pride and ride

Blondie says--When we were on our way home from Holland, Mich. we passed a bus that said - Erv's Bus Service." I yelled at Buggsy to look. Their motto on the bottom of the bus was "We take pride in your ride.". I said that you could use that as one of your themes!!!!!!  I just thought that it was great, and they spelled your name right. Pride and ride could be fun words for you to work with. Anyway, I thought of you. I'm one of the people that do read your weekly missile.

I played with MyFriendGeno in his member guest golf tournament last weekend at Rolling Hills Golf Club just west of Westbrook, MN. It has been 33 years ago when we started this fun activity (i.e. I missed one year in 33 years--Jackie Lindaman's wedding).  A lot of fun (i.e. much pride in our ride).  The picture is with MyFriendGeno and Jr and Curt and their buddy Ahhshit!  Us four had many many good times through the years.  We were rolling dice for breakfast.  I said--I don't throw dice for breakfast on a Sunday morning with a couple of Baptist very often.  I asked Curt if he was still a Baptist--no, I went from Baptist to heathen!  After we played Saturday, Jr had to go home to get in the hot tub with Joyce and Brandy.  Jr isn't kinky, Joyce is his wife and brandy is just that, brandy!  Ahhshit use to be a tree just west of the 9th green.  One year we were leading the tournament and I hit that tree on the second 9 and went out of bounds--lost the tournament.  We did win the tournament 5 times but this year we were no longer in the championship flight (i.e. I think that means we are getting older). Such is life.

Do you take pride in your ride?  Do you take pride in improving the ride of others?  ItchieBitchie says--I have learned that my ride on this earth is much more fun and rewarding when I help others (i.e. think of others more instead of always thinking of my self).  You don't want to be around DuaneTheWorm toooo much.  CadillacJack just got a huge family inheritance.  He now has no interest in helping others (i.e. he now just thinks of himself).  Huh, interesting.  Why would a person change do you think?  And the universal answer is-------MONEY!  WiseOldJim says--Pride can cause us to lose a lot of things, like perspective and faith and compassion!  Ouchy ouchy!

Measuring up! 
There are times in my ride that I have a lot of pride (i.e. toooo prideful, full of pride--overthetop pride a.k.a. ugly pride). I really get humbled; have many times, many many times. All I can say folks is--God, please be merciful to me. Joesixpack say--One thing the worshiping of God costs us is our self-centeredness! You just can't be a be a phony like DuaneTheWorm and worship God. You just can't.

Judging folks' pride in their ride!  How does SusieQ treat a person she doesn't know? Observe how a person treats someone she barely knows. This is what I call a "taxi driver or server test." Does the person have the openness and yes, kindness, to have a real conversation with a waiter at a restaurant or the driver of a taxi? Does she ignore them or treat them rudely?  My Daddy, Chester, use to tell me--erv, the good folks are kind to less fortunate folks, older folks, and little kids (i.e. folks who can't repay their kindness--do it for just being nice and not for attention or to look important).  I think that is called your character--the pride in your ride! 

I had an interesting experience the other day.  I was visiting with a fellow church person.  She asked me about a certain person.  I told her that it has been very hard for me to get to know him.  She said, the same for me.  Sooooo others must think the same.  We aren't no super humans (i.e. at least I'm not).  Then in the afternoon, I was playing golf with my buddies and said something about another golf buddy that I though he was pretty hard on another golf buddy recently (i.e. gave him a hard time to a point that it wasn't fun for me).  Another golf buddy said about the critical guy--he's sorta kinda that way.  I thought that but he thinks the same.  Sooooo folks, maybe we seeee folks somewhat the same,  Maybe!  Just maybe.  Soooo maybe my Daddy, Chester, was right again when he said--If you are good, you don't need to tell anyone; they all know.  If  you are bad, well, put it this way, maybe everyone knows that toooooo.  You think soooooo?  Pride and the ride!!!

JoeBlow's good advice--Don't get SlipperSlimySlick in your grill.  He's nasty.  And he's hard to get ride of tooooo!  Soooo be careful folks.  SlippperSlimySlick has an awful lot (i.e. toooooo much) pride in his ride. 

Parents have pride in the ride of their children no matter what age their children are.  FriendSeniorJudy said to me--We senior parents think our children are the most important; our children don't thing we are the most important!  They have their own lives and own children!  And folks, that is hard for the children to understand and also hard for the senior adults to understand.  But both can be understood if we think about it a little. "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." ~Mark Twain~  MyFriendBill told us at breakfast recently when asked how many miles did he think he drove to see their grand kids in their activities last year--He said last year they figured they drove 8,000 miles   Wow!  That's a lot of pride in the ride.  Oh ya!

I like to have a pecan waffle at the Waffle Shop before or after riding bike on the Cedar Valley trials. I usually read the Des Moines paper and do sudoku while eating it. This place just fits me well. There is a waiter/cook/everything guy there who works 2 days a weeks plus his a full time job. His name is Ryan. I have observed him many times as to how he handles people. He does a real nice job. Sooooo I asked him the other day where he got his people skills--Mainly from my parents. They had very good manners. I have very good parents. Sooooo Ryan have you told them that?   Kinda maybe. Ryan, you need to send them a note telling them that. You just need toooo. I wonder if he did.  I saw Ryan and asked him if he contacted his parents--he did--what was their response--like ok, they didn't seem to get toooo excited--they were excited Ryan, they just didn't show it let me tell ya. 

A few moments after the daughter announced her engagement, her Father asked, "Does this fellow have any money?"  The daughter shook her head sadly.  "Oh Daddy! You men are all alike."  Sighing deeply, she replied, "That's exactly what he asked me about you."

I talked to SandTrapSally at the golf tournament (i.e. not her real name put was the name on the beverage cart).  She was a cute blond working the beverage cart (i.e. wanting big tips).  Geno told me that she scored over a 1,000 points in her high school basketball career.  Soooo are you going to play college ball--no, I'm going to concentrate on the academics. 

I was told this story about an Aplington-Parkersburg grad.  He was a football player and wants to play in college.  His father asked him--In the last 10 years how many football players of A-P that went on to play at college level played all four years?  He couldn't think of any (i.e. I'm sure there are some).  Dad was more concerned about his academic side.  One smart dad. 

Curt told me that his son is going to the U of M and to study to be a doctor.  He told me he has done well academically and has a heart for people.  He works in a nursing home with the elderly and really enjoys it.  I think he was very proud of his son.  Folks, there is more to life that athletics.  Much more.   BUT athletics seems to get most of the glory (i.e. a lot of peer group pressure on the kids and on the parents).  Maybe strong on the "seems tooooooo"!  We seem to forget about all the injuries (e.g. bad knees and etc).  Parents have a lot of pride in their ride!

It caused him to studder step!  Pride in his ride! I did a volunteer project with a couple of guys the other morning. I asked SteveWtihTheBrokenFoot (i.e. broke it hoeing the garden) when we got done with our project, what he was going to do the rest of the day? He said--I usually do two projects a day; and one is taking a nap!   Such is life.  MissPerfect says--And that's not hard to believe!  What's that MissPerfect?  That AverageJoe isn't very tough.  You can't get very tough when your main physical activity is sitting on the couch eating chips.  There is an outside chance that he might change (i.e. heavy on the outside chance).  It's getting to the time where the "count is full" and something is going to happen (i.e. either go forward and get on base or strike out--you can't stay the same anymore).  Tick tock tick tock--time is almost up folks. 

