goin' ever which a way

Well, snookums, I'm going  to speak my mind as I have nutten to lose.  You guys can talk about that between yourselves but leave me out of it!  Let's chew the fat!  

ItchieBitchie says to his friend Joesixpack--I think I understand you to some extent. The fact that you take the time to sit down and reflect on God’s Word says a great deal about you. Now your wife, CrazyWilma, that's another story! Such is life.  

Strong head wind! WildWillie says--I can go ever which a way but something I'm really consistently good at is "misunderstanding"!  Aaaaaahhhhhh!  WildWillie, you act and think like you're the biggest banana in the bunch but...you look bemused most of the time!  Are you that way or do you just look that way?  Just hang in there WildWillie, life is a long row to hoe! Life can go ever which a way.  I remember a few years ago we went canoeing with friends on the Cedar River.  We had a strong head wind.  Our friends had a hard time keeping their canoe straight (i.e. were going ever which a way).  I think they had words.  Arlene and I just laughed and still laugh with them/at them.  Good memories!

MissPerfect knows how to 'weird LuckieEddie up'!  Makes him go ever which a way! Sometimes a guy has to accept and adjust.  There is no other choice. A friend told me he turned 80 recently.  He said--I have no idea where all those years went.  Bingo, they're gone.  They've gone ever which a way!  Joesixpack says--Folks just fade into the sunset. It just happens.  Happens to everyone. I read somewhere--Life is like a vapor, a mist--here today and gone tomorrow.  I think we all need to appreciate today (i.e. maximize our time to the fullest)!  Sooooo throw those chips away and get your butt off the couch folks! What do you think?

Zig zag!  Have you ever been amazed?  I mean "fall off the stool" amazed?  I have that experience sometimes (e.g. some folks just do that to me--both in good ways and bad ways).  Has God ever dazzled you?  Have you ever done something for someone that just dazzled them (i.e. made them giddy, overwhelmed)?  I had just that experience by doing a small act of kindness to someone.  It wasn't that spectacular but to them it was.  And listen folks, I don't amaze many folks!  Happenstance, na, I don't think sooooo!  Cadillac Jack says--One small act of kindness might be one huge massive good feeling for another!

Visualize it!  Joesixpack says--Ya got to visualize things and then act that way.  If you second guess yourself, well, it just ain't going to work (i.e. can't go ever which a way).  Ya gotta have 100% commitment to what you are doing.  That makes you much more "mentally strong".  LuckieEddie says--What you think is what you'll be.  Ya gotta be positive.  Even when things are not going your way, there is always something positive in it.  Suck it up cupcake and let's get going!  Saturday question--Do you think about more positive stuff or negative stuff?

Ya gotta go ever which a way to be politically correct folks! I golfed with a buddy recently.  He reminded me about our conversation about a year ago when I suggested he loose some weight.  He has lost 22 pounds and really looks great.  He said he was telling a female friend about me suggesting he loose some weight.  She thought I was a real jerk; who would every suggest that is not a nice guy!  Soooo he asked her--do females ever suggest to each other that they would look better if they lost some weight?  She said--Are you kidding me!  Women would never say that to one another (i.e. at least not to their face).  If a woman would do that, we would consider that woman a real.... GerogeTheCrook says--erv, you have to learn how to talk to woman (e.g. be politically right).  You never call a spade a spade.  I can tell you aren't very good with women erv!  

Her emotions still go ever which a way.  I attended the funeral of my cousin's wife in Roseland, MN this last week (i.e. I was raised on a farm a mile and a fourth south of Roseland).  I met for the first time, sorta kinda some relation (i.e. my cousin's daughter-in-law).  I was standing in the lunch line and she was there sooooo I introduced myself.  After some chit chat, I asked her how long it has been since her husband passed away--9 and a half years (i.e. she is 55 now and is very attractive mentally and physically)--soooo I bet you have a lot of guys hitting on you--I have talked to many guys and dated some but have not met Mr. Perfect yet; it's frustrating; I pray and try to make it happen but it just doesn't--it will; it will just fall in your lap; I will pray for you.  She told me that folks don't know how hard it is to be a widow; they say they do but they really don't; my emotions are still crazy at time (i.e. go ever which a way).

When we got done visiting, Warren (i.e. anybody can be a Warren) came up to me and told me that they still think of me; I want to show you something.  He took me to a case in the entrance way and showed me this picture.  Folks, this was 50 years ago when our church won the softball league in Willlmar.  It really made me laugh.  Roseland Reformed Church, the church I was raised in, is doing well partially 'cause our Uncle Walt gave the church a million dollars maybe 15 years ago--BINGO! It is a nice facility.  Sherrie (i.e. anybody can be a Sherrie) told me that their new pastor has been there a year and a half and has done 11 funerals.  So what does that tell ya folks (i.e. maybe the water is bad--Ron, the mayor of Roseland and water checker, will you check on that!).  One more thing, my cousin's daughter-in-law said--I live an active life style but most of the guys don't (i.e. have spent tooooo much time on the couch eating chips--I don't think she finds them very attractive).  Such is life.  

In life we can go ever which a way but...!  DrDavid (i.e. everyone listens to ya if you are a doctor)--If we don't take inventory every once in a while and give thanks to God for the great things He has done for us, we get totally out of perspective. I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--Consider how you feel when you're in a relationship with a person -- spouse, friend, coworker, boss -- who has never been untrue in word or deed. The longer that person goes without betraying your trust, the higher your confidence soars. But should something untrue be said or done, your confidence crashes. It can take a long time to restore trust. We serve a God who has never been untrue in word or deed. In fact, Jesus called Himself  "the truth".  There is no goin' ever which a way there folks.  

