Excuse me!

Tomorrow it might be different again. Who knows? All depends on the people you meet, the experiences you have, and the ideas and desires which make sense to you at the moment. Excuse me.  Do you understand what I'm talking about folks?

"Excuse me, what did you say?" Sometimes we ask that question politely because we didn't quite catch a person's comment and we just want them to repeat it. Other times we ask it in a tone that says we heard it, all right; but we can't quite believe what we just heard! What did you say? Sometimes figuring out the the difference becomes a challenge. Especially if you are in a different culture and folks have different ideas.  Oh ya!  Yabut when folks hold their hand out and say excuse me, everyone understands what that is about!  Such is life.

My father, Chester, used to say that you could tell the caliber of the mind of a person by the questions that they ask.  Excuse me!

Excuse me.  Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. ~Viktor E. Frankl, psychiatrist and holocaust survivor~  I have read his book Mans Search for Meaning a couple of times.  It's an attitude book folks.  A good read IMO!  Excuse me.  If you have a stinkin' attitude and don't want to change, don't read it.  You are wasting your time. 

Excuse me for sending "It's Saturday" early this week.  Arlene and I are off on an adventure. Where we are going I'm not taking our lap top as it's tooooo much of a hassle and toooo expensive to gain Internet connection.  Also, next week's "It's Saturday" will be on Monday as we don't return tell then.  We are going looking for (i.e. see picture) in the wild blue yonder with an attitude.  Such is life.

"Well, in our country," said Alice, still panting a little, "you'd generally get to somewhere else — if you run very fast for a long time, as we've been doing."
"A slow sort of country!" said the Queen. "Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!".  At coffee after church Sunday morning I was talking a friend who is 85.  She said to me--I saw you walking past my house this morning.  Excuse me!  I told her I was actually running but maybe I was running soooooo slow that it looked like I was walking to you.  She said--You look pretty good but you would look better if you didn't stay so long in one place!.  Ouchy ouchy!  She was saying I think, that I showed a lot of activity, but not much progress. Joesixpack says--For many of us, our lives tend to look that way, too. We keep busy, but what have we accomplished? If we have accomplished little, why do we continue to do the things we have been doing?

Excuse me Mr. Hummingbird.  Thanks for making my day more enjoyable.  It's the fall migration of the hummingbirds.  I put out a feeder on the window of our sun porch.  Here is the picture of what I see while sitting in my recliner with me feet up.  It looks like the lawn needs to be mowed toooo.  I'm use to mowing it every 8 weeks or soooo.  Now we get a little rain and the blue grass responds instantly.  Excuse me mother nature for questioning you.  Like my mentor use to tell me--Nothing is as good as it looks and nothing is as bad as it looks.  Such is life.

Excuse me but are others getting in your way?  Henri Nouwen says--It seems necessary to re-establish the basic principle that no one can help anyone without becoming involved, without entering with his whole person into the painful situation, without taking the risk of becoming hurt, wounded or even destroyed in the process. The beginning and the end of all Christian leadership is to give your life for others. Joesixpack says--Be real to others. If you really want to understand another person's story, ya gotta share yourself and take a risk. So what do you think? Do you really want to get involved in another's story. That could take some time, effort and money. ItchieBitchie says--It's a lot easier to be a DuaneTheWorm a.k.a. abeastofadog and just think about yourself and live in your own little world and the heck with everyone else. There are givers and takers in this world. Which one are you?

Excuse me God!  Ya I wish I would hear from God through a burning bush, a talking donkey, or Him putting a million bucks in my checking account. But I haven't experienced those things. Do you think if I beg more, complain more, ask more, plead more (i.e. like a squealing pig) I'll get more stuff from God. Lot did and he got what he wanted. Such is life.

Well, excuse me!  Ole lived across the Minnesota river from Clarence, whom he didn't like at all.  They were yelling across the river at each other all the time.  Ole would yell at Clarence, "If I had a vay to cross dis river, I'd come ofer dere an beat you up good, yeah shure, ya betcha, by golly!"  Clarence would yell back, "Ya don't scare me, ya old turd. I cud beat cha wit one hand behind me back, fer sure!"  This went on for years.  Finally, the state built a bridge across the river right there by their houses.  Ole's wife, Lena, says, "Now iss yer chance, Ole. Vhy doncha go over dere and beat up dat Clarence like you said you vud?"  Ole  replied, "OK, by yimmy, I tink I vill do yust dat!"  Ole started for the bridge, but he saw a sign on the bridge and stopped to read it, then
> turned around and came back home.  Lena asked, "Vhy d's you come back?"  Ole said, " Lena, I tink I changed my mind 'bout beatin' up dat Clarence. You know, vhen I yell at him from across da river, he don't look so big. But dey put a sign on da bridge dat says "Clarence is 13 feet, 6 inches.

Excuse me!  Pardon me!  WildWillie says--I don't mean to step on your toes but I don't agree with you.  I don't think we think much alike.  I think it's better MissPerfect that you go your way and I go my way.  We are not even in the same book besides being on the same page.  I'm a saver and you are a spender.  I'm a conservative and you are a liberal.  I believe in Jesus and you don't. You remind me of a couple of peaches I bought recently; they looked sooooo good on the outside but when I got to their insides, well, they weren't worth a toot!  I'm glad we found this out before we got married. 

Esau probably said to his father Issac--EXCUSE ME pop after his mother, Rebekah, and brother, Jacob, deceived Issac and stole Esau's blessing.  Issac said to Esau--Hey, they betrayed me and fooled me.  I gave the blessing to Jacob.  You're screwed son.  Tough luck I guess.  Life's not fair, the only thing that fare kid is the Butler County Fair and that's in June.  Soooooo you're SOL son!  But good luck to ya though!  Hope you have a good life.  But you are not going to have it as good as your brother. 

LuckieEddie says--Excuse me! We come this way but once. We can either tiptoe through life and hope that we get to death without being too badly bruised or we can live a full, complete life achieving our goals and realizing our wildest dreams.  LuckieEddie, you shouldn't say things like that as it will make a lot of folks shake their heads in wonder.

Bon Vogage!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.  It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Every Llife Has A Story

I didn't know that about SusieQ?  If I would have known...about her, I would have treated her differently.  Ya, every life has a story.  And there are many many stories.  Many of the stories never get told soooo many times they are never known by most folks.  Such is life.

Retirement surely lets a guy make his own life stories.  Joesixpack says--Spend your free time the way you like, not the way you think you are suppose to.  Not everyone spends their free time the same now do they.  My opinion is that folks who are the happiest are sorta kinda individualist and walk to their own, unique drum beat and not to someone elses.  And really folks, hardly anyone knows your thinking, your story, your situation nor what you are doing.  Sooooo why do we spend soooooo much time worrying about what others think.  Really now folks.  Enjoy your life. 

How many of you could just as well have been dead (i.e. ya dodged the death bullet)?  I mean you missed death by a fraction of a second.  Many of you can't explain why you are alive?  Many of you are just plain miracles.  Many of you, by rights, should not be alive.  Many of you have told me stories of your life that are just amazing, unbelievably.  And many of you, I just haven't heard your story.  Every life has a story. Many of you have been very blessed.  Oh ya!  Every life has a story and most lives have many stories!  I had the opportunity to be invited to a friend's birthday party.  He turned 80.  There were 32 golf buddies who played golf and 50some for dinner.  Chuck shot 85 on his 80th birthday.  Not bad.  Chuck had 3 very close calls with death that I know about (i.e. the last time they had to shock him 5 times to get him alive again).  He and I talked about them.  He's very much appreciative to be alive.  Frank was my partner at Old Goats Monday.  Frank was almost burnt to death, left at an auto accident for dead, and beat cancer. 

Gratitude is what we should have for being alive.  Gratitude makes a life much more enjoyable.  Gratitude in the morning, at noon day and in the evening.  Thank you God for life.  Thank you God for opportunities.  Thank you God for letting my be part of your creation.  Thank you God.  Giving gratitude makes me goose-pimply!  Oh ya.  Lou Gehrig said in his farewell address in Yankee Stadium July 4, 1930 retiring 'cause of Lour Gehrig disease--I  have a whole hell of a lot to be thankful for...I'm the luckiest man on the face of the earth...I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for! 

