uncertainty

Joesixpack says--I'm certain that I'm going to die and pay taxes but I have a lot of uncertainties and they make me nervous!  Oh yes!  I'm uncertain what others think of me and does it really matter?  MissPerfect says--erv, what others think of you is none of your business!  LuckieEddie says--If you are uncertain, use the "eeny, meeny, miny moe, you are it" method.  It works for me! 

My mentor says--Folks are scared about the uncertainty of many situations a.k.a. their future!  A business owner recently met with his company's broker who handles the retirement fund of him and his employees (i.e. the investment company's representative came too).  He asked his employees if they have any thing they would like him to say to those folks.  They said--Tell them that we don't want to loose any more money!  The employees are scared about the uncertainty of their accounts (i.e. they should be).  Donald Trump says this about uncertainty--"Let me get this straight . . .We're going to be "gifted" with a health care plan we are forced to purchase and fined if we don't, which purportedly covers at least ten million more people, without adding a single new doctor, but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents, Written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that didn't read it but exempted themselves from it, and signed by a Dumbo President who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, For which we'll be taxed for four years before any benefits take effect, by a government which has already bankrupted Social Security and Medicare, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke!!!!!  'What the hell could possibly go wrong?'"  That's his feeling folks.  Doesn't sound like Donald is uncertain about the uncertainty of the situation now does he!  Such is life.

Have you ever been uncertain about a person (i.e. they seem to act strange--sorta kinda non responsive or arrogant)?  Sometimes a guy just doesn't know why they act that way.  I was golfing with a guy on his home course this summer who told me one of the guys behind us is the biggest jerk that plays on their course.  He's just a complete jerk and no one will play with him.  He's a complete...!  Maybe he lacks confidence, maybe there is something going on that no one knows about, maybe his past is haunting him, maybe he was taught to be that way by his parents, maybe he's just a jerk--I'm uncertain.  But what I'm certain about is that I many times realize later why a person is the way they are and I feel oh sooooooo bad!  You ever do that?  Her is an example:  CadillacJack tells this story--She was miserable and probably one of the rudest people I've ever come across.  When I approach her, she would turn away and pretend that I am not there, until she was ready.  I have tried a thousand times to make her smile, and she has tried a thousand times not to. I have given up on her; I have been angered by her. Then one day I caught myself acting just like her and realized that I must stop. I finally resolved myself to the fact that she is who she is; I cannot change that. She is a fact of my life, and I must learn to deal with it. Then one day that I permitted myself to return the emptiness, rude behavior, terrible attitude and gave her the silent treatment.  She chose to say something.  I approached the checkout and she said, "Are you Okay?" I was stunned. I could actually feel my brow, my entire face scrunch up apparently angry that she would ask. "Am I okay?" I said in disbelief. "Yes." she replied. "You are usually so upbeat and chipper." I stood in this dream-like state confused by what was going on. She looked at me and said, "I depend on you to lift my spirits every time you come in. I work three jobs, my bills are piling up, my kids need clothes for school, my husband left me and three weeks later I found out I have cancer."   I was speechless. "Now you come in with this attitude today," she said.. I actually apologized.  I never considered that she was much more than a clerk. I never tried to understand that behind that face was personal pain, life challenges and loss. Ouchy ouchy! I felt like a jerk of which I was. 
 
Gettin' back to your opening statement Joesixpack, there are uncertainties with dying and paying taxes tooooo!?  The Roman Empire continued to increase taxes until the folks revolted (i.e. sooooo where is the mighty Roman Empire anyway?).  Sooooooo the uncertainty is -- how much more taxes are you goin' have to pay?  And the uncertainty connected with dying -- Is there life after death?  Is there a heaven and a hell?  What do you have to do to get into heaven?  Some world religions believe you have to do many good works and then ya still are certain if you have done enough.  Christianity believes that you must confess your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour (i.e. that's it).  Sooooooooo are you in this la la land where you don't know where you are?  Are you uncertain?  And how long is eternity?

What kind of heart do you have?  I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half of apple on it (i.e. King Solomon in Proverbs) says--Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.  Yabut King Solomon was the smartest man who ever lived.  Yabut some call him a half hearted man as in his senior years he sorta kinda dishonored God.  Soooo do you have a loving heart, a giving heart, a tender heart, a crusty heart, a hateful heart, a kind heart, a greedy heart, a good heart, a bad heart, a jealous heart, a mean heart, a compassionate heart etc?  You know what kind of heart you have (i.e. you are the expert on answering that question).  I'm really uncertain sometimes what kind of heart you have or what kind of heart I have.  SusieQ says--If you find in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded (i.e. a giving back heart).  Sooooooo do we have a self-centered heart at times?  Maybe we have a money hungry heart (i.e. all we think and talk about is money).  I heard on TV the other night (i.e. so it must be right) that if new tax laws are passed for the super rich, they will just attorney up!  I mentioned this to a friend and he responded--They'll "lobby" up or "lobbyist" up more likely. The corporations own Washington and our democracy...it's sick.  Ouchy ouchy! ItchieBitchie says--The middle income folks and the low income folks don't have anyone lobbing for them (i.e. they don't have the money).  It's all about the money folks. My opinion--What is right seems to manage to achieve a small victory in a war that has already lost!  My opinion--I do think that the super rich need to pay more taxes but I also think we need to cut spending.  And you know what, probably neither will happen--It ain't bad enough yet.  My mentor says--It's broken and probably is nonfixable using our thinking of today (i.e. oh it will be fixed but it will be ugly ugly ugly--none of us will like it).  Where is the Roman Empire anyway?  What happened to it folks.  Where is Babylon folks (i.e. the richest city ever)?  Huh, interesting. 

I really like this picture (i.e. I'll explain later why).  I am uncertain what I think matters much in this world.  But what I think matters to God (i.e. what does God think of my inner thoughts).  Does that make any sense to you.  I had a guy tell me recently--All my money doesn't make much difference when I can't wipe my butt!  LuckieEddie says--Early returns show that we need to enjoy our inner life the way it is suppose to be lived; not the way the public pressures us to live our lives.  No one knows what our inner thoughts are and they don't need to know (i.e. it's very personal but gives us great satisfaction).  Do something you always wanted to do internally--find something that you really enjoy inside yourself--do what you want to do when you want to do it--don't do it to impress someone or to show off (i.e. doing it to show off is overhyped--"been-there-done-that--it's not what it's cracked up to be)--do what's important folks; it's refreshing; do what is right.  Don't worry about what others think (i.e. they won't even know).  Rise up, shout for joy!  Do it at a relaxed pace. My mentor says--Doing something that takes self discipline is very rewarding.  CadillacJack says--I'm certain that God commands us to honor and glorify him.  I'm convinced that God does not play dice.  We gotta do what is right.  You know what is right. Yes you do.  Soooooo ask yourself, what should I do.  Answer it and do it (i.e. it's like silver bullet magic or a secret silicon chip).  Develop a new heart.  I read in the paper so it must be right--More than half of 4 to 6 year olds, when asked to choose between watching TV and spending time with their father, would rather watch TV.  Ouchy ouchy!  The picture is of our son and their little girl, Charlotte.  What do you think his inner thoughts are?  I do know what my inner thoughts are when I look at this picture (i.e. very cool stuff).  LuckieEddie says--Okay okay I'm not going to be the person I'm expected to be by others any more.  I'm going to be me and find inner confidence.  I wish you the best LuckieEddie!  Accomplishing something within (e.g. getting a college degree while having a full time job and a family, losing weight, doing random kindness acts, changing a bad habit, accomplishing a life without an inheritance, being self-sufficient, running three miles etc--you know what you have accomplished and are real proud internally of it).  My mentor says--It's a great feeling to accomplish something that you did on your own!  It gives a person a great inner satisfaction.  Yabut SlickDuaneTheWorm (i.e. is as irratating as a dripping faucet) would rather be a faker (i.e. blow smoke).  Such is life. 

Okay folks, I'm training to run three miles.  I haven't ever run three miles in my life.  Now I'm 65, have weak knees, and planning to run a 5K.  3 miles is not very far for you long distance runners but for maybe 90% of Americans who can't run around the block, it's a long ways. I just completed week two of my training.  http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml  If I can do it, you can too (e.g. put your toe in the water).  I suggest you do it.  It really feels good to be trying this.  It's just something I want to do and it makes me feel good.  It beats sitting on the couch eating chips!  I'm not certain if my knees will allow me to do it but I'm going to give it a shot.  So far soooooo good!

SusieQ says--Please look for things that touch your inner feelings and cherish them for although it may sound trite to some, these things are the "stuff" of life.  The little things are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any time...it can all be taken away.
MissPerfect says--That should do it, enjoy your life.  MissPerect, are we doing alright here?  MissPerfect--Absolutely!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Almost always it is the fear of being ourselves that brings us to the mirror.

Ya, perhaps!

Joesixpack says--My life seems to "clunkandclang along (i.e. not very smooth).  Ya, perhaps it does Joesixpack.  Why is that do you think?  The older I get the less I know (i.e. maybe that is wisdom, I don't know).  It seemed I knew a lot more when I was about 20!  ANYWAY I realize more and more that I really am not that important.  MissPerfect says--I know very little but I already can visualize duck tape on your mouth erv! 

