the way I see it

A senior citizen, a name older folks are called among many other names, said this--The older we get, the smaller our dreams get. When we're young we want to change the world but when we're older we just want to get through the day without any problems. I don't agree with that statement completely. I have a lot of big dreams. My dreams might have changed some but I still have a lot of dreams. But that is me, that's the way I see it!

Saturday question—What do you really like to talk about? Food, pickleball, politics, weather, sports, price of corn, money, quilting, other people, cars, your job, yourself, your family etc. The way I see it, many conversations we like, others might have very little interest in.  Violet Stillwater (i.e. that is her bar name she says) asks--Sooo what are the contents of important conversations?

I would have really enjoyed visiting with C.S. Lewis. Actually, he would at every 4 o’clock go to the pub and sit on the end stool at the pub, have a pint, and talk to anyone. Some of his writings are very hard for me to understand and some are sooo full of wisdom which I think I understand such as:  "To be happy at home is the end of all human endeavor. The sun looks down on nothing half so good as a household laughing together over a meal, or two friends talking over a pint of beer, or a person alone reading a book that interests them; and all economics, politics, laws, armies, and institutions, are only valuable in so far as they prolong and multiply such scenes." A friend some years ago gave me one of Lewis' books and told me, I can’t understand it, maybe you can.” I couldn’t!

When we were in San Diego, Jeanne saw a skirt in the window just like the one she had when a young lady soooo she went in as a throwback feeling. It was an up-scale women’s store for young women. As she was leaving, she noticed a security guard sitting by the door soooo she asked him if they have a lot of theft—no very little but they hire us to give the young ladies a feeling of security sooo they will want to shop here. Soooo I had to think, where do humans get their security or think they get their security? The way I see it…

The way I see it when faith moves out worry moves in. Those two qualities cannot occupy the same thought. It’s just like you can’t be thankful and discouraged at the same time. But the way I see it, I have a choice as to what I'm going to think about. It is certain that two folks can look at the same situation and see two different things (e.g. an opportunity or a problem). Why is that do you think? Isn’t the mind interesting! AverageJoe says—What you put in your mind will come out of your mind soooo try to be around good people (i.e. they rub off on us). If you don't believe me, just look around folks! It's not rocket science. That's the way I see it!

I would like your opinion as to what changes folks or is there anything that can change a person. The way I see it is that folks don’t change much or at all or maybe they do but it takes something really bizarre for that to happen. Ok, the way I see it, some genetics just can’t be changed, and the mind is trained by our environment of past and present to a point that it’s rather dialed in for the long run it appears. Sooo what is your opinion as to what might change folks—maybe like a disease, catastrophe, experience, money, accident, The Holy Spirit, ageing, etc., it has to be something that we have absolutely no choice on and I still wonder if folks change. Sooo if that might be true, why do we keep trying to change other folks. That is the way I see it. JoeBlow says—C’mon erv, people change all the time, you must be blind, where have you been! CrazyMarivin, who is as smooth as butter,  asks—Soooo does that mean that good people don’t chance as well?

A friend and his son were in a car accident that really could have resulted in serious injury or death. They were spared. It recently has been a year since that happened and I asked him if he still thinks of it—everyday when I get into the car; we have been very blessed. The way I see it, it appears that his thought process has changed.

I saw this on a car in Costco parking lot! The evenings have just been beautiful sooooo we go for walks. An acquaintance who we met walking told us she got hit by a car the other night crossing a street in our 55+ community. She got knocked down but didn't get hurt. She has tire prints on her toes to prove it. The person didn't even stop, maybe they didn't even know they hit her.

Do you like to set people straight? That means then that we think we are right and they are wrong. I know folks who always think they are right and love to argue what they think is their perfection. I like discussions but not a lecture sooo much, there is a huge massive difference in those two. Saturday question—Should we try to change folks who are legally wrong, morally wrong, destructively wrong, with possible addictions, ethically wrong or let them be? ItchieBitchie says, as I see it—You can’t win a pissing match with a skunk! Ya, I read in the Book that it’s foolish to argue with a fool! It’s better to smile and say nothing (i.e. that's the way I see it)!

The way I see it--Besides praying for wisdom in the specific areas that arise in life, we should also pray daily for wisdom to walk wisely through this world. Suck it up cupcake and let's get going!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—Actions speak louder than words.

attention span

I tell you what I would do! BUT I realize that you probably don’t much care what I would do; I got it! And here is part of the reason: The female population aged 80 and over accounts for approximately 2.3% of the population and males 80 and over account for1.6% of the population. I’m 1.6% of the U.S. population and that is a very small slice! Soooo who really cares much of what the 1.6% of the folks think. I get it! ItchieBitchie says--Unless they want money!

We were at a concert, and the leader of the singing group told us that they do little clips on YouTube of their group. They do them acapella and they have to be less than a minute. Anything longer, people won’t watch them. That is about how long the attention span is of folks now a days. Da! He said, they have had many thousands of hits (i.e. very successful). Soooo I’m going to try to keep this short—under a minute! Read fast! And it’s acapella!

