will change your mood as well! Does that make sense to you?

Saturday question--Are you a mood changer (i.e. good or bad)? Do we have folks in your life that are positive mood changers?  Maybe we should take a few moments today to appreciate those who strengthen us and give us courage. Thank God for the blessings that abound and for the people who surround us. Anne Frank said--Whoever is happy will make others happy too. Such is life.

This was my setting last Saturday morning doing some reading and just sitting and thinking (i.e. my Shangri-La). I enjoy being alone and everything being quiet.  In one of my readings, it talked about being forced into hard places and how it gives us a whole new perspective on life (e.g. some things aren't as important as they use to be).  Experiences let us see things differently and understand things differently (i.e. we seem to relate to folks and situations differently). It might even change our mood.  LuckyEddie says--If you have never been there, you have no idea what's it all about.  

StuckInTheMudJake says—Change is sooooo hard for many folks.  It’s almost an impossibility.  Why that is I don’t know but it is.  Try to change a friend, a child, a parent, a spouse, your boss, a person with a bad attitude, a non believer, etc.  You get it.  Or try to change yourself.  It’s not easy folks.  BUT  change does happen sometimes. Usually ‘cause of some special event in their life. Bingo, it then happens.  Sometimes it just happens.  It’s much like getting friends--Friendships cannot be structured or programmed. They form unconsciously. They work mysteriously. Maybe we don’t intentionally select our friends (i.e. not acquaintances but friends). We just realize one day that a person is our friend and how blessed we are because of it. “Two are better than one,” says Ecclesiastes.  Amen to that. I had the opportunity to have breakfast with a good old friend (i.e.  just short of 90 years old).  Our friendship just happened because……!  When we left each other’s company, we sorta kinda patted each other on the shoulder.  It was an unspoken communication of “you are my friend.”  That’s a good feeling.  Mutual true feeling of appreciative friends.  

A mood exterminator! The word on the street says that CrazyMarvin is caught in transition between his personal ambitions and his spiritual nature (i.e. tossed to and fro).  He’s living the dream but unhappy. BigDaddyPitBullWade asks—Now how can that be. It looks like he’s got everything a person would want.  Well zip-a-dee-doo-dah zippity day!

WorldClassLarry says—My life is very byzantine.  I really think that helps me maintain a good mood. BigLyierAlbert lies and then he doesn’t know what he has lied about—now that is a complicated life folks.  Real folks with good hearts, it seems to me, are always in a better mood.  What do you think? CrabbySara asks—Does success change a person’s mood?  It appears it does CrabbySara.  Ok, then if success might change a person’s mood does a good mood make a person more successful?

MissPerfect says—I try to stay away from toooo many negative folks.  They drag me down and give me a bad mood.  I try to be around positive folks who lift me up and give me a good mood.  Good choice MissPerfect, good choice.  Have you noticed how negative folks drag down positive folks sooooo much easier than positive folks lift up negative folks?  I asked my breakfast waiter the other morning, why folks are negative?  He thought it was because of their bringing up (i.e. their family).  Or it could be ‘cause of a negative event or events that happened to them that made them that way.  Like my mentor use to says—erv, we are programed by our past!  Such is life.

It is my opinion that exercise is a great mood changer.  I just bought some new running shoes on line from a big box store (i.e. free shipping, free return shipping if I don’t like them, and at a good price--very customer friendly).  I think that free return shipping and free shipping a good price is a mood changer.  They know what they are doing.   I usually run one day, walk one day and bike the third day.  But, I started running on the golf course and I think it isn’t as hard on my knees and body.  I think I will run more.  New shoes also help I think.  Besides, it’s good for my mood to look at different shoes.  Besides, I plan to play a lot of pickleball this winter and want good shoes for my knees (i.e. they all sound like a good excuses).  Besides, I get bored easily. Sooooo like the song goes—After you been having steak for a long time, beans beans taste fine! 

A friend told us at breakfast recently--My wife is gone to see the grand kids soooo I have the TV as loud as it goes and the have the stool lids up were they are going to stay!