Itchiebitchie says--Humility is a key to wisdom.  Really!  Yabut humility doesn't seem to get much attention in our crazy world that we live in (i.e. it appears that the brassy, noisy, pushy folks get the attention).  Ya, perhaps it appears that way but...!  A friend told me about a man who he had the opportunity to be in contact with.  This guy was in a pickle a.k.a. a tough spot.  My friend asked him if he has been praying to God for help.  The guy said no he had not 'cause he didn't want to pray (i.e. a punchy pitch) now when he hasn't been praying to God for some time when things were going good (i.e. being thankful).  He didn't think that was right.  He thought that he was sorta kinda using seanchengines.  My friend told him he should pray to God; God would understand.  A friend told me that he doesn't pray much for himself but he did the other night. He prayed that he could pee as he didn't want the catheter put back in! I think God understood!

I'm just guessing, I don't know for sure! When we hiked Mt. La Plata (i.e. the 5th highest peak in CO 14,436 feet high http://14ers.com/photos/peakmain.php?peak=La+Plata+Peak ) I had quite an experience.  We started at 6 from the trail head in the dark and after 5 hours we gained 3,700 feet of altitude covering about 4.5 miles.  Yes that is a tough hike.  We just completed a long boulder field where you follow cairns for the trail.  I was taking a break.  Hank and James were ahead of me (i.e. they are tougher and faster than I).  I felt good physically and mentally but decided not to hike the last 500 feet to the summit.  Tommy, the camp owner, made a statement to us the night before that stuck in my head--Sometimes I don't get to the summit 'cause I need to respect the mountain and my body.  And besides--James and Hank would have to wait for me and besides my body felt good (i.e. no injuries) and besides the only thing I would hurt by not getting to the summit was my ego and I had a lot to loose if I got hurt as I have an unique opportunity in my life right now and besides I have had a good experience and besides I could start down and they would probably catch me about the same time at the trail head. Soooooooo that was my decision.  I got about half way down and I met a guy and a couple of gals in their 30s who were heading up (i.e. rather late as you want to be off the mountain before 2:30 as the storms can be dangerous).  He asked me if I made it to the top--I told them the mini version that I just wrote.  He said to me--You are a wise man--I don't know about that but it appeared to be the prudent thing for me.  He patted me on the back and said--you just had a great experience!  The rest of the way down I thought about that as I enjoyed God's creation in total quietness and peaceful mediation.  Ya, perhaps I did.  Maybe the experience was a cairn for my life (i.e. a God thing).  Ya, perhaps!  Happenstance, na I don't think so.  The guys caught me close to the trail head--total time--8.5 hours.  A great experience--Ya, perhaps!  Maybe I just got an upgrade in life--Ya, perhaps!  I'm just guessing, I don't know for sure!  I really didn't ask for this experience--it just fell in my lap.  Such is life.

WildWilly asks--Is it okay to complain? WildWilly says--The folks who are getting the free stuff, don't like the folks who are paying for the free stuff, because the folks who are paying for the free stuff can no longer afford to pay for both the free stuff and their own stuff. The folks who are paying for the free stuff want the free stuff to stop, and the folks who are getting the free stuff want even more free stuff on top of the free stuff they are already getting! Ya gotta cut that out! Ya, perhaps.  It all depends if you are receiving it or paying for it maybe.  What do you think?

I talked to a gal at church Sunday who I haven't talked to for a while.  I asked her if she is still working at a large grocery super market--ya I am--what do you do for them--I do all the hiring and firing of folks except for management--that's challenging I bet--it sure is as we are in a neighborhood where there are minorities and many low income folks--so how does that impact you--many want money but really don't want to work; they only last a couple of days and quit; I had the guidance counselor of the high school send 10 students who she said were very good; I hired them all; there are only 2 left--that does sound challenging.  Ya perhaps. 

I was coming back from my workout the other morning and a neighbor was backing out of his drive.  I asked him what he was going to do for the day.  Put in a furnace (i.e. it's about time I told him).  He told me he bought this new furnace for a $1,000 and hopes to get it put in for a $1,000.  I told him he gets all the breaks (i.e. he seems to find all the deals).  He responded--Hey, I spend my money other places.  Hey, neighbor, remember what my Uncle George always told me--It isn't what you make but what you save.  Ya maybe!  That's not very American to save your money.  It's a lot easier to inherit from the parents/uncles/aunts (i.e. maybe more the saving generation) or complain to the government.  In our area good farm land sells for $12,000 and acre.  Much of this land was bought for $350 an acre by dad.  Dad dies owning 500 acres.  You do the math.  Now that is how you make money the old fashion way.  I'll help you, that's $6 million folks.  I heard a man in his 50s say--his retirement plan is having his mother-in-law die!  Ouchy ouchy!

My mentor says--Everyone has warts but they don't show them to others!  "Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody." ~Mark Twain~  It's all about the money--Ya, perhaps! The Williams Estate Planning Group reports that although well over 90 percent of all U.S. corporations are family owned or controlled, only three out of ten family firms survive into the second generation. So many heirs of fame and fortune struggle with drug addiction and other destructive activities, adding to the tales of disaster. Why do so many people who have what most of the world is struggling to get end up bringing misery. LuckieEddie says--Sooooooo, well grounded folks with good wisdom can survive this misery.  Saturday question--What is sound wisdom?  MissPerfect says--I don't know everything but I know one of the parts to sound wisdom.  It's to know and obey God's will for your life.  How can you be certain about the absolutely way to be know and obey God's will for your life--be thankful!  Yabut it seems to me in my reading of Proverbs that the greatest wisdom we can obtain is "the fear of God" (i.e. the fear of God meaning having a reverential awe of God).  What do you think?  LuckieEddie says--Ya ya ya, Money talks but chocolate ice cream sings!  Ya, perhaps.

What makes our decision?  What makes our decisions in the church?  Money, ya perhaps.  A crusty old man walks into the local Church and says to the secretary, "I would like to join this damn church." The astonished woman replies, "I beg your pardon, sir. I must have misunderstood you... What did you say?"
"Listen up, damn it. I said I want to join this damn church!" "I'm very sorry sir, but that kind of language is not tolerated in this church." The secretary leaves her desk and goes into the pastor's study to inform him of her situation. The pastor agrees that the secretary does not have to listen to that foul language. They both return to her office, and the pastor asks the old geezer, "Sir, what seems to be the problem here?" "There is no damn problem," the man says. "I just won $200 million in the damn lottery and I want to join this damn church to get rid of some of this damn money." "I see," said the pastor. "And is this...giving you a hard
time?"

Iowa football team was down by 17 points in the 4th quarter Saturday.  I said to the person sitting next to me--I don't remember the last time we got kicked this bad (i.e. it looked bad and looked like it was going to get worse, like we would never win another game this year--ya, perhaps).  The emotions of the 70,000+ folks at $50+ was pretty low.  Then the Hawks come back and won (i.e. scored 21 unanswered points).  The emotions made a 100% turn around (i.e. we will never lose another game this year). Buggsy, my long time friend from college, is a die hard Hawk fan.  He called me after the game and admitted to me that he went home after the 3rd quarter (i.e. thought they looked sooooooo bad and were dead in the water--dead meat--besides I was getting sick to my stomach he said).  I called him an idiot!  When I got home, I emailed him telling him that I thought it took a pretty big man to admit he left!  Ya, perhaps. 

GeorgeTheCrook says--Everyone has an opinion.  A friend told me--erv, you got to know when to express your opinion if you want to express it at all (i.e. many times it's better not to express it).  Maybe that's wisdom.  ANYWAY a friend told me that he ran a business for 40+ years and the next day after he retired, the younger guys acted like he didn't know nutten!  Yabut, ya don't need to know much anymore if you own a smart phone!   It's like you don't need to learn math anymore--some think that's why we have computers and calculators.  If you have a minute watch this video about if we need to teach math (i.e. it's funny--I think).  http://www.youtube.com/user/mackenziefegan  After further review, many think I still don't know nutten!  ItchieBithie says--erv, yagotta pull up your pants and get over it!  Yaya, I know that we lose some of our importance to the younger generation when we get older but I also know that everyone likes the money of the seniors but not our advice or opinions 'cause us old farts don't know nutten! I'm lookin' for the duck tape!  Such is life.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Life comes together when we seek out the sublime in the ordinary.

CO

Here is something to chew on.  I think many folks in CO talk and act CO!  Ya I do. They talk a lot about snow, hiking, skiing, 4-wheeling, bikin', huntin', raftin', snowmobilin', snowbordin', and the Broncos!  They dress CO like tooooooo!  MountainAl says--If you've lucky enough to camp/hike/raft/ski in the Rockies, you're lucky enough!

LuckieEddie says--There is a guy in the mountains who thinks he is always right and always has to have it his way!  Ouchy ouchy!  MissPerfect says--We have a person like that in our church too!  Joesixpack says--You can tell a fool but ya can't tell 'em much!  I read in Proverbs that wisdom is not trying to tell a fool anything 'cause  they won't listen to ya knowway but tell a wise person something and they will listen.  Huh, interesting! On our way from Buena Vista to Steamboat Springs, we drove through wide valleys of cattle ranches (i.e. Steamboat Springs was originally just a ranching community).  There are a lot of wild animals in this area so the ranchers have to build a 10 foot+ fences around their stored hay to protect it from those wild animals.  Wild animals come in many different forms.  The picture to the right, you'll see a couple of real wild ones I saw in the wild!  GeorgeTheCrook says--Ya got to put a huge massive fence around the wisdom you learn so the wild animals of the world won't destroy it.  I really enjoyed Steamboat Springs.  I didn't know that they get about 35 feet of snow each winter.  Wow, that's a lot of snow folks.  They told us that property values went down 30 to 50%!  Ouchy ouchy! 

