don't give a rip

BigMouthHarriet who is a great button pusher, says--Hey, listen folks, rumors take on a life of their
own. I don’t think that statement is a rumor!  I also don’t think anything in this “It’s Saturday” is a rumor.  SusieQ who is a very good bushwhacker, says—BUT folks do like rumors soooo some of you might make it a rumor! Hey, listen folks, I can’t stop you from misunderstanding me. I can’t, it’s impossible. Saturday question—Have you ever been misunderstood? 

Dr. Seuss said--There is no one "you'er than you!"  You are unique. Your finger prints are unique, your iris pattern is unique, and your DNA is unique. There is no one like you. Soooo why should anyone think like you?

Hey Bub, very few folks give a rip what I say. I realize that. Take that into consideration when reading this “It’s Saturday.” I’m really not that important. It’s like I don’t make much of a ripple if I jump in the ocean.  Some of you are a little bigger and maybe you might make a little bigger ripple in the ocean. Big on the maybe. haha We are pretty little compared to the ocean folks no matter how important we think we are. It reminds me of this story I heard.  There was a lawyer, a preacher and a doctor all hunting deer in northern MI.  They see this 14-point buck in the clearing and all shoot at the same time. It falls dead soooo they all think they are the one who made the kill.  They all thought it was their deer head to mount on the wall in their living room (i.e. their wives just can’t wait).  A game warden came along and asked them what the problem was. They told him and he said he would examine the deer and he might be able to determine which one of them actually did kill the deer.  After his examination, he told them it was the pastor who killed the deer.  Sooooo they asked him—how can you tell—it went in one ear and out the other.

GeorgeTheCrook  who always has his antenna up, says--They don’t give a rip about the person but just pretend they do, they only care about their money!  CNBC says, soooo it must be right--Online romance scams took more than five hundred million dollars from victims in 2021. Often the scammers’ lives seem mysterious and intriguing to the victims, and the interactions and requests for money occur without the individuals ever meeting in person.

MissPerfect who likes to role the dice, says—Where am I anyway? When I look at my big picture of where I am, well now, that can change my perspective. Really folks. Yabut, I like to dwell on one little negative thing that’s not going my way which distorts my big picture (e.g. like someone hurting my feelings).  Why do I do that? Am I wacko or what!  I don’t know ItchieBitchie, I just don’t know. A friend told me that she talked to a mutual pickleball acquaintance/friend here in the park and they think I’m lonely.  Are you erv?  I don’t really think soooo, but I might be; now that is hard to measure, I think.  If I am, it’s just a small part of my big life. BUT I must admit, connections with folks are fun and they lift my spirt (i.e. some folks do that more than others, for sure).  You folks will read different things into that statement. haha  I will probably get misunderstood. Such is life.

I am in the process of making some small changes in my life, nothing earth changing at less yet!  Now I got you wondering again.  I had to laugh when Old-IRS-Bill, a golf buddy, asked me the first time he saw me this winter—erv, have you got engaged since I saw you; you kind of keep us in the dark! GeorgeTheCrook says--It's a good idea to keep IRS agents in the dark! Hey, my old golf buddies do really give a rip about me, they do, I think!  ANYWAY, if I change anything there is no guarantee that my life will get better but if I don’t change anything, I will bet for sure it won’t change! I think that every day we need to thrive to make our life better. I do! I try!

Some folks have told me that they have made new friends here down in the Valley.  Some have told me that they have really been blessed by God in their life by such friends. God has answered their prayers in unbelievable ways, incredible!  They are very thankful and humble about it.  These folks are remarkable and amazing, my opinion.  Sooooo I read what Matt (i.e. anybody can be a Matt) said in his writing—"Think about one of the greatest gifts you have received. I am not talking about something you found under the tree one Christmas morning. Think bigger, more miraculous. Maybe it was a time when you were out of work and a job materialized that could not be traced to all the resumes you sent out. Or when you were sick and got better much faster than the doctors thought you would. Or when you were very worried about someone you cared for and through a series of circumstances you still cannot understand, the problem was resolved. What was your response? Weren’t you so incredibly thankful?”  Or do we just didn’t give a rip after we get what we what!  Here is a story in the Bible that is soooo reflective of giving thanks that is soooo real--“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’ When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well’” (Luke 17:11-19). Hey God, I have made some great friends who I really like, now that makes sense, down here in the Valley of the Sun and I say thank you God!  

I have some old friends who I play golf with (i.e. old in more ways that one haha).  I really like these guys.  Our leader, The Great Shedlowsky, says--"This game is hard enough without you guys talking all the time!" Soooo we treated him just like the pros.  We compared his score; it didn't seem to make much difference haha!  GovernmentMike was telling us how much he enjoyed his job through this life; the only thing I would have done different, he said, was invested more aggressively. Da!  He also said--A good doctor has to have a lot of patients! Da!  I asked TheIRS-Agent what his best line was. He said--They would put me at the end of the fancy table of the board room and give me a rickety old folding chair that was lower than their fancy mahogany board chairs to make me feel little (i.e. he's about 5.6" anyway sooo it didn't take much haha).  He would stand up and put his hands on the table and say--Ladies and gentlemen, this is a very simple game we will play, it's called "'proof or consequences!" It changed the tone of the room real quickly! These guys are a hoot!

I give a rip.  A person who I sure enjoyed being around told me this about themselves—I’m a little headstrong and set in my ways! She is and that is what makes her who she is. She makes me laugh. Hey listen, when you are dealing with folks who are in their middle 70s what can you expect. They don’t give a rip what others think of them (i.e. not toooooo much anyway but they do a little as they still have an image to protect). Hey, listen, when we are in our mid 70s we have a new chapter in life, especially if we are single. Mid 70s folks have been around the block a few times let me tell ya! They’re not rookies! Many are pretty gritty and can be as tough as nails. BUT in their inside, most are sweet and kind and give a rip! Most are pretty neat folks!

Soooooo I got up early the other morning, made myself a cup of coffee and was thinking about a certain situation in my life.  Not a bad situation, actually a very fun situation but sorta kinda a confusing situation to me.  You ever have any of those situations? I didn’t want to jump to a bad conclusion and was just pondering the alternatives and thought of this--The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. Do I think I am right and not thinking about it from both sides? The danger of thinking I’m right on the basis of my own opinion is that it leaves no room for hearing the opinions of others—of receiving counsel and wisdom from those wiser than me. This is really a fun process I am in; really fun. A friend recently asked me what I thought about a cultural debate and I said I didn’t know; I really don’t know. Then this friend went on and told me their opinion. I still don’t know but did listen to their opinion. It was refreshing to just listen. I read somewhere that wisdom and humility go together; pride and arrogance also go together. Hey, listen folks, when you are a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and quarter south of Roseland, MN, you take all the help you can get!