Have you ever been not received very well?  How does it make you feel?  Does it make you feel like “I will never go there again”—“I’ll never do that again?”  I will go somewhere where I am received better, more welcomed.  I don’t need to spend my time, energy, talent with folks who aren’t appreciative of me.  I can put up with their “none welcoming spirt” if they are paying me for it but if I’m doing it free gratis, I’m out of there.  Their attitude can change a guy’s mood alright.  I read in the paper that there is a company that wanted to start a wind farm in a county next to ours.  The folks put up a lot of negative pressure a.k.a. push back.  Soooo the company just went somewhere else where they were well received and were the folks were happy to take their money.  Bingo.  They didn’t fight those folks but just went where they were appreciated (i.e. something like brush the dust off and move on).  Such is life.                              

WorldClassLarry says--We treat people like ladies and gentlemen, not necessarily because they are, but because we are.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--Plan your work, then work your plan.                                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                             

Hold the phone Chuck!

CadillacJack says—erv, I flippantly read what you write! In my head it’s like striking it out! Hold the phone Chuck!  I try but probably don’t succeed very well!  How about you? Does that ever happen to you? 

Well hold the phone, Chuck! Have you ever been around folks that say one thing but do another.  I mean they want to impress folks by saying something but are living their life just the opposite (e.g. when in business folks would say they wanted only to look at a ranch style house but ended up buying a tri-level)! Go figure!  Joesixpack says—Businesses, churches, parents, boy friends/girl friends, coaches, bosses, friends etc. seem to do that sometimes.  Soooo be careful what folks say; it isn’t what they always mean.

Arlene and I were invited to watch our Waukee grand kids do their trick and treating.  It was fun.  Had a great time.  When we got back to the house, I noticed that one treat was a full sized candy bar.  I guess probably the cheapest you can buy that bar for is maybe 85 cents.  There are a lot of kids in this neighborhood soooo let’s say 150 kids is about $125.  Hold the phone, Chuck! Why do you think that person(s) did that—what’s a $125 to this person, try to impress the neighbors, generous to kids and really enjoy it, want to be known as elite, wanted to be known as rich or…. I mentioned this to a friend and he said that when they were kids, there were folks that did the same.  I asked him why he thought they did that.  He said—Manly to be remembered as a nice person!  MissPerfect says--I do it soooo I don't get my pumpkins squashed; it's like paying the mafia for protection!

Our daughter-in-law travels some for business.  She was gone for three days recently and our son was sooooo glad to see her return.  He said—I have no idea how single parents do that every day 24/7/365.  He had to get them up real early one morning as he had an early morning commitment.  Rookie pouted and cried and said—I want my mommy!  Well, hold the phone Chuck.  About 25% of all children in America are in a single parent situation (i.e. blacks over 70%).  Interesting that all other industrialized countries are well below our percentage.  Why is that do you think?

I emailed a friend and said--I want to hear about you.  The response I got was--Hear about me or from me. Ha! Talk to others to hear about me. I'd be interested to hear what they say too. Well hold the phone Chuck!  Ya, it would be interesting what others say about us, wouldn't it? ItchieBitchie says--I don't know for sure if I want to know.  Does it really make any difference do you think? I have no idea.  What do you think? Is there a possibility that others have different thoughts about me than I do of myself?  Could be.  We will never know.  Like I said earlier, folks always don't say what they mean!  

A retired businessman told me that they were transferred to a city during his working years.  They went to a church of their denomination in a suburb.  It was a very wealthy, elite community.  The folks at church were very uplifting, happy, encouraging and friendly.  A great experience they had.  Hold the phone Chuck! They didn’t think they fitted as they thought they were way out of their league.  They went to another church in another suburb where all the folks had normal 2,500 sq. feet houses, the gals had a mini-van and the guys a late model SUV, a boat etc.  The folks in that church were not nice to them at all.  Not happy and not friendly.  I asked him why.  They were all grinding wannabees and miserable.  Hold the phone Chuck! It appears that they think--The hay is not yet in the barn! Saturday question--Is social media real life?