Maybe some of our life's current stories aren't soooo pretty.  In fact they might be ugly.  Those might seem to be the "downs" of life.  We need to do what we need to do.  We need to look for the best and move on.  We must.  "Be prepared.  You're up against far more than you can handle on your own."
~Ephesians 6:13, MSG~  Do you believe in Divine Providence?  LuckieEddie says--The definition of Divine Providence:  Something chosen and promoted by God for us, not necessarily perceived as positive.  I (i.e. my opinion) think that God lets things happen and doesn't make things to happen to us.  I like my statement that I stand by--His understanding I cannot fathom, God is God, and that's just the way it is. 

We have never had the Golf Channel before but I wanted to watch some of the FedEx play and maybe the Ryder Cup.  Of course Media Com could help me get it on our TVs.  It was instant if I pay $7.95.  They were replaying the Dicks Sporting Championship of Sunday.  I watched the last 2 holes and Willie Wood made a 30 footer to tie for the Championship and won it on the first sudden death hole.  In his interview he said--I haven't won since 1996 and have to qualify every Monday just for a change to get to play in the tournaments.  This means soooooo much to me.  He said he has had many downs but this sure is an up.  You know folks, we all need some ups in our lives.  They don't have to be major but we all need to have some ups.  Sooooo in your story of life, what are your ups? 

Talk about ups and downs in life!  Abraham and Sarah wanted to have a kid.  It wasn't working out (i.e. downer).  God told Abraham that they were going to have a kid at Sarah's age of 90 and Abraham age of 100.  That's a lot of years of trying folks (i.e. you do the math).  ANYWAY What did Sarah do--she laughed.  But it was true and Issac was born.  Now that was an up.  When they least expected it.  Such is life.

I can get bored rather easy at times.  I like new things.  New ups.  Can you make new ups do you think.  I think you can.  A lot has to do with attitude.  I will guarantee if you just sit on the couch, eat chips and feel sorry for your self, you won't have toooooooo many ups.  SUGGESTION  do something different (i.e. a new challenge, a new event, something different).  Make a story in your life.  How about making a new relationship.  Pick someone who you think needs a up as well (i.e. don't pick the star social babe).  Now that's a win win situation.  RoseyRose says--One new honest-to-goodness relationship is worth ten fistfuls of business cards.  Think about that folks.  You might find the treasure at the end of the rainbow.  This winter I'm going to learn how to swim properly and learn to whistle with my fingers.  Yes I am.

MissPerfect says--Everything you do is based on the choices you make.  It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument or your age that is to blame.
You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period.

My life story or stories are just amazing.  Just amazing.  I really have had a good life (i.e. it seemed to just fall in my lap).  Way better than I every expected (i.e. but I had no expectations soooo...).  I attribute this good life to lot of things:  good parents, accepting Jesus as my Savor, being around many good folks (i.e. you guys) etc.  I have been blessed.  Yes, I have had many speed bumps and made many poor decisions.  And I know I will have challenges left to come.  For those of you who know me well (i.e. close friends and family) you know my life well.  You know what I'm talking about when I talk about my life.  My story isn't much different than your life's story or stories.  EasyMabel says--You're least prepared for the things that change your life the most.  Whoa Nelly!

My life has had many stories as does yours.  I have a picture and a motto on the wall in our bath off our master bedroom (i.e. it is not Arlene's choice but through negotiating, they are up).  It reminds me constantly that my life is like a ship on the sea.  It's not always easy and it gets bounced around pretty good some times.  But there is always peace after a turbulent sea.  Oh ya!  Ya might have to click on the the picture to enlarge to read the motto. 

Sometimes our life story has a sequel.  And then another sequel just like the movie Batman (i.e. the story goes on for ever).  At some point we need to admit that we are just not going to hit the home run in the bottom of the 9 in game 7 of the world series.  It just ain't going to happen.  JoeBlow says--Ya got to face it before you can fix it.  Do you every wonder if we really don't face reality very well?  I mean we really don't see some things the way they are.  We are blinded 'cause we don't want to face reality.  If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and acts like a duck, it's probably a duck.  And some things we can't fix.  We just need to deal with it the best we can (i.e. they just can't be fixed--impossible). For me, that's hard to accept sometimes.  Soooo my life story just goes on.  But my life, I bet, doesn't have as many stories as Methuselah who live to 956.  Now that would be a lot of stories I bet. 

Many of our stories are "allbutfortgotten" by others if they even know about them in the first place.  That makes me feel oh so small at times.  Soooo you win some local bowling tournament and you think you're some big deal.  Does anyone really care much except you.  Do they even remember or want to hear about it.  Very little if at all.  I think about that some when I write about stuff that we/I do.  Maybe most folks really don't care (i.e. like DuaneTheWorm who is into "the horn business".  But flip the pancake, I follow some of you folks on facebook and enjoy it a lot.  I really enjoy knowing and seeing what you have been doing.  I really do.  More that you know or I express.  If you would like to be my friend, let me know. MPO is this--In the end, after all is said and done, all the wear and tear, all the crying and gnashing of teeth in this life, all the chasing of rainbows, finding our dreams, all we are left with is our memories.  Such is life.

Every one has a story.  Old Rev. Johnson was begging his board of directors to buy a new chandelier for the church.  Pleading for more than an hour, he sat down sullen and hopeless in his ambition to acquire a chandelier.  Then the elder president of the board stood up.  "What're we wasting time talkin' for?" he said rhetorically.  "Foist of all, a chandelier, ... we ain't got nobody who could even spell it.  Second, we ain't got nobody who could even play it.  And third, what we need most in the church is more light!"

God said to Abimelech--You are as good as dead because of a woman you have taken; she is a married woman.  IMO I'm 99,99999999% certain God was serious!  Abimelech told God that he did not touch her (i.e. it was just not a story Abimelech that made up0.  God said he was alright then.  Abimelch was relieved let me tell ya!  Such is life.

Stories stories stories.  MissPerfect says--I think I have heard them all.  I know a guy who has a lot of stories.  Half of those stories are not true and the other half I don't believe.  And he thinks I'm going to believe them.  Da! Try to put your brain around this story--An acquaintance who I haven't seen for maybe 20 years (i.e. about 50 years old) told me he's divorced.  A friend told me his wife was tired of him playing golf all the time and her sitting home.  Moderation MurckyMarvin, moderation.  A golf buddy told me recently that he is trying to treat his wife the best he can (i.e. her wish is his command).  Sooooo how is it going.  Pretty good but I sometimes fail.  Soooo sort through those two stories folks and glean what you can from them.  Last Saturday we were playing golf in the afternoon.  We got 9 in and it was raining soooo we went into the clubhouse.  There was a father and his 30+ son sitting at the bar having a beer.  I hadn't seen the kid for maybe 12 years or so.  I asked him where he was living now--back at home with dad and mom--oh--I'm going through a divorce--that's toooo bad; I;m sorry to hear that.  Dad says--It happens; it's just one of those things.  I don't like to hear those type of stories folks but our pastor said over 50% of folks get divorced.  Ouchy ouchy!

Everyone has a story or two or a whole bunch.  Our little granddaughter Erin (i.e. age 4 and a half) does not sit still very long.  BUT last time we were together, I started telling her short stories of when I was a young boy.  She sat still and kept saying--more stories grandpa!   Sooooo, folks like stories (i.e. folks of all ages).  Jesus told stories in his teaching called parables (i.e. earthly stories with heavenly meaning).  Folks seem to enjoyed them and can somewhat understand them.  Huh, interesting. 

Watch this short video--It' called Every Life Has a Story.  It touched me.  It makes me realize that I need to be more understanding.  I really don't have a clue what other folks' story is sometimes.
http://www.mountainwings.com/past/12209.htm

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Never let yesterday use up too much of today.

What happened!

SweetiePieJane says--Appearance is not always reality!  I was golfing in a foursome of friends the other day. Steve had about a 8 foot putt on hole #8. I asked him what he saw in the putt? He said--It's straight in but I'm playing it a little break to the left. What! This "It's Saturday" is straight in but maybe you think it's a little to the left or maybe a little to the right. You will have to decide. I think it's straight in! Such is life.

Some of you might think I"m unusual. And I write about unusual stuff.  That could be folks.  We all are probably unusual in some ways.  You think so?  Actually the reading and listening to this stuff in "It's Saturday" is optional.  But remember what we all learned from the Olympics, shuttlecock justice can be brutal.  Soooo don't be an intentional slacker folks.  Such is life.