Can I trust you ItchieBitchie?  I think soooooo! What do you mean, I think soooooo ItchieBitchie!  I don't want a "I think soooooo", I want a yes or no!  ItchieBitchie goes ever which a way.  Okay then, you gotta be creative to sell cars.  I read in the paper, soooo it must be right, that 24.9% of all new car loans are 73 to 84 months.  Wow that is a long time.  I would guess that means that most folks will ever get their cars paid for.  85% of new cars are financed with 22.2%  of the the loans are subprime.  Ouchy ouchy!  Ya gotta sell cars soooo ya gotta do whatever the industry has toooooo (i.e. industry saver).  I have several friends and acquaintances that have a lot of money but usually don't buy new cars and drive theirs forever it seems.  One friend has 325,000 miles on Highlander.  Maybe that is why this guy is rich.  A friend in the financial business told me--The naked truth is that you always can't tell rich folks by their cars, many aren't paid for.  My daddy, Chester, taught me to never borrow money for a car, never.  Save your money and then buy a car.  Sooooooo I have never borrowed money on a car.  He would be proud of me--maybe!!!!  I had a friend tell me recently that once he gets financially comfortable, his live will be much more enjoyable.   Does that make sense to you? 

In Advanced Improvement Group last Sunday we talked about pride.  Randy (i.e. anybody can be a Randy), our facilitator, started out wanting us to tell the group of something we are proud of.  It reminded me of an experience with Bill (i.e. Bill is a makeup name to protect the real person).  Maybe 10 years ago I asked Bill to tell me something about him that he is proud about that no one else knows about (i.e. you have to have a good friend who you can trust to tell something like that tooo as some think you are bragging).  He told me he has never told this to anyone, not even his wife, as he didn't want them to think he was bragging (i.e. seeee!). This guy is a good man folks!  ANYWAY here is what he told me: Bill was in a fox hole in battle during WW II.  One half of his group would retreat behind gunfire to eat and then the other half would go when they were done.  His group was the last group and he was the last GI.  They came upon sniper fire and were pinned down.  They were taught to run, fall, roll, get up, and run again (i.e. goin' ever which a way).  Another GI fall and froze.  Bill fell by him and talked to him that he had to get up or they were both going to get killed.  He convinced him and they made it.  He saved the guy's life probably.  

JoeBlow says--I hear many voices and they all want something.  How do I discern which one I should listen toooooo?  Lord, help me to sift through the many voices that I hear; so that I will hear your voice unmistakably clear (i.e. soooooo I don't go ever which a way). Amen. JoeBlow, wouldn't it be nice if a talking donkey or a talking burning bush would make everything clear to us?  

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Itching for what you want doesn't do much good.  You've got to scratch for it.

TipOfTheDay--In church last Sunday, I sat behind a young couple who are expecting their first child.  I asked them if they wanted to know the sex of their baby.  He looked at his wife and said, we do, she is such a planner.  He said that she has lists all over the place.  She asked me if I do lists.  I sure do.  Her husband asked me--erv, do you put on your lists things that you already have done?  No!  She does.  Why do you do that?  It makes me feel good!  That will do it folks.  Try it!  A friend told me that Abraham Lincoln once said--It's not a plain unless you write it down.  Such is life.

funk

Disclaimer--I'm not sure I know what I'm talking about but maybe I can blather on long enough to make it sound like I know what I'm talking about. Soooo take that into account when reading this "It's Saturday".  Remember, you get what you pay for!  Soooo don't take any of this tooooo serious.  This "It's Saturday" might be like something you might read in the paper (i.e. sooooo it must be right).  A Harley biker is riding by the zoo in Washington , DC when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion's cage. Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the collar of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes of her screaming parents. The biker jumps off his Harley, runs to the cage and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain, the lion jumps back, letting go of the girl, and the biker brings her to her terrified parents, who thank him endlessly. A reporter has watched the whole event. Addressing the Harley rider, he says, "Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I've seen a man do in my whole life." The Harley rider replies, "Why, it was nothing really. The lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger and acted as I felt right." The reporter says, "Well, I'll make sure this won't go unnoticed. I'm a journalist, you know, and tomorrow's paper will have this story on the front page. So, what do you do for a living and what political affiliation do you have?" The biker replies, "I'm a U.S. Marine and a Republican." The journalist leaves. The following morning the biker buys the paper to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads, on the front page: " U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH!" ...and that pretty much sums up the media's approach to the news these days.

I sorta kinda had a funk in my golf game (i.e. numbers don't lie folks). My game was out of sync. I heard a golf announcer say--Sometimes those funks are physical, some times they are physiological,  and sometimes they are both.  I think I think that my expectations are greater than my ability (i.e. I think that might be the real reason folks).

1971 trip to CA it was

But, I just read in the paper so it must be right, that there is a old myth that if you pilfer any petrified rocks from a national park you will have bad luck.  I went to my junk cabinet down stairs and looked.  Sure enough, it was still there.  I took a little piece from a national park some 40+ years ago. Arlene was soooo worried about it that she put it in her pantie as we exited the park (i.e. Arlene would never do anything wrong).  I tell you what folks, I'm sending that sucker back to the national park.  That could be the reason why I had the funk in my golf game.  Could be!  I am taking no chances!!!  Such is life.

Last Saturday I was playing with some golf buddies and was complaining about my play and that my game is sorta kinda is in a funk (i.e. actually none of us played very well).  The Big Kahuna said to me--You weren't very good in the first place!  Ya gotta look for the obvious answers first! Soooo there you go folks. And this guy is my friend.  Such is life.