I sat next to one of my heroes and picked his mind for some of his wisdom (i.e. I learned a lot. Now I only need to remember it and apply it).  We went to the Steamboat Springs hot springs which was out of town maybe 6 miles (i.e. the last 2 miles was a CO rugged, rutty, dirt road--it's a CO image thing folks).  ANYWAY we went late afternoon (i.e. clothes are optional after dark--it's a Rocky Mt thing folks).  There was a couple who were doing some serious mediation with their eyes closed and using their hands while sitting in the hot springs (i.e. maybe a CO thing).  I went over to them when they got done and asked them a few questions.  They were doing some form of yoga mediation--they said in a "nutshellexplanation" that they were removing bad carma and asking that they may use their life for good service (i.e. sounds much like Christians asking for forgiveness and praying for opportunities).  They told me that there are many forms of mediation--even sitting in the hot springs and slowing down and clearing a person's mind is a form.  It could be hikin' etc  --  any of the CO activities.  Huh, interesting.  Is having a reverential awe of God wisdom do you think (i.e. mediate on that folks)?  Thoreau says--Be not simply good--Be good for something!  MissPerfect says--Are we doing all right here folks?

Our grand daughter, Erin who is almost 4, goes to day care at Kara's place (i.e. a gal about a block from their home).  Kara did a story book for the few kids she has in the summer of their activities including pictures (i.e. she took them to the park, zoo, pool etc).  ANYWAY the last page she wrote a story for Erin to remember--The one reason I love my job is the stories and discoveries we have.  I don't want Erin to forget this one.  It is truly a classic.  Erin just found out...It all started on a Thursday, the summer of 2011.  My friend Lucas (age4) left the bathroom door open and my friend Erin saw Lucas.  Erin:  "Ms Kara, Kara! Did you see what Lucas just did?"  Kara:  "No Erin, I did not see."  Erin:  "I just saw Lucas standing up and peeing, and he didn't make a mess,"..."Wow weee!"  Lucas walks out the door and says "ahh haaa, Erin".  Erin:  "Guess what Lucas?" "Guess what I'm going to do after nap?...I'm going to try peeing standing up!"  Ms Kara is trying to think really fast of a story to tell her friend so that she doesn't have to clean up a big mess.  "Erin honey, guess what happened to Ms. Kara?  2 years I saw Mr. Rick do that and so I thought that I should try it too.  And guess what Ms Kara got pee all over the bathroom.  Mr. Rick was not happy and he made me clean up my mess.  Girls just can't do it."  So after nap my friend Erin went into Rick's office to ask him an important question.  "Rick, when are you leaving?"

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Better one good thing that is, rather than two good things that were, or three good things that might ever come to pass!

Science

Webster says--Science is the state of knowing:  knowledge as distinguished from ignorance. 

It's not rocket science folks to know how to spoil our little Erin--just buy her ice cream and give her what ever she wants.  Ya, we are in CO; actually camping by Buena Vista for a couple of days.  Hank, James (i.e. both Secretariats) and I (i.e. a slow plow horse) hiked Mt. La Plata today (i.e. one of CO's 52 14ner--14,000 ft mts).   We left a 5 and spend 8.5 hours on the mt.  You ask why would you do that.  I am stealing the answer from Tommy, the owner who helped us decide to hike this mt.  Tommy's answer is--Somewhere between the trail head and the summit.  Ya, I got the life of Riley. 

Life is not an exact science (i.e. like A + B = C).  There seems to be many uncertainties even when you  have all the ducks in order (i.e. ya got it all planned out).  GerogeTheCrook says--There will be speed bumps and you just need to deal with them.  I had a nice talk with my neighbor/friend recently who knows about speed bumps.  He and his wife have such a good attitude.  Life is not always easy folks.  You think you are the only ones with frustrations, well, you are wrong.  It's not if, it's when we will face tough situations.  MissPerfect says--Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it is learning about how to dance in the rain. Flipthepancake...there are many good things that happen that we don't plan for 'em (i.e. just happen out of the blue--fall in our lap).  My mentor says--When things are going good, we think they will always be good and when things are going bad we think they will always be bad--that's not the case (i.e. so don't be surprised when things change).  I was recently sitting on the bench next to a friend.  She told me how some of her friends hurt her real bad and she was very upset (i.e. are they really your good friends).  ANYWAY she went on to say that 'cause of that situation something really good came out of it.  LuckkieEddie says--When you have problems, that's when you can tell who your good friends are (i.e. friends think about others and not about themselves a.k.a. self-centered).  Good friends just accept you as you are and love you anyway.  Such is life.

WildWilly says--My Parents taught me about the science of OSMOSIS ."Shut your mouth and eat your supper."  Hey, it's not an exact science probably but it's the truth--it really works.  I'm reading Proverbs (i.e. one chapter each morning--31 of them).  I want you to join me.  Will you?  Much of Proverbs is about wisdom--wisdom of how to make your life right.  Is it a science?  I don't know but I do know if we would follow this wisdom, our lives would be much better.  It takes maybe 2 minutes each morning to read a chapter.  Try it, you might like it!  Such is life.

We got a short profile of the little girl Julia who we support in Guatemala (i.e. she sat on Arlene's lap when she was there on a mission trip).  On the bottom it says--How you can pray for Julia.  And one of ways is: Breaking of generational curses.  Do you believe in generational curses?  I goggled it and wow, there are a lot of opinions.  Soooooo is America today going to cause a curse for future generations?  Are generational curses a science, make believe, or really curses from God?  What do you think? Some experts think that generational curses can be broken only by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.  That's not a scientific theory but a spiritual theory.  What do you think about that?

The world of the Wonder of Science.  It's is amazing--really amazing.  Ya take the medical science world.
They can save and prolong the life of a 100 year old and a premature baby.  It's a long ways form the universal cure of bloodletting for any mental or physical problem.  But it all cost money folks.  A lot of money to do this medical science and someone has to pay for it.  And guess what, that someone is you (i.e. well, some of you).  I read in the paper (i.e. so it must be right) that in 2030 the majority of the folks will be obese in America.  ItchieBitchie says--Us obese folks are going to pass legislation that all obese folks are disabled and entitled to compensation from the government including free health care (i.e. it will pass since we are the majority).  The 49% will have to pay.  Not exactly--maybe 10% are already on disability, 30% are on SS, and another 10% are on some other type of government program sooooooo that leaves maybe 9% of you to pay.  Ouchy ouchy!

JoeBlow says--It's a science to say just the right words at just the right time.  Don't be like the man who joined a monastery in which the monks were allowed to speak only two words every seven years. After the first seven years had passed, the new initiate met with the abbot, who asked him, "Well, what are your two words?" "Food's bad," replied the man, who then went back to his silence. Seven years later the clergyman asked, "What are your two words now?" "Bed's hard," the man responded. Seven years later - twenty-one years after his initial entry into the monastery - the man met with the abbot for the third and final time. "And what are your two words this time?" the abbot asked. "I quit." "Well, I'm not surprised," the cleric answered disgustedly. All you've done since you got here is complain!" Don't be like that man; don't be known as a person whose only words are negative. If you're a member of the "negative grapevine," resign. Contrary to what you may have heard, talk is not cheap. Talk is powerful!

SusieQ says--It can be a science to know how to handle folks of different ideas!  Some folks get it down to a science.  Some folks can change another persons thinking without them even knowing it.  Is that a science do you think?  In sales, they teach just this--some claim to be a good salesperson, you got to learn the science to how to make the sale (i.e. what ever it takes)--it's all about the money.  I was never a very good sales person if that was the bases of success.  A friend tells me that I'm not very good with woman 'cause I have too direct approach (i.e. to honest and not smooth enough).  He says I should consult him before talking to Arlene!  Ouchy ouchy!  I need to use his approach more.  I haven't learned it yet.  Such is life.

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." ~ Albert Einstein ~ LuckieEddie says--You ever have someone try to sell you a dead horse. They don't seem to realize that the horse is dead!  They just can't bury the dead horse!  It's time to change and move on (i.e. that's my opinion).  This stuff I wrote is only a trailor of real life a.k.a. the real deal. Joesixpack says--That's a lot of stuff you wrote there ervie!  You're right Joesixpack, a lot of stuff, good or bad, I don't know but I know it's a lot of stuff.  Many times we are presented with the truth, and refuse to accept the evidence of our eyes and ears (i.e. I can't see what you are tellin' me!).  Discerning the truth is not easy folks.  CadillacJack says--Many scientific minds have a hard time accepting Jesus as their Lord and Saviour (i.e. it can't be proven scientifically). Such is life.

A heretic is one who dissents from an accepted belief or doctrine a.k.a a nonconformist.  Galileo was condemned as a heretic supporting Copernicus's thesis that the earth resolves around the sun and not vica virsa.  Believing in Christ goes against all accepted scientific traditional opinions.  Some of those accepted scientific opinions are found out to not always being right (e.g. earth is flat).  Making a change from science to trusting God (i.e. from a rocket scientist to believing in God) could make a guy gurgle!  Such is life.

We have a couple of scientists in our family (i.e. real scientists--a niece and her husband).  This is what a real scientist has to say:  Science is a broad topic to write about and understand. I learned in Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, that science and philosophy and religion all began as essentially the same area of study- a search for truth. I think that's interesting, because to many scientists, science has become their philosophy and/or religion. Studying chemistry, being a chemist, and teaching chemistry have made me appreciate science. But to me, the details of chemistry reveal an awesome, intelligent, and creative God. Now I am a different kind of scientist- a mom. I read on a greeting card, "Motherhood. It's not rocket science. It's brain surgery on astronauts during a lunar launch while reciting the Declaration of Independence backwards- only with less logic."