In golf league the other night.  My teammate said--I think my opponent had a stroke more that what he did (i.e. either forgot a stroke or did it intentionally to have a lower score) on the last hole.  My teammate didn't say anything.  But we found out later that his opponent usually lowers his score about 3 strokes each round if you don't jump him about it (i.e. he seems to have a extremely long nose).  Huh, interesting.  I play with a guy some who never gets his score right.  I really don't care.  But he can get better scores that way.  But his score really doesn't mean much.  I let him keep score; it makes him feel a whole lot better.  Sooooo what happened to these guys that they can't keep score?  What do you think.  I wonder if they can't conveniently remember other things the same way!  I wonder.  Maybe they just can't remember.  Could be if you believe that kind of thing!  Flip the pancake.  I was with another guy the other night and asked him what he had on #5 as I was keeping score.  He said 7.  Then a little latter he said, it was an 8 erv.  He had a little trouble in the trees.  He recalculated.  I had no idea as I don't keep scores of my opponent. That says something about this guy (i.e. my opinion).

We went and looked at vehicles one night this week.  It was really something.  Arcadia, Highlander and the Avalon are all about $35,000 to $49,000 (i.e. I really like them).  Those prices seem oh sooooo high to me.  So the salesman at the Toyota was a younger guy who was really funny.  I said--I'm use to getting 28 to 31 mpg--you won't with the Highlander, more like maybe 24.  But who cares, nobody cares any more, they just put in the gas if they like the vehicle.  I have a four runner that gets maybe 18 to 22 miles to a gallon but I like the power and it just makes me feel important and manly.  I just put in $20 of gas at a time -- no problem.  Soooooo we go and sit in a new Avalon.  I said--the interior is almost exactly like our 08--ya it is, they don't change them much; the outside you can't tell the difference either.  And they run for ever; we have folks who put 250,000 miles on them; we had a guy the other day who have 380,000 on his Avalon and didn't do any major work on it.  We sell a ton of them.  Sooooo why should we trade?  I don't know.  It looks like you have it pretty good.  Your car looks good and if you like it, I would just drive it.  Now that is what happened folks.

I read it in the paper sooooo it must be right that the middle income range for a family of three is between $39,418 to $118,255 and the average net worth is $93,150.  Both of those figures are lower that before.  What happened anyway?  I see a lot of Acadias and Highlanders and other high priced cars on the road soooooo someone must be doing okay.  I talked to two senior farmers at the John Deere machinery area at the state fair.  One was from NE Iowa and told me the last 4 years he never has made sooooo much money.  The other was from NW Iowa Sioux County (i.e. expect to have about a half a crop) who said three farms sold recently for $19,000 an acre. At the same John Deere booth, I got some Nothing Runs Like A Deere foam rubber caps for the grand kids.  I think they were impressed but I don't know for sure.  It's hard to impress kids in our "haveeverythingculture"!  They expect Highlanders and Acadias.  Such is life.

SweetiePieJane says--Appearance is no always reality. Are you easily impressed? Some folks are very hard to impress and others are very easy to impress. I mean, some folks really need something spectacular to get their attention and their approval and others don't. I was running early the other morning and a guy was sitting on his front steps bare back drinking a can of beer and smoking a cigarette. I wasn't impressed let me tell ya and maybe he wasn't impressed with me either! I really wonder what he was celebrating that early in the morning (i.e. he was living big). He and I seem to be miles apart. But maybe not. I don't know for sure. He and I maybe each had the same thought about each other--that being, that guy is an idiot! And you know what, we might both be right! Such is life.

Joesixpack says--Soooooo why did that happen to me anyway?  Not a criticism, but my opinion.  When things in life seem to be going crazy, out of control, who is to blame? Experience has taught me that I create most of my own chaos. And this might be true for you, too. Universally, individuals are responsible for most of the turmoil in their own lives – not all of it, but much of it.  My estimation, LuckieEddie is nearly but not quite perfect in his thinking and his actions (i.e. he's one lucky dog let me tell you).  Decisions have consequences and guess who gets to make our decisions.  I know folks who are negative, obnoxious, bull headed, etc (i.e. that's about all of us at times).  These folks, I wonder, if they will ever change.  Maybe their ways have hindered their life.  Maybe! Is that a decision that each of us make do you think?  God said that a certain person would be a wild donkey.  Do you know any wild donkeys?  Are you a wild donkey?  Who did God say would be a wild donkey?  Do you remember?

Yabut when I interviewed for the job, they were sooooo nice and easy to get along with.  What happened?  Remember what SweetiePie Jane said--Appearance is not always reality.  I asked a pastor the other day--Sooooo what is your biggest challenge as a pastor a.k.a. what's happening.  Getting the folks on the same page and moving forward.  Huh, interesting.  We are independent folks all right (i.e. we can have a lot of idiosyncrasies).  Church folks are not paid so you can't force them to act in a certain way.  You can't fire them.  JoeThePreacherMan says--Have I tried everything?  I think I have, yes.  But at the same time, I'm still willing to try something else.  I'll keep trying.  Things are changing and older folks don't like to change (e.g. younger folks and churches with mostly younger folks use email, texting, etc for communication--if you have an older congregation and only about 25% have email, now that's a challenge).  SusieQ says--Unless you are an old pastor and don't want to change either.  Such is life.

I read it in the paper sooooo it must be right.  Philadelphia--Michael Vic's arrival in town sparked angry fans with their dogs to camp outside the Eagles' practice facility, holding signs and banners to display their outrage...Fast forward three years to Wednesday's scene at a Philadelphia sporting good store.  Happy Eagle fans winding their way around the sidewalk, lining up more than 2-2 1/2 hours before Vick was set to sign autographs and promote the launch of his sports clothing line called V7. What happened?  You win and try to do good (i.e. redeem yourself) and folks love ya!  WildWillie says--Most folks are very forgiving particularly if you give them what they want (i.e. no matter what that is)!

What happened?  Let me tell you what happened.  It says--At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel (i.e. do you remember what they accused him of) were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children.  And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.  Ouchy ouchy.  Did you notice that the wives and children of the false accusers got thrown in tooooo.  Have your parents affected you?  Are you as parents affecting your children?  Good and bad I think our parents affected us and we as parents are affecting our children.  As my mentor use to say--We are all programed by our past if we like it or not.  Such is life.

What happened?  I don't know.  It was on the 8th tee box at league the other night.  A guy from the other team and I were going to tee off and he said that Jesus has become very important in his life recently.  He said he has had some bad things in his life but he has changed and Jesus is the center of his change.  Soooooo what happened that he told me this?  I don't know but he did.  Maybe just maybe it was a special milieu.  ANYWAY it's good to hear stuff like this.  Yes it is.  I'm not a priest but I listened to his confession.  I haven't had the best feelings about this guy because of his past (i.e. he has been a long time game player). Now can I change my thinking?  I think soooo but God only knows.  JoeBlow says--God can be the cause of chaotic confusion and the the source of new creation  Oh ya!

What happened anyway?  In a Muslim country girls are taught to cover up in public so men can't see their bodies. In America they are taught to go as bare as possible so men will notice them.  Joexixpack says--Both ideas work it seems!  I guess it all depends what you are trying to accomplish.  I saw the most conservative 50+ gal in church recently who showed clievage.  I never in my life thought she would do that but she did.  Sooooo was she trying to get men's attention?  I don't know.  I don't think soooo.  I think she was trying to be stylish maybe.  Maybe she was trying to get the minister's attention.  I don't know.  But I noticed!!!

Soooooo what happened anyway?  A five year old asks her mom--Is Santa Claus real?  Is Jesus real?  Are they about the same then?  Who in the world can a 5 year old believe these days anyway.  I mean really!  I heard the other day that a little guy put fake teeth under his pillow.  He told his parents that the tooth fairy didn't leave any money.  His parents said--The tooth fairy knows when they are fake.  So there you go.  ItchieBitichie says--And remember kid, beer, whiskey and drugs are not good for you so don't drink and use them; I drink and use drugs 'cause it's just a social thing!  Remember what SweetiePieJane said--Appearance is not always reality folks.

What happened?  You said you loved me and now you want a divorce.  What goes anyway?  Travis West says--In 1964 the Righteous Brothers recorded a surprise hit single titled "You've Lost That Loving Feeling." It quickly rose to the top of the billboard charts. In fact, according to Broadcast Music, Inc., this song got more play time on the air than any other song in the twentieth century. Perhaps this was because it captures something fundamental to our culture's understanding of love—that it is primarily a feeling, an emotion; that it is unstable and ephemeral; that it comes and goes. The headquarters of love, we say, is the heart, and so the heart takes on all the associated meanings of love—emotional, subjective, untrustworthy. The mind, though, is its opposite—intellectual, objective, and consistent. Huh interesting.  Remember what SweetiePieJane said--Appearance is not always reality! 