Do you ever wonder how you can get in a funk and how you can get out of one?  Some folks go into a funk 'cause they are depressed.  Maybe it's 'cause of a streak of bad luck or something is really dragging them down.  Many different things can affect us folks.  My mentor would say--When things are good we think they will be good forever and when things are bad we think they will be bad forever. I always thought that I needed just enough success to make me continue but not tooooo much that it ruins my life.  Does that make any sense to ya?

Caleb a.k.a. Funk Reliever  Caleb sells his mother's caramel and cinnamon rolls on the street each Friday as part of the Farmers Market.  Caleb and I are friends.  He always makes me smile when I see him.  He always says to me--Love those 3 pointers!  That goes way back to some UNI basketball tickets I gave him many years ago.  He lifts my spirits.  The rolls are a $1 and all his tips (i.e. he gets a lot) go to a mission project, Feed Our Starving Children.  He has a good heart. Caleb stimulates me!

Confidence  I heard one guy ask another guy what he thought the key was to success.  His response was "confidence".  If  you don't have confidence you are pretty much in a funk all the time.  If you have confidence and loose it, it's funk time.  But if you can gain some confidence, you can fix your funk it seems.  Sooooo then, how do you get confidence and how do you loose it?  Does success come first or does confidence come first? Those are million dollar questions!.

Can I dance?  Arlene says I can't but I can.  Really!  Of course. I always knew that I could dance.  It was others who had the question, especially after they saw me dance. Do I dance like everyone else? Well... no. Am I a good dancer according to the standard of good dancing? Well... maybe not. There was always the one or two fellows who got "oohs and aahs" as they danced. I got more of "look at that!" Why do YOU dance? Different people have different reasons. When you honestly answer that question, it will help you to see life clearer. It may help you to dance or at least realize that you could dance all along, even when people said you couldn't. "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears the beat of a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." ~ Thoreau ~ Can I dance? You'd better believe it! No matter what people say. ItchieBitchie says--If you are always comparing yourself to others, you will always be in a funk.  Uncommon folks seem to enjoy life as they want life to be.  Huh, interesting. Yabut, actually I took Arlene out for dinner and then  to a dance at the Scout House in Orange City on our first date when at good old Northwestern College (i.e. dancing was not allowed on campus).  And the rest is history as they say.   

A scarecrow in a strawberry patch!  Maybe when we are in a funk we are like a scarecrow in a strawberry patch.  After a while the birds aren't scared anymore.  We get weathered and drab and have no excitement.  We have lost our purpose.  Could be.  Maybe we need to refocus; redirect, rejuvenate, perk up, make a change.  Could be! Maybe we need to get around positive folks.  Could be.

Burn out!  Sometimes it appears that when we get in a funk, we are totally burned out.  Just plain had enough for awhile.  Need a break for awhile.  As the old song goes, after you been having steak for a long time, beans beans taste fine.  Many times we need to get away from something for awhile to appreciate our situation.  Need to get excited about it again.  What do you think?  And another thing, I can get bored sometimes that might cause me to get in a funk.  I need something new and exciting.  Boring boring!  

Are you determined like a weed?  Maybe we finally figure it out that certain things just don't matter much.  When we don't care as much anymore, we might get out of our funk. Could be!  Maybe we realize that some things aren't as important to us as they were before.  Could be!  Maybe we aren't as competitive as we use to be.  Could be!  And maybe it just happens (i.e can't be explained).  Could be!  Maybe it just happens and we just can't figure it out.  Could be! I have no idea sometimes what the funk changer is.  It just does.  It could be 'cause we have an internal motor that makes us determined like a weed (i.e. those suckers are determined).  Such is life.

How about some success!  That can get a guy out of a funk.  In golf, ya just got to shoot a good round and things look way different.  Or maybe some little thing happens to us and bingo our funk is over. Why and how that can work I have no idea but it seems like it does.  How about encouragement from someone or someone saying something positive to us.  I was talking to a friend this week. He told me that when he was about 25 he decided he liked himself (i.e. was happy with who he was and content with himself).  I asked him what caused him to come to this conclusion.  He didn't know.  It just happened.  Huh, interesting.

Funky dream!  Maybe, just maybe, the only reoccurring dream I have might have something to do with the funk in my golf game.  Could be!  I have this reoccurring dream where I can't find a place to tee off.  There is a wall or tree or something right in front of me and a building or something on my back side soooo I have no back swing.  My golf buddies are going down the fairway leaving me.  I can't find a place to tee my ball.  The group behind me are standing there wondering if I'm ever going to hit.  I have a couple of buddies who have this same dream that also reoccurs to them.  Soooooo last night in my dream I ended up going into the pro shop and opened the door and teed up on the carpet. Crazy!  Just iconically crazy!  Such is life.

The cure! Manitou Springs, CO is known for it's famous magical mineral spring water (i.e. probably why the town is called Manitou Springs) .  Many of the rich in years past would travel there to drink the water.  It was considered something special that would cure many things, even funks!  I drank some of the mineral water.  Sooooo I'm good (i.e. hope I drank enough).  When we were walking the streets of Manitou Springs, CO, a guy gave me this $1,000,000 bill with the million dollar question on the back.  Maybe what it says on the track might get a guy out of a funk.  What do you think? Does it make any sense to you?  You will have to click on it to increase the size if you want to read it.

or

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--If you don't scale the mountain, you can't see the view.

Listen! Really listen!

MissPerfect says--As long as I can remember I've been pretty much the nicest gal I know. Ask anybody who knows me and they'll tell you that's true, unless of course they're big, fat dummies.  Listen MissPerfect, you have figured yourself out perfectly.  Just perfectly.  I agree with your evaluation.  

