pinprick moments

We all have heard it said--It's the last one or there are only two left or they're going fast, or don't miss out! We all don't believe those ploys but marketers and advertisers all know they work (i.e. they are pinpricks moments). I guess we think, well, maybe they might be true sooo we don't want to miss the opportunity so we but it now. This week's It's Saturday won't be ever done again. Soooo you better jump on it! It's your last chance! Read it while it's hot!

No matter how smart folks are, Costco sample stations for sweet stuff affect folks’ minds and they buy the product; they just can’t resist a.k.a. a pinprick moment. Costco is an excellent marketer, my opinion, they know what they are doing alright. Of course we are all pretty big suckers which helps tooo! hahaha GeorgeTheCrook says--Do we ever notice that most people think they are not average or below average but above average but in reality, many are just average (i.e. we say we would never fall for such a trick)! Da! Just look at the bell curve! 

I have just read the book All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, a historical fiction book suggested by you. I would guess many of you have read it. It has won some awards as a pretty good book written about WWII. It was a pinprick to my mind about how people can be taken advantage of, especially when vulnerable. The book is reality! It is cruel, sad, and uplifting! Are we ever vulnerable? It has many undertones that really made me think (e.g. live life before you die).  A client, who is a sweet, pleasant 84 year-old lady that I drove to the doctor because she had a constant stomach problem. When I dropped her off back at her house, I asked her if her doctor suggested she quite drinking wine--he didn't mention it but I'm going to have my glass of wine at 5 regardless; at my age does it make much difference; I'm going to live my life before I die!

I was told by a friend who has Italian friends that Italians tell their children of all ages how to act and live their lives; it is an accepted custom. Most people won’t accept suggestions in our culture, it appears (i.e. parents want their children to think for themselves) and they do but then they don't like it when they do! hahaha. Maybe that is where the Godfather power comes from. Most younger folks would consider advice a pinprick moment if aging parents would tell their grown children how to act! Such is life.

MyBigSisterOnlyInAge texted me that her sister-in-law died. She said she was Italian and will be remembered by her food she made. Then she asked me if I ever wonder what we will be remembered as/for when we die. I thought about that; maybe we might be surprised! Soooo, who really knows! We might be way wrong! Maybe we think we are better than we are thought of by others and many just the opposite--maybe it depends who is doing the evaluation. Could be! Coach Parcell said--"We judge a trapper by his furs!

Esther of Grace says--When someone comes to mind…is it just coincidence? I like to believe I’m thinking of them for a reason. Maybe I forgot I have a coffee date with them or maybe it’s my conscience reminding me we are hiking the next morning; I better get my bag ready. But many times, I credit the Holy Spirit, and I say a little prayer. I also try to follow up with a text or sending a card in the mail letting them know I’m thinking of them. There have been countless times when I have reached out after a nudge from the Holy Spirit and the person was grateful - in need of a talk, prayer, or a visit.

A pinprick moment: Jon says—"You ever chase apples we never needed? The operative word is “enough.” That’s where the trouble starts and where the solution begins. If we don’t define enough, fear will define it for us. If we don’t choose enough, the world will choose it for us. Enough is a slippery word!” According to the orchardists I got to know, the Valley is suffering from a “shakeout.” They have lost money the last 4 years. AI says—" The economic and business term for this process is an industry shakeout (or simply a shakeout). It happens after a period of overexpansion or overproduction when a glut of goods crashes prices, forcing weaker and less efficient companies to go bankrupt or exit the market until supply and demand balance out again. It is a business cycle.” A Butler County farmer says--That is unless the government subsides the situation. But if we are part of the shakeout, it is serious, more than a pinprick!

I asked an orchardist from the church we attend, whose orchard is in the third generation about this. He is smart and a nice guy. He said--Well it could be the “invisible hand”. That's from the author of our capitalist system, Adam Smith in 1776. It’s a rather cruel system as there was no safety net for those people and resources being moved out by low prices. John Keys developed a theory in the 1930’s that the govt should develop programs to assist those resources and people that had been displaced. That’s kind of how I understand it. But I don’t know much as I’m just old farm boy.