A gal at church told me this story:  Her nephew is quite tall.  Many folks say to him--Man, you are tall; how tall are you anyway (i.e. maybe a conversation starter)?  He always wonders why folks ask him that.  They don't say to a person who is quite heavy; Man, you are heavy; how much do you weigh anyway?  Maybe different pride in the ride!  You think soooooo?

"People don't follow your position or your technique. They follow you. If you're not the genuine article, can you really expect others to want to follow?" - Kouzes and Posner in "The Leadership Challenge"  Seeeeee, soooooo be the real deal; don't be a DuaneTheWorm who is a phony.  CrazyMarvin says--Do what all goooooood folks do--make others looooook better than they really are (i.e. now folks, that is not being self-centered).  Such is life.

NerveWrackin'!  Joesixpack says--It can be nervewrackin' to do the right thing instead of doing what is most popular.  It's a lot easier to smile and shake your head vertically (i.e. a lot better for business toooooo or is it in the long run).  I have said many times--Just shake your head upanddown and say, yes sweetheart and life is much better--Remember--A happy wife is a happy life.  ~  One morning on my everyotherday2.5milerun, I met another Aplingtonite walking.  He can't hear very well.  I said something to him which he didn't hear sooooo he just smiled and shock his head vertically.  That's always a safe and effective move   Seeeee!  Pride in your ride.

GeorgeTheCrook says--If we can control our pride, we will have a lot of sunny days here on this earth.  Yabut, dysfunctional and functional is changing constantly GeorgeTheCrook.  What use to be dysfunctional seems to be functional and what use to functual seems to be almost dysfunctional.  Almost!  It's goofy folks.  Goofy! The pride in the ride has and is changing (e.g. use to be a good thing to have no debt--nowadays it doesn't seem that way--I still like no debt--must be from the old school--huh, interesting).  My Daddy, Chester, taught me--Interest is something you receive, not pay out.  He taught me only to borrow money on things that appreciate, never on anything that depreciates(e.g. cars, boats etc).    TypicalAmericanFred says--erv, you are out of it (i.e. wacko); it's American to have a huge massive debt!  Ya gotta have a lot of stuff and if it takes debt to get all that stuff; we will find some credit some where; we gotta have more stuff!  Ya gotta have a lot of stuff; it's American!  DGA said on facebook--We don't need more to be thankful for, we just need to be more thankful.

DuaneTheWorm has a lot of pride in his ride.  WildWillie even questions what goesoninthe weasel's mind.  When we think our thoughts are the truth but don't know that they aren't, well, that could be a problem (i.e. False Evidence Appearing Real).  And you know what, that is hard to change.  They have thought that way for a long time.  Maybe it's impossible to change.  Ok, maybe round the corners a little--big on the word maybe.  Some folks in our neighborhood have this banner by their drive (i.e. must be Harley owners I suspect).  Harley owners have a lot of pride in their ride.  Hi ho Silver!...Away!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Friends are like snow flakes--none of them are the same.
 

least resistance

Violets come into my lawn (i.e. pesty and persistent).  They appear where the lawn is thin (i.e. never where the lawn is thick).  They take the path of least resistance.  Huh, interesting! 

AverageJoe says--Get around good folks and life will be a lot easier.  It keeps the crap from creeping into your life.  Soooo true AverageJoe.  Crap comes in when there is no resistance.  Good folks are the resistance.  What goes in will come out.  Or, what you think is what you'll be.  GeorgeTheCrook says--The way you see your life shapes your life. Such is life.

When our family was home recently, James gave us a hard time that there wasn't as many pictures of Heather and his children as of Chet and Jess' children on the refrigerator.  Well James, it's 'cause they send us prints sooooo alllllll we have to do it put them on the refrigerator (i.e. least resistance).  BUT James, just relax, I have purchased some prints on line from Wal-Mat (i.e. a place of least resistance).  I ordered 5 prints (i.e. 3 of your kids and 2 of Chet and Jess' kids).  Total cost was 48 cents and Wal-Mart sent them to our house free.  How can they do that anyway (i.e. least resistance).  BUT everybody is happy!!!!  Such is life.

I was telling my golf buddies on #5 tee box the other day that I was riding bike the day before when I got a gnat in my ear.  When I went to bed that night, that sucker was still alive in my ear.  It was crawling around soooooo I put that ear on the pillow.  Either it came out or died as I didn't feel it anymore.  NeverMissFrank said--You should of just gone into the other ear got that sucker (i.e. the path of least resistance)!  ~  My golf buddy who I rode that that day told me he had 40 to 50 golf shirts!  What!!! Really!!!  When you get home count them and let me know.  He emailed me--I counted 57 in my closet but probably have some in storage. ~  DaveSays--Hit it to the right, it makes the hole much shorter (i.e. path of least resistance). We heard this on several holes.  Then another golf buddy said--Ya don't want to be right all the time or you will get audited!!!

My Daddy, Chester, use to tell me--Lazy folks are innovative.  They create stuff to make their life easier and faster with less effort.  It's a path of least resistance.  I was watching a robin pull a night crawler out of the ground the other day.  The night crawler was resisting being pulled out.  The bird instinctively knew just how to do it.  It would pull for a time and then wait and then pull again and then wait.  If the bird would have pulled hard the night crawler would have come apart.  Ya gotta apply just the right amount of pressure.  How did that bird learn that anyway?  Or was that bird just a regular Christopher Columbus? 

Justtellin'thetruth!  An elderly man was stopped by the police around 2 a.m. and was asked where he was going at that time of night.  The man replied, "I'm on my way to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as smoking and staying out late."  The officer then asked, "Really? Who's giving that lecture at this time of night?"  The man replied, "That would be my wife."

I sometimes take the path of least resistance and it causes me problems.  I enjoy doing sudoku.  I get lazy and don't always double check my enters (i.e. get cocky especially when I have done well for a while).  I get all puffed up (i.e. big head).  And then I have problems (i.e. get humbled).  Either I need to learn to not make mistakes or put the extra work into it.  Saturday question--Do you ever take the path of least resistance and have problems later?

Different ideas as to what it takes to make the cut!  There are atheists and agnostics, and worshipers.  There are folks who believe to have salvation you just need to baptised as a baby, some believe you need to have an intercessor pray for you for forgiveness and then pay a fee, some believe you are saved by your good works, some believe you are saved by following a bunch of rules, some believe you are saved as Jesus Christ being the Saviour and whoever believes in Him will be saved (i.e. free and simple), some believe that everyone is saved, some believe that they are chosen folks and part of some elite holy huddle and everyone else is doomed, some believe in  double predestination (i.e. you are predestined to go to heaven or hell and you have nothing to say about it), etc.  WOW!  There are a lot of choices.  Many just take the path of least resistance (i.e. it's cheaper and less time consuming)!  LuckieEddie says--I really don't care about salvation and religion and that kind of stuff; I don't have a dog in the fight (i.e. I really don't care; I'm lucky and I will just take my changes).  LuckieEddie, are you capable of grading your own paper?  Saturday question--What do you think it takes to be "good to go" a.k.a. "made in the shade"?