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heaven.

Just ask

MissPerfect (i.e. who has a lot of giddyup) says--LuckkieEddie is just asking for trouble.  Yes he is.  He is trying to charm the pants off of me!  I told him, I got the time honey if you got the money but don't you bet on it LuckkieEddie.  But if he succeeds, it ain't going to be pretty! 

Joesixpack says--The route my sister-in-law SusieQ is leading seems to be getting her from nowhere to nothing!  Ouchy ouchy!  She needs to ask some questions.  Ask some good folks that will give her some honest, reliable and quality answers to change her life around (i.e. that's my opinion). 

AverageJoe says--It's our guys against their guys!  A friend had car trouble out of town (i.e, his radiator was shot).  He called the local dealer and got an estimate of $950.  Soooooo he called the dealer back home and they said they do it for $650.  A business acquittance where he was at said he should call a mechanic that he works with and ask him what he would do it for.  Soooooooo he did.  He did it for $350.  He just asked folks. 

Joesixpack asks his brother-in-law Goofy Adrien--Are you really trying?  If you are, it doesn't appear that way.  Joesixpack is concerned about the future of his sister and their children (i.e. not an Ozzie and Harriet family).  Goofy Adrien, the sign language you are giving me is not good according to my values and perspective (i.e. from 10,000 feet).  You don't seem like you are connecting the dots very well.  Maybe I shouldn't be asking this question as you will be offended with me.  And maybe it doesn't make much difference as I think I might have offended you already or maybe I can't offend you 'cause you won't catch on anyway.  Such is life.

Question--Sooooooo what are you doing and what have you done with your life.  Maybe it's time to throw those chips away and get your butt off the couch.  What do you think?  I have a saying on my walls that reads "Opportunity shall pass through this world but once.  Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now.  Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."  I have told you several times that I pray for opportunities, pray that I might recognize them and pray that I have the courage to act on them.  Do I miss opportunities?  I'm sure I have and do.  ItchieBitchie says--Givers are always happy and takers are never happy!  I had a golf buddy tell me the other day that he stepped out of his comfort zone and talked to someone (i.e. asked a guy a couple of questions--took the opportunity)--sooooo how did it go--went well.  I had breakfast with a friend this week.  He told me that he acted on an opportunity that just fell in his lap (i.e. didn't ask for it).  He and his wife sorta kinda took a risk (i.e. literally) with an individual and it ended up being a great opportunity. I complimented him on what he did--he said--there are a lot of good folks in this world.  I'm certain that there are many good folks doing good stuff but do not want any recongnition.  There are but there are a lot of self-centered folks too who would have passed on the opportunity!  ItchieBitchie says--Every man and woman is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done. Such is life. 

Have you ever been given an opportunity (i.e. a cookie of a deal--real sweet) and you blew it (i.e. didn't do anything with it); I mean really blew it?  It might have been a financial deal, a relationship deal, a change to get out of your rut, a chance to expand your horizon, etc.  BUT you just blew it.  It's like when we play pickle ball and our opponent hits a lazy shot head high right at us and we hit it in the net (i.e. it's like a beach ball coming at us and we can't take advantage of it--ya got the shot but just can execute it).  When WildWilly blows an opportunity he says--I don't get any breaks; nutten goes my way! 

I don't know, I'm just asking the question!  One of my senior golf buddies (i.e. I like this guy a lot) is a pretty good golfer.  He was telling me that he hit a friend's new TaylorMade R11 Driver (i.e. it's a hot driver on the market).  For those of you who watch pro golf on TV it's the white one.  He hit it very well sooooo decides he's going to buy one as his current driver is sorta kinda old, beat up some and besides, he can afford one (i.e. he's a multi-multi-multi millionaire I think). Soooooo he goes to the golf store and picks out the TaylorMade R11 that he likes.  He reaches for this credit card and his hand starts to shake.  It shakes soooooo bad that he can't get his credit card out of his wallet (i.e. the reason being is the driver cost $399.99).  He eventually puts the driver back on the shelf and his hand shaking goes away.  The next Saturday he goes and plays golf with a group from his church.  A young man who is in his foursome, has a new TaylorMade R11 Driver.  This young man has no money!  Question--sooooooo should he go and spend the $399.99?  GeorgeTheCrook says--Before you can be old and wise, you must be young and stupid! 

We were invited to a dinner party celebrating a friend's 66th birthday.  The meal was just a fivestarperformance and our friendship with these couples is also a fivestarrelationship.  ANYWAY we were told that one of our friend's mom fell and broke a hip this past week.  She is 82 and quite a feisty woman.  Her husband called the ambulance but she wouldn't go.  They had to call the police.  But she still wouldn't go so they left her I guess.  Then after another hour laying there her husband convinced her to go to the hospital so they called the ambulance again.  Our friend said her mom hasn't seen a doctor for probably 30 years (i.e. she hasn't been a drag to medcare).  She drinks and smokes and our friend thought once they start testing her it might be awful what they might find.  Everything was okay!  Huh, interesting!  This friend's husband told us about his grandmother.  She was 103 (i.e. she too was a feisty woman).  I knew her and really liked her.  You would only need to ask and you would find out how she felt about anything!  She said to him at age 103--I bet my friends think I went to the other place!  An acquaintance died recently.  He was 91.  He was a great guy (i.e. a hard working German farmer).  He smoked Camel straights probably since he was a kid.  ANYWAY a friend who worked with him maybe 10 years ago told me that he said to him once--I think I'll go buy you some smokes with filters on to which he replied:  Those filter cigarettes are for kids!  My mentor spend a few days in the hospital.  He was sitting his chair half asleep when he heard harp music-he thought he died and went to heaven--it was a volunteer coming around playing the harp!  Such is life.

I really don't know beans about almost everything but sometimes I just think I do!  My Daddy, Chester, told me many times--The best way to learn is to ask questions.  I tell folks that I really don't know much but I have a cell phone with a lot of #s stored of folks who know a lot.  I just call them and they will help me (i.e. I just ask questions).  When folks ask me for information, I will probably tell them more than they want to know (i.e. most folks are eager to help you in any way they can).  Sooooooo ask questions folks. 

SweetMary asks her husband SlickDuane--Sometimes I wonder how you won me over my many young suitors!  SlickDuane replies--You win some, you lose some!  CadillacJack asks--I wonder what it would have been like if I would have married some of the girls I dated?  My mentor was telling me how years ago a immigrant came to our area and intentionally married into a rich family.  As the story goes--It's just as easy to marry a rich girl as a poor girl!  ANYWAY did you ask many questions of your mate when you got married?  Did you ever say--I wished I wouldda of asked a few more questions before we got married.  SusieQ says--I wished I wouldda but I was in love; he said all the right stuff; he was the main attraction; I was blinded by his charm!  He was like in the center ring or center court; he was soooooo charming!  He charmed the pants off of me.  He promised me the land flowing with milk and honey.  Yabut SusieQ, some times you just need to trust your gut feeling.  Take a peek at many marriages that have been around for many many years, they worked out and they didn't have all the answers answered before they got married.  Maybe if you wouldda asked more questions, things might not have been any different.  BUT common sense tells us that some things aren't good going into a marriage. That's why, maybe, years ago the parents planed the marriage partner for the kids (i.e. they thought they knew more about what's best for their kids than they did).  Maybe they were more worried about keeping the money in the family as they even married cousins.  BUT it appears to me that some folks have really been blessed by marring the person they did (i.e. made their life way better than if they would have married some different person).  BUT it also appears that some folks seem to have ended up with the short end of the stick (i.e. made their life miserable).  AND many times there is no way of telling that when they marry.  A friend told us--I gave up a secure job to get married to Mr. Wonderful only to find out that he had college left and had no idea what he wanted to do (i.e. they have been married 42 years).  Another friend told us this--I was a city girl and when they taught us drivers training, they took us on a gravel road; I thought that was ridiculous as I was never going to drive on any old gravel road; I went to the university and married a farmer (i.e. never had a clean car since) Such is life.


Trivia questions.  A hundred years ago, how often did  most women wash their hair?  Answer--Once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.  What was the average life expectancy for men?  Answer--It was 47 years.  What was the average US wage?  Answer--22 cents per hour.  What was the illiteracy rate?  Answer--Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.  Wow, things have really changed or have they not!  Hey, I asked a guy who was in his 30s why he doesn't go to church--It's boring.  I don't want to make my kids sit through boring services like I had too.  JoeBlow says--I bet in many churches if you would find a bulletin of 100 years ago it would look much like the same service today.  Ouchy ouchy!  YaBut old folks like boring stuff and young folks don't.  And besides, a boring service takes a lot less time to prepare (i.e. don't have to be creative or innovative).  Such is life.

Okay okay!  There are a lot of questions that I don't have the answers too; I absolutely have no idea.  I know some folks who think they know all the answers but they really don't (i.e. just blowing smoke).  They are like a motto I had in my office which said--If you are sooooooo darn smart, why ain't you rich! 

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Be not afraid of going slowly.  Be afraid of standing still.