SusieQ says--I want my mommy a.k.a the government.  Focus groups say the candidate that can buy the most votes  a.k.a promise the majority of folks what they want, will win (e.g. free education, free health care, forgiveness of college debt, higher wages). It’s just a bidding war for votes. It’s magic or Santa Claus it appears.  Really folks, it’s all about the money and how it affects folks personally.  GeorgeTheCrook says—We all can be seduced by filthy lucre!  My mentor would say—erv, we all have warts but maybe just hidden from the public.  He also told me this story several times—Pete asks Hilda to have sex with him for $100—what do you think I am—how about $200—I’m not that type of person—how about $500—money can’t seduce me—how about $10,000 for one roll in the hay—that will work—Now that we found out who you are, we just need to negotiate a price!  Bingo. ItchieBitchie says—Folks are funny about money; I mean crazy!  If you are a “Steinfield” fan, George epitomizes this.  He is cheap and picky unless it’s his idea.  LuckyEddie says—Whenever folks say, “It’s not the money, it’s the principle.” It’s usually the money!  Such is life. 

There is a lot of guess work in any decision but…! AverageJoe says—It’s a joke, just a big joke.  Joesixpack says—Hold the phone Chuck! We don’t seem to realize it but the joke might be on us!  Ouchy ouchy!  JoeHollywood says—In a democracy, the majority rules.  The eyes have it. 

A host of tangled reasons is why SweetAnnas are as they are.  Just a host of reasons.  It appears that sooooo many times we spend tooooo much time on the "supposedly super-heroes" but in reality the neatest folks are the Annas.  They don’t get much attention and don’t want any.  They are just SweetAnnas.  Sooooo hold the phone Chuck before you decide who is a great person in our world we live in.  In my opinion, my Mom, Anna, was a SweetAnna.  I am one lucky guy to have had her as my mom. I want my mommy!  Sooooo why was I soooo lucky?  I have no idea.  What do you think?

GolfBuddyJim (i.e. anybody can be a Jim) told us that they went and saw Mel Tillis show in Branson.  He told the story of when they had three young girls with the oldest, Pam, being four.  His wife made the three girls matching dresses.  They went to small Methodist church where they just got a new pastor.  During the service, the pastor asked Pam if she would like to sing as he heard she liked to do that.  Pam said yes and sang.  When she got done the pastor told her she did real well.  You have a pretty dress.  Did your mommy make that for you?  Yes and it’s a bitch to iron!  

The city hired a tree trimming company to trim our trees in our back yard to get the tree limbs away from the electrical lines.  They gave those trees a good hair cut alright.  AverageJoe says--Who would ever plant a pin oak soooo close to a electrical line anyway?  Hold the phone Chuck!  It was I, erv!  I never thought that little sapling I planted 40 years ago would get that big!.  Besides, I'm just a little old farm boy from a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN. Ouchy ouchy!

A golf buddy/friend manages a business that does some retail sales.  An employee called him and told him that they caught a shoplifter red handed.  She, another employee, and a neutral customer saw a lady leave when a decoration fell out of her pocket.  All three of them saw it.  They reported it to the sheriff and had a report filled out.  The sheriff called the manager in the morning and asked if he wanted to press charges.  Hold the phone Chuck!   No he didn’t.  Sheriff asked why not?  I looked at the video from the surveillance camera in slow motion and actually what happened was that the gal had on a long scarf and as she was walking out, the scarf caught on the decoration on the table and sorta kinda carried it along until it dropped appearing if fell from her pocket.  Sooooo folks, if my golf buddy/friend would not have taken the time to study the video real close, she would have probably been found guilty of shoplifting!  Ouchy ouchy!  Three eye witnesses!  What!

If you are change-averse, you would like to live in Butler County (i.e. the county we live in).  Butler County is the least diverse county in Iowa and maybe the nation (i.e. very homogeneous).  Really!  There are 98.85% whites. CrazyMarvin says--Some maybe could even be inbreed.  Many think alike and don't like change (i.e. unless it will affect them financially). It's a Republican stronghold.  Hold the phone Chuck!  Joesixpack says--Many folks seem to like it that way!  Maybe sooo or maybe don't know any different!  http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2014/10/22/changing-face-butler-county/17702967/

But hold the phone Chuck. We had Stanley Steamer clean our carpet.  When I was paying them I asked if they ever have to deal with rude folks. They said--The folks in Waterloo are a 100 times ruder than folks in small town Butler County!  Huh, interesting.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans, (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.