I was at a friend's funeral and talked to another friend.  She told me about the sayings of a friend of hers from church.  One of the sayings was--Will it make any difference 10 years from now? This gal is my superseniorneighborM.  Soooooo I went over to here place and we talked about those sayings.  She was giddy with excitement that we talked about her sayings.  She said she learned them from her parents.  She said--Our parents didn't preach to us but just used these little sayings and just lived their lives.  I guess my brother and I just listened to the little saying that mom and dad said and formed our lives around them.  When I left, she said I made her day and still was just chattering away.  It would never happened if my friend would not have said something to me at the funeral.  Huh, interesting!

ItchieBitchie says--Let me tell you what I would do it I were you! Listen! Listen! Listen carefully! Shut off all of the noise around you so that you can hear what is being spoken to you. We have spent three days in CO with good friends Hank and Becky.  We stayed with James, Heather, Erin and little Jimmer (i.e. our daughter and family).  CO provides opportunities that are fun for us. A special environment for me to listen.  I did some listening.  I hope I heard right.  

Saturday I biked from Frisco to top of Vail pass with Secretariat and and SuperWoman.  What am I thinking?  It's just not a small daily happening folks, it's 1,550 feet of gain in elevation (i.e. total ride of 28 miles).  But going down, I felt pretty good! But I did a lot of listenin' and it was good!  But my body doesn't always agree (i.e. it says to me--what are you doing to me).  

 
The next day we hiked a CO 14ner, Torreys Peak 14, 267 feet (i.e. got up at 4:15 started hiking at 6.  What am I doing?  For Secretariat and SuperDude it's a piece of cake but for me it's a piece of grizzle (i.e. these guys are animals folks)!  It rained and snowed and was windy.  I turned around before the summit (i.e. will it make a difference 10 years from now).  Secretariat and Super Dude went to the summit in a snow storm.  They said only maybe 5 folks made it out of the approximate 200  hikers on the trail.  Listen folks, listen, I am very happy I can do these things.  Very happy.  I really enjoyed doing them.  It was a hoot.  Of all the hikers, I only saw maybe 3 other guys my age.  Most were under 30.  What am I doing!!  I had a neat environment to listen. and that is what I did.  

This picture says it all folks.  James says I'm a Poster Child of some Iowan ill prepared for the change in weather (i.e. disaster).  He gave me his wool socks for my hands and his cap for my head.  I wish he would have brought along more stuff for me!  And he said--All the good stuff I was wearing they gave to me!  He asked me where those good gloves they gave me where--I told him they are at home in the garage!  He just shock his head. It was just starting to snow as you can see.  Hey, isn't your son-in-law suppose to help ya!  Such is life.

I was walking home from my sunset walk the other night and noticed through my neighbor's window that she was watching baseball.  I mentioned it to one of her grandsons at the golf course.  He told me that she really likes baseball.  He also told me that she still makes bread each week.  Soooo I went and saw my superneighborH.  She made me a loaf of bread.  He's  92!

When a Dr. says something you listen folks!  Oh ya!  I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--Dr.David says--Robert Burns was plowing a field one day when he inadvertently destroyed a mouse's nest. Seeing the destruction at his feet, the poet realized his plowing had upended all the plans the mouse had made for winter. It was late in the season, and now the mouse, which had carefully prepared for the coming snows, was in a fight for survival. That’s what led Burns to write "To a Mouse," which includes one of the most famous lines in poetry: "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley [go often awry]." 

 Joesixpack says--Listen folks, it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular!  


Listen folks, will it make any difference 10 years from now?  I mean, will it make any difference if it takes another half hour or hour to do our bike trip or hike to the peak?  Really?  Will we remember how fast we did it our will we remember the memories and how it we made each other feel?  What do you think?  LuckieEddie says--Folks don't always remember what you did for them or what you said, but they do remember how you made them feel.  I was walking home from my walk on the golf course at sun set the other night and a friend and I had a very delightful, enlightening conversation (i.e. real).  She told me that we need to tell folks that we care for them (i.e. I think that is wisdom folks).  What do you think?  WildWillie says--Get around good folks and listen to what they have to say.  Really listen!

Pikes Peak or Bust!  They thought I did it on purpose; listen folks, I didn't.  I told them that our departure time on the Cog at Pikes Peak was at 9:40.  I checked in the morning and it was 10:40.  Everyone was ready ON TIME!.  When we got down off Pikes Peak, we  had a picnic in Manitou Springs (i.e. let the kids run around).  There were some homeless folks there hangin' out.  A gal, maybe 20, and her brother maybe a couple of years older came to the park with a grocery cart full of brown bags which contained food.  They passed them out to the homeless, talked briefly, and petted their dogs etc.  They didn't preach to them and didn't make a big deal out of it.  I went over to them and talked.  I asked them what their agenda was.  She said--Our mom, my bother and I do this when we have extra money; we think it's the right thing to do.  I wonder folks, what they are listening toooooo (i.e. will it make a difference 10 years from now).

SusieQ says--It's hard to know when to shut up!  LuckieEddie says--In today’s society, it appears that everyone is trying to prove how much they know to impress people they don’t know.  I wonder if we are really sharing knowledge… JoeBlow says--Silence can not be quoted!

Saturday question--Listen folks, will what you and I do and say and think today make any difference 10 years from now?  

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Learn to pause--or nothing worth while can catch up to you.

PS Four Ways To Listen #1. An Unrelated Response: Example: "I lost $l,000 at the racetrack last night!" 