I have noticed more recently that if a person is telling a story or talking about their family or telling about their vacation, if it’s longer than about 15 seconds, the folks have lost interest. JoeSmiley says—Who really cares about other folks’ 48 vacation pictures!  In watching tv ads they move soooo fast and quick that my mind sometimes can’t keep up (i.e. of course I’m 80)! The only thing I see that is not true is with praise songs at church; they repeat the same 7 words 11 times soooo they are called 7-11 songs! And the same is true, most folks lose interest! Some just sit down and read their text messages! We live in bing bang done world.

My personal gal at the car dealer when I was getting our vehicle serviced was maybe in her 20s and she really knew cars, I was just amazed, and a nice girl too! I asked her how she learned soooo much about cars and she said from her father and her husband (i.e. what does that tell ya). Her husband and her do car drifting. We did not know what that was and she explained what it was and showed us videos! Crazy! That’s something you might do but not me! My attention span could not handle that! Besides she told us that it's very expensive!

Analogy! Soooo a friend and his wife were riding in the back seat of our vehicle. He told me that it sounds like your real wheel bearings need to be replaced as they are growling and you should do that before driving to San Diego.  Sooooo, yes, they were bad and I had them replaced because of the noise and for safety sake. Soooo, I got soooo used to the noise that I didn’t even notice it but after they were replaced, wow, was it quieter, way better! Da! Sooooo, if we would tell someone that their life would be better if they become a believer, they wouldn’t know the difference until they became a believer now would they! Da! We can become soooo use to the nose!

I’m working on “just not looking but learning more to see!” CoachB says, we look with our eyes but see with our mind and spirit, meaning we look at the same things but understand things completely different. That is because of our genetics and past and current environments. I’m going to try to increase my ability of seeing more and not just looking  (i.e. adjust my attention span). BUT I question if we as humans can really change very easily or at all. AverageJoe says—I have a very hard heart! Listen AverageJoe, everything is possible! Even surprises happen sometimes like a jack in the box! Fliptheplancake--If folks are really good folks, the odds are very good that they are not going to change!

Writer and scholar C. S. Lewis reminds us that skills are not acquired at a distance, but through participation: "If we want to get warm we must stand near the fire: if we want to be wet we must get into the water. If we want joy, power, peace, eternal life, we must get close to, or even into, the thing that has them."

A-SmartPerson from La Jolla said, “erv, success is often found by practicing the fundamentals that everyone knows they should be doing but find too boring or basic to practice routinely." I agree but ‘the fundamentals everyone knows’ aren’t all the same for sure! Da! Look around folks, it’s not rocket science!

We really enjoyed attending Shadow Mountain Community Church and hearing Dr. David Jeremiah speak. He is an icon and is 85 (i.e. it was great to see and hear him in person). He still preaches at 3 services each Saturday/ Sunday despite his age and bad health. Amazing. A great experience. For some of you, hearing Dr. David Jeremiah speak doesn’t mean anything! We see things differently now don’t we. Or as a person said to me—erv, we don’t think alike!  Maybe our attention spans and beliefs are different! Could be! Such is life.

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--You can catch more flies with honey, then you can with vinegar.

what I thought about

Here are a few thoughts that I thought about while walking on the ocean beach the last month. A few of the zillion zillion zillion thoughts I thought about!

Contentment feels good

God whispers gently in my ear and I heard many things that refreshed and restored me a.k.a. great encouragements.

In 20 years it won’t make any difference about soooo much stuff, but what will matter is what I have done with what I have been given.

What is important in my life and what isn’t.

We are all individuals, it appears. Psychologists tell us that every person struggles to understand their own identity. 

erv, remind myself today to not be discontent as the Lord wants me to be happy and to do good while I live. Live my life joyous!

What goes on in my mind is invisible, undetectable to other people

Be humble erv or you will stumble

I think once again that God is God and God is unfathomable to me, God is way beyond my comprehension.

Ecclesiastes many times tells us to enjoy life.

We saw thousands of gals up to the age of about 26 wearing shoe-string bikinis. After that age, swim attire seemed to change to the far extreme of our age group were we saw very few folks our age walking the beach and the ones that did wore long sleaves and a sun hats! Very little skin showing! Age seems to change folks alright!

Real growth is about becoming more of who I already am

It's a great feeling to love and be loved!

Am I persistent and am I consistent

Why have I been soooo blessed and why haven’t I been blessed more or less!

Some feelings are indescribable; they are beyond words. Watching dawn of a cloudy dreary rainy day over the ocean was just beautiful to me; hard to explain. Very touching.

I think that some folks talk in code and I need to figure out their code; they just don’t talk straight out!  

We heard Dr. David Jeremiah speak in person every Sunday we were in San Diego. He is dynamic and is soooo humble, my opinion. I have thought a lot about humility and the ocean atmosphere is very conducive to that thinking; it’s very humbling to me. It makes me think what Dr. J says—We are not in charge of the world, but God is. I sometimes think I’m in charge and try to make everything work the way I want it, but it doesn’t happen. I try to manipulate reality; I can’t do it. Sometimes I learn the hard way that I’m not God but just erv! It appears that humanity really struggles with this!

 Hope is soooo great!