Laugh! When you don’t know whether to laugh or cry, laugh. Does your church (i.e. the people) laugh a lot? It appears to me folks like to go to a church that is happy and laughs a lot (i.e. church of least resistance).  SusieQ says--That’s the church where I’m going to go (i.e. where folks laugh a lot)!  JoeBow says--Laughter—maybe not the best medicine, but a good one! Saturday question--Is the church you attend fun to go to? Or is it boring and with no excitement or happiness? I think (i.e. my opinion), church should be an uplifting experience and not a drudgery. If it's a drudgery, folks just won't gooooo. I don't blame them. It's not that complicated folks. Joesixpack says--No Matter Who You Are, No Matter What You Do, You Absolutely, Positively Do Have The Power To Change. SusieQ, I don't know for sure if you are a Bozo or not BUT if your are, here is something to think about-----If your actions do not speak louder than your words, the less you say the better! Ouchy ouchy!

Aren't we something!  We think we are in charge and think we can fix most almost anything.  Then along comes something that we aren't in charge of or we can't fix (i.e. our hands are off the wheel), then we say--God fix it willya!  And RIGHTNOW!  ItchieBitchie says--Sometimes I lie awake at night, and ask, God "Where have I gone wrong"!  Then a voice says to me--This is going to take more than one night.  We take the path of least resistance.  To God be the glory great things He has done. Give Him the glory, great things He has done. Thanksamillion God. I lift you up and glorify you. I'm sorry when I blow it but you are my Savior. You understand me and love me. As ClassmateLowellOfClassOf63 told me--By His grace things happen. That about says it all.  

I was looking for an item at a speciality store the other day. They didn't have it. I saw a tee shirt (i.e. I like tee shirts) and it had a sale price sticker on it of 97 cents. Sooooo I took it up to the check out and asked the gal if that 97 cents was right--sure is--you can't beat that--she said, you can't beat that with a stick. The path of least resistance is the price. If it was $5, I would not have bought it. But at 97 cents I bought it. Such is life.

Limp along!  Joesixpack said--Ya gotta get a grip on it!  Get a grip on it like a grip you can get with a vise-grip.  I found this sucker on the road while biking (i.e. my normal route to Kesley corner and back 11.2 miles).  I gave it to my churchbuddy as he is very mechanical and probably could use another.  Besides I already have a couple.  But those suckers can really get a grip on things.  Oh ya!  A friend told me that her husband shuffles his feet but doesn't have tooooo but just does.  How come I asked--'Casue I guess he wants tooooo.  Many of our churches do just that--limp along.  How come--'Cause I guess they want to (i.e. least resistance).  Get a grip on it folks!  It's time to move forward. 

He will limp along. He has no choice.  Ouchy ouchy!  I asked an acquittance at breakfast recently if he would like to join us playing pickleball.  He said--I use to play a lot and was quite good at it.  BUT I can't play with you guys--yes you can--no I can't--why not--can't see very well anymore.  I went for several years with my sight getting worse and finally I went in to see what was going on.  I have glaucoma.  And nothing can be done for me.  If I would have gone in earlier, all I would have had to do was put drops in my eyes.  Soooo...the moral of the story is...!

WildWilly says--Some folks just seem to limp through life.  They don't seem to be able to make any worthwhile relationships (i.e. don't seem to connect with others).  They are always trying to impress folks (i.e. DuaneTheWorm).  Seem to always take the path of least resistance.  Does this person feel authentic or obsequious? There is nothing flattering about false praise, or people trying too hard to impress. Really good people don't feel the need to "suck up." Those who can just be themselves are more pleasant to be around (i.e. real folks with good hearts).  CadillacJack says--Life without God is like an non-sharpened pencil. It has no point.

My classmate "The Zenker" sent me this pic at our classof63reunion.  It's CoachBlack (i.e. my high school bb coach, me and a couple of my classmates.  Good memories.
 
Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--True wisdom lies in gathering the precious things out of each day as it goes by.

PS Here is a response I got from last week--erv, at our Mesa condo I have a very similar sign in the kitchen..."Enjoy yourself...it's later than you think"...and at our age erv, I think I'll enjoy myself fast! 

eye witness

Disclaimer--All blog characters are not human.  They are just imaginary folks.  Sooooo don't make any of them you.  Okay?  They are just fun names. 

Joesixpack said to me--erv, I had a good feeling about you but I then realized it was just gas!  Ouchy ouchy!  Joesixpack, you have lot bigger fish to fry than me!  I'm just a little perch in your world.  And that is ok!  Such is life.

I swear to tell the truth the whole truth soooo help me God (i.e. he said that with his hand on a Bible).  ItchieBitchie says--I was an eye witness and I saw the whole thing.  Are you sure you saw everything and remember everything ItchieBitchie--Yes I am.  I've heard that before only to find out that the eye witness was wrong!  In some cases, dead wrong!  Experiments have been done where a person will go into a meeting and hand the presenter a message and then leave.  The folks in attendance are given a quiz as to what they saw.  Everyone sees something different (i.e. like some saw a female and others a male).  Some saw a black person and others a while person.  Da!  That is why DNA and surveillance cameras are soooooo much more accurate than a eye witness.  Yes, ItchieBitchie did tell the truth, the whole truth sooooo help me God.  BUT it was the truth as he processed the information in his brain (i.e. and that isn't always the actual truth).  Such is life.

I am an eye witness to this guy and he's not just a "run of the mill" person.  He is a real guy with a good heart (i.e. my kind of person).  He's a friend and a golf buddy.  He sent me this email--

Erv Just read this morning 1Tim 6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. Sometimes I feel the older I get the more frustrated I become, instead of being more contented and thankful. What's up with that?  ~  Relationships are not formed by talking about how much it rained or what the score of the game was or what is the price of corn or gossip.  Oh no!  A relationship is formed by being venerable (i.e. taking a risk in maybe getting hurt by sharing your heart--sometimes it feels like taking a bullet to the heart).  Being authentic.  Being real.  NOT being a DuaneTheWorm and always being phonyandshowyandself-centered (i.e. doing everything for one purpose--glorifying himself).     

Oblivious!  A golf buddy was telling me about his difficult family situation.  I asked him how he deals with that?  He said--I become oblivious to it.  Oblivious!  A couple of golf buddies in AZ told me about their difficult family situations.  I said to them, wow!  How do you  handle them--That's why I'm in AZ!  When I'm around it tooooo much, fur flies!  Out of site out of mind.  They become unconscious to the situations (i.e. temporally anyway).  Such is life.