For the extreme rich, shakedowns don’t affect them much, not even a pinprick, for the average person maybe a little more than a pinprick, but for the poor, it is major, like survival. The majority of the population now needs assistance, as I see it, to exist. It would be great if we could get the “age old problem of poverty” figured out but it’s a continuous problem for ever, it's nuttin new.  I wonder if the extreme inequality isn’t worked out, if our country or world can exist. But it has always been. Here in the Valley roughly 84% to 86% quality for free school lunch (i.e. a friend who is close to this says, it’s more like 95%--but now I hear WA has free school lunch for everyone). It seems that many could not have a financial self--supporting life without subsides. I volunteer to drive for the underprivileged who many are poor, and if they didn’t have assistance in many ways, they tell me that they probably would not live. They learn the system very well just to survive. But let me tell ya, these folks are very appreciative for help. That has been my experience. BigShotErnie says--An effective plan to have a good financial self-supporting life is to marry it or inherit it. 

A character in that novel repeatedly was told that she was a brave person. Her last response to the person who said that to her was, I am not a brave person, I am just living my life. That statement could be a pinprick moment to us. Big on the maybe!

PositiveBetty says this pinprick moment--"Remember folks, an unrevealed part of ourself is never understood." One of my clients who I drove to her doctor's appointment was a sweet, pleasant older lady walking with her walker, her chariot as I referred it to her, so I told her she was sweet and pleasant--she said--erv, you don't live with me!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--Hope is necessary in every condition.

positive spin

Little Johnny’s parents were trying to put a positive spin on the quality of not being a quitter; trying to teach him that nonquitters are never forgotten. They told him that we all remember people like Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Michael Jordon and Albert Schouskie.  Johnny asked, who was Albert Schouskie anyway?  See, he quit and no one remembers him!

The Valedictorian says--"Without laughter, the rough and rocky places on the path might be too painful to bear. Humor not only lightens our load, it also broadens our perspective. To be deadly serious is to suffer tunnel vision. To be able to laugh at yourself clears the vision." Laughter does give us more of a positive spin alright, at least for me it does.

CrazyMarvin who is crazy 73.7% of the time, according to his wife Nellie, says--I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't sooo I'm just damned!

Business executive and former CEO of Pepsi, Indra Nooyi, reminds us to assume the best in others:  "Whatever anybody says or does, assume positive intent. You will be amazed at how your whole approach to a person or problem becomes very different. When you assume negative intent, you're angry. If you take away that anger and assume positive intent, you will be amazed. Your emotional quotient goes up because you are no longer almost random in your response. You don't get defensive. You don’t scream. You are trying to understand and listen because at your basic core we are saying, ‘Maybe they are saying something to me that I'm not hearing.’ Assume positive intent has been a huge piece of advice for me.” It works for me but it is hard for me to do sometimes, but I try real hard! I think I fail sometimes 'cause I'm human! Such is life.

I have the opportunity to be part of a group of guys who drink coffee weekly. They are mostly retired guys from many past occupations. They call it the Weekly Office Meeting. Recently four of us sat at a table and had the best conversation of great meaning; we all have the same backgrounds and thinking in several areas that were similar which produced conversation that was very uplifting to all of us (i.e. a positive spin for sure). A great opportunity to think about the saying—"We always move forward to what we focus on!" That helps to have an enjoyable life, I think. Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier, said--"Be always sure you're right — then go ahead!"

RickyRick says--"If we want to live an overflowing life rather than an overwhelming life, stop complaining, and start being grateful."  Now that is a positive spin to think about. For me, being grateful does wonders for me. But then again, human nature seems like it wants us not to be grateful but it always wants us to have more a.k.a. complaining. ThePreacherManFromNW-IA says—“The murmurers are ungrateful people. Appreciative men and women have neither the time nor disposition to stop and complain. Gratitude and murmuring never abide in the same heart at the same time."