Our minds are amazing and hard to understand

And the conclusion of matter is: Life goes on!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—A chain is only as strong at its weakest link.

exhilarated

Charlie Brown, the famous character in Charles M. Schultz’s Peanuts comic strip, is quoted as saying, “I think I’m afraid of being happy because whenever I get too happy something bad always happens.” We all seem to have had that feeling at times, maybe!

I’m sitting by the window in our apartment and watching the waves of the Pacific Ocean  pounding the beach and hearing the thundering crashing noise which both are very exhilarating to me. It is something that was on my bucket list of sorts. It is hard to explain what this does to me, it seems to touch me—we are all unique folks (i.e. like different dogs on the beach) and think differently (i.e. maybe we are like the dog on the beach trying to catch a seagull on the fly). What goes on in our mind is invisible, undetectable to other people and vice versa!

Take a listen and a look folks! We are all unique alright! Every person on the beach is different looking and is thinking of something different; even all the dogs are different (i.e. and there are a lot of them). Crazy! What are you thinking about currently? Why are you thinking about that? You are unique alright! Don’t kid yourself! I was told that what ever we think about and talk about the most is the most important to us (e.g. if folks talk about themselves or their dog then probably that is the most important to them. Huh, interesting! Soooo based on that assumption, what is the most important in our lives? Da! I have been in many houses during my business career and I think I can tell what is important to folks by what they have on their walls. It's not rocket science folks! Just listen and look around! Such is life.

We saw many yachts in the different harbors that are luxury yachts from all over the world. Soooo what do those folks do when sailing; what do those folks think about? They have hours, days, months to think. I just wonder why they do that?

Billy Graham is right...at least for me...in that it is hard to concentrate solely on good things and God. So many distractions. Why do I allow that to happen? But walking on the ocean beach is a great opportunity to think, think about things that I normally probably wouldn’t think about (i.e. it is a great atmosphere for me for sure). Besides, it’s a good way to get the dirt cleaned from between my toes!

The tide does changes alright! A lady at our complex was sitting by the pool as we walked by. She was reading a book about emotions. We asked her what her emotions were—I have so many as I battled cancer last year and my two children have left home. Soooo, I have many emotions and am working on how to handle them. At the ocean is a good place to think through issues, my opinion. It’s an enjoyable place for me.

We went to the tide pools during the negative low tide to observe another world that normally we don’t see. Very educational to me (i.e. you don’t do that in Butler County IA). The analogy I made is that part of our lives we don’t easily expose until we have negative low tide and even then many folks don’t get to see what is down there unless they really look hard (i.e. and if we let them).

It’s not a nail biter! One good question that I asked myself while on the beach the other day--Which relationships deserve more of my attention?

Pretty tricky! I learned a new trick here near the beach. I learned how guys just put a towel around themselves (i.e. gals use a gown) and take their clothes off and put on their wet suits on underneath them and and also when taking their wet suits off. I think I better practice that a few times before doing it in public.

But there are down sides here toooo! I was waiting in our vehicle at Trader Joe’s parking lot for Jeanne when a senior couple was pushing a shopping cart full of groceries along with their maybe 35-year-old son who was driving an Audi parked next to me (i.e. probably visiting their son). As they were putting the groceries in the trunk, dad says to his kid—A person needs a second job just to pay for the groceries. Yes, the cost of living is high here. Our complex manager is in his 30s and he told us that common apartments are from $2,000 to $4,000 a month; many folks pay 75% of their monthly pay on rent and insurance. As my mentor would say to me—erv, nuttin is as good as it looks and nuttin is as bad as it looks! Such is life!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—A strong wind makes a strong tree.

what do we beleive

I saw a billboard sign that read—100% of boring billboard signs are useless! Do you believe that?

Accelerating! We see surfers, bikers, walkers, kite flyers, a lot of dogs, and runners on the beach and board walk but more in the mornings and evenings and on weekends. Most runners are young folks between 18 and 30. And there seems to be a ratio of 3 to 1 being CA  gals with their tummies showing (i.e. surfers are more like 8 out of 10 young males). Pacific Beach has to be the spandex capital of America! That is what I believe. It also makes me feel like the acronym that our neighbor told us is popular which is FOMO meaning --Fear of missing out! We really do enjoy the boardwalk and the ocean beach! They are accelerating! TheQueenOfPacificBeach tells the world, ya gotta keep moving! 

Dr. J says—"While there are a number of countries that have practiced atheism as the official position of the state, there are only three countries that currently practice state atheism: the People’s Republic of China, North Korea, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Yet even within these officially atheistic countries, religions flourish. Wherever humans exist, the longing for God is ongoing. This reality reflects the words of King Solomon near the end of his life. He recognized that God ’has put eternity in [men’s] hearts’—that is, a longing to connect with man’s Creator. Solomon also observed that ‘no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end’ by simply recognizing His existence. General revelation—for example, nature (Romans 1:19-20)—can show us God exists, but it takes special revelation—through the written Word and living Word, Jesus Christ (John 1:14)—to show us how to fill the God-shaped vacuum in our heart.” Do we believe Solomon and Dr. J? I do!