My friend Bear WasAnEyeWitness--This week, we're up at our daughter's in Seattle. They just had daughter # 4. That's "4 under 4"! It's crazy up there. I wear ear plugs and have to take some "time-outs"! Gee whiz that's a lot of kids in four years.  Gee whiz folks!  That will go into my gee whiz file.  Gee whiz folks I can hardly believe that...!.  CrazyWilma said--I saw it with my own eyes.  Yabut those 12 beers might have affected your sight CrazyWilma.  I don't think there were really 4 elephants on the road which you had to swerve to miss which caused you to hit the tree.  CrazyWilma said--Okay maybe there were only 3!  Or maybe 6, they were rather fuzzy!  I know I missed them and then that tree just jumped into my way!  What could I do.  Gee whiz those suckers were big let me tell ya!

BridgeLadySally (i.e. she's nasty--her hooks have barbs on them) said after telling some juice gossip before playing her card--I saw it with my own eyes soooo I know it's right!  Do we see things like we want to see them sometimes do you think?  Do you think sometimes we see things like the way we have been programed in our past?  Do you think that our eyes sometimes embellish certain things?  Surely not BirdgeLadySally!  She saw it with her own eyes.  MissPerfect says--Most of BirdgeLadySally's chatter is just "white noise" to me!  Ouchy ouchy!

AverageJoe says to GerogeTheCrook--I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you. I have been an eye witness to that statement.  You can't lie to folks and then say -- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it and I won't do it again.  Folks will just blow you off.  The trust has been broken and never will be the same.  Never!  If it happens the second time, it just validates the first message.  Ouchy ouchy!  Folks know who you are, you have shown that; you can't take it back.  You can try to restore the damage but the damage has been done (i.e. not an easy fix).  Aonesmartman sent me this--What Dr. Brown learned about authenticity through her research turned out to surprise even her. "I thought going into it that there were authentic people and inauthentic people. I did not find any evidence of that at all," she tells Oprah in the video. "What I found is authenticity is a practice and you choose it every day -- sometimes every hour of every day."  AverageJoe says--once  you loose your authenticity, it's hard to get it back.  Oh ya!

I was an eye witness.  Our little neighbor friends and their friends came over the other night to sell Arlene and I a little cups of GatorAid to raise money to buy the camper that is for sale outside of town.  They wanted 25 cents a cup.  The camper is a motor home probably worth about $80,000.  The kids said--We are raising the money to buy it and our parents said they would pay for the insurance.  Isn't this fun!  I love kids. 

I was an eye witness to this discussion.  After golf the other day, a Catholic converted to Baptist, a Open Bible guy, and a retired Christian Reformed pastor and I were talking about reading the Bible. They tried to tell me that Catholics don't really read the Bible, just the Priests do (i.e. well, years ago it was in Latin--years ago most folks were illiterate--then came education and Luther and Calvin with the reformation and the printing press). I said, I can hardly believe that.  ~  Soooo I emailed my AZ golf buddies who are Catholic.  Here is one of the responses I got--CONFUSED ERV I DON,T READ READ THE BIBLE I JUST BELIEVE AND THAT IS THAT . I JUST GOLF AND HOPE I GET A GOOD SCORE. WITH GODS BLESSINGS . AND NO FOOT WEDGES  ~ 2 other of my golf buddies sent about the same message--Catholics are much like others in other Christian denominations; some read the Bible and some don't; some read it more than others.  Sounds pretty accurate to me (i.e. makes sense to me).  WildWilie says--Yabut fear and guilt are still big motivators in many religions of the world (i.e. raises a lot of money folks).  It's sometimes all about the money! 

It's hard to always evaluate stuff!  Some folks have visionary ability and some don't.  AverageJoe says--You either have it or you don't. Just look around and you can see that in folks (i.e. Vision - The ability to see what others do not see).  Some innate qualities you either have or you don't have (i.e. they can't be learned).  Some folks are creative and innovative and some aren't.  Some folks can connect with others and some can't.  Some can see a good investment and some can't.  Some are funny and some aren't (i.e. even though they think they are). Some can see trouble and some can't.  Some can see the direction that needs to be taken and some can't.  A business woman told me this example--She has two gals who work for here.  One is very good at displaying and the other is not.  She had the one who is good work with the one who isn't.  There was no improvement (i.e. she was still terrible).  Sooooo we need to decide if we have vision or not.  If we don't, we need to hire or get around someone who does have that quality (i.e. my opinion). 

I was an eye witness to what he said and did.  GeorgeTheThudwacker, not GeorgeTheCrook told me that he saw something on a billboard and acted on it.  It ended up being a good deal for his family.  Sooooo, many folks saw the billboard and  only a few acted on the opportunity.  It was a limited opportunity.  Why did some act fast and other didn't react at all?  Probably 'cause some don't take advantage of opportunities (i.e. don't have the vision of such things), some are not in a position to act, some times things just fall in a person's lap, and maybe some are not risk takers.  And there might be other reasons that we have no idea why.  BUT it was a good deal for him and his family.  MissPerfect says--Oh, when to act and when not to act, that is a hard decision sometimes.  Sometimes the window of opportunity is open just for a short period of time, and bingo, it's closed about as fast as it opens (e.g. mortgage interest rates or I should have bought farm ground). 

MissPerfect says--Judging on extrinsic and skill-based factors is a relatively objective and straightforward exercise. Gauging softer traits such as will or attitude is much, much harder, and takes one-on-one contact, attentive listening, and careful observations..You are right BrainSmartMissPerfect (i.e. my opinion).  But some folks have the vision to see that in folks and some don't and sometimes we get fooled.  Yes we do.  Once the honeymoon is over, the real person is revealed.  Such is life.

The constant internal debate!  SusieQ says--I was an eye witness to this--An overweight business associate of mine decided it was time to shed some excess pounds  He took his new diet seriously, even changing his driving route to avoid his favorite bakery.  One morning, however, he arrived at work carrying a gigantic coffeecake.  We all scolded him but his smile remained cherubic.  "This is a very special coffeecake," he explained.  "I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and there in the window were a host of goodies.  I felt this was no accident, so I prayed, "Lord if you want me to have one of those delicious coffeecakes, let me have a parking place directly in front of the bakery."  "Sure enough," he continued, "the eighth time around the block. there it was!"  LittlePipsqueakKerri asks--What's the difference between "eating like a horse" or pigin' out? 

It's time for me to skedaddle folks.  I golfed with a group of golf buddies last Saturday.  Six of them for 10 years averaged 300  9-hole rounds a year (i.e. living in Iowa folks).  Wow!  ANYWAY Maverick (i.e. one of the golf buddies) calls me Malibu.  He reminded me of Harm at the Kesley grain elevator maybe 35 years ago.  Hank I feed some  hogs together for a couple of years.  Harm couldn't say my name soooo Harm called me Malibu.  Also a oldgolfbuddyJon (i.e. I miss him--he was sooooo fun to be around) of years ago use to call me Malibu tooooo.  Good memories.  Yabut how much golf is enough anyway a.k.a. the constant internal debate!  What is over the top?  What's over the top with anything?  Moderation my friends, moderation!

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

erv a.k.a. Malibu

MyFreindJeans says--Boys will be boys, and so will a lot of middle-aged men.