BONUS READ--IF YOU HAVE TIME READ THIS--Here is a story about opportunity:  It's a good one folks.   He is on my bus only occasionally, a worn man in crumpled clothing with disheveled hair. His life looks different from the rest of ours. We are mostly middle income. His face is etched with exhaustion and he carries virtually no belongings. We drive ourselves to the parking lot. He appears along a busy road seemingly out of nowhere. We sometimes wonder where he slept the night before. A few weeks ago he boarded the bus, took one of the side facing front seats and as he typically does and looked down at the floor. A few stops later a young woman boarded, a regular rider who speaks good but not native English. She swipes her bus pass only to find the machine would not accept it. The driver told her she would have to deposit the $2.25 fare. "I just bought this card," she said, "I paid the money." The driver said she could take the card back to the sales office and explain the problem. In the meantime she would have to pay the fare for today. The woman became distressed and didn't understand why she would have to pay the fare. The rest of us just watched wondering how the problem would be solved. Suddenly the crumpled clothed man rose from his seat, dropped a jingle of coins into the fare box and sat back down, his eyes returning to the floor. His act was so unobtrusive that the distressed passenger didn't even realize what had happened. You're good," the bus driver said quietly, "he paid for you." The bus driver repeated it and pulled away from the curb. A hush fell over the bus. The rest of us had watched the woman's discomfort, he felt it. We wondered absently how the dilemma would be resolved. He resolved it. We lawyers, journalists, business people were headed downtown to help fix the world. He fixed her world. We could have paid the $2.25 and never missed it. It's easy to imagine that was his fare home. You never know when you'll be in the presence of greatness or of grace. To the world my fellow passenger looked like a man in need of solutions. I had looked at him and saw only what he lacked. By the time he stepped off the bus that morning, it was obvious that he was a richer man then the rest of us. He had enough to open his eyes and his heart to a stranger, enough to give of what he had and trust life for the rest. I haven't seen him since that day. Some people believe angels occasionally drop down and move among us. All I know is that I have a new respect for the simple act of kindness. It keeps the bus rolling, it speeds us along the way."

Isn't it?

Joesixpack says--Let me drop everything and work on your problem!  It is the thing to do, isn't it?

Isn't it reassuring sometimes to know that others think the same way as you?  I think soooooooo!  ANYWAY I was playing golf with a buddy the other day.  I was telling him that I made a guy talk to me before we started playing that morning who seems to not like me.  I think it might be 'cause he thought he didn't get enough money on his house loss from the tornado (i.e. I don't know for sure--and maybe he treats everyone that way).  But I got a grunt out of him.  My golf buddy told me that he has a former employee who didn't talk to him for years but seems to be changing after 30 years.  Isn't it strange how folks can stay mad at folks for sooooooooo many years.  I told my golf buddy who was riding with me that I have one guy in all the world that I cannot tolerate.  I try and try not to have this feeling about him but when I see how he acts, it just fires up my dislike for him again.  My golf buddy said he has only one person toooooo.  Really!  He told me who his one guy was.  Holy Molly, it's the same guy!  Isn't it amazing that that we have the same feeling for this guy!  Amazing or something isn't it!  The hypothesis is that there is a common denominator here folks!  Such is life.

JoeBlow (i.e. the guy with DennisTheMenace haircut) says--Isn't it something when our fortunes finally change and everything seem to go our way!  Sooooooo JoeBlow, how do you know when everything is going your way anyway.  Sometimes when I think things are going my way it seems later that they really weren't but I just thought so.  Isn't it hard to determine what's always good and what's always bad?  My mentor says--Things are never as good as they look and never as bad as they look!  Isn't it strange how we seem to exaggerate the situation sometimes (i.e. over cook it).  Some folks really seem to over kill anything and everything. Isn't it something how we many times look at things different after some time.  MissPerfect (i.e. full of gettyup and mojo) thought she wanted a career but it turns out she just wanted a paycheck.  Ouchy ouchy!  Such is life isn't it!

Isn't it strange when the bank sends you a notice telling you their new policies which say "we may..." or "at our discretion" or "we think..."!  They don't say we will but are always covering their butt and leaving the door open.  Are there any absolutes anymore at all like an old fashion hand shake?  We like things we can hang our hat on, that are as good as gold, and you can bank on it.  Jesus is just that isn't He!  Some of you don't know anything about Jesus and others don't know if you want to really be a believer.  Suggestion--A Read the book of the Bible called John.  See what you think.  It won't take you maybe a couple of hours.  Little Boy's Explanation of God -- Fabulous!!!

Isn't it just plain amazing how things happen (i.e. seemingly random accidents)!  Happenstance, na I don't think so folks.  I was to meet one of my little golf buddies at the course at 10 to play.  I was waiting for him when a senior golf buddy pulls up beside me in his golf cart.  Just then, my little golf buddy called me and said he over slept and won't be able to be at the course until 10:30.  My senior golf buddy told me part of his life story--absolutely amazing!  He did not start out very well (i.e. actually was in jail and reform school).  You would never know it today.  Sooooooo I asked him--what changed you?  I decided in jail that I didn't want to be this way anymore and then changed.  Wow! He could have ended up being a "grizzledol'fart" but decided not too.  He made a decision.  Isn't that really something! He also told me his buddy who also got in a lot of trouble mainly because of alcohol, decided in jail to quite drinking and he did.  Wow!  My senior golf buddy told me about some health concerns he has now (i.e. could be quite serious).  I asked him how he is handling it--I live each day the best I can.  If I must die soon, I have had a good life and heaven will be even better (i.e. he said that with a smile on his face.  Isn't that something!  Now this is a successful man.  I like this guy.  Sooooooo is there hope for all folks to turn their lives around?  I think sooooooooo!  As a friend says--Decisions have consequences.  And guess who gets to make the decisions! 

A group of us have been playing pickle ball this summer.  It has been fun.  Some of you have no idea what pickle ball is.  Here is a video link about the game of pickle ball.  Ol'timerFred says--It doesn't matter how old you are while playing it but it's all about how much fun you have doing it isn't it?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3GjjIr50fs Isn't it strange that different generations think differently?  Issues like gays, drugs, pre-martial sex, same sex marriages, debt, divorce, work ethic, ordination of gays, being responsible, etc seem to be non issues, it appears, to the younger generation but mostly are important to the older generation.  Isn't that something!  Pickle ball is mainly played by the older generation it seems who are looking for something to fill up their time in the retirement villages (i.e. fivestarlifestyle.  Beer drinking is done more by the younger generation (i.e. to fill up their time), isn't it?

Isn't this something!  A friend told me playing golf the other night that his senior sister sleeps 3 hours a night (i.e. from 9:30 to 1:30).  She has been doing this for 20 years.  Wow, that makes for a long day (i.e. either it enables you to get a lot done or it's a long drag).  I asked him if he sleeps better than his sister--Ya, I sleep well but not as good as my wife.  She can sleep for 10 hours without waking up (i.e. she must have a huge massive bladder).  That's something isn't it!

My mentor says--Isn't it something that some folks have a lion by the tail and can't get rid of it.  Ouchy ouchy!  That lion could be one of many things.  We just can't get rid of it; it's a constant battle.  It could be a health issue, a relational problem, ordination of gay pastors, a financial problem, a family problem, a job related problem, a problem with God, a sleeping disorder, an addiction and who knows what else (i.e. you know what lion you have by the tail and can't get rid of).  It could even be your tired achin' back!  Isn't it a burden to have that lion by the tail?  That senior golf buddy who turned his life around said to me--If God would not be merciful and graceful to me, I would never have a chance!  Isn't it something that God can forgive all of us no matter what we have done in the past?  Isn't it amazing! 

CadillacJack says--Does big name go with big head?  Life...is a state of mind isn't it!  GeorgeTheCrook says--Isn't is something that riches do not delight us so much with their possession, as they torment us with their loss.  Isn't it something that we spend most of our time pursuing riches?  I just hope when this life on earth is finished, I find out that I had my latter leaning against the right wall!  Yes I do. LuckieEddie says--Isn't it something that we get going soooooooo fast sometimes that we forget what's important.  Lord I need to have a tune-up if you will...A spring cleaning...software update...  MissPerfect says--LuckieEddie, isn't it sooooooo obvious that you need a change but you seem not to see it.  You prefer fame to honor, and advancement to friendship.  That's just the way it is LuckieEddie.  Such is life.

I was going to ride the trail from Allison to Shell Rock here in goodol'ButlerCounty (i.e. the county that doesn't have a stop light in it--now isn't that something).  It's a nice ride of about 14 miles one way.  The last time I rode on it was several years ago and the bridge over the Shell Rock River was gone.  Soooooooo, I emailed the Executive Director of the Butler Co. Development Corp and asked about it.  It's still out due to some kids burning it up--isn' that something!  ANYWAY  the bridge is just now being reconstructed at a cost of about $180,000 being paid by grants (i.e. tax dollars) and donations.  The kids are making restitution (i.e. hope they have good jobs).  Isn't that something, $180,000 for a bike bridge!  Years ago we didn't spend money on bike paths and bike bridges, swimming pools, golf courses, skating parks, dog parks, camping sites, and God only knows what else.  Isn't it something that we want and need more stuff (i.e. demand it) and it all cost tax dollars (i.e. fivestarlifestyle).  Such is life folks!

It's the life of Riley folks (i.e. thefivestarlifestyle).  Isn't it fun to be around friends who you really like.  We had the opportunity to spend a good part of the day with Steve and Linda (i.e. folks with good hearts--real folks--my kind of folks).  Us guys played golf while the girls had a long lunch then we kayaked on the Turkey River.  Now isn't that the life of Riley folks.  Such is life.  This short video depects Steve and Linda to a T.  It's a good watch.  http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/stethoscope.html

It's amazing what folks will do for money.  It really is isn't it!  It's called greed.  We seem to think money will give us a "fivestarlifestyle".  BUT there are some decisions we must make that has nutten to do with money but in reality will give us a "fivestarlifestyle".  He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money. ~Benjamin Franklin~

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--A friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.