What do you believe? My hypothesis is that 67.86% of folks who have dogs on the board walk are female. I have no idea why, maybe you do. Also 89.26% of the surfers are male. Again I have no idea, maybe you do. Maybe they just are mental quirks!

What is the key to our heart? Maybe you don’t think there is a key to our heart, that could be! I know as well as you do, some folks have a very hard heart (i.e. it seems as hard as a rock). We were standing behind the first tee boxes of Tore Pines (i.e. one thing I wanted to do) and another guy was doing the same. He asked about us and we gave him our short story. He toooo told us that we are soooo fortunate to be together (i.e. that is what he told us out of the blue--Life is meant to be together.) We told him that we are very thankful! We asked him if he was a believer; I sure am, he said and that is what I believe!

Playwright and actor Woody Allen, 89, gave an interview last fall to The Wall Street Journal. He said, “The older I get, the more horrible I think everything is. I mean, the more life experience you have, you start to see what a foolish, meaningless, tragic experience it is.” Dr. J says—"What a bleak way to view the world! Yet without Christ, life really is foolish, meaningless, and tragic. The writer of Ecclesiastes grappled with just that issue.” That is what Dr. J and I believe.

We asked a surfer who rode his bike up to us carrying his surfboard (i.e. you don't see that in Butler County IA) how much does a surfboard cost. He said I have six of them in the range from $100 to a $1,000+. You must be pretty good surfer to have that many! I am a good surfer compared to somebody who doesn’t know anything about it! Well that’s us! So you’re good! And maybe he was just smoking some marijuana; there is a lot of that smoked here; we see it and smell it!

CoachB says—"The promised land lives in what we do daily. Not something out there but something in there!” It appears that maybe a 25-year-old gal lives in this van by our apartment maybe 50 yards from the ocean (i.e. at least for a couple of days). She has her wet suit hanging on the mirror and her surfboard hanging on the back of her van. She seems to work and has her car in front of the van (i.e. maybe even works from her van). She is an attractive CA gal. They tell us that housing is very expensive here. Maybe this is her promised land! Could be. A down side is that the San Diego Parking makes them move their vans every 2 days it seems. A tour guide told us that the top three money makers for San Diego are ship building and repair, military, and tourism. Soooooo, the homeless lifestyle is really policed it appears maybe for the money reason related to tourism (i.e. it ain’t pretty).

This is like the surfers' "duck dive." King Solomon says--Whatever amount of money God has entrusted to you, pray for even more wisdom. Whoever finds wisdom finds life (Proverbs 8:35). I believe that!

TheCA-SurferGirlWithTheGTO says--“I’ve never met a person who enjoys life who is unhappy doing so!” I agree with King Solomon as what he said--“People ought to enjoy every day of their lives, no matter how long they live.”

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—Speech is silver—silence is golden.

new and improved

These two words, new and improved, are the most often used words in advertising, sooo they say. They must work. They are what folks what to hear probably (i.e. that is my opinion). But remember folks, opinions are just opinions; most are less than 50% correct at best. My mentor would tell me—if a mutual fund manager is 51% correct, the person is considered a success! If they are 49% correct, they get fired.

SaltySeagull  says--"Which is easier—to make your bed in the morning or leave it unmade? To volunteer for a community project or to watch TV all weekend? To vacuum, wash, and wax your car or to leave it dirty? The easiest choices reflect the Second Law of Thermodynamics: all work processes tend toward a greater state of disorder over time without fresh injections of new energy. This law applies to us physically, mentally and spiritually." That is maybe considered an opinion to some!

Opportunity! Two girls down in the weeds: one a slave, one a princess. Two girls down in the weeds, and one baby crying in a basket. This story is about Moses; a great story, my opinion. The story is about helping someone who needs our help, but we think it’s quite unlikely it will be us, but all of a sudden it is our opportunity. And it changes the future—a new and improved future! Do we think sometimes that we are of the opinion of being tooooo important of a person to be the one to help someone? Who what me! HotSauceOfSanDiego says--Life is all about me and that's how I like it!

Never toooo old for an opportunity! Soooo at Shadow Mountain Community Church last Sunday, a lady approached us who was dressed nice and had her hair done nice as well; she had to be 90 at least, her name was Joyce. She talked to us, greeted us and showed us around a little. After church, we ran into her again in the church's restaurant where we were having brunch. She was with a young gal maybe 20. Jeanne asked the young gal if she was her grand daughter--no no, I just met her 5 minutes ago! Yes, we heard Dr. David Jerimiah speak. A great experience and opportunity for us. My opinion!

For the new and improved teams Charles Barkey says—It’s not so much about Xs and Os but it’s more about the Jims and the Joes. If you are not a sports person, it means it’s not soooo much about coaches diagraming the plays but it’s more about having the better players to have good teams—good players make good coaches. As we have seen, some teams that have really gotten better in the last years (e.g. Indiana football—from the bottom rung to a championship team—new and improved—but they spent millions, word is $100,000,000+)! My opinion is that it looks to me that this philosophy applies to many things! You think sooo? Hey, the Super Bowl was not won with poor players! Da!

$$$$$$ Some of my sports buddies told me that one Indiana alumnus gave $100,000,000 to the football program to beef it up. Now that will give new and improved life to a program. They said that this type of donor is called a "white whale". These guys are from MN and they say U of MN does not have a white whale. Soooo, MN’s chance of winning a national championship is nil to none! They told me that Miami’s quarterback received $4,000,000 this last year to play there. Does this just make you wonder where this is going to stop? It’s all about the money! Or is it not! 

