Recalculate

Disclaimer—If you don’t like what I’m writing about, just tell me to take a hike! I like to hike; do it almost every day. ANYWAY this last week one day I was really frustrated. I took a long tough hike, hot tubed and I was no longer frustrated (i.e. recalculated). Such is life.

Emotions--I have them all right. I always don’t show them (i.e. depress them). I have some emotions of joy and some emotions of sorrow. I sometimes don’t show either or both. It depends on my emotions! Yabut CadillacJack says--Each of us makes his own weather, determines the color of the skies in the emotional universe which he inhabits. Soooooo if I’m understanding your correctly CadillacJack, you are saying I have something to do with my emotions? Are you saying my attitude has a lot to do with my emotions and my life? Soooooo are you saying when I get sorta kinda cranky, I need to recalculate my attitude?

I sometime wonder if folks really care about other folks’ emotions (i.e. good or not soooooo good emotions). I don’t know. But then someone shows a little interest in ya (i.e. sorta kinda unexpected) and then I think maybe some folks do care (i.e. recalculated). When someone does something a little extra, something special, or does something out of the ordinary, then I think, wow, folks really do care about other folks (i.e. like send a special gift, make your favorite Christmas treat (i.e. Heather made my Dingo Balls), or call you unexpected). Saturday question—When was the last time you gave a gift anonymously?

My mentor tells me—Nothing is as good as it looks or as bad as it looks. I think he’s right about that. Many times we don’t know everything about other folks. In fact, I wonder if we know very much about the emotions of others we are around (i.e. what are they thinking). I look at some of these folks here in the Valley and just think everything looks so hunky doory. Then I spend some time around them and find out it isn’t (i.e. recalculated). No one would ever know. Flip the pancake—Many of these senior citizens are very talented. You would never know that until you get to know them and their emotions. Such is life.

There is soooooooo much that I don’t understand! There seems to be soooooooo much that needs to be fixed (i.e. and I can’t fix it). Do I sound confused? I am folks; yes I am; I am confused a lot! I think the world will always be confusing to everyone. That’s just the way it is. I think I’ll go and take a hike! When I’m confused I like to take a hike. Yes I do. David said one time—I will mediate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. Yep, that is what he said. LuckieEddie says--The practical spiritual disciplines like solitude, stillness, listening for God are the tools with which we dig furrows in the heart to train us for recognizing God’s presence. And it is that Presence which abides with us in our “besieged cities.”

Senior snowbirds here in the Valley have young minds but have old bodies. Does that confuse you young folks? It might. I was pulling out of our gated 55+ community onto Broadway to do a hike on New Years Day. I had a red light and the car ahead of me, pulling out too, was a new Volvo convertible. On the MN license plate bracket it said—I go topless sometimes! When the light turned green, I sped up next to her to see who was driving. It was a senior female snowbird all right. Now I’m confused—was she talking about the car or her or both! I will never know! Such is life.

The clock is ticking folks! Here in the Valley there are a lot of good folks (i.e. no surprise). Older folks seem to appreciate things more and don’t take things soooooo much for granite it seems. Joesixpack says—Don’t take life for granite; many times we don’t appreciate folks and stuff until it’s taken away from us. Do you really appreciate what you have? I hope so. Such is life.

A widowed MN snowbird went back home for the holidays and had dinner at her son’s place. She was confused and suspicious! Her son had a female roommate Maria. During the course of the evening, she couldn't help but notice how pretty Anthony's roommate was. She had long been suspicious of a relationship between the two, and this had only made her more curious. Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between Anthony and his roommate than met the eye. Reading his mom's thoughts, Anthony volunteered, 'I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you, Maria and I are just roommates'. About a week later, Maria came to Anthony saying, 'Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the silver sugar bowl. You don't suppose she took it, do you?' Old folks can get confused some times. Well, I doubt it, but I'll email her, just to be sure.' So he sat down and wrote: Dear Mama, I'm not saying that you 'did' take the sugar bowl from my house; I'm not saying that you 'did not' take it. But the fact remains that it has been missing ever since you were here for dinner. Love, Anthony Several days later, Anthony received a response email from his Mama which read: Dear Son, I'm not saying that you 'do' sleep with Maria, and I'm not saying that you 'do not' sleep with her. But the fact remains that if she was sleeping in her OWN bed, she would have found the sugar bowl by now. Love, Mama GeorgeTheCrook says—Those old snowbirds had those hormones when they were young too (i.e. some still do in their young minds but their bodies are old)!

A friend and I were talking the other day. He told me that he is involved in a potential investment and part of the ‘do diligent work’, he had the opportunity to talk to an elderly lady who was poor and lived in the investment. She said she would happy to visit with him but she had to leave by 6 to go to church. He said her living conditions were very very humble but she was sooooooooo happy. She plans to continue to work as she just loves her job. My friend said – I think I’m all mixed up! My friend is a very smart man; he will sort it all out and figure it out (i.e. recalculating). Yes he will. Hey, get the book The Ultimate Book that I mentioned last week.

I thought a lot coming back from CO (i.e. 13.5 hours) about that I want an opportunity. I don’t know what that might be but I want an opportunity. It doesn’t have to be big, glamorous, an attention getter or pronounced. It just has to be something that I have a passion for, fulfills me, does good, and is the right thing to do. Sooooooo God I’m ready. Then I thought, maybe I’m doing it now and don’t realize it. Na, it can’t be! Sooooooo I watched our pastor, Michael, on our church’s web site preach the Sunday message after Christmas. He kept asking what are you going to do the day after Christmas (i.e. recalculating)? I don’t have a clue (i.e. I’m confused right now) but it will all fall into my lap. Oh ya!