Your Response: "I went to see "The Expendables III" It was great. I went to see it because MovieFoot.com recommended it... -BLAH1 BLAH1 BLAH" Reaction: When do I get to talk about my $1,000 and why aren't you wanting to listen to my telling you about it? That's why I started telling you about it! #2. A Tangential Response Same Example: "I lost a $1,000 at the racetrack last night!" Your Response: "You did? I lost $3,000 there a couple of weeks ago and you know what happened, I.... -BLAH! BLAH! BLAH!"
Reaction: "Same as the reaction above, only now, "Why are you taking the football out of my hand and running for your own touchdown?" #3. A Furthering Response Same Example: "I lost $1,000 at the racetrack last night!" Your Response: "You did? How did you do that?" Reaction: Now I get to talk further about what I first introduced to you because you want to listen further to what I want to say! Good! #4. A Feeling Response Same Example: "I lost $1,000 at the racetrack last night!" Your Response: "Oh! That's a chunk of change! I bet that really hurt, huh?" Reaction: Now you are asking me how I felt about it, rather than what happened. I am free to tell you how I feel about losing and how much it meant to me. Wow!
NOTE: A poll discovered that ones and twos were used 80% of the time! Listen Wisely! ~Author Unknown~  Dr.Ben (i.e. every one listens to a doctor) says--To ignore the facts does not change the facts! Dr.George (i.e. everyone listens to a doctor) says--Money can't buy class! 

Surprise me!

If this "It's Saturday" seems goofy to ya, it's 'cause of the high attitude affecting my brain.  Ya, we are in Morrison, CO at James, Heather, Erin, and little Jimmer.  Our good friends Hank and Becky are with us.

I was running the other morning and met a friend who also runs.  We stopped and talked briefly.  He told me I better get going--why--did you look behind you (i.e. I looked behind me)--he said, the vultures are circling!  A golf buddy told me on the 9th tee box the other day--Comedy always contains a certain amount of truth!  Ouchy ouchy!  Such is life.

College football is starting.  This will be our first year of not going to the Iowa Hawkeye games with Hank and Becky in several years. We have really enjoyed the run.  Things change folks.  I read this headline in the paper (i.e. soooo it must be right).  I wonder if Christianity in America is going the same direction.  What do you think? Are you surprised?

Surprise surprise!  This will be a surprise for some folks!  I read in the paper (i.e. soooo it must be right) that half of Iowa seniors are delaying retirement (i.e. a secured retirement is out of reach at retirement age).  Soooo if folks don't have the funds to retire, they have to keep working or lower their standard of living or both.  50% folks, that seems like a lot.  Sooooo if  you are 65 there aren't toooo many other choices.  If you are 35, you can cut your standard of living 20% and save it soooo you can have a secure retirement.  But you might have to change your attitude and standard of living and most 35 year olds don't seem to want to do that.  Soooooo...!  I read in anther newspaper article (i.e. sooooo it must be right) that Millennials and Generation Ys are largely ignored by financial advisers.  The reason is that they don't want to save and don't have much to save (i.e. can't make much money off of them).  The advisers target the baby boomer who have high net worth (i.e. chase the dogs with the money and the saving attitudes).  It's all about the money folks!  Huh, interesting.

I went to an I-Cub game recently.  I stopped for gas on the way in Bondurdant (i.e. a friend claims it's the cheapest priced gas in the state).  On the door was this sign.  Now $8 an hour would be hard for many of you folks to live on.  Then if  you have to save 20%!!!  I had a couple of extra tickets sooooo I gave them to a couple who I thought maybe could use the good fortunate.  They were very appreciative of them.  During the game, the guy was going to buy a beer from the vendor.  He asked how much--$8.50--He said--I'll pass, thank you!  An onesmartgal told me this--Women lose 11% of their earning power by leaving the workforce for less than a year. When they stay out 3 years or longer, they reduce their earning power by almost 40%. Ouchy ouchy!  Wow!  That can't apply to a $8 job can it!!!

No surprise here folks.  Do you think this is smash talk or garbage talk or is it just comedy or the truth? ItchieBitchie says--As we Silver Surfers know, sometimes we have trouble with our computers.  Yesterday, I had a problem, so I called Georgie, the 11 year old next door, whose bedroom looks like Mission Control, and asked him to come over.  Georgie clicked a couple buttons and solved the problem.  As he was walking away, I called after him, So, what was wrong?  He replied, It was an ID ten T error.  I didn't want appear stupid, An, ID ten T error?  What's that?  In case I need to fix it again.  Georgie grinned.  Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error before?  No, I replied.  Write it down, he said, and I think you'll figure it out.  So I wrote it down:  ID10T!  I use to like Georgie, the little shithead!

Mikie says--Learning to live below your means is one of the most important habits you can develop.  Work at this key point, and your world will change in many positive ways.  Huh, interesting.  "Every action must be due to one or other of seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reasoning, anger, or appetite."  ~Aristotle~

Are you like your parents as to how you manage your money?  Do you want to be like your parents as to how how they manage/managed their money?  Are your children like you as to how you manage your money? A golf buddy told me that he and his siblings don't manage money the same (i.e. one lives for the immediate--spends more that she makes and others don't).  Why is that do you think?  Is this a surprise to you?  I asked a retired couple how they manage to have a good life in retirement--they said we were savers.  Why were you savers?  We learned it from our parents.  Huh, interesting.  Soooo wonder if your parents were not savers!  ItchieBitchie says--Don't use the government as your mentor folks; the government might act like a big "sugar daddy" but don't count on it folks.  Saturday question--Who is the government?  Ouchy ouchy! Such is life.