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--When solving a problem, dig at the roots instead of just hacking the leaves.

younger folks--it's short--

Warning:  This "It's Saturday" might produce some Oohs and Aahs! 

I get the feeling that many of the younger generations don't read "It's Saturday" (i.e. or just part of it) 'cause they don't have time they think.  They/you have to tend to their/your stuff.  Soooo just try reading this short version. And don't be such a contrarian!  SusieQ says--There is a king and a fool in every man. And Joesixpack says--Don't do something permanently stupid just because you are temporarily upset.  Ooh!  GeorgeTheCrook says--I act like Einstein but think a horse and am as stubborn as a mule!

My grand girls can seem to be contrarians at times.  Aah!  Did they inherit that or learn that or or is it just gender?  Their parents' generations and their grandparents' generation (i.e. that's me folks) don't always seem to have much time for others it says in the book I'm reading--The Shattered Lantern by Ronald Rolheiser.  It was a suggested read by DenverJohn.  It says that many of us are or are becoming narcissists, pragmatists and agnostics.  We are all about ourselves and our stuff.  We don't have time or care about others and/or God.  We want to get more and do it faster.  We don't care about morals, ethics, values, church or God.  We care a lot about ourselves.  What do you think about that?  Is the book correct do you think?  I know many great folks (i.e. folks who are real and have great big hearts--many of  you are just that).  Soooo is our culture more defiant to the principals what our country was formed on do you think?  Is life more cutthroat?  Maybe if we are seniors or teenagers, we might have different opinions.  Do you think?

One of the under tones of the Batman movie (i.e. my opinion) is that anyone can be a Batman; ya, you don't have be some famous hero.  No one knows who Batman is.  ItchieBitchie says--Most folks don't want to be a Batman but rather would rather do stuff for themselves to get more stuff (i.e. CatWoman tempted Batman in the movie to do just that).  Many folks' reaction is--Why be a Batman if you don't get any credit for it it and if it doesn't get me more stuff!  Ooh! Ya, there are some folks that feel that way but I really think there are a lot of Batmen out there.  I really do.  And many of them are just AverageJoes.  I would guess that most of you folks are a Batman. 

What do you think?  Do we think one of our dominant instincts is for pleasure?  Do  you think we are naturally motivated by the desire for gratification (i.e. especially immediate gratification)?  Soooo what do you think?  Soooo why do we have credit cards.  Okay, capitalism is part of it but instant gratification might be a part toooo!  Such is life.

I went to King Soopers (i.e. I call it King Kong) early Sunday morning for breakfast supplies when in Morrison, Co (i.e. I think the store is in Littleton though).  The check out clerk asked me were I was from and what I was doing.  She said she was from Massachusetts and have been in CO for 22 years now but still misses her extended family back East.  She said family is soooooo important to her.  She doesn't have any idea what she would do without them.  Relationships take time and effort.  They just don't happen folks.  Probably where you invest your time and money is where your interests are (i.e. our passions).  Aah!

Ooh!  Socrates once said--The unexamined life is not worth living.  Saturday question--Who are you?  What do you stand for?  LuckieEddie says--Remember, you are what you think.  And what you think is what you will be.  What goes in will come out.  Such is life.

A friend/former high school student of mine some 38 years ago who is now a big time attorney sent me this short video (i.e. 3 minutes).  The younger generations don't like to read but say--show me a video.  Sooooo here is a video.  If you have time watch it.   http://www.youtube.com/embed/H3Az0okaHig?rel=0
My friend asked me--Is this where we are today?  Aah!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Each kindly act you do will bring kindness back to you.

BONUS COVERAGE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE MORE TIME

Mr. Rolheiser says in his book--For the contemplative, God's ways are not our ways, his thoughts are not our thoughts.  There are two sets of rules for reality, one for the infinite (God) and another for the finite (us).  It is understood that the human mind cannot answer questions about things like evil, predestination, or injustice because it is finite and operates with a finite system of symbols.  It is by definition limited.  Infinite things cannot be grasped by finite minds.  The non-contemplative mind believes, or rather "knows," that there is only one set of rules for reality, one metaphysics: our own.  there is no further framework.  Attempts to render a problematic situation intelligible by reference to a higher framework (the mystery of the God) is considered ignorant, superstitious, or cowardly.  With this perspective, there is no reason to contemplate because we already know all there is to know.  If there is a God, we know all about him!  Ooh and Aah!

Joesixpack says--That rottin egg stink aught to make you think!  That rottin egg stink might be the cold truth maybe.  Ooh!  If there is a rottin egg it will stink everything up unless we get rid of it.  Or we will get sooooo use to the smell that we don't think of it anymore.  We might get immune to it or pretend it isn't there or just put up with it.  CadillacJack says--If it stinks a little on the surface, it will really stink a whole lot more when you get to the bottom of it.  Soooooo remember that folks.

That talk "the world is going to the dogs" has a familiar ring to it.  I think it has been ringing through history maybe.  My grandparents said that toooooo!  Ya, the world is changing and will always change.  We are humans!  Many folks don't like some of the stuff that seems to be happening but it's happening folks.  You are living it.  We, in America and many parts of the world, have it very good compared to our past generations.  We are very affluent.  But affluence changes things.  Things that were seen as very important for a long time don't seem to be as important anymore.  Aah! SusieQ says--It will continue to change.  We are not going to stop it.  Are we trending a certain way do you think?  Change is going down the mountain like a avalanche.  But the question is--Are we replacing our founding principals of importance?  If we are, do we really care?  Hey, were is the Roman Empire and where is Babylon?  What happened to them anyway?

If you think your pastor is boring!  You haven't seen anything folks.  If you think this "It's Saturday" is boring then you don't know what boring is.  I have never gone to the Iowa State Fair soooo I went with FriendJim.  We went and saw the BigBoar (i.e. 1,335 pounds of boring).  That boar must really have pigged out a time or two let me tell. ya.  Just to make sure you get it right--FriendJim is standing and the boring BigBoar is laying down. 

MeandMyself reminded my of our grand kids (i.e. they seem to have to be reminded occasionally to say thank you and please and you are welcome).  Oh ya. I was hikin'/runnin' Falcon Mt. last Saturday morning.  Part of the trail I use is also used by mountain bikers.  It looks very hard to me but they do it.  As I was runnin' down the mountain, a mountain biker (i.e. male about 25) was coming behind me to pass.  I stopped  and stepped aside sooo he could get around me.  It was MeandMyself.  How do I know it was him.  Let me tell ya.  As he passed me, I said--you are welcome!  MeandMyself said--oh ya, thank you.  Ooh!  I think he had his mind on something else and just forgot his manners.  I really do.  I'm sure his mommy taught him to say thank you.  I'm sure.

JimThe Wizard says--Hospitality is the ability to pay attention to the guest. Aah! This is very difficult, since we are preoccupied with our own needs, worries and tensions, which prevent us from taking distance from ourselves in order to pay attention to others.  Such is life.

I went with FreindJim to the Outlaw Tractor Pull at the fair.  During one of the super muscle tractor pulls the driver stopped half way down the track.  The announcer said--You folks don't see what I see (i.e. he was announcing from the infield and we were in the grandstand).  He said--It looks like a TX gushier this side of this engine with oil spewing out pretty fast.  It's nutten that $10,000 won't fix.  I asked around and found out if they win their division they get $1,000.  Now that is a crazy, expensive hobby.  Those guys would be better off going with their wife to the mall and let her buy some shoes (i.e. my opinion).  ANYWAY many times we don't see things the same 'cause we are on the other side maybe.  What do you think?

We live in America which gives us many freedoms.  We can think the way we want pretty much, express ourselves the way we want pretty much, go pretty much where we want, do what we want pretty much and act pretty much the way we want.  It's a democracy.  We are the government.  Sooooo maybe if the majority of the folks want something, we will have it (e.g. same sex marriages are legal in IA). And folks say IA is conservative!  If we like it or not (i.e. good or bad) the majority rules.  BUT it all has to be funded by someone and our way of life has to make some sense at some time.  Doesn't it?  Maybe not.  Sooooo you can believe that there is a God or there isn't a God or therre might be a God.  You can worship God in many ways (i.e. the ways you want).  It's a freedom in America.  A founding principal. I golfed with BankerTerry this week and he said--You have to live your life as to what you believe.  But you might not agree with everyone.  But who knows, maybe they are right and you are wrong.  That could be.  ItchieBitchie says--Some folks are more certain of everything than I am of anything!  Russia's Sergey Kindyapkin who took gold in the men's 50 kilometer race walk said this about athletes in his sport, "we are just not right in the head"!  I read in the paper (i.e. so it must be right) that 1 in 4 adults or 57.7 million folks show symptoms of mental disorder each year.  Sooooo look around, 1 out of 4 folks.  Oooooooh!  Ouchy ouchy! 