I was watching Division I Men’s Basketball the other night and was thinking how can all those guys stay academic eligible. Soooo I texted a couple of friends. One was a Dean at a Division I school and the other was a long time tutor for Division I athletes.  They both said great tutors maybe! I never hear of any of them being academic ineligible anymore. Huh, interesting. I don’t understand that; it sounds fishy to me. Soooo the other day I was dropping off a book at our park’s library and noticed that there were maybe 20 women in the pool room. I stuck my head in there and there was a guy giving them beginner lessons. Just happened that I knew a couple of the gals at the first table and the coach was teaching them the proper gripe and proper stroke.  I learned a lot in about 2 minutes. It seems it always helps to have a teacher, coach, mentor etc. who teaches us the proper methods when we start.  Huh, interesting. Now YouTube has a lot of tutorials that are very helpful for us to mimic. All good basketball shooters as an example pretty much shoot the same.  I realize that many of you don’t give a rip about shooting pool or shooting a basketball, but you do care about money investing, parenting, relationship skills, passing a test, taking all the advantages on your taxes, etc.

Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1865, ended his ‘Second Inaugural Address’—"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish, a just and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”  Do you think all the folks understood what he was saying?  Do you think all of us understand what he was saying? I don’t think our minds think alike and understand the same. They can’t. We have different genetics, different past environments, and different current environments.  Such is life.

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

erv

MyFriendJean said--Doing what you like is freedom...liking what you do is happiness.

mess

How do you know if I’m serious about what I write in this “It’s Saturday” or am just messing with you! I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it—"Be careful who you run with, be careful who you hang around with because their mess will get on you! And before you know it your whole mind and spirit has been corrupted by subtle associations.” ClazenaShowboat says--It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out erv! Just look around will ya! But flip the pancake, being around high level thermodynamic energy sources will change your mind and spirt to a way better, higher level.  Soooo think about that! Soooo, my opinion, pick good sources to be around! 

I was leaving church the other Sunday and shook the pastor’s hand and said—Great service! It was a sincere comment.  Generally, a pastor will say something like, thank you.  But he said to me—You ok? I must of looked like a mess! His talk was about every name has a story (i.e. it was name tag Sunday).  We all have a story, some are more dramatic or longer that others. Especially he said—Our accepting Jesus as our Savior story if we have that story.  He talked about Saul’s story of his conversation on the road to Damascus when God changed his name to Paul and then as Paul Harvey would say—Now you know the rest of the story! But in 1970, Harvey shocked many of his listeners with his most famous broadcast. In the wake of Richard Nixon's expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia, Harvey said, “Mr. President, I love you. But you're wrong.”

I had lunch with longtime friends who were here in the Valley of the Sun.  They told me the story of some friends that has really affected me.  They are 72 and retired who had their retirement all planned out a.k.a. the good life. Their highly educated, professional daughter is a drug addict and has no interest in their child who is 3 years of age. They think their daughter might soon die of her addiction. They are raising this child. The father is in prison for drug trafficking.  Their story just has bothered me.  What a mess! And there are many such stories.  Maybe your story is as bad.  But there are soooooo many good stories tooooo! Saturday question—What is your story?

I have relearned (i.e. by a recent experience) that many folks really don’t want help to make their life story better or easier unless they can make money, especially free money! Really! Most prefer to continue to do what they are doing (e.g. they don’t really want to learn toooo much but just want to kick the same can down the same street like they always have; the old works for me is the mentality). That statement isn’t always correct maybe as there are many good folks who work very hard and are very good folks. What I read, it appears that maybe some of our society do not what to work hard and want an easy life given to them; they think they deserve it.  It really seems confusing doesn’t it. It feels like a mess to me.

AverageJoe who pretty much puts his finger prints on everything, says--Everyone is messing with others now a days; it ain’t nuttin new. This is from a western novel of Louis L’Amour that says—"It pretty much as it was, now and the future. Why will it change folks.  I doubt if it will ever no matter what we think or say.”  I have tooooo admit that I can get frustrated when values, morals and thinking that aren’t going in the direction I think they should (i.e. much of it looks like a mess to me). It bothers me.  I want to be in charge and there is no way that I am or will ever be.  BUT obviously, some folks like things differently than I do; we don’t agree.  Soooo should I get away from those type of folks and situations as they bother me and I can’t control them anyway? I can’t fix the world. In fact, I can’t fix anyone. Like I say a lot—Folks are affected by their genetics, past environment and their current environment and it is really hard toooo and nearly impossible to change them, UNLESS it is something that’s major that they are involved in like facing death and even that might not change some folks. BUT FlipThePancake—Maybe, just maybe, the whole universe is listening to us! You think soooo, really! I don’t know. It doesn’t seem that way. Studies say that the average person speaks between 15,000 to 25,000 words a day. They say that the words of our mouth shape our world and maybe other folks' world.  Soooo what are we saying in those words?

Soooo I went to Lowes to get a new flapper for my stool. I used a self-check out kiosk but it charged me double.  I asked the self-checkout help gal what the deal was—you probably scanned it twice; it happens a lot (i.e. she could have said—you made a dumb mistake dummy, what were you thinking)—sooo now what do I do—go to customer service and they will refund one price.  Soooo I did and there was a gal in front of me at customer service that was mad, I mean hot about a dumb mistake she made—the customer service gal said to me—people blame us for their dumb mistakes; they just can’t accept that they made a really dumb mistake. We both laughed but I told her that she did take some abuse that was not necessary. She smiled. Saturday question—Do any of you ever make dumb mistakes?  Do you ever blame others for your dumb mistakes?  Oh, by the way, the gal who was making an ass out of herself had an outside appearance of being very nice (i.e. she looked like a queen) but it appears her inside was gruffy, a real…, I think a real mess, a…! I think maybe a big showboat! I really had a good laugh! The gal corrected my dumb mistake!

Saturday question--Are you a generous person? I went to the WM Phoenix Open last Friday compliments of a long time friend from WA. Her and her husband gave me the tickets (i.e. she is a sweetheart). I walked all 18 holes following Zach Johnson.  I never did that before.  ANYWAY, I think it was on 13 that I stopped at a concession stand to get a water and was waiting when a guy who was maybe late 20s started talking to me.  It went like this--He said, I want to buy you a Coors Lite sir--why would you want to do that--I like you and besides I'm much more generous after I have had a few a.k.a. messed up--thanksamillion, that was very nice of you--have a fun day sir--peace and prosperity to you--thank you sir. I don't know if he will remember buying me a beer until he gets his Mastercard bill! 