Now that was a moving surprise, folks!  I was making coffee in our church for our WHO meeting (i.e. we help others) one morning.  The janitor came in the kitchen and looks in the frig.  That is what I thought he said.  I bought grape juice for communion and started thinking, did I buy grape juice or prune juice!  He bought prune juice.  He said they are right next to each other at the store and the bottles look much alike.  Soooo how long ago was it that you bought the juice I asked--maybe two weeks!  And you thought of it now?  Ya, isn't that something! Surprise!  I guess he didn't getaroundtoit as he didn't get them switched around. We had communion the next Sunday and it was prune juice!  Now that is funny to me.  Cut the guy some slack.  I went down to the story to see what he was talking about.  It was an easy mistake.  Besides, there are folks in our church that need to move a little faster anyway!!!

No whining here!  Quit your whining! I believe  everybody should believe in something; I believe I'll have another drink. That quote is a joke yet it contains several lessons. 1. It displays the attitude that sometimes you need to just relax.  2. Many highly religious sorta kinda folks would frown at the reference to taking a drink but wine has considerable mention in scripture (i.e. some of the Christian denominations are against a drink--As the joke goes, I know some say that in church but drink at the golf course, at football games or at parties as long as no others from their church are around).  3. You maybe assumed the writer is talking about alcoholic drinks. I think I will have a drink of water. 4. You jumped to a conclusion didn'tja!  Gottcha! Surprise!

Surprise!  You might not be as good as you think you are.  Could be folks.  For Whom The Bell Tolls! Self evaluation is very hard.  John Donne (1572-1631), Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, Meditation XVII: Nunc Lento Sonitu Dicunt, Morieris: "Perchance he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill, as that he knows not it tolls for him; and perchance I may think myself so much better than I am, as that they who are about me, and see my state, may have caused it to toll for me, and I know not that."  I, erv,  think of myself sometimes more important than I am.  I know I do.  I get humbled many many times (i.e. get my head shrunk back to size).  Sometimes I wish I was a jerk (i.e. they never realize that they aren't as important as they are--doesn't ring their bell!).  If you don't know something then you can't be bothered about it (i.e. put your head in the sand or something like that).  Such is life.

She's gotta go!  4 guys from church had breakfast together the other morning (i.e. 2 are super seniors who have seen everything, heard everything and done everything).  One super senior friend told us about his son when he was maybe 6.  He was mad at his mother and said to him--Dad, you should divorce that lady!  Another time he made a sign and put it in the the window--Mother for sale $9,999.99 and their phone #!   My friend also told us that when he was 16, he and three other guys went on a two week trip to major league ball parks (i.e. that was 1950).  They slept in parks and one of their dads sent eggs along and they fried eggs to eat.  Some times they would get a motel room--all showered there and 2 would sleep in the room and 2 in the car.  Folks, this was a major trip in 1950.  What would that cost today?  Would parents let their kids do that today?  I said--I was surprised your parents let you do that.  Looking back, I am toooooo.  What were they thinking! It was a different world folks, different world.

Eternal sensibility. Solomon (i.e. the wisest man who ever lived) wrote that we have an eternal sensibility in us.  Do you believe that?  Solomon said--He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I agree Solomon, that is hard to fathom (i.e. maybe it's impossible for my pea sized human mind to understand). Eternity could really be a surprise for me--SURPRISE!  Bingo!  But, I'm from Butler County, IA, what do I know!

I recently talked to a friend who was getting gas for his lawnmower.  He said it was his last time mowing--really--ya, we are heading out pulling our camper to NJ and camp there for 2 weeks with a camping club and touring New Your City--wow!, that is quite a trip--ya, we plan to take a week going out stopping and seeing friends and family.  These folks are 77 years old (i.e. been savers I think).  From there they will head to AZ where they own a park model.  He did tell me that they are very fortunate to have the finances and health to do that (i.e. they are good folks with good hearts and realize they have been blessed).  Such is life.

Is this a surprise?  I read in the paper (i.e. soooo it must be right) About 36% of workers have less than $1,000 in savings and investments for retirement--not counting their primary residence or defined pensions.  Wow!  Those 36% probably won't be going to tour New York City for two weeks unless they have have a big "sugar daddy" some where.  I also read in the paper that it will cost $254,340 to raise a baby born in 2013 to age 18.  Wow!  Soooo how do folks do that who have large number of kids.  They have to have a big "sugar daddy" some where.  I talked to a friend on a walk the other night.  This person is retiring soooon and is soooooo happy.  Has determined that they will have enough money to retire (i.e. not rich but have enough they said).  This friend is excited folks.

I was surprised but not really!  One response I received from last Saturday's "It's Saturday" was from a very successful businessman.  He asked if he could put Arlene and I on his prayer list!  This guy is a good, real guy with a good heart (i.e. my kind of person).  But still I was sorta kinda surprised that he would express himself soooo openly!  Now that's a big man (i.e. my opinion)!  I heard a golf announcer say last weekend after Furyk missed a 4 footer--Doesn't matter how good your stroke is if you are aiming it in the wrong direction.  My friend has a great stroke and is aiming it in the right direction (i.e. my opinion)!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Better to slip with foot than with the tongue.

when eventuality becomes realty

Disclaimer--Some of you might find this "It's Saturday"tooooo "stodgy" and other might find it tooooo "real life" so you might want to read it with caution. Row row row your boat. Gently down the stream.  Merrily merrily merrily life is but a dream!

Life modifiers!  We hear about all the mass tragedies all over the world almost every day.  They are terrible, they really are.  All of those mass tragedies produce individual tragedies as well.  There are huge massive numbers of tragedies that happen ever day that very few folks know about (i.e. we are more aware of the ones that affect us personally).  One of those individual tragedies might be in your family or affect your life.  Could be folks and others don't even know about it.

