More Christmas thoughts

Saturday question--Are you BC or AD?  SusieQ says-We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are (i.e. like my mentor says--we are all programed by our past).  Christmas is a very interesting time (i.e. in many ways).  Cadillac Jack says--To some folks, it's just one big fake--When we cannot find contentment in ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere!   

I wonder if Christmas is maybe different to every person (i.e. our past sorta kinda programs us).  I don't know.  What do you think?  I wonder if Christmas has a little different perspective to every person on this earth?  It's sorta kinda like this--I was eating my oatmeal with half a banana on and doing my devotions.  I was sitting by the little table in our kitchen area which over looks the golf course when a member of the maintenance crew of the course came by to mow the fairway that was about 60 feet from me.  It was 7:45 and the temperature was 53 (i.e. it was another beautiful sunny morning).  This guy is a large Hispanic guy (i.e. 300 pounds+).  He had on heavy gloves, a heavy wool coat and under his helmet he had on a full face mask (i.e. one that only has holes for your eyes, nose and mouth).  If you were from the midwest, a guy would probably be bare back and be wearing shorts and sandals! 

Joesixpack says--Let’s ratchet up Christmas craziness! I asked for it…and I got it! Be careful for what you ask for…you might get it! But I wanted…and you gave me…! I don’t think I really wanted it but it looked soooooooo exciting. I must admit I didn’t know what I was asking for. Now I don’t want it even though I said I wanted it (i.e. instant gratification). Soooo take it away. No can do, you got what you asked for soooooo…! What’s the deal anyway? Didn’t you understand. No can do…I just can't take it back like a gift receipt from Target!  What do you think I am, Houdini!  The Jews asked for a Savior a.k.a. their King and they got it but they didn't like what they got!  Ouchy ouchy!

Arlene doesn't have her full hiking legs yet--she wanted a horse she said.  So we got her a horse who she called Swift Rider.  We hiked Hieroglyphic Canyon Trail in Gold Canyon last Sunday.  We hiked up the gulch to where the springs are and the clear pools of water.  The Hohokam Indians used this as their water hole and much more I have been told.  They did the carved images of men, antelopes and snakes on the huge massive rocks.  The Hohokam Indians were agriculture Indians and actually designed the canals and irrigation system that is basically still used for the Valley.  They were here about 300 to 1400 AD and then they disappeared (i.e. the whole civilization).  Some think it was famine or climate, or warfare or disease but no one knows for sure.  Arlene asks for something and she gets what she asks for (i.e. a happy wife is a happy life). It's Christmas for her every day!!!!

Here are some red hot reads -- Charles Dickens’ initial choice for Scrooge’s statement “Bah Humbug” was “Bah Christmas.”—Befroe settling on the name of Tiny Tim for his Character in “A Christmas Carol,” three other alliterative names were considered by Charles dickens. They were Little Larry, Puny Pete, and Small Sam—During the Christmas buying season, Visa cards alone are used an average of 5,340 times every minute in the United States—christams caroling began as an old English custom called Wassailing-toasting neighbors to a long and healthy life—The abbreviation of Xmas for Christmas is not irreligious. The first letter of the word Christ in Greek is chi, which is identical to our X. Xmas was originally an ecesastastical abbreviation that was used in tables and charts—Christmas was once a movable feast celebrated at many different times during the year. The choice of December 25, was made by Pope Julius I, in the 4th century A.D., because this coincided with the pagan rituals of Winter Solstice, or Return of the Sun. The intent was to replace the pagan celebration with the Christian one.