Soooo I was tired when I got back from the Phoenix Open and went and sat in the hot tube.  I shared it with two couples; one couple were "Ohio State Buckeyes" and the other guy of the other couple was a Episcopalian priest (i.e. the priest was a sister to the lady who was the Ohio State Buckeye).  Now that is a contrast folks haha.  The Ohio State Buckeye fans asked me being a IA Hawkeye fan what I thought of the Ohio Sate Buckeyes--we don't like you, you always beat us in football--who do you like worse, us or MI--we don't like either of you about the same.  We had soooo much fun.  These couples were the greatest folks.  The female Buckeye fan really asked me some tough questions about myself; I don't remember ever being asked such interesting questions.  They were great questions. Maybe these Buckeyes were just messing with me! A fun day I had in the Valley of the Sun!

They are messed up; two of my foursome have COVID!  Soooo I was talking to the one who doesn't other than me.  He told our foursome some time ago about a child of theirs that had outstanding athletic ability and was recruited by all the major universities.  He was offered athletic scholarships to many and could have gone to any place he wanted (i.e. really big time).  Then he had a medical issue and was not able to play athletics at that level again (i.e. a life changer). Sooo this friend and I were talking and he told me that that setback probably was the best thing that evet happened to their son--what!, how can that be--his personality with money and fame would not been good for him, it probably would have been hard on his life (i.e. messed his life up). He got into a profession that was perfect for him and has a very good life and has done well. I have always wondered if I would have been a little more talented physically and/or if I was a little more intelligent if my life would have been different.  But how do I know. Maybe my life would have been better or maybe worse.  But I always thought it would have been better. But maybe not! I will never know now will I!

You ever answer your own questions? I just did that! I do and have to laugh at myself sometimes. They can be simple questions or complex questions, oh ya.  All of a sudden, I know the answer and ask myself, why didn’t I think of that before!  It’s soooo obvious! Da! Do you think that this happens more when we get older?  Maybe when we are younger, we think we know all the answers but really don’t but just think we do and when we get older we wonder more if we are making the right decisions.  I don’t know, what do you think? Saturday question—Have you ever made a bad decision?  I have made many.  My mentor use to say—"erv, you got to make more good decisions than bad decisions but remember not all your decisions are going to be the right decisions.  Even successful money managers only make right decisions about 51% of the time and they are successful in the business." OneSmartPerson says—YaBut erv, it seems that some folks make more good decisions than others; seems like some folks get themselves in more messes than others.  Sooooo why is that OneSmartPerson? Maybe that is why most folks aren’t risk takers or entrepreneurs, could be! They can’t handle failures; it hurts tooooo much! SusieQ who can trip a person's trigger alright, says—erv, ya can’t make any bad decisions if you don’t make any decisions at all. That is why I just go with the flow of the crowd a.k.a. mob mentality. Remember folks, I’m just a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and quarter south of Roseland, MN!

I was told by TomSmart who is always right on the button, this—How we act and talk is a reflection of what is on our inside (i.e. guess he is saying that our actions and talk pretty much tell our story).  Abraham Lincoln said—You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. A friend wasn't paying attention and got himself in a mess.  He was walking along and maybe took a quick look at the 70+ agreed women doing water aerobics in the pool (i.e. as a friend from Butler County would say--I'll risk one eye!).  He fell off the trail into a jumping cholla cactus and had to go to emergency to get the spurs taken out! That will learn him!

We talked directly and indirectly in the hot tub about what our purpose of life is.  Soooo what is our purpose of our life?  It appears when we don't know our purpose we can get off track a.k.a. messed up. If we know our purpose it chances how we live our life; I believe that. I think my purpose of my life is different now at 77 then it was when I was when I was 40.  What do you think?  That is what I thought. Take courage folks, take courage. 

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

erv

MyFriendJean said--The biggest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.

P.S. A friend since birth from two and half miles north of Roseland, MN said to me--erv,  do you ever wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and think… “That can’t be accurate.?!"

special effects

It's Super Bowl Sunday! Some of you folks just love trash talk, smack talk, taunting, baiting and excessive celebration a.k.a. special effects and some of you don't. TV shows a lot of it sooooo many of you must like it (i.e. it's all about what the folks want that brings in the money, don't kid yourself).  And others of you don't like cocky celebrating!  We are all different, aren't we.  Remember that when reading this "It's Saturday."  

    

SusieQ who is a variety pack, says folks just love special effects.  Soooo why is that SusieQ?

I don’t try to do everything that other retires do here in the valley or try to live their lifestyle.  How I do things might be different.  I might not have an interest in some stuff that they do or maybe my values are different or somethings what others do just aren’t important to me or I don’t want to spend the money. Maybe that is just being independent or something! haha BUT, I’m really quite okay with my lifestyle; pretty content. BUT I am thinking about painted part of the inside of my 399 sq. ft. tin hut here in the desert.  I plan to paint over the pink flowers that the previous owner liked.  I think I will do it myself. I’m not really a painter but it will be a new challenge, a new adventure.  A new look! I can do it. I will make it a game! I will get a lot of advice from many folks who are experienced. It will be like having a special erv effect, like special effects of Star Wars, well, maybe not that drastic! Folks do like special effects. Oh ya!

I’m thinking about you, you know who you are, who don’t use special effects but are the rock of your family. You are the ones who hold or have held your family together during tough times.  Your spouse maybe have left or was out doing special effects!  My hat goes off to you.  I’m especially thinking about you, you know who you are, you are very special. Amazing! No, you won’t get the Citizen of the Year Award and your name and pic won't be in the paper, but your family will be winners because of you. You are just plain a special person. Dynamite! One of a kind. And you might not even feel this way.  BUT you are. There is no question. You don’t use special effects, but you are soooo real, my kind of person. You know who you are!  Listen up, if I think that way, others do tooooo. I’m not that smart to be the only one who knows that and sees that.  I realize that you won’t get the attention that the special effects folks get. Oh no! BUT does it really matter? Not to me. You are a star in my eyes!  Yes you are. For sure.

MovieWatcherRenise says--It's a great special effect when folks share their life with someone else. We beat around the bush a lot in America right now, but reality is we are not animals or some other crazy thoughts who some think they are.  I heard PastorJohn, anybody can be a John, say that other countries are teaching their kids important information and we are teaching our kids crazy stuff. What is going on? It’s not going to work! Is that just his opinion folks? But a small percentage of America really likes these special effects and get a lot of attention and preference it seems. Sooooo maybe we need to share our own special effects with folks. What are your special effects? I know folks who always speak the positive and not the negative who make me happy (i.e. great encouragers). Now that is a pretty good special effect. I know a person who really could be bitter and discouraged but chooses not to be and is very happy (i.e. is really a great person, my opinion). You know who you are. When I see you, you have a sign on your back that I see that says “SPECIAL.” Sooooo stick-to-it!