Demeanor

Cadillac Jack says--erv, if I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.  LuckieEddie says--Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.  Soooooo,  idiots won't listen to any thing.  Soooooo it's best to leave them alone.  Everyone wishes to have truth on his side, but not everyone wishes to be on the side of truth. Parts of this "It's Saturday" you might think are good 'cause you agree with 'em.  Parts you will think are bad 'cause you disagree with 'em.  Could you ever be wrong?  Could I ever be wrong?  Could Joesixpack and his buddies ever be wrong?  I think sooooooo folks.  Sooooooo what is your demeanor a.k.a. behavior to others--outward manner)?  Soooooo don't take this writing soooooo serious as I could be wrong but I could be right,  Hey, if some of this stuff seems to apply to you and you are offended, remember, the last thing I want to do is hurt you.  But it's still on my list (i.e. just kiddin')!  Such is life.

And her demeanor is...?  TedThePriest asked Congresswoman Alice--Where will all this lying, misrepresentation, self-centeredness, protecting your butt, greed, attitude of doing anything for re-election, saying whatever it takes to react to public opinion get you?  Congresswoman Alice looked at TedThePriest and said--Oh, I think I'll be able to retire in about 8 to 12 years!  That's where it will get me.  That's her behavior to others--her outward manner.  Joesixpack says--Maybe Congresswoman Alice needs a few swift kicks in the seat.  Maybe politicians never grow up, they only learn how to act in public.  Do you think a all-around, good, down-to-earth person could get elected to Congress? 

I called Stanley Steamer to have our carpet cleaned.  Do you have any specials (i.e. of course they have specials folks--they always do)--Oh ya we do, she gave me a quote of sooooo much for the great room, dinning room and hall and soooooo much for the bedrooms for a total of $250--Hey wait a minute, I thought you said it was sooooo much for three rooms (i.e. the special) and soooo much for the bedrooms; that doesn't add up?--Let me re-add, how about $146 for the whole thing?  Folks, to some that's the nature of the beast!  You get what you can when you can (i.e. ItchieBitchie says--that's just good business).  If they object then you can always negotiate but if they don't say anything, well...there are suckers born every day!  Such is life.

I'm seem sorta kinda moody about this it seems (i.e. I'm much like the stock market--a lot of unpredictable oscillations).  Friends and family say that I'm that way every year about going to the Iowa football games.  This is what I emailed our friends who we go with:  I know I said I wouldn't go to another IA game last year but...I think the two in November (i.e. MI and MS) we will probably not go to as Heather and James baby is due on the 11th but we will make the rest. The 5th might be iffy but surely the 12th won't work so we better not figure going to either but the rest we will make it.  Who's Tenn Tech and Louisiana State anyway.  In parenthesis it says "wins".  Okay, now I know who they are.  Ya gotta have sooooooo many wins to get in the bowl deal.  It's all about the money.  IA knows that us suckers will go to those games--I'm one!!!!!  AGAIN

My Daddy, Chester, told me--Personality is how you act around folks and character is how you act when no one is looking.  The difference is like the difference between SlickDuane and RealMary!  Soooooooooo what do you think the character and personality are of Johnny Ray and  Bubba?  My Mommy, Anna, told me--erv, don't judge folks by how they look; they might be way different than their appearance.  SusieQ says--There is no one, I repeat, no one that you totalling like; there is always something that you don't like about them.  That person can be your religious leader, your parents, your kids, your best friend.  Even the person who you like the best, 5 years from now you might not like them at all (i.e. it happens folks).  Some folks don't even like themselves.  My mentor says--Everyone gets better after they die.  GerogeTheCrook says--You just can't be liked by everyone no matter how hard you try or what you do; it's impossible soooooo just do your best I guess.  MissPerfect says--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.  Such is life. 

There are rules like the Constitution of our Good Ol' U.S. of A or the Ten Commandments that set the stage for us.  WildWilly says--Those are really only rough guidelines; I don't gotta havta do it dat way!  Those are for others but really don't apply to me.  Saturday question--What guides your actions, conduct, and behaviour in your life (i.e. forms your demeanor)?  I just read in my morning devotions will eating MI blueberries on it, that God tells us that we can't just live anyol'way, but live as He teaches us (i.e. can't be fakers).  Do you believe that or is that just a rough guideline?

I was at a friend's house the other day.  She has an assortment of bird feeders on a inch metal pole.  A squirrel was on the top eating.  I asked her how in the world can that squirrel get up that pole--he just adapts some how up he goes; it's no problem for him.  The day before I was with a friend and we were talking about the water hemp (i.e. a weed) that is becoming resistant to roundup.  It has just adapted some how and now is really growing up so we can see it in the soybean fields.  Nature sure seems to adapt.  Some how it's in their makeup (i.e. demeanor).  Sooooooooo are you adaptive or not? 

Many parents brag about their kids (i.e. it's their persona a.k.a demeanor).  Joesixpack says--Many parents think their kids are better than they really are (i.e. it's the nature of a parent).  One of my little friends (i.e. age 9) called me and asked him if I would get him started in golf.  Soooooo I picked him up on my golf cart and let him drive to the golf course (i.e. he never did this before and liked it).  I taught him a proper grip and swing.  I let him hit maybe 12 of my practice balls.  He only missed maybe 2 times (i.e. he has good eye/hand coordination it appears).  We went back to my house and I gave him 10 practice balls and told him to go to the range and hit those 10 balls 5 times--do that 3 times and call me again and we will have another lesson.  The reason why I did that is I helped some other kids (i.e. they get a set of clubs for Christmas) and they think after one session they will be a Tiger Woods without ever practicing.  Ya gotta practice, have the proper mentality, and have some ability to get to some degree of play.  Golf is not easy nor are other things.  But ya gotta work at it to be a Navy Seal, a medical doctor, a good musician, an architect, a successful business person, etc (i.e. most anything).  It's easy to be below average and even average but to be above average takes work and to be excellent it takes a lot of work (i.e. most won't be excellent as they don't have the right temperament a.k.a disposition and work ethic to accomplish an excellent level (i.e. my opinion).  Harvey Penick in his book Little Red Book tells this story--A parent came up to him and said his kid is really a good golfer as he just shot a par round.  Mr. Penick response was:  When he shoots a par round on a course other than his home course playing with players he doesn't know in competition come an tell me (i.e. what he was saying is playing by USGA rules a.k.a. real golf with no give-mes, mulligans, foot wedges, no rolling the balls for preferred lies and keeping an accurate score).  A friend who usually shoots in the 30s for nine holes told me about his brother.  His brother was going to learn to play golf but my friend told him--it isn't as easy as it looks on tv.  Sooooooo his brother plays a year with his scores in the 60s.  Next year he plays in the 50s and tells my friend--Next year in the 40s. and then the following year I'll be in the 30s like you.  It's been four years and his brother is still in the 50s.  Such is life.

Our frame of mind can be like a roller coaster a.k.a a wild ride (i.e. sorta kinda up and down) which can affect our demeanor maybe.  By changing what we think and do, we might change our frame of mind.  What do you think?  LuckieEddie says--Straighten out the kink in you life by using  these suggestions:  Remember the five simple rules to be happy:  Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.  I got this return message from a friend:  If the good Lord’s willing and the creeks don’t rise; he’ll be there. What do you think her frame of mind is folks? 

It's just his demeanor folks.  JoeTheWessel is sitting at home alone when he hears a knock on the front door. There are two sheriff's deputies there; he asks if there is a problem. One of the deputies asks if he is married, and if so, can he see a picture of his wife. The guy says "sure " and shows him a picture of his wife. The deputy says, "I'm sorry to inform you sir, but it looks like your wife's been hit by a truck." "I know, but she has a great personality , she's good with kids and is an excellent cook."

HumbleHilda has such a pleasing, wonderful demeanor.  It's always the same.  You can't tell if she is winning or loosing (i.e. she doesn't fizzle out). She is very a gifted person and does not show off.  It's like she's in a comma.  She's a good candidate for the most steady person I know.  She's a rock.  Saturday question--Who does this description remind you of?

I received several responses from you guys about your memories of parents and your growing up.  They were touching and interesting.  I asked Bruce this: Your parents back on the farm taught you guys well--I'm happy for you.  Sooooooooo what did they do to make your lives sooooooo good do you think?  Here is part of his response:  Erv, Exactly the same thing you learned...Mental toughness is a key! Hard work mixed in. Hard work, honesty, church right beside the school house..it is still going by the way. Mental toughness, sports when we were not farming, 4H..one year we had 33 steers and heifers at the Jasper county fair. Education was important, mom also taught school until the family started. grandparents, aunts, uncles who we were close to. Traditions at Thanksgiving, Christmas, 4th of July...Neighbors who really cared for each other. A mom that took us to all the practices, we never missed any. In high school we played our best after a day of hay bailing first. We would go to baseball practice and then come home to practice some more.  Many times we all worked together on the farm together. Zero bragging because that is the way we were taught...We never worked on Sunday except for chores twice a day. That is when we would visit friends and relatives or they would come to our house for dinner. Played tackle football..when we got to JR High, that was a piece of cake, we got to wear helmets.and pads...Hard work, mental toughness. I keep coming back to that. Honest communication is a requirement. That's enough. could write a book.... Sincerely, Bruce  ~  My mentor says--We are programed by our past.  Sooooooo can environment define our demeanor do you think?  The Debt Ceiling: A Perspective--Another way to look at the Debt Ceiling: Let's say You come home from work and find there has been a sewer backup in your house, and you have sewage up to your ceilings. What do you think you should do……raise the ceilings, or pump out the sewage? Your choice.