Six-year old Bobby had strip throat and had to stay home from church. When his family came back from church they were all carrying palm branches—he asked what they were all about—they told him that when Jesus came, the people all throw down palm branches for Jesus to walk on. My luck, the day I missed church Jesus finally came!

What is piddly crap stuff! AverageJoe says, piddly crap stuff is what many people talk about and what many people spend tooo much time thinking about and worrying about that is of little importance. It just isn’t that important! Do we ever spend way too much time on the wrong stuff? Maybe we should change our title to a more positive spin like Wal Mart did (i.e. rebrand our lives). They no longer call their employees security but now call them asset protection! A big well drilling rig pulled up beside me at the stop sign yesterday, and on it was printed in big letters, we are honest and efficient. So there you go! RickyRick says--"Every day when we wake up, we need to remind ourself of what counts and what doesn’t count. Don’t be distracted by things that are insignificant and petty."

Esther of Grace is a writer in Yakama that we have met. We like her writing and I asked her if she would be interested in writing a paragraph each week for It's Saturday and she agreed. I hope you enjoy her writings. Esther of Grace writes--"To be or not to be…offended. A co-worker comes down the hall one morning on her way into work and passes by my office. My door is open, I look up and smile, greeting them with a hello! My co-worker doesn’t look up, and responds with a simple, muffled, “Hey.” ---  I have, in that moment, the decision to be miffed with their less than enthusiastic response, go after them and ask what’s wrong or to take a breath and offer a prayer, a blessing over their day. I’ve chosen both responses over the years, and I’ll tell you, the latter is always the better choice. ---  We are all going through a storm, just coming out of a storm, about to go into a storm, or know someone in a storm. When we choose praying for someone, compassion, and kindness, we will be more inline with who God is calling us to be…in my opinion."

A little boy was reading a cowboy story. A picture shows the cowboy on his horse wearing a white hat surrounded by a great number of bad guys wearing black hats. It looks really bad for the cowboy; it looks like there is no way out for him ; he is doomed, toast. The little boy can’t handle it so he goes to the last pages where there is the cowboy riding his horse into the sunset.  He goes back to the part where the cowboy is surrounded with no way out. He tells the cowboy, don’t worry, it will all turn out great; I know the end of the story.

Evan Esar said--"If a man is poor, he is stupid; if he is rich, he's a crook; if he goes to church, he's a hypocrite; if he stays away, he's a sinner. If he's in politics, he's a grafter; if he takes no interest in politics, he's an unworthy citizen; if he dies young, there was a great future ahead of him; if he lives to a ripe old age, he's a burden to society. The only man who is never criticized is he who has never been born."

Maybe Upgrade Our Plan! Many of the devotions I read talk a lot about being quiet a.k.a. being still. The readings always say that being still is a great investment in our lives. Maybe to sum it up—Results of being quiet is a great mystery; do not try to fathom it; just enjoy it. Personally, being still and quiet is a very positive spin on my life. Soooo I lost one of my ear buds; it had to be in our yard or in our house. We looked for several days with no success; I gave up. A couple of days later I was eating my lunch on our patio and sitting there quietly and saw this little white thing under a bush about twelve feet away. It was my earbud. Crazy. I think I’m going to sit still and be quiet more often!

I like what King Solomon, probably the wisest man that ever lived, says in Proverbs--"Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving" Now that is a pretty good positive spin for me!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--Retire from work, but not from life.

matter of fact

A friend was telling me about his brother-in-law who talks on and on and on about stuff that no one else is interested in! Matter of fact, some of you might think he was using his brother-in-law as an analogy to my writing in this “It’s Saturday.” It could be! You decide!

When we use “matter of fact” we might use it to mean different things; at least I do.