PS  I got this response from last week's "It's Saturday"--I just read a really good line in the new book by Khaled Hosseini, And the Mountain Echoed: "Time is like charm; you don't have as much as you think you do. " Good and true, huh?

complicatedcomplicatedcomplicated

LuckieEddie says--erv, what you write isn't very complicated (i.e. just hard to understand).  I would hope "It's Saturday" is like "going to a friend's house" (i.e. it feels that good and relaxing)!  Joesixpack says--Yabut, some times I don't hear what you are saying very well erv.  Joesixpack, that is true with all of us.  Here is an idea to improve you hearing.  Joesixpack--You do have a BIG belly but not soooooo big as in the guy in the picture (i.e. or is it a gal in the picture--gals have big bellies toooo you know)! 

ItchieBithie (i.e. life just seeeems to smile @ him) says--The modern relationship status indicator has a new term.  It's complicated.  No longer is it just married or single.  Now it's "in a relationship" or "it's complicated."  Married - it's complicated  Single - it's complicated  Divorced - it's complicated  In a relationship - it's complicated.  Sooooo since when has human relationships not been complicated?

It's not that complicated, really!  Rick Warren says--A pretentious, showy life (i.e. DuaneTheWorm style) is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life.  I read in another book--"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others".

Do you think Google has made life easier or more complicated?  How about cell phones?  How about cars?  How about round up?  LuckieEddie says--I don't know if I have more time to sit on the couch and eat chips now or before.  BUT I make sure I take the time to do that; it's one of my most ever favorite things of life!  It's not complicated let me tell ya!  And it gets results! 

MissPerfect says--I like it when the questions are complicated but the answers are simple.  That is a lot better than when the questions are simple and the answers are complicated!  Oh ya!  Sooo is this complicated or not?--One of the greatest things to know, and often the least known knowledge, ...is when you have enough.

Dufus!  Life seems complicated at times.  Oh yes.  Bubba Watson lost the Travelers Golf
Championship and sorta kinda blamed it on his caddy (i.e. you hit the shot bud------Bubba, you exaggerated the situation greatly).  He hit his tee shot in the water on 16.  Watson, meantime, was not asked about the incident during his open media session, but apparently snapped at a PGA Tour Reporter, "Don't try to make me look bad!"  No, he apparently did a fine job of that all by himself.  I tell Chet, it's a lot more fun to win than to lose!  I know a dufus.  I think this person will always be a dufus.  WildWillie says--You can't take the dufus out of a dufus!  I don't think Bubba is a dufus.  I think he was just mad at himself.  The dufus I know is a dufus 'cause he's a dufus.  That's just the way it is.  Saturday question--Do folks learn to be a dufus or is that just instinctive?

 

 

 

Decisions!  Life has an erosion effect on us.  What I mean is--Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon?  It was formed by erosion.  I think our lives are a form of erosion.  Events of life just keep grinding away at us making us who we are.  It's like being sand blasted for many years.  It's like getting stuck by a pin every day a.k.a. a constant reminder.  We have many choices in life.  Many.  We get to make many decisions and decisions have consequences folks.  Oh ya!  JoeBow says--While life offers many choices, eternity offers only two:  heaven or hell!  Ouchy ouchy!

DT said--Dad's, don't drop the ball with your daughters....the repercussions will be felt their entire lives.  Now that is a big responsibility guys (i.e. their entire lives).  Soooo you have to make that decision when your daughters are young and when you are young (i.e. not when they are old and you are old).  Sooooo step up to the plat now.  NOW!  Got it?  It's not that complicated guys.  My GolfBuddyFrank said to me--I got a lot smarter now that I'm older, at least on some things!!!!

Programed by our past!  I attended my 50th high school class reunion of good ol' Danube, MN High School.  26 of my 44 classmates attended.  4 are dead and 2 no one knows were they are.  It reminded me of two events of high school that really impacted my life big time.  One was getting the part of Barnabe Tucker in the Match Maker in our senior class play.  I was quite shy and didn't have an abundance of confidence.  It really changed me.  The second was at basketball practice during junior year.  At that practice I got the feeling that I couldn't miss.  Gave me great confidence.  Life changing.  Both of those events just fell into my lap. 

A friend told me about an event in her life at good old Danube High School that also was a life changer for her.  It toooo just fell into her lap sorta kinda by accident.  She wanted to be a cheerleader soooooo bad. There was no girl athletics back in 1963 soooo cheer leading was the thing.  The gals had to try out and then they would select the best 4.  Well the cheer leading sponsor (i.e. maybe a dufus) had a hard time keeping the the Pats straight.  Sooo when she announced the 4 cheerleaders at the student assembly , she got the wrong Pat.  Soooo instead of telling Pat she couldn't be a cheerleader, they had 5 cheerleaders that year (i.e. two Pat cheerleaders).  BUT that experience for the MistakePat was a life changer (i.e. a life changer 'cause of a mistake--opportunity).  Huh, interesting!

Okay I once again was reminded that I'm not much of an impact on folks (i.e. not near as important as I think I am and not very good with women).  Carol was the first girl I ever kissed.  It was in Roseland Elementary over by the swings.  I asked her about it at the reunion.  She didn't remember it.  ~  I was sooooo nervous but I asked Mary Jane (i.e. a pretty cheerleader) if I could drive her home after the sock hop after a football game.  I was surprised when she said yes.  I talked to her about it toooo at the reunion.  She tooo doesn't remember it!  ~  Shirley and I had birthdays a day apart soooo we were drivers ed partners learning in a Studebaker (i.e. that's right a Studebaker).  We had a good time together, sooooo gooood that we both flunked our drivers test for our license the first time.  I asked her about it at the reunion--She tooooo didn't remember it!  Now that is hard on a guy's confidence and ego let me tell ya!!!!  Such is life.

BUT I did impact classmateBill.  Bill came up to me and showed me his hand.  His hand had a bone that stuck out funny.  He said he got it trying to tackle me in practice one day and broke his hand.  Huh, interesting. 

When Heather and family were  home a few weeks ago for her 20th class reunion, we went to Legends Trail Golf course for breakfast.  There was a table of teachers (i.e. retired and active).  Heather told me a story of one of the retired teachers.  Sooo we went to the table and she told the story.  The retired teacher remembered the story like it was yesterday.  That was probably 23 years ago.  Here is the story: StudentBen was giving StudentJody a hard time constantly.  Mrs. Burman told Jody not to let him bother her as Ben's mother told me that the only way Ben knows how to put on his underwear in the morning was that the brown streak goes in the back and the yellow spot goes in the front.  ~  Mrs. Burman and I taught together 44 years ago (i.e. the few years I taught).  She and I would loosen the fuses in the hall fuse box and make the lights blink in a fellow teacher's classroom.  He would tell us about it time and time again and ask us if we had problems.  We told him he better see the janitor about that.  We did it many times.  What a hoot!

I volunteer at Wheaten Franciscan Health Care by doing the orientation for the volunteers.  Recently I had two going-to-be seniors in high school in the orientation.  Both of these guys had a full beard.  I don't remember any of my classmates having beards back in 1963.  Soooo what's the deal anyway!