Relationships!  If you want to have meaningful relationships, it appears that we have to be real and transparent.  If we aren't, then we are no more than being a showman at the Butler County Fair.  Joesixpack says--If you want information, you have to give information--If you want to be part of folks' lives, you have to let them see you who you really are and what is happening in your life (i.e. the real you).  You have to rub elbows with the folks, smell like them, and spend time with them. There is a fine line here though I think (i.e. risk).  Some folks might think you are a narcissist. Soooo folks, I'm going to take a risk.

Disney World one day but eventuality becomes reality.  This story has a lot of sad asterisks folks.  Life is not all smiles.  I'm not complaining but just telling you about reality.  Arlene has Alzheimer's and is in the mid stage (i.e. many of you guys know that).  Life will never be the same for her or for me.  It's a disease that you don't get better from (i.t. it can't be fixed).  It's an isolation disease.  What more can I say.  It's the shits!  If you have any interest in a good book about it, read Stop and Smell the Garbage by Christine McMahon Sutton (i.e. a 5 star book on amazon). Obstacles exist in every one's life--some worse than others though.  Life isn't fair, the only thing that's fair is the Butler County Fair and it's in June. Every morning and evening I rhapsodize and soliloquize the incredible grace and blessings of God on my life! I thank God for all the good things we have had in our lives (i.e. unbelievable).  I am very appreciative and soooooo thankful.  Our life together has really been great and fun. But it's utopia becoming reality (i.e. speed bump).

There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great and no tonic so powerful as the expectation of something better tomorrow!  God is our hope.  OneSmartMan once said--The other day I just looked up and thanked the Lord that He gave me my life.  However, I told Him, Don't let me get in love with this place, or I won't want to leave it and go to a better place. We are strangers and pilgrims down here, because we are walking by faith, looking to a better place. Don't fall in love with the world. Walk by faith on the pilgrim pathway. 

When eventuality becomes reality.  AnotherSmartMan said--Sometimes experiences don’t live up to their advanced billing, and the resulting frustration can lead to depression or despair. Two people may think it’s a good idea to get married, but the harsh reality doesn’t live up to the expectations. Maybe you’ve planned to go to an exciting vacation spot only to find it far less than you anticipated. Sometimes we fall in love with the idea, but the idea is not the same as the reality. A man from a BOGSAT (i.e.Bunch of Guys Sitting Around Talking) once told me that his boat brought him two moments of happiness—when he bought it and when he sold it. The children of Israel thought it was a good idea to follow God’s leading into the Promised Land. But when they arrived and discovered they had to fight for it, they were ready to elect a new team captain and return to Egypt. The idea sounded great, but the courage to follow through was another matter. How many of us drop out of life, intellectually, morally, spiritually, because it’s rougher than we thought?

I have learned from the actions of our grand kids that it you holler real loud and for an extended amount of time, you get what you want.  Those grand kids know how tooooo manipulate grandpa and grandma. But does that work in the real world?  Maybe and maybe not; depends!  Some things just can't be changed.  That is when we need to change our attitudes about the situation.  Such is life.

School is starting soon or has started for some.  Here is a version of row row row your boat--Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream. Throw your teacher overboard And listen to her scream.



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

erv

MyFriendJean says--To speak kindly does not hurt the tongue.

the subconscious dings

Last week end with our family was just piquant. Soooo many experiences and emotions that it is hard for me to digest them all.  A hoot!  A great time that has turned into great memories.  Ya can't buy this stuff folks!

I had breakfast recently with a friend who told me that he and another friend were talking with another friend who was building a fabulous new house.  He was complaining about the frustration of getting his large, fancy pool constructed in the back yard.  They told him that that was a 1st World problem.  Soooo how many 1st World problems do you have each day?  Maybe that is why we hear some folks talk about simplifying their lives.  Tooooo many 1st World problems.  Could be folks.  Could be!  LuckieEddie says--It's soooo hard to determine the difference between wants and needs!  Ouchy ouchy!  Saturday question--Do your possessions own you or do you own your possessions? Mikie says--Do what is difficult, and life will be easy. Do what is easy, and life will be difficult.

Fictional world overlapping into reality. What is important to one person isn't important to another.  What's emotional to one isn't emotional to others. What's fun for one isn't fun for another.  What's exciting to one isn't exciting to another.  We are all different. My nonsense is not your nonsense.  Why is that do you think?   Onesmartyguy said--ya gotta step back and look at the big picture (i.e. the big picture looks different than a little snap shot).  Anothersmartguy taught me what fart leg training is (i.e. run hard for a ways and then walk...). I wonder if I do that a little in my normal life.  I wonder! AverageJoe says--Ah, shucks! We all like instant gratification! That is what advertising can do BUT maybe we need a wake up call (i.e. it can get a person in instant trouble folks). Mikie says--The advertising machine has bee around a long time and continues to affect your life in ways you probably don't realize it...beware; someone is planting ideas in your head... Such is life.

IA State Fair
3,000+ pound BigBull

BigBoar 1,000+ pounds
IA State Fair

Our grand kids at some point just turn grandpaerv off (i.e. enough is enough of grandpaerv).  I think they just think I'm just full of  a lot of "bull" and am a big "bore".  In fact our kids and their spouses might think the same at times (i.e. but they are mature and kind--they maybe just accommodate me).  I sat next to a super senior friend at the local Amvet Post's first Monday of the month hamburger fry Monday noon in Aplington.  She asked me about our family gettogather.  She said she and her siblings had their reunion over the weekend.  Each of the siblings were to let their children know about it.  She said all 4 of their children came.  She thinks mostly to just honor her request (i.e. honor and show appreciation to their mom).  She felt soooo good about that (i.e. a subconscious ding).  Such is life.