I read it in the paper so it must be right.  You cannot control the contour of your countenance, but you can control its expressions and what it communicates to others.  Does this mean we inherit our demeanor but do have control how we express our demeanor? What do you think?  An old woman was sipping on a glass of wine while sitting on the patio with her husband and she says, "I love you so much. I don't know how I could ever live without you."  Her husband asks, "Is that you or the wine talking?" She replies, "It's me... talking to the wine."

Soooooo did I change your mind at all about anything?  I doubt it.  You folks don't change very easily.  Most of the human race is stiff--necked and stubborn (i.e. don't and won't change their thinking very easily).  I was in JamesTheGunsmith's shop this week asking about a bolt for my trail blazer.  He had this saying above his work bench--It's too late to agree with me, I've all ready changed my mind!! 

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

erv

MyFreindJean says--Be at peace with yourself.

Iuseta

This is what I currently think but Iuseta think much different.  Isueta be like our little Charlie who we had the opportunity and privilege to take care off.  She would cry or just look at us and she would get her way with Grandpa and Grandma (i.e. she knew it).  When folks get older, they still cry and moan, and holler thinking they will still get what they want (i.e. sometimes it works with our government).  Such is life.  Joesixpack says--When you are young and aren't liberal, you have no heart.  When you get older and aren't conservative, you have no brain!  CadillacJack says--Iuseta think there was a Santa Claus; and I still do; it's the government.  Do you think there is a possibility that we will have another Depression like in the 30s?  MissPerfect says--The difference between a recession and a depression is in a recession someone else loses their job and a depression is when you lose your job.  Ouchy ouchy!   

ItchieBitchie says--Iuseta think I was just an accident but now I think I was created by God.  Ialsousta think that the lady at the well was a huge massive lady as Iuseta hear them read about the "some-area lady" but now I know it was the Samara lady!  Man-o-man, I'm glad I got that straight.

I was playing golf with the old guys the other day.  Donnie was ridding with me.  On hole six Donnie says--I wonder what's wrong with those cows?  They keep bellowing all the time.  I didn't say anything to him but it was a chain saw (i.e. some guys were trimming up some trees on the course).  The next hole he said it again in front of the whole group.  They corrected him.  Donnie then said--Iuseta hear better, Iuseta see better, Iuseta walk better, and Iusta hit the ball better.  Such is life! ItusetaIusetaIuseta!!!!

Iuseta think differently.  Oh ya!  But I'm sorta kinda thinking that when it's a question of money, everybody is of the same religion.  When we took care of Mable (i.e. Chet and Jessica's golden retriever), we would transport her in the back seat of our air conditioned car.  Itusetobe about 55 years ago when we transported our farm/hunting dog Blackie (i.e. our black lab), weusta open the trunk and Blackie would jump in and we would slam the trunk lid.  When our dogs got sick, they either lived or died--no vet folks.  If they died, we just got another.  A friend told me about some of their friends who have a place on the Mississippi River.  They have a pontoon and on the pontoon they have a air-conditioned kennel for Floofie!  Now this is hard to explain to probably 98% of the people in the world today.  I wonder what the starving folks in Africa think about this?  I'm not being critical as I sure have a good life and live "high off the hog" too.  I just plain wonder if I'm doing it right?  If America is doing it right?   I do know that my parents and grand parents didn't useta have it as good as I.  Joesispack says--Yabut erv, it's 2011 and it's not the 30s and 40s and 50s anymore; I don't want to live the way itusetabe!  I hope we are not making a huge massive mistake like an ad that read--Wedding dress $50 Worn once by mistake.  Such is life.

Growing up a mile and a fourth south of Roseland, MN (i.e. population at the time about 100) in a very humble farm house with a good family, we had very limited income so we did what we had to do.  I went to the outhouse until I was 13.  Ouchy ouchy!  My Mommy, Anna, could stretch a dollar with the best.  She worked sooooooo hard and never complained.  She was just a great woman.  Anyway us kids useta get hollered at a lot to turn the lights off if we left a room to save energy!  WildWilly says--How would you like it if someone turned you on and then left.  ANYWAY that's the way itusetabe!  Now you see whole houses lite up.  Very few folks conserve energy it seems.  We are really spoiled rotten.  I hope we never go back to the outhouse to conserve folks.  Do you know how cold it gets in MN?  We didn't useta think much of it but I don't want to do that again.  Oh no!

Itusetabe that we didn't have credit cards. Yabut the business world found a way to put a big screen tv in every house.  Wham, bam here we go.  China, a major holder of U.S. debt, berated the United States in an editorial in a state-run newspaper for our "its addiction to debts."  Oh yes, we seem to love our debt (i.e. we'll do most anything to keep up with the Jones).  My Daddy, Chester's philosophy was that we could borrow on anything that appreciated but had to pay cash for anything that depreciated.  Of course he was from the old school (i.e. post depression and went through tough times).  Well, we have pretty much lived by that philosophy.  AverageJoe says--I really don't think personal debt is a big deal as the government will come up with a plan to bail me out.  Yabut AverageJoe, the government has a debt that is unmanageable themselves.  At some point it just ain't going to work let me tell you.  The problem will be corrected.  Oh it will happen.  The question is not if but when and it won't be pretty let me tell ya?    Houston, we have a problem here!!!!!

She said--Iuseta not have sleeping problems but...!  I emailed a friend who wasn't with her husband in church last Sunday asking her where she was.  This is her response (i.e. printed with permission)--You are never going to believe this. I didn't go to sleep so I got up and played on the computer until 2AM. Then I went to bed, pretty soon the rain, etc started, so I got up again to close windows, etc. I was still awake so I got up at 5:30am, got the Sunday paper and started reading. When George got up, I told him I had not slept ALL night, have had sleepless nights before, but never all night that I can remember. Then I weighed myself on our farm scale in the basement, found I lost a pound or better just by not sleeping. (Only good thing to come from the whole escapade.) Anyway I went to bed finally and slept a few hours.  Are you sorry you asked??

Soooooooo how smart are you guys?  I know you are very smart but let's see.  I never did learn these words in Roseland Elementary and I was the in the top 6 in my class (i.e. I know that for a fact).  SusieQ is baldenfreude.  Others think her attitude is opprobrium.  She is just solipsistic so she really doesn't care; she is hubris.  Oh yes!  She's also profigacy; she's sui generis and has a profigate demeanor.  I was in 4th grade and there were only 6 in my class.  I'm the little toe head sitting in the second row to the left between Bob Burgress (i.e. who ended up playing pro football) and Mike Gort (i.e. they were both 5th graders).  If you need a little help with one or two of those words, here is your help  http://www.mountainwings.com/past/11220.htm

Iuseta not like rainy days when I was a kid but now when I'm retired, I like 'em.  Monday was just a day I liked.  It rained gently.  I went for a long walk on the golf course under my golf umbrella.  No wind and warm temperature (i.e. my kind of day).  I did a lot of good thinking (i.e. great atmosphere to do that--my opinion).  I have a very simple life.  Such is life. 

The rainy day, I finally went in the basement and found my old 22 caliber rifle.  This rifle useta hang above our kitchen door on two nails in our humble home on the farm a mile and a fourth south of Roseland.  If some of you visited our home back then you might remember it.  The stock was broken and either Dad or someone before him fixed it with a bolt and some washers to hold it together.  This is the rifle that my Daddy, Chester,  taught me to shoot with.  It was very light and Iuseta shoot very well with it.  When I was maybe 14, I went to the granary and sawed up a bid board and then whittled on it to make a crude stock and painted it orange.  Why orange, probably that was the paint we had in the garage at the time.  ANYWAY it has been in our basement for maybe 40 years and I was going to restore it when I retired.  I'm retired sooooooo this is my project (i.e. a project that brings back many many memories).  The bolt was broken off of it so I need a bolt.  Do any of you know how I can find one.  On the barrel it says it's a Trail Blazer. 

Happenstanse, na I don't think sooooo folks.  It's just more of the way it useta be.  I got this email from my sister along with her writing after I wrote the above.  Maybe you might enjoy. ~  Erv, I'm (i.e. my kid sister Doris) attaching a copy of a piece I wrote for the Roseland 125th anniversary. Myrt (i.e. my older sister) had heard about it through friends and asked if I would write something for our family.  --  This is what she wrote:  It’s hard to be brief when it comes to my memories of Roseland. The more I think about it, the more memories come flooding back. For me the farm, church and family are the first things to pop into my mind. I feel that all of our values, friends, entertainment, and life lessons were gained from these three sources. The church was the place where as children all three of us, Myrt, Erv and me, were educated in the beliefs of our faith, important truths to live by that have stuck. Who can forget Catechism on Saturday mornings marching in to the tune of Onward Christian Soldiers, meeting with fellow teenage girls and the fun at Willing Workers, or the softball diamond were so many hard found games were played! 4th of July festivities at church were highly anticipated by me. I usually planned days ahead how to spend my dollar. The farm is where I learned the lessons of hard work taught by my parents, Chester and Anna, two people who were truly the salt of the earth. The ebb and flow of the seasons and the tasks that accompanied each one still tickle my senses. The smell of fresh cut hay, the cuts on my arms from detasseling corn, the taste of sucking water up through a fresh straw stalk after combining the wheat, and the excitement of waking up and being told that there were new born calves or kittens. These are the simple things that still linger and have such a special spot in my memories. I often walked the mile and a fourth north into Roseland to the Dykema General Store. It was great that for most of my life it was run by my Uncle Johnnie and Aunt Sadie. I always wondered if when I put in my penny, would I get the striped gum ball out the gum ball machine and win the free candy or if Mom and I would be invited back to have a chat at the table in the back room. Roseland Elementary was where I spent the first six years of my school life. I tell people I had six people in my class in elementary and they find that hard to believe. I even remember riding Queen, our horse, to school one year on the last day to pick up my report card. How many kids can say they rode a horse to school? I remember the goodness of the people from church when times were difficult. Their willingness to help, in whatever way they could with cards, food, farm work and encouraging words, was always available without asking. Good Christian folks.
I’m sure my memories are different than Myrt and Erv’s and many others as well because of the differences in ages and years spent in Roseland, but lives are shaped by the times in which we live. Roseland was a beginning for all of us. A place from which we were able to move because of the lessons that we learned as children that helped form us into the individuals that we were to become. Visits back are seldom for me, but there is always someone who remembers Chester and Anna and their goodness. That always means the world to me. Respectfully submitted by:  Doris (Mellema) Kuipers  August 2011  Now that's the way itusetabe folks.  Such is life.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--The secret of happiness is to enjoy both the past and the present, and have a faith that guarantees the future.