ClassmateZenker told me he's a farmer.  He said it has been very good the last 5 years, very good.  SoooooClassmateZenker, do you have self-steer on your equipment (i.e. gps).  Ya I do.  I have 34 foot tillage equipment and set it for 33 and half feet sooooo I overlap 6 inches.  I thought there was something wrong as it seeeeemed sooooo far out there.  I must have been over lapping at least 10% all those years.  But he said, he has a hard time remembering how to run that stuff each spring.  His son says--It's not that complicated (i.e. a piece of cake)!!!

Living in the past!  Saturday morning before I left for my reunion, Arlene and I had breakfast with a young couple who are getting married this summer.  Katie told us that she didn't go back to her 5th year class reunion as many of her classmates still live in their high school past (i.e. very immature).  When you are out of high school 50 years your stardom of high school doesn't have much glory anymore although maybe some still think it does!  MissPerfect says--Just 'cuause you were the star athlete or cheerleader or whatever in high school doesn't make you a successful person.  I talked too probably 10 63classmates who have done very well who were not athletes at all or surely not the stars but who had great success stories.  Many, like me had pretty humble beginnings and surely were not the homecoming kings and queens in high school.  In fact, some of their stories are really something--and they were very humble about their accomplishments (e.g. my neighbor Jerry was raised on a farm across the section--his mother died when he was 13.  There probably wasn't much income in their family.  Jerry never was in athletics that I can remember yet he got his MBA.  He did not live or talk about the past but looked and talked about the future).  Such is life in America, the land of opportunities.

It's not complicated folks.  A couple of the most meaning conversations for me were with a couple of femaleclassmatesofclassof63.  One told me of her husband dieing of cancer and how difficult it was.  We talked about her strong faith in God and how important that was.  The other gal told me of the sudden death of one of their adult sons.  It to was/is soooo hard.  This is soul searching talking folks (i.e. talks with meaning and feeling). 

Something that really amazed me.  I heard no bragging about themselves, spouses, children or grandchildren.  SusieQ says--Maybe none of you had anything to brag about!!!!   Now that could be.  Real life of real folks.  Such is life.

America, oh America!  Our little Erin rode in the Breckenridge 4th of July parade with her Daddy.  She is riding in a Summit County Emergency vehicle.  Heather said she was worried though.  Worried that she wouldn't get any candy by not being on the curb.  Life is complicated for a 6 year old!  Such is life.

America is soooo great!  At times it seems democracy is complicated but America is soooooo great! 

Adeus amigos!  I enjoyed talking with you guys once again.  As Jonathon, a young man from church, said--But, just like peach pie at the church picnic, all great things have to come to an end at some point.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--May you never miss a rainbow because you are looking down.

SooooWhat'sThat!

Whew! That was close!  You ever just have to laugh at yourself?  I do.  I make myself laugh.  The other morning I was going to make a cup of coffee in our Kerig Brewer.  I put the coffee pack in it and water just came out the sides with no coffee.  What!  Soooo I tried another new coffee pack.  Same thing.  Soooo I went on line.  I watched a video of how to clean the entrance and exit to the portion pack holder.  Soooo I went back to our brewer to do that and I had no portion pack holder.  I threw it away with the old coffee pack. Da!  It then worked just fine.  I really just laughed out loud. erverror!

MyBigSister (i.e. only in age and not in size) says--Just when I was getting used to yesterday along came today.  I must admit, I think I'm abnormal.  'Cause I like change (i.e. I get bored easily).  I don't think I'm always well received in our church (i.e. most folks don't like change--a rut is more comfortable).

SortaKindaInteresting.  If you can do I can do it too! When running in the 5K a few weeks ago at Parkersburg, a gal ran with me for maybe a mile.  Then she dropped back as she said--she hasn't had time to train as much.  She is getting married in a couple of weeks and has been busy.  She was a vocational agriculture teacher and had a cow/calf herd.  We talked cattle and I asked her if she uses AI (i.e. artificial insemination).  She did and told me that she just went to school to learn how to do it and did her first breeding recently.  Remember we ran in a pretty good rain.  This gal was a pretty gal maybe 25.  Her hair was soaking wet and her makeup was running down her face.  A real gal I think.  "Anything you can do I can do better!"  There is a song like that I think.  This gal wasn't proving she was better but I think just had an real interest and was very confident.  She seemed very nice and real (i.e. not with an agenda).  She didn't leave me thinking--SooooWhat'sThat!  She, in my opinion, was just a nice young lady).  MyKindOfGal!

SooooWhat'sThat!  There is a difference.  Oh ya.  I seeded our lawn about 40 years ago.  We redid our drive a couple years ago and had to reseed about 3 feet of it again.  Also, Arlene'sFreinds a.k.a. her people, cut down one of my favorite trees.  She and them thought it was dead but it wasn't!!!   It still had some green on the top!!!  ANYWAY I had to reseed that area as well.  I see there is a difference in seed.  Some grass is better that others.  Sooowhatisthat!  Maybe the new seed is just better; I don't know but it looks better.  Sooooooo maybe I need to reseed some stuff in my life.  Now that is an interesting thought.  Maybe my old thoughts aren't soooo pretty any more.  Could be!  Such is life.

Good business????  Soooo What'sThat?  It's bad business, that's what it is.  I have acquaintances who don't respond to communications in a timely manner or at all. That is their choice.  BUT I probably won't do much communicating with them.  They won't get my respect.  And they probably don't care.  They must not care otherwise they would communicate in a timely manner.  In business you better communicate in a timely matter or you won't be in business long.  It's a competitive world besides it's just the right thing to do.  If you want to gain the respect of others, you better.  Or they will just blow you off.  Anyway I do.  I think it's rude not to respond.  Watch the video in link below!

The plaque in the antique store pictured a model-T Ford with crank starter. The words with it announced, “Fewer wives would be nags if more husbands were self-starters.”  GeorgeTheCrook says--In our culture today maybe it's just the opposite.  MissPerfect says--What really works good is when both husband and wife are both self-starters.  Such is life.  Watch the video in the link below.

Your cell phone says that you got one missed call! Soooo are you going to call that person even if they didn't leave a message or not call them back. You have to decide. Some of you will not call folks back if they don't leave a message and others of you will. What's right do you think?  ItchieBitchie says--I don't care one iota, I'm an island of myself!  MissPerfect says--ItchieBitchie is going to hell in a hand basket!  What does that mean anyway?  Watch the video in the link below!

SoooooWhat'sThat!  It's the dreaded curve ball.  It curves right about the time it gets to home plate. Most hitters' eyes are focused on where they think they are going to hit the ball - and not on the ball itself.  As a result, instead of hitting the baseball where they intend, they fail to hit it at all. No being able to handle the curve ball has finished many great baseball players (i.e. can't hit the curve ball).  And folks we have curve balls in our lives don't we.  I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it--You can't lead the devil around by the nose!  Watch the video in the link below!

What would you consider the foremost requirement for success in the workplace? Would it be talent? Or education? Training? Good luck?  SooooWhat'sThat anyway!  Certainly each of these can be a factor in professional success. But there is one other quality that might be more important than all of them - persistence. That's according to Richard M. DeVos, Sr., co-founder of the Amway Corporation and owner of the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic.  I read this on a chalk board of a convenience store in Cedar Falls--Some people succeed 'cause they are destined too, most folks succeed 'cause they are determined too! Watch the video in the link below.