Have you ever seen on TV when an egg is fried on hot blacktop?  I always wonder if it is real or if it’s just special effects.  I recently visited some friends who I have known for maybe 55 years who lived in Butler County but right on the county line. Now they live in the Valley of the Sun. They sent me an email and here is part of it--It made me laugh but it is also sad--Glad to hear you are out here now, hope all is going well for you. I had a weird summer, fell barefoot on the hot blacktop, and had a blister the size of a golf ball on the outer edge of my left heel. That meant six weeks of a burn nurse coming to our house three times weekly after we went the first two weeks not realizing it was so bad. When someone tells you an egg can be fried on a hot blacktop, believe them!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I went to a presentation of Annie Oakie here in our community. I enjoyed it. She was part of the Wild West Show put on by Buffalo Bill (i.e. a show that had some true stuff in it and a lot of fiction a.k.a. special effects; Buffalo Bill gave the folks what they wanted to see and hear, a lot of action and a lot of noise, audiences from all over the world loved it! Annie Oakley was a major performer of the show.  Many folks thought it was a put on as they didn't think she could be that good of a shot (i.e. just special effects).  She had to prove herself that she was just that good. That made her reputation even more amazing.

I have a friend who is professional photographer.  With advanced technology they can do amazing things with pictures.  Just amazing.  Many folks don’t like to have their picture taken as they think they are prettier than what they actually are.  No problem anymore, they can now make ugly folks pretty! They ask—how do you want to look? For a few extra dollars, I can do.  How about making me look a little lighter through the middle? Can do! It’s sorta kinda special effects!

Sooo I decided to read a James Patterson book as I never have read any of his books (i.e. I think my golf buddies have read them all).  I decided to read Kiss the Girls, one of his most popular.  I checked online and saw that it was at the Mesa, Red Mountain Branch Library.  Soooo I looked for it in the fiction section but couldn’t find in amongst the 30+ of his books.  There was this attractive maybe 22-year old gal in the aisle soooo I asked her if she would help me—I will try. She couldn’t find it either and suggested I talk to one of the librarians. This pretty, little gal in the aisle had the worse smelling breath I have ever smelt; it was atrocious. It wasn’t just a bad stale last night beer breath, but it was a world class stinker.  I was 5 feet away from her and it was still appalling!  I went to the librarian, and she said some of his books are also in the mystery section. I found it amongst another 30+ of his books. I didn’t’ tell the gal she had such bad halitosis. She was soooo nice to me, sweet, and I didn’t’ what to hurt her feelings even though she could kill somebody with that bad breath before the day was over!. I just didn’t want to be a stressor! You think I should have? Will Rogers said—"Good judgement comes from experience. And a lot of that comes from bad judgement!” As I left the library I thought—I usually learn something at the library and this time I learned, erv, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover! haha

For some of you this will make no sense whats soooo ever! I wonder if the smartest folks are the ones that can understand the un-comprehensible stuff!  erv, how can anyone understand the un-comprehensible stuff, it can’t be done.  What are you thinking.  Oh, I think it can be done and some of the smartest folks can do it. You might have 5 PHDs from Ivy League schools in a variety of subjects but if you can’t understand the un-comprehensible stuff, you aren’t really a very smart person, my opinion. My Daddy, Chester, had less than an eight-grade education but I think he understood the un-comprehensible stuff which made him a very smart person, again my opinion. ItchieBitchie says—C’mon erv, you got to have proof; if there is no proof it’s not fact and then I don’t understand it or believe it. ItchieBitchie, I would say, you aren’t very smart! You are just dealing with special effects of your mind like money and power and fame and position! Maybe you need to get smacked in the head a.k.a. humbled!  Ouchy ouchy! I was at Costco eating my $1.62 hot dog and diet Pepsi the other day. A guy came and sat with me. He told me he lost part of his stomach and part of his hand in the war in the Middle East and spent 5 months in a hospital in Houston.  Now his wife of 42 years died. He said these events have really change him mentally, spiritually and physically.  

Soooo do you know who Eutychus was? Okay, Apostle Paul was preaching at Ephesus. Eutychus was sitting in the window and fell asleep (i.e. Paul went on forever) and he fell three stories to his death.  Sooo Paul went down there and by the power of God, brought him back to life.  Would you believe in God if you were there and saw that?  Or would you say—it has to be some “special effects” like in the movies.  I still don’t believe.  Some folks are pretty hardheaded (i.e. it happens yet today). And do you know what Paul did then?  He preached tell daylight! I don’t think Eutychus sat in the window again though!

Have you ever really pondered—What do I really want?  Really, what do you really want? Soooo you say, you want a new car.  Is that what you really want?  That’s not flying very high.  You can do better than that, for sure. You need something that will give you special effects excitement! Something SPECTACULAR!  Out of this world amazement.  Try again you earthly, worldly thing! Anybody can get a new car! You don’t even need money to do that! Even the gals who want to be Miss Universe say they want world peace (i.e. the routine, standard generic accepted answer which will never happen unless…). JoeCowboy from Timbuktu, ND says—There can be peace and that peace comes from within ourselves and in order to get that you have to find peace with Jesus.  JoeLiberal from North Redwood Falls, Minnesota says—There are two schools of thought on that; there is a lot of distance from here to Timbuktu!

I had a discussion with some real smart folks about maturity.  Oh maturity!  Are you mature? Based on what comparison are you mature? We sorta kinda decided that age isn’t necessarily the same as mental maturity. We all know young folks who are mature mentally and even though not physically and some folks who are physically mature but not mentally. Sooooo I asked OneSmartPerson why?  They said maybe character qualities and experiences—what are they—the way different folks think—like genetics?—maybe. I have a great nephew who just enlisted in the Marines.  We talked by phone and I told him that I’m happy for him. I think it will mature him.  Military does that to a lot of folks.  BUT I’m thinking of a senior lady from Butler County who I think is still immature mentally.  She has never got there yet! My opinion of course! If she was asked, she might think differently. You have heard of first responders, well, her history says she's an instant responder! Ouchy ouchy! But I'm not giving up on her yet as it is written--There is more hope for a live dog than a dead lion!

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

erv

MyFriendJean said--It takes as much energy to hold out a helping hand as to point a finger.

P.S. "When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on."--Franklin D. Roosevelt   Do you think everyone understands that statement the same? Sooooo what is the knot?

topsy-turvy

I think there is a politician who admits he lies all the time and he still got elected (i.e. he's dishonest but honest about it).  He says that you can't get elected if you don't lie. He says--It's just being a politician and the folks really don't care. Really! I don't think soooo folks! As far as I know none of this "It's Saturday" is a lie but you might think differently. Opinions are not lies.  Please take that into consideration when reading it.  But some of it might be a little topsy-turvy in your thinking!  Now that could be!  But not a lie! Such is life.