DuaneTheWorm has a big head.  Oh ya!  In fact he might have tooooooo big of a head.  LuckyEddie says--"If you keep your feet on the ground, you can't fall very far."  Joesixpack says--I think he has deamons in his head. Some are real and some are manufactured (i.e. not real). Oh those deamons! Are deamons part of mental illness? SusieQ says--We're all a little mental ill but tooooo different degress. Sooooo who is normal anyway? Are you? Am I? Ya havetohave a bench mark to compare tooooo. Who in the world is normal anyway. I read on the PGA Golf Web recently this about what Bubba Watson said--Therre is a lot of stuff going thorugh my head, not just golf! Huh, interesting.

Soooo

Soooooo what!  Some of  you folks might think I'm unusual.  That could be.  A friend recently called me "An American Original"!  I have no idea what that means.  Soooo... relax!  I don't know how much brain capacity you have but don't worry.  This stuff in this "It's Saturday" is not unforgettable stuff soooooo it won't fill any of your brain capacity.  Sooooo...relax!  Chill out!  As they say in the the San Jaun Mountains--When in doubt, relax turn off your mind and float downstream!

I had breakfast with a friend recently.  He told me that he's not nearly excited about certain things like he use to be.  He has done many things many times  (i.e. been there done that many times) and sooo the excitement is off maybe.  As the song goes--After you have been having steak for a long time, beans beans taste fine.  I remember fishing in Canada years ago when a friend who said--My wife was very passionate before we were married but after marriage the passion sorta kinda tapered off.  Joesixpack says--My wife HotTamale had a lot of passion when we got married.  Now she's just a hot dog!  Ouchy ouchy!  Do you think we get bored or something?  Ya different things excite us as we get to different ages now don't they.  Popularity, acceptance, video games, texting, fame, sex, money, family, eternal life are a few things that get us excited at different times of our life and to different degrees (i.e. my opinion).  Saturday question--Soooooo what are the parts to keep you running fast?  The folks in the picture are some of my parts all right.  It said in the Denver Post, sooooo it must be right--Within minutes, even seconds, all 49,000 tickets to the 31st Colorado Great American Beer Festival were sold.  Sooooo that means that folks like beer the article said.  Sooooooo it must be important to them (i.e. everyone has parts that make them run faster).  Such is life.

I wonder (i.e. like a pure innocent child, a natural contemplative) as I wander!  I like to travel and explore and learn.  It makes me more contemplative.  Ya, some of the stuff is sorta kinda a repeat (i.e. been there done that) but there is soooo much out there that makes me sooooo excited.  I wonder more the more I travel and experience.  T.S. Eliot said--We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time.  That is what he said folks.  I understand more by not understanding than by understanding.  Oh ya!  Soooo I hope I continue to have the desire and ability to travel.  I learned this trip that bears really don't hibernate but are in a deep sleep.  I also learned that the Aspen is the second largest living organism.  The Aspens share one root system.  I learned a lot about gold and silver mining. I was reminded once again that there was an ice  age age and the mountains were covered with ice and sea.  That is hard for me to understand with my puny little mind.  How great is God anyway?  Huh, interesting.

He's a loaded semi let me tell ya.  Ya that little guy looks like a semi load alright.  When I was hiking/running in'em'remountains I met this couple.  CO folks are much different that most IA folks.  CO folks seem to exercise more while more IA folks seem to like to sit on the couch and eat chips.  Maybe that's why CO has the lowest percentage of obese folks.  Could be.  This couple had a different accent soooooo I asked them where they were from--Russia.  They live and work in Denver.  Huh, interesting.

Sooooooo...When James, Chet and I were going to Batman, we were running  a little late.  Chet told me (i.e. I was driving) we need less pantie and more jock strap at the wheel!  We got there 2 minutes before it started.  James and Chet almost ran up the ramp to theater #9.  I told them--You guys are never this excited to go to church!  Hey, I actually could hear every word of the movie.  It was loud folks. Really loud.  Talking about panties and jock straps--Chet and Jessica are having a little boy in December.  Sooooo that will even out the panties and jock straps in our family.  Sooooo that's a big deal.  Such is life.

I read in the Durango Herald, soooo it must be right, what Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke said--Once basic material needs are met, more wealth doesn't necessarily make people happier...Or, as your parents always said, money doesn't buy happiness...Well, an economist might reply, at least not by itself...Economics isn't just about money and material benefits, it is also about understanding and promoting 'the enhancement of well-being'".  Sooooo there you go.  Ben wants to know if you are happy?  Yabut Ben, it takes money to travel!

We spent the week in SW CO.  I really like this country.  It was a fun-licious trip.  It use to be that the cowboys would go to town to get a bath, sleep in a bed, drink some whiskey, gamble and maybe spend some money at the brothels.  Now the cowboys go to town for a super-sized value meal at Wendy's.  His name is Henry, Cowboy Henry.  He has been a cowboy, rancher, and rodeo man for all his life he said (i.e. he was a true gentleman cowboy let me tell ya).  Soooooo there you go.  We spent some time in the Durango area.  Durango was developed by the railroad hauling coal for the mining industry in the late 1800s.  There is very little mining now and the biggest industry is tourism.  Soooo there you go, we added to the local economy.  Did you know (i.e. pretty typical) that very few of the miners made money?  The suppliers, saloons, and brothels made the money (i.e. mining the miners).  It's all about the money folks.  Were there are bucks to be made, they will show up.  It's called capitalism.  Such is life.

Chief Ouray says--She's the one!  I already know that Chief Ouray.  Have you ever looked at a world you know well but have never seen from such an angle before (i.e. from 9,000 feet)! Sooooo it sure looks different now doesn't it. GeorgeTheCrook says--I use to look at life rather matter-of-factly but now it looks sooooooo different. Sooooo different. Soooo what's your 9,000 feet experience that makes your world look oh soooooo different. Have you ever been to Ouray, CO?

 Here is the bumper sticker I saw on this trip that made me laugh the most--"Jesus" loves you but everyone else thinks you are an...! 

I was getting a Denver Post at the Corner Store in Morrison the other morning.  Their digitally advertising screen for the lottery said--Your luck is just a dollar away.  Ya right.  I read in the paper, soooooo it must be right, that the IA lottery revenues were up 14.5% from last year for a total of 310.0 million in which the state made 88.7 million a.k.a. State of Iowa capitalism..  Sooooo it looks like that dollar will not make you lucky.  It's a hoax folks a.k.a. colossal deception!  Soooo suck it up cupcake, you are being taken.  It's sorta kinda like what a senior guy said coming out of the bathroom in Donut Hut when we bought Erin a donut--It sounds like that darn thing is going to blow up; I wouldn't go in there if I were you!  ItchieBitchie says--Can you shift gears...or are you stuck in stupid lotteryticketbuyer!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--The steam that blows the whistle can't be used to turn the wheels.

I mean

Sometimes we don't listen very well. Sometimes we misinterpret the information. Sometimes we only hear or see what we want. Sometimes we don't see the whole picture. Soooooo don't take any of this "It's Saturday" tooooo serious. We were on the hole #4 tee box and a guy in our foursome said he took a golf lesson this afternoon. I asked him how much did the lesson cost. He said--$25 for a half hour lesson. He then went on to say, I thought, that it has cost him already $2,500. I laughed but really didn't understand what he said. The next morning I called Russ, my teammate, and asked him what he met about the $2,500. Russ said--He meant that it will probably cost him $2,500 to get a game. Oh, I missed part of the picture! So don't assume I know what you know or you know what I know!  Such is life.