Now this is efficiency folks (i.e. keep it simple stupid).  We bought some potting soil from True Value.  It was Scotts brand.  They had a refund if you bought two.  Soooo I did.  It was a good deal I thought.  I got my check.  Look how efficient they were in doing it.  No envelope, just a check with the mailing address on it.  That made me think.  I wonder how efficient we are sometimes.  I mean, I wonder if we are wasteful with our time, energy and money (i.e. do a lot of stuff with little efficiency
--like to look busy as it makes us feel good--folks always like to talk how busy they are).  Good managers get a lot done in a little time.  Just look around.  Many get more done in a day than others in a week.  Is that good business do you think?  Are you an "outcome effector" or just a "talker" a.k.a. a wheel spinner?  Such is life.

Takin'CareOfBusiness!  I read in the paper sooooo it must be right--Half of Americans are in a 'survial mode' on finances.  Huh, interesting.  When businesses, family finances, and churches are fat, they are not very financially efficient.  When things get a little tight, businesses, family finances, and churches need to revisit their budgets (i.e. cut some of the fat out--be innovative and creative).  Maybe reduce spending or drop certain line item expenditures all to gather.  LuckieEddie says--Ya gotta do what ya gotta do folks.  Seeee, it's all about the money folks!  Yabut, if you can't afford it, you can't afford it.  Such is life.

Most people have heard the spiritual phrase, "Be still and know."  SusieQ asks--"know what?"  SusieQ, it's good business for you to find out what the "what" is!  Oh ya.  To be successful a person you must have an equal balanced triangle--Physical, mental, and spiritual.  Watch the video in the link below!

Feast or famine!  SooooWhat'sThat?  My mentor would say to me--erv, when things go well, we think they are going to go good forever.  When things go bad, we think they will go bad for ever (e.g. when it's dry, we think it will be dry forever--when it's wet, we think it will be wet forever).  It's how crazy our minds work, that'swhatitisfolks!  We just had 7.2 inches of rain in a short period of time and we were already wet.  Ouchy ouchy.  If you live in a flood plain you are going to get water in your basement (i.e. not if, it's when).  Water in your basement causes much stress.  And stress is not goooood.  Such is life.

Joesixpack says--I'm weak, not really fit, and elderly.  Joesixpack, that's why your drives don't go as far as they use tooooo (i.e. you lost some of your power).  Yabut, when the powerful come to the powerless for help, something major is going to happen.  Think about that folks.  Now that ain't about money!  MyFriendLyle says--Money isn't happiness although it might help!!!  It said in the paper soooo it must be right--Many young folks today are centered on doing what's best for me and lose track of the common good and what's best for society, for a community in general...they're searching for happiness, and our society said it is found in money.  Soooothat'sthat!  GerogeTheCrook says--The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; They just make the most of everything that comes along their way.  Happiness lies for Those who cry, Those who hurt, Those who have searched, And those who have tried, For only they can appreciate the importance of people Who have touched their lives.

Soooo what's that?  I prayed to the Holy Spirit for some wisdom.  On June 9 at 1:30 a.m. I was given some wisdom.  I really did get some.  I have modified something in my life that was reveled to me and sooooo far it has impacted my life.  Huh, interesting.  A friend recently told me that when the tornado went through Parkersburg he was at his mother's place.  They went into the basement and proceeded to the SW corner where you are suppose to go.  He said--The Holy Spirit directed me to take my family to a different part of the basement.  The house was leveled.  The SW corner of the basement had much heavy debris and they would probably been seriously hurt seriously or even killed.  Where they were, there was no debris.  Huh, interesting.  Okay, I have an acquaintance who always wants advice.  Good advice is given him but he doesn't change (i.e. shakes his head vertically but really just blows it off).  Soooooo is he just playing a game?  Huh, interesting.  Sooooo is he being a horse's ass or a smart ass or a dumb ass. Sooo what is that?  Soooo if folks want advice and then don't apply it to their lives, maybe they are being just a stubborn jackass and really don't want to change.  CadillacJack says-- "Lekje enn de moazh". What was that?! For those not familiar with Plautdietsch (Low German), it means "kiss my ass". CadillacJack can be independent at times. Can't we all.  CadillacJack, be careful, you might end up being a n'er-do-well!

Success is graded by folks differently.  As my mentor use to say--Our world judges success by $$$$$$$.  BUT is that the proper grading scale do you think?  Saturday question--What is your grading standard of success?  We used Rick Warren's book Purpose Driven Life as our small group study at Randy and Galene's place back in 2002 (i.e. when the book was published).  I recently bought a copy of the book on a garage sale for 10 cents.  I'm using it as my morning devotional while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it (i.e. put some blueberries on tooooooo--MyFriendJean says that is goooooood!).  Soooo do you know what your purpose of your life is on this earth?  AverageJoe says--The abundant life has nutten to do with material abundance, and faithfulness to God does not guarantee success in a career.  Never focus on temporary crowns.  Such is life.

Folks are big on self-help stuff.  The problem is, we gather the information but don't act on it.  I don't want to sound nitpicking but that's the way it is for many.  Sooooo here is some advice--good stuff that we should do (i.e. my opinion).  SooooWhat'sThat!  OneSmartGuy (i.e. not a smart ass, horse's ass or a dumb ass but just a smart guy--my opinion) sent me this--Quicken Loans was once again listed as the top place to work in IT by Computerworld.  Here is a list of ‘isms’ that are part of their corporate culture. It’s very good stuff.  http://www.quickenloans.com/press-room/about/our-isms  This is good stuff folks. Apply this stuff to your life and teach it to your employees, friends and family.  It will make them much better folks.

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

erv 

MyFriendJean says--Forget yourself and think of others--you'll quickly find joy in your life.

the point is...

I heard WildWillie say--The point is he's from Iowa and he's old (i.e. has a lot of wear on the ol' tires) and not many folks listen to him anymore.  I think WildWille is talking about me?  ItchieBitchie says--There are three stages in life: youth, middle age, and “My, you’re looking good!” The point is--Negative stereotypes portray old people as unproductive, “out of it,” stubborn, senile, and hidden away in nursing homes.  Maybe some are and some aren't.  My mentor use to tell me--When you get older, young folks don't want your advice much anymore (i.e. just your money)!  Such is life.

Joesixpack says--The point is--Maybe the whole notion would run its course and blow over like a whirlwind that raises a lot of dust, then falls away.  You know Joesixpack, some things work that way and some things don't.  That is why cowboys, gun slingers, outlaws get on their pony and move on (i.e. rdie 'em cowboy/cowgirl).  They want a fresh start as the past just does not blow over.  Wisdom is to know when to move on and when to stay.  SusieQ says--The point is, when the time comes to act (i.e. move on or stay), most folks know instinctively what to do!  The key word here is MOST!  Such is life.