This is called the Thacker Effect.  The psychological effect is sorta kinda interesting, but it doesn’t affect me in any way that I know of but it could and I don't even know it (i.e. that is scary).  But these types of pictures always make me smile.  BUT my life has and can go topsy-turvy at times. to be honest with you, I admit that.

When in Waukee, our son and I went for a long walk with Judy, the dog, Saturday afternoon.  We talked about a lot of stuff (i.e. it was most enjoyable to be able to do this even though it was cool).  One of the topics I talked about he didn’t say anything.  He has done this before in our discussions.  Sooooo I asked him why he doesn’t say anything when you disagree with me? Well Dad, it’s a relationship preserver; I don’t want to hinder our relationship.  That is pretty smart. When we cherish a relationship, we do not want it to go topsy-turvy soooo we just keep our mouth shut.  I do that many times. It really doesn’t make any difference what our opinions are anyway. Really!  Most times what we think and say, it’s just that, an opinion. Sometimes, I disagree with our adult children but say nuttin. It’s a relationship preserver.  Besides, I want to be invited back again to be around the grand kids! Soooo we have very little talk about religion, politics or money! Besides there’s not much time left soooo why screw up our good relationship now that we have had for all these years! I just go home after three days! haha But Judy seems to always understand me when I pet her! She is soooo understanding!

TwoOldBuzzards told me—But erv, most dogs in the U. S. are treated better than most folks in some countries! It’s no longer a dog’s life in Butler County! They get what they want when they want it! Yabut, the other day I was helping a super senor with some business.  She has a Chihuahua and its name is Buttons.  She treated it like a kid. I petted Buttons and the lady said that Buttons is such a good dog. A minute later Buttons popped on the floor. The lady said Buttons either wants your attention or you scared the crap out of her!

C. S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.” Pain is God’s megaphone. We rarely change when you see the light. We change when we feel the heat. Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (i.e. to make us go topsy-turvy). It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out; we don’t change very easy if everything goes our way. And who likes things not to go our way!  LuckieEddie who is not a rouge, says—not me!

There’s the simple zoom lens, then there’s the ultra-wide-angle lens that even our cell phones have.  Each has its purpose. CoachB says—The higher you go the smaller stuff looks. And the higher you go and the bigger your perspective, the smaller things get. Things look really big to us when we are up close and sometimes we get all bent out of shape but many times it’s just small stuff when we get up higher and see the big picture. My mentor would say—erv, things are never as good as they look and never as bad as they look. How many times does ervie not see the big picture and gets all topsy-turvy when there's nuttin to get all excited about. I will tell you how many times, a zillion. I can get all bent out of shape alright! I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it—When we compare ourselves to others, our lives become tainted and even puffed up!  Ouchy ouchy! It also said—Many folks think they have it soooo good that they don’t need God; they think their life just can’t get any better!

A long time friend just called me and was telling me that he has a decision to make, that being if he should go to the Super Bowl or not (i.e. he's a die hard Chief's fan and was at the playoff game Sunday. I told him that's not a problem but an opportunity. Most folks would love your situation.  Money is not the problem but time is! Sooooo whatever decision he makes will be a good one! I like to make those types of decisions! Saturday question--Do we make most of our decisions "in the name of money?" JoeBlow says--C'mon erv, it's all about the money! Money makes the decision (i.e. for most folks but not all), just look around, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out! Such is life.

There were three frogs sitting on a log. One decides to jump. How many are left?  The answer is three ‘cause just because a frog decides to jump doesn’t change anything until it actually jumps.  Many times, we decide to do stuff but never do them. I many times say I wanna but a lot less times I say I’m gonna and a whole lot less times that I actually doit! Talk is cheap but it takes money to buy whiskey! Aren’t we something else; we are just plain topsy-turvy sometimes!

Do you and I vacillate how we think, feel and look during the day, during the year and during our life?  Maybe we do and don’t even know it.  I always think that gals are much prettier when they are happy; when gals are unhappy, not soooo pretty my opinion! SweetLouise asks--Why do we let little stuff change us soooo much; they are soooo minor, yet we treat them like they are huge massive stuff.  We just are topsy-turvy for sure. 

It has been said--Our world promotes dissatisfaction with our lives, but contentment frees us of that feeling! Sometime between 1490 and 1510, Hieronymus Bosch painted a work he titled “The Garden of Earthly Delights.” Soooo what does this painting mean to you?  I guess the art experts back then didn’t all agree either. The world really wants us to have earthly delights.  BUT how do you compare? The world wants us to compare to each other; oh that comparison. My mentor would say—erv, the world’s measuring stick is money! The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:6, “It is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time with both hands, trying to catch the wind.” Now that is a struggle for many on a consistent basis.  Oh, the delights of the earth! Soooo what are the delights of the earth toooo you? Do we get topsy-turvy sometimes in our thinking?  I do, yes I do.  AverageJoe who plays downhill,  says--The greatest things in life aren’t things. YaBut Dr.J says--Almost every reward or compensation in this life is reckoned on the basis of works: final scores in sports, annual sales numbers, academic grades, and promotions in the business world. Occasionally we encounter grace in the secular world, but not nearly as often as being rewarded for works. Soooo what is grace? BobbyTheGoldenJet says--Is it different things to different folks like interpreting a painting like Garden of Earthly Delights?

I got my old golf buddies all topsy-turvy when on the 5th tee I showed them this tee that was in my rental golf cart.  TheMI-Engineer who of course has an engineer mind, said--That's a pantographic tee! 

I had a flat tire, again, on my car.  I had to change it. I seem to have bad luck or a lot of opportunities! I found it fascinating that to get the lug nuts loose I literally had to stand on the wrench and then jump several times to get them loose (i.e. except for one lug nut that was way loose). Now how in the world, I thought, would a 120 pound 77-year old women get them loose; she couldn’t. BUT here is a tip that a smart pickleball buddy gave me that he read in his manual: after having tires put on your vehicle, it is recommended that you drive it for some miles and then retighten them as they can come loose.  A friend down here in the Valley of the Sun told me that last summer a wheel almost passed him that came off his camper that they were pulling.  Soooo the solution to loosen those lug nuts and tighten those lug nuts is for you gals is to gain some weight!  That will work. BUT also remember, money can fix a lot of earthly stuff (i.e. stuff under the sun but not for stuff under the heaven—That comes from Ecclesiastes; look for that next time you read it, it says it a lot; there is a big difference folks)! Well, jumping Jupiter!

I didn't play my best golf the other day.  Hey, that happens. A few weeks earlier I played some of my best golf.  My scores were way topsy-turvy.  I said to myself, erv, it's only a golf score!  When we put the word "only" into our perspective, it chances everything.  It's only money! It's only a car! It's only a pair of jeans! It's only...!  You put your own "only" in there.  Hey erv, it could be much worse!