I don’t think I’m thankful enough for my life and events of my life. Matter of fact, I was reminded recently of this by being around a group of friends when back in Aplington, IA. They are great folks and have affected and still affect my life. I take them as a matter of fact sometimes, too lightly, take them for granted. CoachB says—The people we are around sure do make us feel good or not sooo good; it depends on our friends, that is for sure; some lift us up and some drag us down. My friends have a lot of responsibility in directing me down the road of life let me tell ya (i.e. they have their hands full for sure)! hahaha

I was on my early morning walk the other day and this guy riding his electric bike stopped and encouraged me about my walking (i.e. I felt he over did it a bit while sitting on his electric bike). He said it in a matter of fact way a.k.a. a very important deal like a matter of fact! It is hard maybe to self-evaluate ourselves, I think. I wonder how folks evaluate me as I sometimes evaluate others (e.g. I might say to myself, so and so don’t see the big picture of their life; they are fooling themselves, not facing reality). Many businesses evaluate their employees in a way of helping them soooo they can improve (i.e. they discuss their good points and weak points). In real life, we don’t do that too much. It’s not socially accepted (i.e. evaluation is not accepted very well by others sooo we don’t do it). We sometimes just let them kick the same can down the same street all their life. A friend told me that they think many folks don't care what others do as long as they don't bother their life. Ouchy ouchy!

Matter of fact they both got my attention and set examples for me recently. One’s example was how I do not what to act and another was how I would like to act. One was very humble and gracious and the other very cocky and self-glorifying. And both probably will never know I thought that about them. Listen up, if you and I think that of them, then a lot of others do too; you and I aren’t the only two that are that smart let me tell ya. We are just two of the million ants on the ant hill!

Life is an exciting challenge a.k.a. an opportunity (i.e. that’s my opinion)! ItchieBitchie says--"Matter of fact, if we actually wait until we feel like it, we might not do anything at all. And it seems like some folks never do much!" Lisa asked if she and her husband could sit with me at Costco to eat our hotdogs. She was 85 and he was 83. Eventually she told me—"If people live long enough, they all seem to get to know Jesus." Well, the older I get, I learn more and more that many times the best response is for me to say is nuttin! Maybe those two are about the same! I don’t know. My Mom, Anna, would say to me--erv, if you can't say something good about someone, don't say anything. But, she use to correct me when I was wrong. Is that an oxymoron?

I planted some Zinnia seeds in a planter pot in honor of my Mom, Anna, she was such a sweet, great person and Zinnias were one of her favorite flowers. Maybe I planted too many in the planter as they really need to be watered three times a day or they will wilt severely (i.e. but it is amazing that water will perk them right up again). Also, they always turn to the light. Also, they respond to fertilizer. What is the analogy of these Zinnia plants to our lives. Matter of fact, all of you are smarter than the AverageJoes soooo you figure it out; well, all of you are smarter except maybe for one of you and you know who you are! hahaha

Esther of Grace writes, Looking for the gold…in every person…in every situation. It is a matter of fact (in my opinion!) that people want to be seen. I am often reminded to look for the gold - to be intentional about seeing the good in people I encounter.--- I was ordering my lunch and was surprised when I was told “Today’s special is a free sundae!”. One of my love languages is chocolate (and if in ice cream form, all the better!) so I told the lady how happy this little gesture made me, and she responded with sincerity that she too loves a frozen treat. “I always get one when I’m at the hospital.” I asked if she worked there and what she told me blew me away. She works directly with women who are going through what she went through not so long ago. Taking incredibly tough struggles and uncovering beauty and hope. As she shared more of her story, which would bring most people down in the hardness of it all, she instead beamed with pure joy. I commended her for using her difficult life experiences and her gifts in helping others. And her smile got even bigger! She knows what she is doing is changing lives for good. Her work at the hospital and the sundaes she gives away - gold - and today, I was blessed in hearing a bit of her story.

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--Those who help early, help twice.

pseudo

If I think about this then, there is a pretty good chance that you think about this too. And that means that there are others who think about this as well! hahaha

Paul was not very 'successful' when he talked to the Jews, philosophers, and the council of the Areopagus on Mars Hill and the people in the city square in Athens. Some of them asked, 'What is this babbler trying to say?' Sooo, take that analogy into account when reading this "It's Saturday."