HotOffTheWire!  SusieQ says--The point is, Good news travels slow (i.e. like by land mail) but bad news travels like facebook speed a.k.a CO wild fire speed.  The point is--What's the good news and what's the bad news?  ItchieBitchie says--Oh the coffee shop guys and bridge gals know let me tell you or maybe they just think they know.  Their news isn't always correct even though they think it is. I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it--JoeBlow said--For the first time in my life I consciously received the first seed of the word of God in my soul.  I felt deeply moved! Saturday question--Is that good news or bad news?

MyNeighborBrian says--The point is, it's hard to turn off the competitiveness at times!  We played pickleball against a guy at the Iowa Senior Olympics.  I think he thought he was maybe more important than others.  He did little things to try to irate us and others.  He was obnoxious I thought.  Even his partner said to Arlene and Becky after he did one of his little crazy things trying to disturb us--He always does stuff like this.  Our friends played at a tournament in WI last year where he was also playing.  He told the girls that he wasn't going to play this year.  They asked how come--he got into some type of major conflict with his partner that did not end up good (i.e. like real bad).  That's the kind of guy he appears to be.  I question if pickle ball is that important (i.e. my opinion).  I watched one of the better players in AZ in a tourney last winter.  MyFriendDean told me that most people don't like to play with him as he is such a jerk.   Soooooo folks, there are jerks at every level of ability.  BUT there are many great folks for each jerk.  Such is life.

The point is--I just have to have it!  Have you ever "just had to have it" only to find out that you really didn't really "had to have it"?  I mean you get it and you don't use it, don't like it, or it wasn't like you thought (e.g. that certain shirt or tool).  Yabut I had to have it.  That is emotional buying folks.  CadillacJack says--Wait a day before buying it.  Usually the next day we come to our senses (i.e. make better judgements).  Such is life.

The point is...things don't stay the same.!  A friend maybe 5 years ago picked up his medical file from his local doctor and took it to Mayo for a second opinion.  He was reading his file on the way.  His local doctor was a young, pretty, petite gal.  She wrote in his file that my friend was moderately obese.  He was shocked that she would call him moderately obese.  Well, folks, it doesn't take toooo many more pounds to make a person moderately obese.  ANYWAY that little, petite doctor went to practice elsewhere.  My friend just had a medical exam done and she was back and did the exam.  He said--She is now just a little butterball.  What happened anyway!

The point is--"There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle."~Albert Einstein  SusieQ says--I like those stories of my life that end "happy-every-after".  That "happy-every-after" is a perspective (i.e. everything is relative).  A friend said to me--erv, you're in pretty good shape for an old guy!  I told him--Compared to some 400 pound obese guy I might be!!!  It's all relative I guess! 

Arlene and I like flowers.  I maybe get that from my Mother, Anna and Arlene maybe got it from her Mother, Cora. Our Moms both liked flowers. Most people do. It's big business let me tell ya! ANYWAY many flowers don't stay (i.e. in bloom) pretty for long periods of time. It's  tooo bad.  Sorta kinda like us--Our beauty sorta kinda fades away as we age.  I got three new perennials from MyFriendHank's garden and transplanted them to our garden.  Let me tell you, I did it fast.  The mosquitoes must of just hatched.  ThosePestyBiters ate me alive.!  Now that will motive a guy to get after it in a hurry.  The point is...things don't stay the same!  Oh no!
 
LyleError!  MyFrinedLyle just got a new phone.  He got it 'cause he couldn't hear very well with the old one.  It wasn't loud enough.  Soooo he bought the new one and asked the gal how he could get louder as it's tooooo soft.  She said--Just like your old one, you press this button.!  The point is--"LyleError" but he got a new phone!!  Such is life.

The United States Golf Association is promoting faster play.  Our society doesn't like waiting around.  Sooo they don't play.  That means less golfers.  That means less $$$$ spend on golf.  They suggest that the courses should be easier and more friendly and play faster.  They think golf needs to be made more fun and not harder.  Da!  The point is--It's suppose to be recreation.  I think they are unto something here.  How about our churches!  Da!  Maybe stuff is done at church that is just a waste of time.  Boring!  Boring!  Sooooo they don't come.  That means less folks.  Golf is driven by $$$$.  Church isn't.  Or is it?

Summer!  The point is--It's finally summer!  It says it on the calendar.  To confirm it, the swim suits are being worn.  It must be summer. Summer is a fun time (i.e. lazy hazy crazy days of summer).  It is suppose to be anyway.  These are our little neighbor friends eating my popsicles.  Summer is also having the grand kids come and visit.  We are having this opportunity.  It seems like kids and summer just go together.  Don't they!

Our children and grand kids are living in a culture of extremes—extreme entertainment, sports, diets, technology, movies, schedules, peer group pressure, images, social pressure, etc.  When they come to grandpa and grandma's place, they don't have to feel all that stuff.  It's more relaxed.  Maybe boring.  Na, I don't think sooooo.  BUT maybe!  I had a friend recently tell me--We saved many of our kids toys sooooo when the grand kids would come they could play with them.  The grand kids came recently and they brought along all their electronic toys and didn't want anything to do with those old toys.  They didn't even what to talk with us.  Huh, interesting.  Not our grand kids.  Oh no!  They went down the basement into the closet under the stairs and really enjoyed those old toys.  Even the adults seemed to enjoy them (i.e. good memories of the past). 

Summer is baseball!  A friend sent me this email (i.e. the point is, never never give up folks)--I worked the concession stand at the AP vs Hudson baseball game tonight. We were down 2-12 in the bottom of the fifth with two outs and two strikes on the batter. If we don't score it is over by 10 run rule. We managed to stay alive and score a couple runs. Then got another couple in the sixth and went to the bottom of 7 down 6-12. We won 13-12 and only had one out and bases loaded when they walked the winning run across. There were lots of key hits but I was most impressed when an eighth grader (i.e. my golfing buddy) hit a single with bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th.  ~  I had as one of my pickleball partners the other night, a gal who amazed me.  She started a few years ago and sorta kinda struggled.  She, through determination and desire, and listening to coaching, has become a pretty good pickleball player.  Persistence paid off for her.  Oh ya!

The point is--The sharp edges of kidney stones!  Played golf with our Wednesday group.  Golf was golf but afterwards three golf buddies and one of their wives had a beer and talked.  We talked about kidney stones.  I had one maybe 30 years ago (i.e never want one again).  Another guy had one several years ago.  Another guy has had them 7 or 8 times with one getting stuck in his penis which hurt really really bad he said.  Sooooo bad that he told his wife to get a hammer and crush that sucker--his wife didn't think that was a good idea! The gal said she gets them about once every two months.  Ouchy ouchy!   ANYWAY they told me that they don't go to the hospital anymore.  They take muscle relaxing pills and bounce/shake themselves in order to get those suckers to pass.  The gal told us that Mayo told her to drink a lot of sugar free lemonade--It dissolves the stones.  That is the point (i.e. tip) of the day folks. 

Saturday question (i.e. multiple choice)--The point is--A.  I am master of my fate: I am captain of my soul."   B.  Jesus is the master of my fate: Jesus is the captain of my soul."  C.  Both A and B.  D.  Neither answer is correct.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--A good example is the best sermon.