Mesmerized!  It appears to me that you can lecture them , holler at them, and even stoop your feet in trying to get their attention but with little success.  But give them an ipad with games, cartoons and videos on it and they can remember ever word, picture and action.  Huh, interesting.  I re-gifted some of our son's matchbox cars of when he was a young kid to Henry and Jimmer.  Chet seemed to remember each car like it was yesterday.  Huh, interesting.  He told us this story--He had quite a collection of match boxcars.  One day he had a buddy over and they played demolition derby with them.  After smashing them into each other for a while, he took a hammer and smashed some of them to make them look like real smashed demo cars.  When I got home, he said I was irate!  I lectured to him--why do we buy you nice things if you don't take care of them; if you want nice things, you need to take care of them.  Folks that was probably 26 years ago and he remembered that.  I didn't!!!!  What fun!

Is marketing educating folks or is it brainwashing them?  Our daughter-in-law is in marketing (i.e. she is good).  We have talked about this over the long weekend.  Seriously, I need to brain wash myself sometimes.  MissPerfect says--erv, you are really good when you can brain wash yourself...Very good! I really think I can brain wash myself into thinking something or doing something (i.e. like motivating myself).  I do this by reading certain stuff, listen to certain music, being around certain folks, communicate with certain folks, eat certain things, spend my money on certain things, forcing my self to do certain things etc.  Yes, I can. Our daughter-in-law might be sooooo good at marketing that she brainwashes me and I don't even know it.  Could be!  I will never know folks! Such is life.

I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it--It is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. Talk about doers, little Jimmer always wanted to help grandpaerv make coffee (i.e. a real doer).  We went out for breakfast one morning and one of our grand girls had a nice shorts and top outfit on the the other had a nice dress on.  The one in the shorts had a melt down (i.e. temper tantrum) 'cause she didn't think she looked as nice and everyone was going to laugh at her (i.e. a drama queen blowup).  Some advertising must have imformed her of that!  Da!  OneSmatYoungGal said that advertising is aspirational (i.e. good advertising will do that folks--very effective).  If all young children could be confident in themselves and not let others persuade them, they would be a lot better off.  Those little kids grow up and many times are the same as adults.  CadillacJack says--It's not how much stuff you have that makes you happy, it's an eternal feeling; at some point stuff can't make you happy.  Mikie says--You can improve your financial situation by improving your self-esteem.  By accepting and embracing who you truly are, you will stop buying stuff to make you feel better about yourself.  Work on the inside, and the outside will take care of itself.  

It's a matter how you look at things folks. A onesmartgal does have a lot of confidence in herself (i.e. great feature).  She is even blond! Emerson says--I read the other day some verses written by an eminent painter which were original and not conventional. The soul always hears an admonition in such lines, let the subject be what it may. The sentiment they instill is of more value than any thought they may contain. To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, — that is genius. Emerson reveals the key point of the entire essay. Your own original thoughts – even if they’re strange and run counter to what everyone else is thinking – is the most amazing thing about you. Everyone can copy others. Everyone can just reiterate what everyone else is doing or thinking. The greatest thing we can do as people is to walk our own path of thought and action. Don’t keep up with the Joneses; instead, follow your own standard. Mikie says--Life tends to play out around us in large part based on what is within us...what you do and how you act greatly affects how other respond to you...you will very likely attract people who are similar to you in thought and behavior...if you want the right kind of people to enter your life, be the right kind of person. Ralph Waldo Emerson also said--To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves. ~ Charles Spurgeon.  I think that is soooooo true Mr. Spurgeon.  I try to see each member of our family as a different individual (i.e. they are).  Try to accept them as they are and not as I think they should be.  But it's hard sometimes.  I do know though that MabelTheDog accepts me as I am.  We're buds!

clown

clown

They missed the subconscious dings!  My opinion is that they are heading toward "nowheresville" folks and almost there!  I'm talking abut two folks in my world that I don't care much about (i.e. both are very egocentric in my opinion).  They have been and are pretenders and artificial and fakers and phonies.  No "Buts about it" in my mind that they are just "Butt Heads").  I am to a point in my life that they don't bother me much any more (i.e. maybe I'm maturing--strong on the maybe).  But I just don't care to be around them (i.e. it appears others treat them the same). I'm not for them nor against them (i.e. sorta kinda the same feeling with Tiger Woods).  But I think their foolish paradise one day has become their reality today.  They have pretended for many years and now must suffer reality (i.e. you reap what you sow or something like that).  I will always be sceptical about these folks but they don't bother me (i.e. I don't get excited anymore).  Actually they sorta kinda make me laugh.  They are sorta kinda clowns to me!  These two clowns in the pictures can sorta kinda make me laugh too.  They warm my heart!  Such is life.

Ding ding ding!  It's the subconscious wake up call you requested.  ItchieBitchie says--“Do good . . . be rich in good works . . . be generous and ready to share”. John Wesley once said, “Work as hard as you can; make as much as you can; and give as much as you can.” That helps us keep things in the proper perspective in our lives. Now let's get going and do it!

Grandpa  has his tricks a.k.a. subconscious dings!  I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream!  It works folks.  Oh  ya.  Everyone has their weak spot and every kid likes ice cream.  I'm their friend again.  Bingo! I'm on a hot streak again!  Then if I need more points, we just take them to the park.  Bingo!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Happiness in the world begins in the home with you.

PS  Guess what!  Yesterday morning when I was running a car pulls beside me.  Guess who!  One of the "Butt Heads" I talked about.  He was very nice to me, very humble, quite real, and seemed like he got dinged or something (i.e. he is now in his upper 70s, maybe that affects a guy, maybe--subconscious dings).  We had a nice talk.  Huh, interesting.  Guess what! I'm going to give him another chance.  Happenstance, na, I don't think sooooo folks.  Such is life.