Technically speaking, he's an idiot! I mean MurkyMarivn just talks and talks and talks and no one really cares what he says.  He think he's sooooo important.  They all wish he would just shut up!  But he doesn't see it that way.  Joesixpack says--Maybe the best way to influence folks is by your actions and not your talk.  You can talk a good game but too play a good game is a different story.  Let's look at MurkyMarvin's current life and his life of the past.  What does that tell us.  Talk is cheap folks.  And maybe some of the most influential folks don't even know they are that important.  My Daddy, Chester, told me--The great folks don't even know they are great and many of the folks who think they are great, aren't!  Get around great folks erv, they will help you a lot and also make your life much more enjoyable.  That is what he meant folks.  "Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand." ~Colin Powell~

Oh...oops!! MyFriendJan said--Your sins will find you out! Ouchy ouchy! Ya can sweep your sins under the rug just for sooooo long and then they'll come back and bite you in your butt! BerthaTheGnat says--Do you ever notice the hotter you get the more gnats are attracted to you? Cool down and watch the gnats diminish.  Saturday question--Do the gnats of the world really bother ya?  They sure can be irrigating at times can't they?  I mean it seems the more you get upset and the more crazy you get, the more the gnats show up.  I mean it seems that way!  SusieQ says--If you keep those sins (i.e. they are like wounds) open and festering, they are like nagging gnats.  Not confessing sin actually shortens our lives.  Soooo folks, we need to fess up and ask for forgiveness.  It feels soooooo good.  God says He will forgive us and remove our sins from our lives.  Isn't that great!  I mean, very encouraging. 

I mean, who does that stuff anyway?  Joesixpack says--A lot of folks do.  There are folks who have fibbed sooooo much for sooooo long that they don't know they do it anymore.  There are folks who are soooo arrogant a.k.a self centered for soooo long that they don't even know it anymore.  There are folks who argue about everything for sooooo long that they don't even know that they do it anymore.  There are folks who have listened to half-truths or propaganda for soooooo long that they don't know what the Truth a.k.a. Light is anymore.  I mean, a guy has to be careful about those folks and what they say.  I have relearned recently again that folks see through these folks even if we wonder if we are the only ones who see them that way.  I have been reassured that many folks see right through these folks.  The suckers don't. WilmaWonder says--I hate to see the aged and the innocent swindled quite soooo brazenly!  They are thrown to the wolfs!   Ouchy ouchy!

I mean I just didn't feel like running (i.e. I try to run 2.5 miles every other day).  I went for a run the other morning and ran a short distance and neither my mind or my buddy wanted to run.  I stopped and walked home.  You runners know the feeling.  I mean I just couldn't run.  It was both mental and physical I think.  I heard the Olympians say that everyone is good but the difference is the mental element.  Oh the mental element.  The last couple of golf league nights, there were new, young golfers in our foursome.  They both told me that they can do soooo much better during the week but in league they can't do very well.  And I want to do soooo well but can't!  I mean at any level of any type of competition, the mental element can be an issue.  Some folks just can't handle pressure.  They just can't.  They pee in their pants!  And others strive under pressure.  GeorgeTheCrook says--Some folks can just "nail it" under pressure and other just "crumble"!  Huh, interesting. 

I mean -- The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat!  MissPerfect says--Nobody, I mean nobody, knows to the same level as you do of your thrill of victory and your agony of defeat.  Folks just don't understand how I completely feel.  I believe that MissPerfect.  Folks just can't completely understand your emotions, feelings and reality since they have never been where you are.  And if they seem to be where you are, they have their own victories and agonies to deal with.  Yours are important to them but not as important as their own.  I mean it can't be any other way sooooo don't be surprised when folks don't show you much attention when you have victories and agonies.  And sometimes, folks seem to understand but don't know how to react to you.  They are puzzled at times soooo they say nutten and do nutten.  Such is life.

EngineerJames (i.e. I like this guy) says--I like to get up before sunrise (i.e. the early bird gets the worm).  When hiking Falcon Mt. early yesterday morning, I had these thoughts.  Are you awake, sleeping or somewhere in between?  I mean I don't wake up instantly so I'm sorta kinda in between.  I know some of you are wide awake at 4 a.m.  I mean wide awake.  And I know some of you are still sleeping at 9 a.m.  I mean we are all different aren't we.  Some of us are night folks and some are morning folks.  I use to be a night person but now I'm neither.  I am a good sleeper most of the time.  A friend says--He sleeps well 'cause he has a clear conscious.  That's what he says.  But of course some nights I have to get up and go to the bathroom.  I mean I really have to go!  I have no choice.  Joesixpack asks--Why are some folks good sleepers and others are not.  We are in CO with our family for a few days.  Our little Erin gets up early and doesn't like to go to bed.  Our little Easton a.k.a. littleJimmer likes his mommy to put him to bed.  And he sometimes wakes up during the night.  Our little Charlie goes to bed easily and likes to sleep in the morning too!  I wonder if those patterns will stay with them as they get older.  What do you think?  AverageJoe says--There are two type of folks, the givers and the takers.  The takers may eat better, but the givers sleep better.

I mean it must be right as I read it in the Denver Post--Colorado tops nation in breastfeeding rate; The nationwide rate is 16.3% compared to CO's rate of 26.6%.  Research indicates that breastfeed babies are less likely to become overweight.  I mean this is interesting.  Such is life.

On I-80 @ 80mph going to CO I passed 3 motorcycles from IL.  The drivers and passengers were seniors.  The gals sitting behind their husband wore sandals, capris and tank tops (i.e no helmets).  ANYWAY what really was amazing to me, I mean, I have never seen that before was all three were reading books on Kindles (i.e. I couldn't believe my eyes).  I mean you don't see that every day.  I bet it happened this way--BettyTheRingLeader said to her husband, WimpyPaul--I'll go on the road trip but I want a Kindle to read while riding.  WimpyPaul thought that was a good compromise so he agreed.  The other 2 guys were had!  Such is life.


I mean, "if itches, itch it"!  I mean it's not always that easy.  I had a young teenager a.k.a. laddy ask for my advice.  He impressed me (i.e. a sign of maturity to ask for advice at that age).  He was in a dilemma and really didn't know what to do.  It was a real crises for him in his situation.  We talked about the pros and the cons.  He asked me if I ever had this in my life at his age.  I did sorta kinda but not quite the same.  We had a very nice talk with no conclusion.  There are always more parts of the equation than are spoken and understood.  I mean, I sorta kinda felt sorry for the laddy.  I will pray for him.  Yes I will.  This laddy impressed me!

SusieQ says--There are unfortunates and the fortunates and some in flux!  I mean some ladies sure seem to have the world by the tail it seems now don't they.  Some guys too.  I was told by a buddy on a golf course recently that a certain guy retired at a very early age.  I asked  what he did to make soooo much money to enable him to retire at such a young age--married money!  So there you go!  Soooo some of those ladies married into money tooooo.  GeorgeTheCrook says--Marrying money or inheriting money are a couple of easy ways to make a lot of money.  WilmaWonder says--I mean, yabut ya gotta play the cards that turn up!  Or do ya? Yabut WilmaWonder, I wonder if you cheated a little with the cards!  I mean you manipulated the deck.  MissPerfect says--When ya tell the card girls how you did it, they will understand.  But remember, if you tell them, it's probably not a secret anymore.  I mean you have your ways maybe!  Ah-choo!! Ah-choo!! Ah-choo!! A bit toooo much pepper or something!  Oh ya!  Maybe that's why it appears that the $$$$ fortunes seems to shine on some more that others.  You think sooooo?

Let's put it all on the table and not be a roundabout person.  It's time to lance the boil folks.  AverageJoe says--Just use some common sense dude!  Did you hear that MrCommonSense died recently?  This is what it says;  He was proceeded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion, one daughter, Personal Responsibility and one son, Reason. He is survived by two step-brothers, My Rights and Ima Whiner and one lost relative, Non-Sense. There was no funeral since very few people even noticed his demise.

It's sooooo easy that anyone can do it. NoseyKate says--I mean ya just gotta get something rollin' down hill and let it go.  The momentum will just keep it rolling.  It's hard to stop.  MagicMike knows how to do it.  Yes he does.  DuaneTheWorm winds folks up (i.e. gets them all excited) and then steps back (i.e. he's good at that).  I mean don't those folks every catch on to his tactics?  He just stirs up the folks and they do his dirty work for him (i.e. some folks are easy to stir up to yet) and he just skedaddles out of there.  I mean that lots of things can affect folks.  Oh ya!  LuckieEddie says--I mean money, whiskey, tempers, and women don't mix very well.  Most folks are crazy when they drink whiskey.  They don't think soooo but they do.  FancyPantsCarol says--I mean, some folks are crazy when they are not drinking whiskey.  Such is life. 