Well, hold unto your horses!  I did a “hold unto your horses day” recently.  I had a lot of stuff happen to me and enjoyed the opportunities.  Yes, I did.  Sooooo I decided to spend time to appreciate them and think through all the situations.  Like being grateful for them.  Soooo trying to figure out where I am and where I want to go and what I want! I went for a long hike up ‘er in ‘em mountains to be alone.  That ought to do it! A old-time friend I made from pickleball asked me the other day--erv, when you go hiking up 'er in 'em mountains do you see God differently?  This guy who likes to spend time up in 'em mountains hunting. I like this guy, he has a good heart, my kind of guy!

Sooooo after my long hike I went and sat in the hot tube.  I got reacquainted with an acquaintance I made maybe 10 years ago.  He’s an old professional hockey player from Canada (i.e. he has few teeth left to prove it).  He has written a book for first time coaches.  He has coached well over 1,000 young people in lacrosse.  What is important he says is teaching young kids life skills and not put such an emphasis on winning. About less than .5 % of these kids will ever play professionally, about 2% will get some type of scholarship to play at the college level but all will need life skills in their life. Besides, he went on to say, 80% of sports ability is their DNA and the other 20% is such things as attitude, opportunities, practice, diet, and keeping your weight in check. BUT here I play pickleball and there are all kinds of tournaments to find out who is the best. Even in open play, the winners stay, and the losers sit down. You would think at age 77 relationships, relationship skills, and exercise would be by far much more important but winning is still very important to a lot of folks. Soooo we still get topsy-turvey! BUT that is my opinion. BUT I think that is really funny! 77YearOldCrazyMarvin says—erv, you are completely wacko, if you are not a winner in our culture, you’re nuttin! Let's face it! YaBut, UncleHeleoFromKentucky says--When the gonger gongs, the number of pickleball games we won will not be brought up but how you acted might (i.e. but I'm not certain about that--the Bible says there is only one thing that matters)!

I read early the next morning this what April wrote (i.e. anybody can be an April)--Our earliest experiences have a profound effect on how we view ourselves and on how we think God and others see us. We may grow up with confidence, or we may have a quiet, persistent voice in our minds that asks, “Am I really worthy of being loved?” Henri Nouwen speaks to this struggle when he writes, “Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that declares we are loved.” Yet, for many of us, receiving this assurance may be a challenge."

I read this written by Tish Harrison Warren in her book, Prayer in the Night. 

I was having breakfast with a friend down here in the Valley and an older gentleman came up to me and said--East Lake huh!  He was the first and only person who knew what East Lake was so far; it was where Bobby Jones learned to play golf.  He’s one of my heroes.  I just read this story again and it tells you why I like Bobby Jones. Bobby Jones was an early golfer in the United States. At the U.S. Open in Massachusetts in 1925, he went to officials and told them he had accidently moved his ball slightly, violating Rule 18. They didn’t agree. It was on the eleventh hole, and they told him to keep playing. Jones refused, saying he really had moved the ball a bit. As a result of his honesty, he lost the game—by one stroke. Later he told the sportswriters who praised him for his honesty, “You might as well praise me for not robbing banks.” LuckieEddie says—erv, it seems that there aren't as many folks that care about being honest anymore. Oh, LuckieEddie, I think there are a lot of honest folks but the dishonest seem to get a lot of the attention maybe!

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—Ideas are funny little things...they don't work unless you DO.

P.S. We are the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13), and to do any good we have to get out of the ‘salt shaker.’

ATM

ATM is most often thought of as a machine where folks get money but used as an internet slang initialism it stands for “At the Moment” (e.g. I’m busy atm).

MyTennisCoachRichard who told us that the folks called him Dick and he has been a Dick the rest of his life, sorta kinda told me--It appears, I repeat, it appears that if I don’t do what they do, don’t say what they say, and don’t think like they think I won't get what they got. Now we can interpret that as a positive or a negative now can’t we (e.g. if I eat what they eat I will look like what they look like or if I get an attitude like they have I will have a personality like them). It appears warmer weather, sunshine and the beauty of nature increases folks’ desire and amount of time they spend in nature (i.e. statistics prove that). Also, statistics prove that there is a decrease in alcoholism probably related to less depression (i.e. although it appears that there are a lot of happy hours that go on every day down here in The Valley of the Sun in the 55+ communities).

#681 we have a winner!  That's you! Some of you are just amazing folks, just amazing.  I have told you that and I mean it.  Maybe there are some of you who are amazing but don’t feel amazing.  Yikes! That’s not good!. Many of you have made huge massive changes in your lives that are crazy big and powerful.  My hat goes off to you.  Some of you ATM are in situations that are tough and you are handling them like champs.  Just amazing.  I’m patting you on your back. You know who you are. Now don’t let your body and/or mind tell you that you are not amazing, ‘cause you are! Shakespeare said—"We know what we are but we know not what we may be!”

about don't happen! A 84-year old gal at a dinner party told us that many times she wakes up at one and is up for the day—how come we asked—I get up and worry—what do you worry about—I have a lot to worry about and if I don’t have anything to worry about, I worry that I don’t have something to worry about—soooo what do you do at one—iron, I iron everything.  Soooo I was checking out at the grocery store the other day and I asked the middle aged clerk—how’s life going—ATM it’s been hard—how come—do you really want to know—ya, I do—one of my son’s died of COVID and the other one was just incarcerated, he is a bad person—wow, that is tough to take—I express my sympathy to you: I can’t fix those two situations but I will pray for you soooo you have the strength to get through them—well thank you sir, I have never had someone offer to pray for me before. FYI—I read this recently--Sympathy and empathy are two words often confused—but there are important differences between them. We express sympathy when we have feelings of pity or sorrow for someone’s misfortune or situation. Sympathy is knowledge-based. Empathy is when we understand and share the feelings of another. Empathy is experience-based. Sympathy says, “I feel for you,” while empathy says, “I feel how you feel.”

Are you happy at ATM?  Here in the 55+ communities of the Valley, the folks have a happy hour on their decks most every day.  They sit and drink with their friends and acquaintances.  Maybe, the more they drink the happier they get.  Folks really seem to like it.  I think they enjoy getting juiced up and relaxed.  For some, maybe it’s the best part of their day or life.  Could be. I read in the paper soooo it must be right, that IA set a new record for most alcohol sold in a year in 2022.  Sooooo what that means I really don’t know. Maybe folks are trying to get happy. A lot of happy hours! Doesn’t Russia folks drink a world record amount of Vodka?  Heres to ya!