MissPerfect asks—So when you get confused, do you fight or flight? OneSmartGuy emailed me and told me to spend Social Security as fast as I can (i.e. I am). The reason is, he said, as soon as you bankrupt the Social Security, then I won’t have to pay anymore and we can start over. He seems to have an answer to the problem. It’s sorta kinda confusing right now as to where Social Security is going. But I tell you what OneSmartGuy, it ain’t bad enough yet; it’s really got to get bad before anything is going to change. Sooooooooo in the mean time, keep paying and I keep spending it!

I realized that when I accept myself who I am and where I am, I’m the happiest. I’m not happy when I want to be someone else other than myself. It’s when I want to be something else other whom I am that I really get confused. I can’t change my financial situation, my abilities, my talents, I won’t become famous, I won’t become anyone different than whom I am. I realize that and accept that. I’m okay with that. I need to be myself (i.e. recalculating). It’s sorta kinda like this—A golfer tells me he’s playing bad today. He plays 10 rounds and all those 10 rounds are about the same score. That is what kind of golfer he is. That’s just the way it is. He probably is not going to get better at age 70. I’ll bet he isn’t. But he can have a lot of fun playing golf! I think once a guy accepts his life, he can go from 0 to happiness in no time! Such is life.

I called a friend this week—it was his birthday. He was riding bike (i.e. he tries to do it 3 times a week). He has retired at a fairly young age. I told him he has a good life; he agreed. I asked him if he ever thought he would have life sooooooo good—no way. I remember when I lived with my missionary parents up there in those hills of Kentucky. We had no money and my dad would bring table scraps home from the cafeteria for our family to eat. We wore cloths that churches would send for the mission. You know what folks, he and his family all have good hearts. He is a good man. Yes he is. That’s my opinion of course!

A golf buddy told me this story on #7 tee box--Jill: I just don't understand the attraction golf holds for men (i.e. it’s confusing to me). Mary: TELL me about it! I went golfing with my husband one time, and he told me I asked too many questions! Jill: Well, I'm sure you were just trying to understand the game. What questions did you ask? Mary: I thought I asked legitimate questions . . . like, "Why did you hit the ball into that lake?"

Saturday question—What do you remember the most about Christmas? It could be an itty-bitty thing that you will never forget. For me, Arlene and I were taking care of Erin Monday. I was buying a new pair of hiking shoes. We stopped at Dicks as I had a coupon for $10 off. They didn’t have the shoes I wanted so Victor sent me to his competation that was also in the mall. They didn’t have my size so they sent me to Boulder Running Co. I bought them there—they even honored the $10 coupon from Dicks. Arlene was giving me a hard time about running all over for my hiking shoes. It was quiet for some time and then from the back seat, 3-year old Erin says---OH GRADPA! It’s what I remember the most folks.

Do you believe in manifest destiny? We had a gal who worked for us some years ago (i.e. I really liked her and still do—she’s a good one) say—erv, …happens! I think she was saying that stuff happens so don’t get soooo excited and don’t be sooooo surprised. ItchieBitche says-- As we practice on a daily basis placing our faith in a God of love and grace, we become better prepared for the impacts of trauma that inevitably strike (i.e. recalculating). I think we all have a lot of emotions that we don’t understand; we are all confused at times.

We went to a different church than planned Sunday. The Classic/Current church had some special service for the old pastor or something. We went to the 1st Presbyterian Church of Mesa (i.e. a city church). Jim and Gladys Free (i.e. our daughter-in-law Jessica’s grand parents from IL invited us to go with them last year. We seem to like this church—good music, innovative, up temple, mixture of ages, blended service, about 250 folks, good pastor etc. ANYWAY Pastor Brant Baker talked about emotions (i.e. happenstance, na I don’t think so). He said—Many Christians, including Presbyterians, are very comfortable being intelligent Christians but not emotional Christians; We can’t command emotions; Emotions follow actions, they come along for the ride; Love for each other and Christ is more a decision than an emotion (i.e. recalculating); We grow into Love! Hey, that is what he says. That sorta kinda helps me with my confusion about some things. Does that make any sense to you? A gal a few rows ahead of us had this on the back of her blouse—Tastefully simple! I like that description—Tastefully simple!

SamTheGoldDigger thinks he knows all the tricks! He doesn’t folks; he just thinks that. Folks go crazy for Gold don’t they. Remember reading about the Gold Rush. The ones who made the money were the prostitutes, saloon owners and the folks who sold the supplies. Everyone thought – Here is my opportunity to strike it rich; my luck will change. Money does sorta kinda confuses us sometimes (i.e. recalculating). Yes it does. Sooooooooo be careful that you don’t think toooooooooo much about money. It’s only money. Such is life.

AverageJoe says—If you say you aren’t confused or never have been confused, you’re full of baloney. You need to recalculate! Bruce and Deb are staying a few days with us. What a hoot! ANYWAY these folks aren’t confusing, oh no! They are good folks with good hearts. Bruce and I hiked Camel Back Mt. (i.e. how many of you have hiked it?). We talked about the darnest things. But what amazes me the most is he told me that he can go 7 hours without peeing! Now that’s confusing to me! How about you?  I was the oldest guy on the Mt.  Now that is confusing. 

I sound much like the Psalmist who laments the same way (i.e. confused). In the end he says—but my hope is in You my God and my friend (i.e. recalculating). David in Psalm 31 wrote that he was in distress and anguish, experiencing sorrow and loneliness, but he went on to say, “I trust in you, Lord… My times are in your hands…the Lord showed me the wonders of His love when I was in a city under siege.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—A word of advice—don’t give it!