CadillacJack says--Sometimes we don't see the whole picture.  A guy from Cottonwood County MN with a bucket full of live fish was approached recently by a game warden as he started to drive his boat away from a lake. The game warden asked the man, "May I see your fishing license please?"  "Naw, sir," replied the redneck. "I don't need none of them there papers.  These here are my pet fish."  "Pet fish??"  "Yep. Once a week, I bring  these here fish o'mine down to the lake and let 'em swim 'round for a while. Then when I whistle, they swim right back into my net and I take 'em home."  "What a line of baloney....you're under arrest."  The Minnesotian said, "It's the truth, Mr. Gov'ment Man. I'll show ya! We do this all the time!!"  "WE do, now, do WE?" smirked the warden. "PROVE it!"  The redneck released the fish into the lake and stood and waited.  After a few minutes, the warden said, "Well?"  "Well, WHUT?" said the redneck. The warden asked, "When are you going to call them back?"  "Call who back?"  "The FISH," replied the warden!  "Whut fish?" asked the redneck.

Here is the whole picture!  And you thought it was just another ol' stripper!  Now you see the whole picture.  How crazy is that anyway! Ya, sometimes we don't see the whole picture now do we?  SusieQ left a note on the fridge for her husband-- "It's not working, I can't take it anymore!!   Gone to stay with my Mother".  WildWillie opened the fridge, the light came on and the beer was cold.........I mean what the heck is she talking about?

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.

of course

Some of you might think that "It's Saturday" is just coffee talk, bar talk, cowboy talk, or bunch of baloney talk.  And you might be right.  I'm not telling you what it is.  You will have to decide.  And everyone might think it's different.  I always don't always mean what you always think I mean, and sometimes I don't always even know I didn't say what I meant.  Anyway, ItchieBitchie, you're not good at listening sooooo you probably won't hear a word I say anyway.  Of course, your wife, GoofyHilda knows that tooooo.  She says you have your head up your butt!  And of course folks, some of what I'm saying is like whiskey.  Whiskey is whiskey no matter how you pour it!  Sooooo work your way through all of this talk folks!

Folks, sit down and hold unto your chair.  My days are all lazy.  Some days just lazier than others of course.  I have the life of Riley!  What more can I say.  There are a lot of folks who are lazy so that really doesn't make me different or special.  But that is what retirement can offer a guy--options.  I like options.  Many folks don't have options.  Of course you get a lot more done if you are not lazy.  But maybe I don't want to get a lot done!  Maybe I just want to read my book for an hour or soooooo!   I have options!  Should I go and play golf today or not?  A lot of options folks. I must admit that at times I don't think I'm productive enough with my life.  Of course I get over it but sometimes it seems I should be doing more.  I'm retired I guess!  I sure do like the flexible schedule of course.  Yes I do.

Of course I can make my life go faster. I just shift to a higher gear. My bike has 3 sprockets in the front and 8 sprockets on the back. Sooooo I have 24 different gears to adjust my speed. That seems like a lot of opportunities to make life easy for me or faster for me. It sure helps let me let me tell ya. Of course the big wheel to the little wheel is the hardest and makes the bike go the fastest. TheKingOfTheHill many times is the big wheel spinning the little wheels of the world. Personally I like folks who are big wheels but you can't tell them from the little wheels (i.e. they are that nice and don't desire to be the big wheels). Of course, you know what dogs do to big wheels? Of course you do! Jesus didn't seem to have much time for folks who thought they were big wheels. The folks He thinks are the big wheels are maybe not the same big wheels that that the world thinks are the big wheels. GeorgeTheCrook says--Some folks just think they are important (i.e. big wheels)! Ouchy ouchy!

Of course we had a good time at the ol' ball park watching the I-Cubs.  The crack of the bat, the night air, and the atmosphere of the ball game.  The boys each got a baseball.  Of course it was fun even though it was 101 degrees at game time.  These guys are my golf buddies Luke and Cade.  Luke says a lot when playing  --"My Luck"!  He says that after hitting a poor shot, having some bad luck or missing a putt.  He says--Of Course! I just have bad luck.  My Luck!  I try to tell him that all of us have bad shots and have bad luck and miss putts and we have different ability levels.  It's a standard in life.  It's the rub of the green in golf terms.  Most great folks (i.e. and golfers) seeeem to have a flat line demeanor a.k.a. class.  Not an attitude.  Sooooo now it's getting to be sorta kinda a joke when we say to each other--My luck.  On the 9th green the other day, Luke missed a putt and said--my luck.  I said--you can't make them all Luke.  He said--have you ever had bad things happen to you erv?  Da!  Of course Luke, I have bad things happen to me.  Let me putt and I will tell you more erv.  He made a nice 4 footer and then said--erv, have you ever beeen hit by a car?  No, I haven't.  I have.  The car swerved to miss Cade and hit me.  Soooo how bad did you get hurt?  Nothing real serious but I got hurt quite bad.  erv, have you ever bruised your pancreas and been in Iowa City Hospital for two weeks with tubes stuck in you all over.  No, I haven't.  I have.  Sooooo you look alright now.  I am.  Sooooo LukieLuckie, maybe without modern medicine you wouldn't be here playing golf with us today.  Your Luck, LuckieLukie!  My luck!  Of course!  Among the lucky, Luckie Lukie, you are a lucky one.

Of course it was mentally confusing folks.  I rode my bike around Clear Lake recently.  I saw a car wash in Clear Lake that had a big sign on it--Dog Wash!  I was curious sooooo I pulled in there.  I had never seen that before.  I walked up there and Leapen'Leana (i.e. that is what she had on the back of her tee shirt) was ahead of me said to the guy--The sign says Dog Wash.  Does that mean for canine dogs or for husband dogs?

I was in MN last weekend playing in our friends' Jan and Geno's member guest.  It was our 30th year of doing this. Now that is a fun friendship.  Oh ya!  Good folks with good hearts.  On hole #5 I asked Jr if we can hit our second shots over the trees at the corner of the dog leg.  He said I can.  Of course that was when we were playing this hole 30 years ago when the trees were 6 feet tall and not 20 to 35 feet tall now!  I had the opportunity to play with some real classy guys let me tell ya.  Classy!

I sorta kinda have a hobby of going into churches and sitting and praying for about 10 minutes.  I particularly like the old churches.  Of course, most of the churches are now locked if there is no one there.  Soooo I was traveling to Westbrook, MN and came through Heron Lake about 7:30 p.m. and saw this old church across the city park.  Sooooo I stopped and walked across the park to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  It was a beautiful structure and to my surprise it was open.  It was as beautiful on the inside as it was on the outside.  I spent 10 minutes of quit time.  Of course it was a great time.  I confessed to a Catholic golf opponent Sunday that I went into the confession booth.  I have never been in one and wanted to see what it looked like. I didn't know if was a sin or not.  He said I was okay!  MyGolfPartner told me on the 8th tee box at Old Goats Monday morning that he hasn't gone to church much this summer--how come--I don't like the priest very well.  Oh! 

I have heard folks say "of course" when something seemingly bad happens to them.  I take that saying meaning that they expect bad things to happen to them.  Listen folks--God giveth and God taketh away it says somewhere.  Maybe some folks think that they are the only folks that face tough things.  Maybe some folks think they are special and deserve only good things to happen to them.  Some folks might say--I did all the religious stuff and still God treats me like this.  What kind of  God is He anyway.  The Book says that God loves us (i.e. unconditionally) all the same.  I realize that that is hard to understand with our human minds.  Ya, it appears that some folks seem to have it easier than others.  Of course, some have it more difficult that others tooooo it seems!  But you don't know my situation and I don't know yours soooooo...!

Of course results may vary!  I heard a guy say that his wife is getting cortisone shots in her back.  The doctor told here that it might help and it might not.  It might help right away or take a while.  It might help for a short time or for a long time.  Of course results may vary!  Results may vary!!!!  LuckieEddie says--There seems to be a lot of folks who just sit on the couch and eat chips and expect everything good to happen to them.  Of course, they are disappointed.  Ya can't wish it or buy it, ya gotta do it!  Yabut, the government tries as hard as they can to help everyone but there are limits.  Or are there?  Of course there are!  Okay, maybe not!  I'm working on finding a grant for new golf clubs.  There has to be a grant out there somewhere for me!  I'll look in the farm bill.  Maybe it's attached to it!

If you want a thing done well, do it yourself. ~  Napoleon~  Many times it seems that way doesn't it.  Not everyone does things the same of course.  Sometimes it's hard to accept the fact that folks do things differently.  Especially when we think we are always right.  Of course some folks do things better than others.  Of course they do.  WildWillie says--If I have no interest in the outcome, I don't care how they do it but if I have a vested interest in the the outcome, then I care.  To be average doesn't take much effort of course.  In high school, you just basically show up and you get a C (i.e. that's average).  I saw on a billboard recently (i.e. sooo it must be right) that 28% of students drop out of high school.  Wow!  To be above average it takes a little more effort and to be excellent, it takes some real effort.  Average isn't much in our society today (i.e. my opinion).  Soooo surround yourself with excellent folks and your life will be much better.