ATM CoachB says—This is one of the things we always do, we always tell what we are doing right. What we don’t tell is what we are doing wrong (e.g. folks typically tell others how great they are but don’t tell others when they aren’t soooo great, like on social media). I read the book Prayer in the Night byTish Harrison Warren that was suggested by a friend I made playing basketball at good ol’ Northwestern College a zillion years ago.  We have remained friends all these years (i.e. a good guy with a good heart, my kind of person). ANYWAY, this book is written by an Anglican priest. I like her style of writing.  She expresses her thoughts by wondering and expressing herself as a human and doesn’t preach like she knows everything as she admits she doesn't. This book was very challenging and inspiring to me. If you think you know all the answers, then maybe you might not like the book soooo much! I knew a person who thought they knew everything; I thought they were a joke but some seemed to like that person and believed everything they said. Abraham Lincoln said--You can fool all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time but you can't fool all the people all of the time. I read while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it this--When folks figure out they don't know everything or think they know everything, they are at the start of being wise! Such is life!

Dr. J says--"Though the laws of physics are much more complicated, for practical purposes we can say that two physical objects cannot occupy the same physical space at the same time. Conversely, a single physical object cannot occupy two different physical spaces at the same time. But the Bible has a different take on these general laws...Theologians say God is omnipresent—He is everywhere at the same time. So He can be 'here' and 'there.' That means we are never separated from the presence of God. Wherever we are, God is also there."  Soooo what do you believe?  C. S. Lewis said--"Though our feelings come and go, [God’s] love for us does not." I believe that! That is assuring to me! Even though I don't completely understand it! ervie is human and God is God; there is a huge massive difference there folks!

#986 we have a potential winner!  That might be you! Obviously there are some of you folks that could be more amazing!  haha  I was going to hike up Spook Hill and this stone was at the trail head. It made me laugh.  But it has a point maybe!

OneSmartPerson who has a positive next shot mentality, says—"ATM it appears our technology has eclipsed our psychology. Is it a coincidence, or just a kind of grand irony, that loneliness has spiked just as our media became ‘social,’ our technology became ‘personal,’ and our machines learned to recognize our faces?” Think through that folks. I just read while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--Stop comparing, and start being content. “It is better to be content with what little you have. Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more, and that is like chasing the wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:6). Contentment doesn’t mean you don’t have any goals, dreams, or plans for your life. It simply means you don’t need more in order to be happy. GerogeTheCrook, who carries a big stick, says--By nature, people are discontent. I find it very hard not to compare. It doesn’t seem to help when all media seems to want me to compare myself to others. ATM it appears that there is a lot of competition amongst folks in many phases of life; isn’t competition really comparison. It’s hard not to be forced to compete or is it just me. I read a lot that simple is better sooooo declutter and make your life better.  BUT most folks do just the opposite. ItchieBitchie who should maybe put on the concussion protocell the way she acts, says—People with simple lives don’t get any attention and I like attention!

When in Waukee our son, our grandson and I were having a meal together and Rookie, age 10, asked us if everyone likes their jobs? We discussed that most folks do not like their jobs but don’t have a choice according to the paper, soooo it must be right. And the reason is that most jobs that people would like to do, they can’t make enough to support their families or support their habits and lifestyles. Many folks like most parts of their job but not all of it.  Sooo, that is why folks are constantly looking for a better job. JoeBlow who is very old school but very effective let me tell ya, says--C’mon folks, it’s mostly about the money! And if you are given money not to work, why work some folks think and don’t! BUT flip the pancake, there are folks that really like their jobs! JoeBlow goes on to say—I always want a job that I don’t have to work very hard, don’t have to work many hours, have no responsibility but make a lot of money!  Soooo I was buying some post cards and a maybe 90-year-old lady was picking out some cheap earrings at the checkout ahead of me—soooo you going dancing tonight and need some earrings—ya, I am, you want to come along—I only date rich women, are you rich—I’m loaded! What a hoot!

Soooo I was playing in a 3.5-4 interpark round robin the other day (i.e. I’m more a 3.5 or maybe less and on the down side of the bell curve and sliding). ANYWAY, in one game my partner who was this gal who I know by first name only but I have played with her a few times before.  She and I really played well together and spanked our opponents pretty bad. She has good sportsmanship but is a real competitor and really likes to win.  When we were leaving the court, she asked my how old I was (i.e. what is her motive and does she want me to ask her how old she is—I already am guessing she looks about my age).  Sooooo I told her my age and I asked her what her age is.  She was 11 years younger than me.  She acted disappointed that I wasn’t younger!  What a hoot! Soooo I was telling my old golf buddies this story and OldIRSagentBill who told us he dazzles the gals with his indifference, said I should have said—Oh, you look to me that you are about 56!  The other two old guys said—no no erv, that’s toooo much over the top, but you should’f said—You sure don’t look like retirement age; she might have fallen for that!  Hey, don’t kid yourself, these old guys have been around the block! Really the golf is way tooo expensive here in AZ but the BS and knowledge, and wisdom from these old guys are worth every cent of it!

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

erv

MyFriendJean said--A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.

undertone

CoarchB says—We look with our eyes but don’t see with them.  He said he was trying to say is we see with our mind and spirit.  Sooooo we think differently even though we look at the same thing. Makes sense to me. Sooo what you will read in this “It’s Saturday” is understood way differently by each of you.  He suggests that we raise our consciousness of what we see but be careful what we look at.  Again, I say—What we see and understand is really based on our genetics, our past environment and our current environment. My opinion. Sooo, rub some dirt on it and let’s get going!  Saturday question—Do you think you got a gest of what I was trying to say?

LuckieEddie who acts like a 5-star bathroom monitor, says--Look before you leap!  Have your parents ever said to you—If everyone else is jumping off the cliff, it doesn’t mean that you have toooooo.  You might want to put some thought into the consequences.  Just maybe.  What do you think?  That is what I thought. Maybe you might what to see things differently that others. Big on the maybe!

CrazyWilly who is a walking billboard, says--Some men have a hard time trying to figure out how to say, “I love you, maybe.”  One fellow did a poorer job than most when he told his wife, “You’re just like dandruff darling, because I just can’t get you out of my head, however hard I try!” MyNeighborDownTheStreet says—That sounds good to me.  Okay, okay, maybe just keeping his mouth shut and giving her flowers might have been better.  Just let the undertone say, “I love you.”

I had the opportunity to go to Charlie's Show Choir program (i.e. she is in 7^th grade at Waukee).  All of our grandkids seem to like music and seem to have some talent.  I’m happy for that as I believe it’s good to have a balanced life (i.e. their grandmother, Arlene, would be proud of them).  ANYWAY, her grade has about 1,000+ kids.  7^th grade Show Choir is an elective and there was a total of about 80+ kids in Show Choir. It sure seemed like these kids had an undertone for an interest and enjoyment for music (i.e. a great positive and exciting undertone).  But getting back to the 80andsome kids in 7^th grade singing in her Show Choir.  What a difference in physical development of those kids.  And it also appeared there was a difference in cultural back grounds.  Just amazing.  This is a public metro school which is probably more conducive to this.  I enjoyed it and think it’s good for 7^th graders, maybe. My opinion. Those of you who home school or have your kids in parochial schools might not agree with that. Saturday question—Are some school districts better than others?