I can either count my blessings or recount my disappointments (i.e. I have many of each)—I hope I focus my thoughts upon my blessings, my gifts, and my opportunities. I don’t deserve all the good stuff that has happen to me (i.e. most of it just fell in my lap).  I question sometimes if I deserve some of my disappointments.  Do I really deserve that.  How do I know what I deserve or should have—I have no idea.  If I got everything that I think I should have, man would I be a mess!  LuckieEddie says--We all just want "almostinstantgratification'!  I was practicing putting the other day and I said to an old guy who just putted three long puts that were real close to the hole—you don’t need to practice—yabut they didn’t go it!  My wife says I’m always complaining about my golf game—will you ever be happy—ya if I would score 18 on 18 holes!  I really have thought about this—We were at the stoplight pulling out of the Fountain of the Sun.  The light was red so I was waiting to make a left hand turn until Sossaman Rd.  The light turned green and I slowly started to enter the intersection and Arlene hollered—erv!  I stopped.  A big maroon Cadillac was coming down the Sossaman Rd probably about 50 mph and went right through the red light.  I don’t know if we would have had a collision but maybe and maybe not.  If we would have, now that would have been real bad (i.e. we might have been minced meat).  Now that would have really changed Christmas for us and our family.  Soooooo why did it happen that way?  I really don’t know.  Now that maybe was just a massive huge gift.  What do you think?  ItchieBitchie says--You seem sooooooo darn smart that you can pray for just the right stuff for yourself and your family.  How do you know what is "justtherightstuff" anyway?  I have a tendency to pray that God might lift you and me up as I really don't know "justtherightstuff" is for you and me.  I pray for wisdom, courage, and strength for you and me.  That's what I pray for a lot.  And I thank God a lot!  Oh yes, I do pray that little Erin and Charlie may know Jesus as their Saviour. 

Our attitudes of our hearts are critical (i.e. especially at Christmas)—my opinion. AverrageJoe says—Soooooooo are our actions. Soooooo bring resolutions to the issues.  Soooo maybe we need to give someone the gift of an opportunity. What do you think? Maybe give love and let yourself be loved. What do you think? Are you a loving person? Are you a lovable person? Opportunity--An honest, sincere, positive spirit is contagious and can be admired from afar..deep down inside positive people have hurts, problems and stresses.  The difference is they process these things mentally and they filter those challenges with problem-solving solutions that bring resolutions of the issues.  Here's your opportunity (i.e. I read this in the Arizona Republic so it must be right)--If you know a positive person, send that person a note of thanks.  Tell them how much you appreciate their spirit and faith.  Let them know how much they meant to you.  Now wouldn't that be a nice Christmas present.  I think so. 

I was waiting in line at the post office at the Fountain of the Sun.  I was visiting with a lady from MN and a guy from ND,  The guy said it was -8 in ND this morning; the lady from MN said the Twin Cities got over 20 inches of snow.  The guy said--this place is like eternity; the gal said--it sure is paradise!  Such is life.

We have had the opportunity to go to several Christmas concerts here in the Valley.  They have been very good.  There sure is a lot of talent, passion and hard work let me tell you!  I think I heard some new songs that I really like (i.e. innovative).  Maybe my most favorite was A Baby Changes Everything (i.e. goggle the lyrics if you have not heard them before).  I thought that was really good. 

I sorta kinda felt like I got a Christmas present.  I hiked Picketpost Mt. Monday.  It was rated as difficult and it was.  It was rather scary for me (i.e. I don't say that very often).  I didn't see anyone on this sorta kinds remote trail (i.e. it took me 4 hours--those of you who have hiked with me know I'm not the fastest).  When I got to the top (i.e. I ate my lunch) there is a mailbox that you can register your name.  No one was up there for a couple of days.  I thought if I slip or something, no one will find me for days (i.e. not really but...).  I should not have hiked it by myself.  It was tough but...I had much time to think.  I did fine--went and sat in the hot tub for a while when I got back so I was ready to go for Tuesday (i.e. golf and ping pong).  Such is life.

I golfed with a retired Chicago Police Officer this week.  Soooooooo is Chicago as corrupt as when you were there--ya probably.  Now everyone in the nation is buying votes--what do you mean--if you give entitlements, free bees, enhancements and bailouts, aren't you just buying votes?  It's like giving Christmas presents, the more and bigger you give the more the folks like ya!  Huh, interesting.  I parked next to another guy (i.e. from Milwaukee) who I play some golf with-On the trunk of his big white Cadillac he has this little Christmas scene with "Keep Christ in Christmas" written below it.  Huh, interesting.  So if we wonder if there is a God in the middle of all the commercial Christmas craziness, watch this youtube clip www.flixxy.com/hubble-ultra-deep-field-3d.htm

I hope you get all the figgy pudding you want for Christmas!  You deserve it.  Yes you do! 

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

erv

MyFreindJean says--If you must use a hammer, build something!