They wear big cowboy hats but own no cattle! Saturday questions—Are we pseudo-people or the real deal? Do we treat all people the same or are we pseudo-people to some and not to others (e.g. we might treat family differently and even talk differently than we treat the people at a neighborhood picnic or people at work, the boss, or friends)? Are we the same person wherever we go? It appears to me that there are folks who act differently in their different worlds depending on who they are with!  They act completely different. Dick (i.e. not the Dick the protagonist created in the stories of Dick and Jane but a current real live Dick that I know) says—I live in only one world; that way I always am wearing the right hat!

RickyRick says—"Reputation has to do with what everybody thinks we are; integrity is what we really are. Our reputation is connected to who we appear to be in public; integrity is connected to who we are when you’re all alone with God.” SusieQ says--I operate under pretense sometimes and sometimes I don't! But it is hard for me to decide when I should and when I should not!

A minister was trying to get his neighbor, Bill, to come to his church. On Easter Bill showed up at church. The minister said to him--Bill, it is good to see you in church and I hope you attend regularly. Bill responded--You did a good job pastor; I plan to attend regularly: see you next Easter! 

I have been thinking recently about what is more important, knowledge or emotions. I had a somewhat of a friend relationship with a highly educated person years ago who totally believed that knowledge was way more important than emotion. He said that emotion wears off but knowledge stays steadfast.  But Solomon, who might have been the wisest of al men, said--"Understanding will never give you peace." This acquaintance was a university professor and an ordained minister. He believed that knowledge in God was very important compared to temporary emotion—once the hoopla is gone, the knowledge stays as our foundation.  How about in a marriage or relationship as a friend or a business acquaintance? My friendship with this guy depreciated to zero as he would just lecture to me and never listened to a word I said! He had a pseudo-friendship with me. Of course, maybe he thought I didn't have much to say that was worth listening to! That could be! Thomas Aquinas said--"We can't have full knowledge. We must start by believing; then afterwards we may be led on to master the evidence for ourselves."

Ariana wrote—"There have been times in my life when I’ve found real intimacy with God, sensing his presence. But more often I’ve lived with a sense of the absence of God. During these times I have to remind myself of what I know about God rather than how I feel about God.”

I knew a person who I would consider to be a “DuaneTheWorm.” This person would say anything to self-glorify himself a.k.a. look-maximizing or giving himself the advantage of trying to put himself up on a higher social status. Of course, people caught onto him that he had a pseudo-personality and just would not pay much attention to him; he was just a fake a.k.a. a blowhard, a pseudo person. He was basically a mugrumper meaning he would have his mug on one side of the fence and rump on the other and would say whatever he had to say in trying to gain prestige, so he thought. But in reality, to most folks, he just lost respect. ItchieBitchie says--But there are always suckers!

I like to be around real folks with good hearts. I believe if we judge people, judge them by their heart. If they have a pseudo-heart, I suggest we to be careful. The truth will always show up, always. This is my opinion, but just remember folks, I’m just another bozo on the bus.

I had a business acquaintance who told me that all his friends he had, he bought a.k.a. playing the crowd. He said he had no real friends but just pseudo-friends. He had a hard time keeping friends as he had to continue to buy them. Another guy who really worked the crowd would buy drinks for many at the golf course in the attempt to make them think he was really a nice guy sooo he could get their business (i.e. buying business). They are about the same. They both are just pseudo-maneuvers.

Sooo who is a real friend? Do we have real friends? Who are our inner circle of friends? What makes them our friends? What makes them real? Who is your best friend? MissPerfect says—I have just pseudo-friends!

I have met people recently who have no friends and don’t want to have friends; they just want to be alone. I have a hard time understanding them. Maybe they are bitter or something. I have tried to befriend them and they told me straight out—I don’t want you to be my friend; I don’t want or need a friend. Ouchy ouchy! I still don’t believe them! That attitude doesn’t add up in my mind. SusieQ asks--Is it possible that they have been miserable for sooo long that they don’t even know they are miserable? The other day I was eating my $1.50 hotdog at Costco and invited a guy and gal to join me. They were maybe 25 and 32 and were engineers and working in Yakima for the day and eating hotdogs and pizza at Costco for their lunch. We had a great time. They thanked me for inviting them to sit with me and said—This would never happen in Seattle! Huh, interesting!