This concert gave me a feeling that the undertone was genuine, and the kids, friends, parents and grandparents really were supportive. That was the undertone that I felt anyway.   Most folks can seem to feel when a program or service is forced a.k.a. manufactured (i.e. a canned presentation).  They just don’t have the same feeling about them.  The undertone just isn’t the same. Well cats and dogs! CadillacJack who is great at lip-syncing a.k.a. pretending says—It doesn’t take long to smell the rot! But if it is the real deal, it doesn’t take long to smell the sweet aroma either (i.e. like the smell of lilacs on a spring day).  Such is life. 

Rookie was up early (i.e. he's a early riser) and likes to sit by me and touch me (i.e. an undertone). I was reading my devotions on my iPhone and he was playing a game on his iPad.  He asked me what I was doing.  I told him and asked if he wanted to see a short video I get each morning--how long is it (i.e. kids don't want anything that isn't moving fast and is toooo long it seems)--maybe 15 seconds--ok. It was about not sweating the small stuff of life.  Rookie said to me--Grandpa, that's a good idea.

JoeAverage says—Undertones like demons seem to be like déjà vu all over again. Oh fudge! I seem to not enjoy an undertone of phoniness (i.e. when folks aren’t telling the truth but just faking it like sweeping the problem under the rug). MissPerfect says—Sometimes the show looks good but there is a backstory! Tooooo me that just never solves the problem as it just keeps festering and keeps showing up.  It generally lasts for a long time as it just reappears. It appears to me that ya got to get to the root of the problem.  Coverups and pretending just doesn’t seem to cut the mustard.  They just don't erase anything, don’t rub the problem away. The undertone is always there.  Many times, folks won’t discuss the problem, but it still exists; it is still felt.  It’s to me very negative.  ItchieBitchie who can really fill it up, says—You can throw a lot of money at it or paint it over, but an ugly undertone just doesn’t go away by doing those things. My opinion. I read this which was said by a long-time international businessperson—"Think of it this way:  In a meeting of your colleagues, who is the person you most want to hear from? Is it the person who likes to speak and often does, but not with candor, honesty, or knowledge? Or is it the person you know you can trust; someone you know will speak the truth in kindness?”

Last winter my bike fell against my leg.  I tore a chunk of skin back soooo I just cleaned it, put the skin back over the wound and put a band aid on it.  It’s what an ol’ farm boy does!  Well, it got infected some but finally healed some.  It got a big bump of about a quarter of an inch high and looked bad.  MyFriendTheNurse finally dug into in trying to drain the puss out but there was no puss, but she dug out a terrible looking yellow ball of crap.  It scabbed over again, and it took about 5 months, but it’s back to normal.  Probably if I would have gone to urgent care and used my Medicare, they would have fixed it and it would have been fine in a couple of weeks.  I just saved you folks maybe $2,000.  You are welcome! Chester and Anna would have been proud that I used the old farm method that we learned on the farm a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN. (i.e. put some Watkins salve on it and it will be okay). I have an undertone.

We all have a reputation a.k.a. undertone if we like it or not. That is for a person, business, family, church, etc. Our reputation usually is a combination of many years and events in our lives.  It’s like a cumulative grade point average (i.e. grades for the four years of high school or college and not just the last semester). It’s who you are over the long haul even though the minister might say differently when they do a funeral.  My mentor would say—erv, when folks die, they always become better and never get worse! D. L. Moody famously said, “Character is what you are in the dark”—what you do when no human is there to watch or hear or admire. Saturday question—Is our character related to our reputation?

A wise, old person (i.e. if you are old and wise, this wise person could be you) once said—There are three types of folks.  The first type, after doing a deed of kindness to another, is quick to demand the favor in return. The second type is not so quick to ask for a return of the favor, but privately thinks of the other as their debtor. The third type “does not even know what he has done.” That is what our undertone is if we like it or not.  Soooo a golf buddy and I were talking on hole 6 last summer about a mutual acquaintance who just died.  He and I made a relationship mainly working on a mission project along with others years ago.  As time went along, he seemed to develop an undertone of being very radical and strange.  We sorta kinda ended our relationship, and he really didn’t care.  He treated me like an old set of worn-out pillars.  Actually, no remorse, feelings, or emotions.  My friend told me that he treated all folks that way.  Life was all about him my golf buddy said (i.e. that was his undertone probably). Sooooo probably not toooo many really cared if he died then I would guess.

Saw a couple of my old buddies. The pic was from 2011. My buddy with the big gut who is a stand up comedian and he doesn’t even know it, told me that when I sent him this pic in 2011, he realized how big his gut was and then lost 30 pounds and has kept it off (i.e. I never knew that the picture did that to him—I applaud you my friend). Now that is an undertone about him I would guess. He figured it out himself. That always works better it seems.  Actually, all three of these guys have the most interesting life stories a.k.a. undertones. 

Soooo this week I golfed with some more of my good ol' buddies.  They are between 80 and 90. One had both shoulders repaired, another has a sciatic nerve problem, and had back surgery in which they put in 8-2inch screws in (i.e. we think a couple are loose), and the third guy slipped on the MN ice and has a bad knee and a bad hip.  Other than that, they are somewhat normal.  The undertone was "slow!"  They just don't move very fast anymore!  A lot of moaning and groaning! GovMike said--Everything he does is slow including peeing! These guys are a hoot!    

Demon has two meanings. I think that is called polysemy. I think this can cause us to get misunderstood a lot and makes it hard to understand the English language at times. A demon can be an evil spirit/devil, or it can mean a forceful, fierce, or skillful performer of a specified activity.  If we have demons that bother us and we want a better life, we need to get rid of them. Some of you folks have told me that you have, super you are for sure.  And others of you have told me you just can’t get rid of them, boo! Both feelings are undertones of our lives!  I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it that might help you--My Prayer Lord, I want my mind to be renewed. Thank you for changing me and changing my focus. Thank you for making my thoughts new and different. Continue to free me from my problems and distract me from them. They are there. And if nothing can be done about them at any moment, then I don't need to turn my focus to them. I know that me and my family members have a tendency to let problems begin to snare them and control them and they obsess with them. But, Lord, let us turn our focus on You and realize that You want us to not be anxious about our problems. Lord, I present them to You and pray that we would be drawn to You and understand that Your peace will pass all understanding.

Flying to Waukee for the weekend was a fun time a.k.a. a great investment.  The undertone was just great. Even though I got beat playing Yahtzee AGAIN!

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—Nothing is a waste that makes a memory.