It is written--If the heart is receptive, the seed can bear fruit thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold (i.e. if we have a new and improved heart and mind—my opinion). Soooo if the heart is hard or non-receptive, guess what will it produce? Mr. Stingray says—But it also depends on what the seeds are that we plant in our hearts doesn’t it? If the seeds are cockleburs, it will produce cockleburs! JoePublic, what part don’t you understand?

The word Stingray (i.e. Stingrays are very common in the Pacific Ocean here) was modified here in San Diego years ago to Stingaree as the business people stung the sailors who came to port after a long time on the sea. The main places that they got stung at were at the brothels, gambling halls and saloons soooo they got the name Stingarees! Nuttin new I would guess! 

We were having  dinner with two old-friend couples before we left for CA (i.e. in more ways than one) who are our age. Joethehike said that we are 80 and about 4% of the U.S. population are 80 or more. Being in that 4% isn’t always new and improved. But it’s different alright! Something is still the same though, we enjoy each other’s company! We had a hoot!

Help help, please help. When we were still in AZ we had a lady stop at our place as she had 6 bags of cloths to give to Jeanne to take to New Hope. She said many of the clothes still had price tags on them yet. Her family member has dementia and bought clothes online and didn’t know what she was doing. Soooo sad! She also told us that she got scammed out of $9,000. Soooo sad. We need to help our family members if they need help; they need an advocate; we must admit that they need help. I can tell you this as I know from being a care giver of my wife who had Alzheimer’s (i.e. a first-hand experience)--don't kid yourself; we need to face reality as it's best for everyone. 

This is a multiple choice question. Who do you think said this statement, a pickleball partner, a car salesman or Jesus?  "For a new and improved life anything that tends to make you anxious is a growth opportunity. Instead of running away from these challenges, embrace them eager to gain all the blessings I have hidden in the difficulties." Saturday question--Are difficulties opportunities? As Dr. J said in his talk, "When I was struggling with cancer, I told God I had enough opportunities, I got it!"

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--Failure is one thing you can achieve without much effort.

juiced

You think wintering in the South is just a piece of cake and we are just juiced up all of the time. Well, it ain’t soooo. The other morning I had a blackout for 20 minutes!  Then I realized I had my hoody on backwards!

Something different! We are spending the month of February in San Diego (i.e. something different). And it is different. In Butler County, IA everyone waves at everyone even if you don’t know them and the same in our 55+ community in AZ. In fact, when I ride my bicycle in AZ I had to learn to ride with one hand as I have to continuously wave with the other. Here in San Diego, no one waves at me. It’s CA sooo maybe they haven’t caught on yet! The country was developed from the East to the West! hahaha

One of our neighbors in our 55+community is always juiced up with enthusiasm; he is always doing something from light to dark. And he can do anything and everything; he’s really good at everything plus he is a nice guy (i.e. we really like this guy). We asked him how come he’s soooo smart—he said, I ask myself that as well!

It is amazing how my emotions, thinking, happiness etc. can be affected by how others react to me in mixtures of situations. Soooo, you all affect me; you motivate me, discourage me, uplift me, deplete me, encourage me, spark me, humble me, make me feel loved, make me feel not loved, on and on and on; you get it. And I can juice you up or take your juice away I would guess as well.

Saturday question—Where did you get your juice? I’m asking where did you get what you got; what makes you you? Something Jeanne and I discuss a lot is genetics vs. environment. Maybe we are influenced by both; we think. Soooo which one is the most prominent in our life? Are we like our parents? Are we like the home or homes we grew up in? Do folks ever say we look just like our parents? Or do others say we act just like the home we grew up in? How about our children? John, anybody can be a John, says—I hope our children don’t grow up like me! Maybe we are all juiced up! BettyLouFromMissionBeach says—Our children seem to be pretty good people in spite of their father and me!

What is our favorite juice? Chester and Anna were good parents to me, my opinion. They were good people in many ways and taught me a lot of good stuff (i.e. I can see threads of them in my life). Unfortunately, my Daddy died  when I was 17 and my Mom died when I was 22 sooooo I was on my own early. BUT I was around some really good folks who were very influential in my life during that period of making a lot of important decisions. Another break I had or made was developing a very good relationship with a client who became my mentor. He shared soooo much of his wisdom (i.e. wisdom under the sun meaning earthly wisdom and wisdom under heaven meaning spiritual wisdom). We developed much trust in each other and he shared a lot with me. In fact, he told me that I knew more about his life, spiritually, personally and financially than anyone else; he said--erv I don’t know why I tell you all this stuff! He was a great man, my opinion. For sure he juiced me up!