Saturday question--Did I sound like a jake brake?

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--Joy is not in things; it is in us.

PS I did have the opportunity to walk up to the top of Mars Hill to where Paul gave his argument. It was a great experience for me. Do you know what Paul's argument was?

confusing and complicated

This “It’s Saturday” might be hard to grasp! But it’s something to “pour” over.

Socrates said—"I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think. To find yourself, think for yourself.” I wonder, Socrates, if I can figure the world out; it seems quite complicated and confusing. But then again I’m just a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and a quarter south of Roseland, MN.

Americans spend 8 billion dollars on cosmetics each year. A wise, old Yakima orchardist was asked what he thought of that. He answered the question using the Socratic method of teaching by asking another question back. His question was—Does the barn need painting? If it does paint it!

erv, let the sleeping dog lie! I thought I was being kind in showing love to a person but was told that they probably will misunderstand my action and it’s better to leave it alone, don’t get involved, don’t touch it. Now that is complicated and confusing to me. I guess the world says—If it doesn’t affect me, I really shouldn’t care about others. Does that mean, just take care of ourselves and not care about others? Like I said, It’s confusing and complicated. John Wooden said—"Don’t mistake activity for achievement.”

This is complicated and confusing to me. Listen, a lot of things are complicated and confusing to me. Why do we all continue to do things that hurt our lives? CoachB says—If we have dug us a hole and want to get out of it, we need to put down the shovel. My saying is—If we are hitting our heads against the wall why don’t we quit doing it. It will feel a whole lot better if we quit. Paul, in the Bible, who was one smart guy, said--"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."  It seems to make no sense for us to keep doing it! What are we thinking anyway!

I read this early one morning what Sarah wrote—“If we encounter a problem with no immediate solution, our response to that situation will take us either up or down. We can lash out at the difficulty, resenting it and feeling sorry for ourself. This will take us down into a pit of self-pity. Alternatively, the problem can be a ladder, enabling us to climb up and see our life from God’s perspective.” Is that complicated and confusing?

I was just reminded again of the old saying—We will be most like the average of the five people we are around the most. I read recently-- Every person is a witness of how they live their life whether they want tooo or not (e.g. in a novel I just read, a character was described by others as “slippery” or a person could be described as dynamite). Hey listen folks, if I know that and you know that then others know that toooo, we aren’t the only two that are that smart. It might sound complicated and confusing but it ain’t let me tell ya! It’s like--“All we want are the facts, ma’am.” Those were the words of Sergeant Joe Friday in the popular 1950s television series, Dragnet. The facts are the facts!

Our minds are complicated and confusing. RickyRick says—"You need to understand that memories are a choice. Clara Barton was the founder of the American Red Cross. A friend reminded her of a particularly cruel thing somebody had done to her years before. The friend asked, ‘Don’t you remember?’ Her famous reply was, “No, I distinctly remember forgetting it.” Our memories are a choice. If we want to hold on to our painful memories, go right ahead. But we’re not going to be happy.”

Dr.J says--"Both the Old Testament and the New Testament draw a clear distinction between the priority of the inner person over the outer person. Yet in our modern world that priority is reversed. Far more attention is put on cultivating the outward appearance than is put on developing the spiritual person."  C.S. Lewis says--"All that is not eternal is eternally out of date."

Ok, I admit that life is complicated and confusing, it has always been and always will be, BUT the truth is that self-sufficiency is a myth perpetuated by pride and temporary success. Health and wealth can disappear instantly as can life itself. Soooo for me, there is only one real Hope. That makes everything a lot simpler for me. BigShotErnie says--I like this Jesus guy, I like to sin and He likes to forgive!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriend Jean said--Everyone wants you to tell it like it is until you do.