True story?  Of course it is! It's about a friend of mine who I call Coach (i.e. age 75).  Well... Dad fell from a tree. Must have been high up. Lost consciousness, but came to fairly quickly. He is in Des Moines at Methodist to repair a broken right arm and elbow. He has a collapsed lung presumably due to 4 broken ribs and has a breathing tube for now. He is in quite a bit of pain, but Mom indicated that the care received is fantastic. She is going to call after he comes from surgery for the arm. Marlene is with her. Jim saw the accident as did Mom and stopped to help. Jim convinced Mom (and Dad) that they should go to the ER. When Mom asked Dad if they should call an ambulance, he said, "No." Of course. I'm glad Jim and Mom ignored him.

My kid sister says this--there are 3 types of people:  -The "haves" -The "have nots" -The "haven't finished paying for what for what they have".  DandyDan says--Of course, we live in America!  Doesn't everyone spend more than they make?  It's the new generation.  We are just like our government.  I tell you what DandyDan, my Daddy, Chester, would not buy anything on credit if it depreciated.  But would use credit to buy stuff that would appreciate.  I sorta kinda followed my Daddy's example.  DandyDan says--That's old fashion erv, get with it.  You must be some old fart or something! 

Of course life is a lot better if you can "read the writing on the wall"!  I read while eating my oatmeal with MI blueberries on it that King Belshazzar couldn't do it soo he got Daniel who could.  Soooo why didn't King Belshazzar like Daniel's interpretation of the "writing on the wall"?  Do you remember?  Maybe we might not like some of the  "writing on the wall" if we knew what it said.  Why don't we understand some of the "writing on the wall"?  Why wouldn't we like some of the "writing on the wall" do you think?  Who can interpret our "writing on the wall" do you think?  Of course we can turn our heads and pretend that we don't see the "writing on the wall" and then blame someone else.  Of course we can! 

Of course these guys were fakers and phonies.  They remind me of DuaneTheWorm.  Joesixpack says--Of course it's about the money and power and fame!  I read in the paper (i.e. soooo it must be right) that Paterno and other officials hushed up allegations against Sandusky for fear of bad publicity and, by implication, all that bad publicity could bring  -- a loss of power, presage, fame and money (i.e. $$$$).  They made an egregious decision to err on the side of the $50 million rather than on the side of the rights of children.  Ouchy ouchy!  Wasendof, at his botched suicide attempt, left a suicide note about the $200 million fraud he did--I guess my ego was too big to admit failure!  Ouchy ouchy!  MissPerfect says--I hope this is not an expected procedure and widely practiced!  Me toooo MissPerfect.  Soooo think about that in your business dealings, Beautiful!  Wasendof was kingofthehill one day and tried to kill himself the next.  Paterno was kingofthehill on day and they took down his statue the next. Huh, interesting. 

ItchieBitchie said to the doc doing his colonospy--Will you write a note to my wife and tell her my head is not up there!  She's just full of hot air most of the time.  This will prove it again.  But what can I do?  Doc said to him--A happy wife is a happy life.  And don't your forget that buddy.  So there you go!

Of course it wasn't what he meant but...! A minister was completing a temperance sermon. With great emphasis he said, 'If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river.' With even greater emphasis he said, 'And if I had All the wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river.' And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he Said, 'And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river.' Sermon complete, he sat down... The song leader stood very cautiously and announced With a smile, nearly laughing, 'For our closing song, Let us sing Hymn #365, 'Shall We Gather at the River.'  Such is life.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Wise men are not always silent, but know when to be.

a view point

Don't know for sure if I will have Internet service in the morning where I will be sooooo I'm sending "It's Saturday" a little early. 

I talk a lot about real folks telllin' it like it is.  I emailed some friends who I haven't heard from for a while.  I asked them -- what's going on?  They responded and here is one paragraph of what they said.  All of our correspondence is re-printed with their permission.  Trust me--there are no subliminal gremlins in this "It's Saturday" that I am aware of but their could be without me knowing it.  Soooo be careful! 

Moving out here, Erv, has been the toughest thing we've ever done in our married lives (that's 43 years next month). Harder than the transplants. Harder than the failed transplants. Maybe Parkinson's has been harder. It's been so good to be by our kids and grandkids. (The latter we would not know nearly as well had we remained in Iowa.) But out here no one knows you. No one knows your history. What you stand for. What you've been through. You're like a grain of sand on a dune by the seaside. It's been a real test of ego. Mine is apparently bigger than I thought!

I said--Maybe you want to say more soooo it fits the readers of "It's Saturday" better.  Maybe you want to add some more.  Here is your opportunity to tell it like it is my friend.  And maybe you don't want me to use it.  That is fine toooooo!  They replied with this: 

Hi Erv, I don't know what else I'd add, Erv. Just musing out loud here, what precipitated our move was my health and Janeo not wanting to tackle this alone anymore without family to support us (particularly with a Parkinson's diagnosis). That being said, we were well supported in the OC community, in a myriad of generous and loving ways. But you know the old saying, "Blood is thicker than water".

I guess I'd encourage retirees who are considering such a radical move as ours, try to project what starting over relationally will mean to you at this season of life. A friend of mine said, "You can make new friends easy enough; it's just tough to make old friends." That takes years. Years of working together. Laughing together. Crying together. Grieving together. And when you're retired and move, you don't have a work context to begin meeting people. Nor a church, at least not right away. What will a move like that mean to you financially? We weren't planning on having a mortgage in retirement. We do now. The cost of living is higher out here, much higher. The culture is different. Not bad, but different. Takes time to acclimate to this new setting, and you're not as flexible in these retirement years as you might think! And lastly, don't move thinking you're kids are going to supply all your relational needs. That doesn't work for you or them. We all need our space.

And we all need a sense of community. That's what we miss. Someone who knows you well enough to tease you, give you grief. To support you in a variety of ways. Now all that being said, we do have that kind of relationship with some friends. That relationship has been a God-send!

(Janeo here, speaking as carepartner--Bear's wife):  A move midwest to midwest is FAR less stressful than midwest to NW, so I think that in itself would make things way easier.  Had we stayed in OC, we would have had to move out of our house because there were too many levels.  I think it is important to be proactive in considering those kinds of issues as we age (medical needs/care, pharmacy, hospital, mobility in the home and outside the home, library, doctoring).

I think it is important to  consider what kind of resources you may need to access down the road.  Perhaps those would  be more broad and available in a larger city.  How accessible are those from your current home?  In terms of relationships, what relationships do you have in Aplington that would allow you to stay there and get the kind of support you may need down the line?  Here's where Bear and I are different:  as I age, I need a smaller circle of relationships with deep roots. How important are each person's social needs and how are those met?  I need to be closer than a plane ride away to face the PD, which we know is progressive and degenerative.  I asked Bear before we moved, Who would you let me call on a Sunday morning at 7 AM if the sewer blew up in our basement?  I know how he thinks, and he wouldn't call anyone on Sunday morning.  I'm calling our kids, and it doesn't matter what time or day it is =)!

Knowing our grandchildren and being an active part of their everyday lives is very important to me.  That is going to look very different when we visit infrequently (and air travel was becoming much more of a hassle for us in the end) and visit "by immersion".  I like this, having the grands over for lunch, picking them up from school, seeing them in various programs, helping out when we can.  I believe that we have something to share in our lives with them, and that they learn from just being around us.

We know that at some point driving will be an issue for us.  What is available to us when that happens? As we age, and as we age dealing with PD, that we deal with more and more losses.  Having a counselor in place has been necessary and very effective for us as we face these challenges(we see him "as needed", or what I call, getting tweaked).

Way more than perhaps you were expecting, Erv, but those are some late night, random thoughts of mine!

Bless you friend!  Bear 

Bear and Janeo are real folks with great big hearts.  They are survivors and are as tough as $2 steaks.  My kind of folks. 

Bear and Janeo, I think you should move to AZ.  Yes I do.  For health reasons, Joesixpack's doctor urged him to move to Arizona. After settling in, he met a neighbor who was a fit older man. "Say, is this really a healthy place?" Joesixpack asked. "It sure is," the man replied. "When I first arrived here I couldn't say one word. I had hardly any hair on my head. I didn't have the strength to walk across a room and I had to be lifted out of bed." "That's quite an improvement!" said Joesixpack. "How long have you been here?" "I was born here."

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Do you act or react?