When I think of an eternal flame I think of the one at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris and the flame on John F. Kennedy’s grave. Do we have an eternal flame in us that burns continuously and forever? If soooo, what is it? Where does it get its fuel, what juices it up. I would guess it has to do a lot with the folks we are around (e.g. if our flame is sweetness we are probably around sweet folks and if it is bitterness, we are probably around bitter folks). My take on it is that we are much like who encourages us. They fuel us. They juice us up! Look around, It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out! Da!

Who knows for sure! SurferJane says—The truth of certain stories are open for debate but this one is true, maybe, I think!  Here is a story told to Jeanne by a lady in in our 55+ community in AZ and she told it to me. Soooo it’s a third hand story and by that time most of the information is wrong or embellished as you know. Soooo take it for what’s it worth. This lady has a dog and takes it to the dog park regularly. She told Jeanne that there is a lady there that is just soooo nice to me; I have no idea why she is soooo nice to me; she is nice all the time to me; I just don’t get it. Jeanne asked who it is—I don’t know—what does she look like—what does her dog look like (i.e. dog folks are known by their dogs)—ok, that is so and so and yes she is a nice lady. Soooo Jeanne texted that lady and told her the story. That lady just took it pretty much in stride (i.e. she is a humble lady). BUT don’t kid yourself, I am sure she appreciated Jeanne’s encouragement! It juiced her up I bet!

There are a lot of surfers in the ocean here by our unit. They are interesting folks alright (i.e. you don't see guys and gals carrying surf board on their bikes in Butler Co.). Something else that is interesting for us here in San Diego is that neither of us have any family here, neither of us have any friends here nor neither of us have any business connections here. We are in an oasis all by ourselves without those stimuli for a month. We are creating our own environment between us. JoeSanDiego says--That is pretty juicy! A marriage is a valuable, unique relationship!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—If you got something for nothing, that is usually what it is worth.

PS Valentine hint! We stopped at the Post Office for some stamps for valentine cards to our grandkids. We asked the clerk if he could give us our change in some $5 bill for our grand kids. He said--Where have you folks been! Grandkids don't want $5 bills; they expect $100 bills!

a little bit

This “It’s Saturday” might be the same to some of you as how Jeanne described pickled herring at New Years—It wasn’t bad but not that good!! 

A little bit of the hot sauce on my taco can go a long way for me! Or a little bit of Nelly can go a long way for me as well! A little bit of kindness can also go a long way toooo. Just a little bit. But a little bit of meanness can go a long way as well. How about a little bit of encouragement, does that affect folks?

I joined the wood working club in our 55+ park. I’m not talented in wood working and have only a minimal interest but have found it quite interesting. A little bit of camaraderie is soooo good for folks no matter where we get it. These folks really have a good time putzing around (i.e. many of them at their age are limping around the wood shop as well). They are just enjoying their time on this earth by being around others doing the same. I have been impressed. I have a friend who is my wood working mentor who is really a good woodworker plus talented in other things (i.e. he seems to always have a good attitude). Others in the shop tell me that he is an unbelievably good wood worker and crazily smart! I told him that and his reply was--Only every 3rd day give or take (i.e. that explains why I like him sooooo much! 

CoachB says—"Don’t take advice from someone who isn’t living what they say.” MyPreacherMan friend says—"A little bit of cheerfulness goes a long way; sooo be cheerful to who you are around. No one wants to be around a grumpy, irritable, or depressed spirit. Our mood can lift many hearts during the course of a day.” Our cheerfulness can be a huge massive uplift a.k.a. encouragement to others; no question about that. FlipThePancake—Our unhappiness can be a huge massive discouragement! Saturday question—How can we be cheerful folks? ItchieBitchie who just clicks, says--There are somebodies and nobodies. Sometimes somebodies become nobodies and nobodies become somebodies just by being an encourager! And guess who makes that decision! I suggest we throw those chips away and get our butts of the couch and be somebodies! 

Have you ever got up on the wrong side of the bed?  Well, then there must be days that we got up on the right side of the bed. Right! Can we tell the difference which side of the bed we got up on? Ouchy ouchy! A little bit of something can make a big difference maybe! Maybe we need to sleep on the other side of the bed! Yikes!

AverageJoe from Oostburg, says—A little bit of advice from some folks can go a long way. Does AverageJoe from Oostburg mean that in a good sense or a bad sense? SusieQ from Roseland asks—At what age do parents quit giving advice to their children (i.e. cut the apron strings)? And at what age do children start giving advice to their parents?

I went and sat in our 55+ park’s hot tub late the other afternoon. One other guy was in it. I know him from years past. I asked him how is doing—just ok, I almost died from blood clots when replacing one of my knees and almost died from blood thinners when they did the other; then I hurt one of my replacement knees fishing last October soooo I have a big problem. I learn from aging folks that they tell the same stories over and over (i.e. and we are all ageing). Da! I also learn that ageing folks like to talk about themselves a lot and a little bit of ourselves and family goes a long way (i.e. and we are all ageing)! My opinion is--no matter here, there or anywhere a little bit too much about me and I is enough!

Jeanne got this bulb from a friend as a friendship gift. It was just a little bity of a  bulb and look at it now. Maybe you and I are just a little bity of a bulb but can produce something big and beautiful. What do you think? That is what I thought. Suck it up cupcake and lets get going!