Comeon!

Our national politicians have struck a deal to end our financial problem. Iit says in the paper so it must be right!  GerogeTheCrook says--It's an oppositical conclusion.  You mean optical illusion don't you GerogeTheCrook?  No, I mean it's an oppositical conclusion.  The problem just gets pushed down the road so it won't affect election in 2012 (i.e. nutten changes, it's all about the money folks).  I have said it several times, nutten will get done until it's real ugly, real ugly.  Government and advertisers have trained us that what's proclaimed as 'FREE' usually isn't. Often it's a ploy to get our money for some other, larger, more expensive purchase. Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers a great solution on solving the deficit. "I could solve it in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election."

MissPerfect says--I don't feel like it but suppose I better!  Suppose you better do what MissPerfect?  MissPerfect is a spoiled woman who needs constant compliments and more clothes!  Ouchy ouchy!  WildWilly says--If you don't feel like it, just fake it.  It appears that many folks can turn on the charm and turn it off (i.e. it's faky and not real).  My mentor went to a guy's funeral recently.  He knew him for many years.  He was a gunuine good guy he said.  Not faky and the minister didn't have to say some faky stuff to make the family happy.  MyDaddyChester always told me--If you are good, you don't have to tell people; they know. RuthieTheToothpick says--People always get better after they are dead; Even SlickDuane!  Ouchy ouchy!  Mabel (i.e. Chet and Jessica's dog--we're dog sitting this week) and I have been riding in the alleys of our little town.  Folks' back yards are sorta kinda not facky compared to some front yards (i.e. much like some folks' lives)!  Ouchy ouchy!  I once again have seen jerks and nice folks in all occupations, all income levels, all educational levels, all social environments, both genders and all nationalities.  Sooooo don't be surprised when it happens when you experience it.  Folks can pull the wool over your eyes really easy.  Ask Esau when Jacob with the help of their mother Rebekah pulled the wool over daddy Isaac's eyes to fleece his brother out of his blessing.  It worked!  Such is life.

YOU--It's our 3 letter mission project.  I saw that on a guys tee shirt at Wal-Mart. the other day.  Maybe we all change 'cause of other folks taking an interest in us (i.e. encouraging us).  Change can be like fading paint, tarnishing metal, growing grass, or aging.  We really don't really see it but it happens. If you haven't been around a change for sometime, a guy can notice it but if you are with it all the time it's hard to notice. 

I read in the paper soooo it must be right that optimism can give you better health.  And optimism can be taught and learned.  IthchieBitche says--come on!  Have you ever met my wife NegativeNellie?  I really don't think she can be taught to be positive--no I don't.  She was born into a negative family and that's all she knows (i.e. programmed).  She just continues the tradition.  Saturday question--Are you a positive or negative person?  JoeBlow gives us his comprehensive answer--Yes and no!  Such is life.

Comeon erv, face it, sometimes you are just a wimp!  Now that could be but when I ride into the wind, have a up hill grade, when the temperature is high with high humidity it does affect my bike ridding.  Yes it does.  But what affects my bike riding more than those factors is my attitude.  Attitude is huge in everything I do--HUGE!  I was thinking about how we affect each other's attitude.  When in Waukee and riding to Adel, I just got to the trail head but still on the sidewalk when I came upon a guy.  I said--Hey Santa, where's your sleigh (i.e. he was maybe 65 and had a long straggly white beard).  He had no front teeth and had a video in his hand (i.e. I suspect he just got it form the Kum and Go and that was his day's activity).  We chit chatted for a while and I said I better get going.  He thanked me several times for stopping and talking with him--He said, more folks need to take time to talk.  As I rode on he hollered at me--thanks again guy!  He affected my attitude.  Yes he did.  I rode hard and the grade, temperature, humidity, and wind didn't even bother me (i.e. didn't even think about it).  Huh, interesting.

I have had some unique feelings lately.  I see things different (i.e. sorta kinda surreal).  They seem like they are in slow motion and things just plain seem differently.  They seem sooooo peaceful, clear, happy, reassuring, easy and relaxing (i.e. like I'm wearing different glasses).  This feeling doesn't last long (i.e. only a glimpse) and only happens now and then.  CadillacJack say--Comeon erv, you just drank tooooooo much wine!  Hey listen, some things just look differently and feel differently. AverageJoe says--Maybe, just maybe, God is self-reveling Himself.  SusieQ says--erv, you are just getting older, that's all, you just don't think as fast, that's it.  Could be!

The CEOfromCA says--I hire folks who are creative, are honest, have integrity, have enthusiasm, and who have self-motivation; you can teach skills.  LuckieEddie says--Usually you can tell the folks who have these qualities and those who don't.  The ones that don't sorta kinda smell like 3-day old fish.  The CEOfromCA also told me that the best quality to have is humility.  I heard a joke at Oxford over the PA next to the Polka Dots (i.e. a polka band--their outfits had polka dots on them) during RAGBRAI--Those who get tooooo big for their britches will be exposed in the end!  Hey, Ken a.k.a. the governmentman, you would of liked this band.  In fact I thought you might be the tuba player.  They were soooooo humble about their abilities and seemed to really enjoy playing.  "The more we get what we now call 'ourselves' out of the way and let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become."  C.S. Lewis  ~  We heard Stuart Briscue at the Cedar Falls Bible Conference say Sunday--The essence of worship is "being humble"!  He went on to say--God is the King of everything; when we approach a king, the king is elevated on a throne and we kneel down on our knees.  That is what we need to do--kneel down in front of God and that is worship.  He also said--Music wars are not worship!  Ouchy ouchy!

Joesixpack says--Don't count on it. Attitudes about money seem to have more to do with personality than with how much money you have. You might think rich people would be less miserly, more extravagant, or at least less anxious about money, but it seems they aren't. In a recent British survey, money attitudes were found to be essentially independent of income, with one exception:  The higher one's income, the more likely one is to be a compulsive bargain-hunter.  ~  I stopped for some sweetcorn at a honor system pick-up place.  There was a lot of money in the can.  I was just leaving and the owner and a gal drove up with another bunch of corn.  I asked them if they ever get taken-- ya maybe but we can't stop 'cause of a couple of dishonest folks; we just go forward with all the good folks--there are jerks and good folks in all different levels of our social economical structure--yabut I think there are more jerks in the higher income level (i.e. that was his opinion folks--I'm just telling you what he said).  Soooooooo do you think jerks and nice folks are equally distributed in all levels of our social economical levels?

I read this while eating my oatmeal with MI blueberries on it (i.e. that's a sign that summer is officially here)--The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.  Do good anyway!  In the book of Acts, Luke summarized Jesus' earthly ministry by saying that He "went about doing good".  He did it sooooooo humbly!  Jesus said in Luke--be kind to the ungrateful.  That at times is hard for me to do. EggoManErv says to himself at times--If they aren't grateful, I'm not going to give to them anymore.  Ouchy ouchy!

This is my funnest RGBRAI story but it was a very humbling experience for her she said.  I took a break in the shade of a big oak tree.  I was drinking some water and a young, pretty, petite gal of about 30 sat beside me.  She spend most of her life in CA but now lives in Madison, WI.  We did the normal chit chat.  I got up to leave and she was fussing with a over sized band-aid on her knee.  Soooooo did you crash or something--It was soooooo embarrassing.  It happened the first day.  I'm a rookie and was standing on the shoulder of the highway ready to comeon the ride.  They told me I was to say loud "biker on" but I said it in a small voice.  The hundreds of bikers were just whizzing by.  I finally decided I would just have to get on my bike and get in there.  Sooooooo I got on my bike and tipped over on the gravel before I even rode one foot of RGBRAI and that's how I skinned up my knee.  Then to top it off, all those hundreds of bikers all hollered "biker down, biker down"!  The only think worse would have been if I would have had a sign on my back that read "virgin" (i.e. what bikers call a first time rider).  She was so cute and humble telling me her story.  What a sweetheart. 

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--It is better to eat soup with someone you love, than steak with someone you hate!

I'm sorry but I had the setting set on "me only" instead of "public" on my Picasa account so some of you might not have been able to see the video I talked about last week.  I did reset it and if you are interested, you may view it now.  https://picasaweb.google.com/100992634446593487520/IvanSAboutTheHolySpitit#