Friends are good for us! We took some friend to the airport to fly home to help with a family problem (i.e. we really like these folks as we got to know them and trust each other. We attend the same church as well). RickyRick says--"We need others—particularly trusted friends—to walk with us through life. A physical family doesn’t always stay together. They grow up, move away, and, sadly, sometimes even split up. But a spiritual, trusted family a.k.a. friends, are soooo important (i.e. not soooo much when things are going hunky dory but much more when things are burning)." I suggest we try to be a sincere encouraging friend! Good friends punch my ticket; yes they do!

Soooo a little bit sometimes is good sooooo I'm wrapping this "It's Saturday" up with this final thought--Which activities, if doubled, would make our life meaningfully better? Which activities, if halved, would make our life meaningfully better? Or put it this way, if we would change 1% every day (i.e. that's just a little bit) in a year, we would be a different person! Wow!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--If you want to have bread you can't loaf.

pure delight

Personal! I woke up at 2:48 and was wade awake and excited so I got up. I had PURE DELIGHT! I couldn’t believe how awesome this was; I was thinking about life! I had to sing for joy! Pure joy! I wrote down all the things recently that produced this feeling. I had quite a list. Many of you were part of that list. This feeling was better than any steak I ever ate let me tell ya!

Big Splashers! That list contained many people who are special people to me; people who affect/affected me currently and in the past (i.e. you know who you are—Real people). People who are very successful by my standards; successful and humble folks. I had no stuff on my list! Huh, interesting. Oh ya, no bitter folks on my list either (i.e. those folks see the world in a daze, my opinion—just don’t seem to understand, just don’t seem to get it--I always wonder why).

What! This story is a pure delight and a what! I went to give blood recently at the American Red Cross Center in Gilbert. When I left, the lady asked me if I wanted to have a seizure! I said what! no way I want to have a seizure! She said no, not a seizure. I want to know if you want a T-shirt! I bet they had a good laugh after I left!  I got an appointment at Costco to test my hearing. It all started with our children giving me a membership at Costco to have my hearing tested a couple years ago. Well, it looks like reality is here.

Have issues! All great folks have difficulties, all and I mean all but most good folks seem to manage their lives and figure it out (i.e. pretty much). All  of those great folks have challenges right now. Life is difficult soooo they’re not surprised but they still have Pure Delight! Amazing. They have strong character. How and why do they? Figure it out! And I like to be around these folks, they give me Pure Delight.

CoachB askes—"Who are we going through life with? Who is in our boat? Who is in our life that makes a big difference in how we act and where we are going to end up.” He also says--"If we dance with the devil long enough sooner or later he is going to step on our feet." Look around folks, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Da!

Joethehike, anybody can be a Joe, says--If you want to look thinner hang around with heavy folks or if you want to look taller hang around with short folks. Or was it Steve or was it Bill who said that! For sure one of the three! Anyone can be a Steve or a Bill or a Joe! For sure! They all talk the same! They are all from the mining country of Northern MN!  

You you you! Ok,  my list that brought me pure joy was all about relationships. Again, not stuff! Billy Graham said—"There is nothing wrong with folks possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess folks” Relationships full of experiences, sharing, doing, loving, helping, caring, deep discussions, much laughing, etc. Things that are important and that is what builds solid meaningful relationships. They are Pure Delight. These relationships are from the past, long term, current, newer, very old, etc. Relationships of tremendous importance are soooo exciting (e.g. our son and our grandson were here last weekend—a great relationship). Pure delight!

Abraham Lincoln: "I'm a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn't have the heart to let him down.

I’m in wonderland. Yes, I am. My wonderland is a place inside of my mind. It’s when I see everything around me as a wonder; I’m just amazed of all the miracles I see around me. I am just amazed and just wonder how all this can happen. It’s a pure delight. Dwight Eisenhower said—"To read the Bible is to take a trip to a fair land where the spirit is strengthened and faith renewed.”

Ok ok, I’m not always soooo smart, but do understand somethings some of the time even though maybe not enough (i.e. especially digesting maybe some other people's feelings and thoughts).  I understand that! I realize that this feeling of Pure Delight can’t and won’t last forever or even maybe not very long. It just can’t; it’s not possible. At least not at this level! This too shall pass! Part of me is a realist!

More pure delight. Sooo Costco wouldn’t test my hearing as I had too much wax in my ears. Sooo I went and had my ears cleaned at a clinic. The medical technician asked me about my cap (i.e. given to each of us by one of our deck buddies). I explained that 6 of us guys meet on my deck each week for an  hour and discuss Bible verses and life; this year the topic is encouragement. She went on to tell me that she belongs to a group at church called Beautiful Women that is also a very strong support group for her. She had a ring in her nose and quite a few tattoos, amazing (i.e. a very nice person)! I then went to one of my favorite breakfast places and had breakfast. When my waitress (i.e. a very normal looking middle-aged woman) came to bring me my check, she said, have a blessed weekend. She later came to refill my coffee cup, and I asked her if I could ask her a question. She said I could ask her any question that I wanted to. I said that you must be a believer by what you said and how you act. She said, yes I am but I was not always a Christian. 10 years ago, I was a drug addict and spent 60 days in jail and that is when I found Jesus; you would never guess that would you. Since then, I married a Christian man, and he has been a great influence on my life. Something he taught me that I did not like to hear at first was that my pecking order of my worship was wrong. He said that my worship order needed to be God first then our spouse, then my family, then others and then ourselves. I have changed, but it has been very difficult and I’m still working on it. These experiences were Pure delight!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—Gems cannot be polished without friction.

challenge

Saturday question—Have you ever seen pigs fly? In life it is a challenge not to upset, hurt, offend, irritate, provoke, tread on someone’s toes, get under someone's skin, or touch a nerve of the past of someone. It’s almost impossible not toooo. I hope you take what I write in this “It’s Saturday” as a grain of salt!  Sooo proceed with caution. Some folks might not understand or believe some of this stuff until pigs fly! I have met some folks here in AZ that are a make and model that I have never seen before; they are “a new adventure for me! Their main form of transportation is a car but their secondary form is a flying dubus!

ItchieBitchie who still has a lot of tread on his tires, says--It’s a challenge to express ourselves and not hurt someone’s feelings. I asked AI to write a love letter. A friend had AI do their Christmas letter and he said it was perfect. It offended no one. The love letter was perfect; very generic and nothing possibly offensive. But it didn’t really have much of a personality. It was just like a Hallmark card (i.e. one card fits all). It is soooo hard not to get misunderstood in the world we live in. I just wonder sometimes if it’s not just best to not say anything. What do you think! JoeBlow whose windshield wiper blades are shot, says—I think in years to come we might have a chip inserted in our brain and we will all talk the same and no one will be offended. We will just be all generic and have no personality! But we won’t get misunderstood or hurt anyone’s’ feelings. Such will be life!

I’m not shocked! I think that we all have challenges in life; we all have challenges every day. It can’t be any different; we live in a complicated world and have a complicated life. It appears that folks handle challenges way differently (i.e. my opinion). Many of you handle challenges as opportunities. My hat goes off to you. I encourage you to keep it up. My Daddy, Chester, would say to me—"erv, we all have problems; it’s just that we just handle them differently!” And I wonder why that is! Da!

Figure it out! A friend told me about her friend whose life was a mess as a child; he had great challenges. Challenges continued in his adult life with him becoming a alcoholic. He made a complete turn around and is now a completely different person while overcoming several handicaps. Wow! I bet you wonder how in the world did he do that. Take a guess!

I’m human folks! While eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it, I was reminded once again that one challenge I have is that I don’t give unconditional love. Ya, I think I know what it is but to live it is a totally different story. God says He unconditionally loves you and me. Unconditionally! That has to be a God thing ‘cause I can’t seem to do it. I admit it! But remember, I’m just a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and quarter south of Roseland, MN.

Opportunity! I have created two challenges that I am going to work on to accomplish. One is a mental challenge and the other is a physical challenge (i.e. soooo far both are going pretty good). Both are exciting to me. You want to join me in this adventure? You pick your challenge(s) as I did!

I don’t know what fueled it! I went for a hike Saturday morning up ‘er in ‘em mountains as Jeanne was painting a wall in our tin hut. I met SusieQ on the trail who appeared to be a normal 70-year-old hiking woman with her sun hat, shorts, hiking boots and water bottle. She asked if I was from Yakima as I had my Yakima tee shirt on. We had a short conversation as she has a relative living in Yakima. She then went on to tell me that she is a mean woman. I told her that she sure doesn’t seem to be a mean woman--I am one mean old…! I’ve been in the Army for 20 years and men don’t mess with me; I knock them down and kick...--Really, are you really that mean—I sure am. I’m one mean…—are you married-–no I have never been married and I don’t want to ever be married, but I have four dogs! I think it would be a challenge for a man to be married to her.

Are you buying in! A friend named Jimmy asked me what yagottafinish means, like yagottafinish what? I told Jimmy that it was entirely up to you Jimmy, you decide! Saturday question—What direction are your feet and your thoughts going anyway? Bobby says—Hey erv, I don’t know where I’m going but I’m on my way! I have no idea when I will arrive!

Flip the pancake! I met another gal while hiking who was probably 60 years old wearing a Chicago marathon T-shirt. She stopped and wanted to talk so we did for a short time. I asked her if she ran in the Chicago marathon and she said she did. She asked if I did. I told her I did not, but I enjoyed riding my bike as the sun was rising on the trail along Lake Michigan having the early morning sun glistening off the Chicago skyline on the other side. She said that is a very fun place to exercise and she trained there for the marathon. She asked if I always hike alone and I told her no that my wife was home painting a wall sooo I was hiking alone this morning. I told her I actually wanted to hike alone today to be in nature and do some thinking, She said I am doing exactly the same and totally enjoying it too; I guess we have that in common; parts of Christmas can be challenging; I gotta go now as she showed me her nails. I have a nail appointment real soon. She seemed to be a sweet lady!

A tumultuous idea! I have a friend whose favorite line is when I ask him for his advice sometime is—I don’t know. If I push him a little, his response is sometimes—I really don’t know!  He never offends anyone!  hahaha

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—If you don’t watch out for yourself no one else will.